Category: Vehicles

Letter Re: Questions on the Pickup Truck as a Multi-Purpose Retreat Vehicle

Hello James, I have much to say about plow trucks, and so do many of your readers I see. I must preface the following with my history. I am born into the Ford bloodline, therefore I cannot successfully discuss alternative pickup truck durability except by that of close acquaintances. I have been plowing for 22 years. All but the past seven years have been strictly gasoline powered F-150s, F-250s, and Ford Broncos. The only difference between the F-150 and F-250 is the weight rating for cargo. There has not been a time, or snow condition that I have plowed in …


Three Letters Re: Questions on the Pickup Truck as a Multi-Purpose Retreat Vehicle

Dear Jim and Survival Blog: I’m sure the question of the best truck for a survival retreat will generate a large response. By trade, I am an engineer; however, I currently am working as a maintenance person for a large camping facility in upstate New York. In my experience with equipment and vehicles, I would have to say anything with a Cummins 6B or 4B diesel power plant will earn the owners respect for the amount of work it will do and the long life you can expect from the unit. I live next to a medium size farm operation …


Letter Re: Questions on the Pickup Truck as a Multi-Purpose Retreat Vehicle

Dear Jim and loyal SurvivalBlog readers: I have been researching pickup trucks as my next logical purchase in preparation for the inevitable short or long-term SHTF/grid-down scenario. I have decided that I will purchase an older (pre-1990/EMP-resistant), diesel, 4 x 4 pickup truck, probably a Ford, but maybe a Dodge or GMC/Chevy. The truck will need to be powerful enough to tow whatever (trailer, boat, camper) as well as be able to effectively plow snow (living here in snowy New England after all). My decision is based on reading the many postings on SurvivalBlog regarding the best G.O.O.D. vehicle to …


Letter Re: Off-Road Campers and Assorted G.O.O.D. Vehicles

Jim, Here is a reputable camper manufacturer that would be able to put together a less expensive camper than the $200,000(!) Earthroamer XV Diesel Off-Road RV. Though the Earthroamer is an outstanding vehicle, I believe these [Callen Campers] are more in the price range that we all expect. Notice they will custom make off road campers. witness the pics on home page. I used to see these around Southern California quite frequently. They make nice gear. Thanks, – Jason


What Happens After: Observations on Hurricane Katrina

Jim; Just a few notes about my experiences with Hurricane Katrina a year later. On the evening that Katrina passed our retreat, my partner and I began to make our way back to our homes (less than 30 miles) and businesses to secure them – (both firearms related). We chose to take different routes, him on foot, and me in my truck with my dogs & supplies. The routes required pushing and/or cutting trees, poles, fences and all manner of lines and debris from the road ways. The few roads that could be made passable with chain saws and simple …


Two Letters Re: “Ural” Russian Motorcycles with Sidecars

Jim, I have been riding BMW motorcycles for about 10 years. I have seen a few of those Urals around, and every one with first hand knowledge says they are not as dependable as the Beemers. But– the design is pretty simple, and they are not hard to work on. My Beemer has 86 K miles on it, and I had to replace a starter, and a coil. That’s it. I guess the big question with the Ural is, does it have points ignition, or electronic? This would be my first concern, now. I have been entertaining the idea of …


Letter Re: “Ural” Russian Motorcycles with Sidecars

Jim, I saw a great motorcycle here in North Idaho that I thought would be of interest to the readers of SurvivalBlog. I spotted a fellow gassing up a motorcycle with a sidecar and I decided to take a quick look. It looked like an excellent restored WW2 era motorcycle, something that conjured up thoughts of Steve McQueen in the movie ‘The Great Escape‘. I found out though that this bike was in fact brand new, a Russian copy of the German BMW motorcycle–www.imz-ural.com for lots of info. The paint scheme was Camouflage and the [Ural Patrol model’s] very handy …


Letter Re: Push or Pull Carts For All-Terrain Hauling

Jim- As to puncture-proofing ATV tires, cycle or cart tires, check out www.tireballs.com. Individual cell bladders fill the tire in lieu of a single tube (or tire/wheel seal). These are the hot stuff with the off-road racing crowd, and they pound the **** out of their rigs more in a single race than any sane individual will in two lifetimes! One other thought on tires for push-pull carts…knobby all-terrain tread patterns may look cool, but unless those tires are being powered, you’ll be happier with a much shallower tread pattern. In fact, only enough tread to keep the wheel turning …


Letter Re: Six Versus Eight Plies for SUV and Light Truck Tires

Hello, I’ve been enjoying reading your blog for several weeks now and wanted to add a bit on truck tire ratings from the perspective of somebody who used to own a small tire shop in truck country (rural Alaska). The whole thing with rating a tire by the number of plies dates back to the days of bias ply tires when the tires actually were load rated according to the number of plies. That system has been obsolete for years with the advent of radial tires, which are not constructed the same way to achieve the same strength. The letter …


Three Letters Re: Six Versus Eight Plies for SUV and Light Truck Tires

Jim, For the reader wanting 8 Ply tires, get a floatation light truck tire with D, (8 ply) E (10ply) or F (12 ply) load rating. Get a BF Goodrich All Terrain KO (that’s what I have on my 4WD Xterra) for all around 4WD use. For more rocks and mountains he may go to a BFG Mud Terrain. Mickey Thompsons for bigger budgets. But the BF Goodrich tires are great tires. Go to an off-road shop instead of Wal-Mart for the tires and talk to somebody knowledgeable. – Tim Mr. Rawles: The issue of course is better side walls, …


Letter Re: Push or Pull Carts For All-Terrain Hauling

James: Regarding Redmist’s suggestion to use closed-cell polyurethane foam tires, those tires add a bit of weight, and often you are trying to keep the weight down on the load, Slime® sealant is cheap light weight insurance inside your tires, just ask any hardcore ATV rider and they will tell you so. I happen to be in the process of making a hand cart for hauling waterfowl decoys into fields where taking a truck is not allowed, a axle, hubs, wheels and tires from a completely trashed ATV, two pillow block bearings and some serious thought and welding and I’ll …


Letter Re: Transportation for the Disabled in the Event of TEOTWAWKI

James: Thanks for such good reading. I had a copy of “Patriots”but lost it in a house fire last year. I was able to find TEOTWAWKI [the draft edition] through eBay and was happy (it was a signed copy-YEAH!) but am thrilled that you will be releasing the updated version along with the ‘Retreats and Relocation’ book. What I am interested in is finding the best way to transport my wheelchair bound, handicapped son and my elderly (near wheelchair bound) mother in the event of TEOTWAWKI. I am in the process of getting completely out of debt, which will help …


Three Letters Re: Push or Pull Carts For All-Terrain Hauling

James, In discussing all-terrain hauling and bug-out travel I’ve not seen comments regarding flattened tires. We may have a tire repair kit and air pump handy, but there is a better way to ensure that our ATV, cart or bicycle is not plagued with tire failure. Replace those air-filled tires with closed-cell polyurethane foam tires. Leave the spares, the tire repair kit and the tire pump at home. – Redmist   Hey Jim, Thought I would send you a couple of links to carts that many country people find to be useful: Vermont Garden Carts I have used this cart …


Letter Re: 8 Ply SUV and Light Truck Tires?

Jim: Reading up on the article/manual “Aids to Survival“, (Western Australia Police Academy, 1998, 86 Page Word Doc once unzipped.) from the site referenced on your blog. Regarding tires .. or tyres….. they recommended 8 ply. Gosharooty, my HMMWV tires are only 6 ply. (No, they aren’t on a HMMWV, military Hummers leak, are cold in the winter and hot in the summer and they make my butt hurt.) Anyway, how about some info on the 8 ply tire?. That just doesn’t ring a bell with me as being common in CONUS. What’s the story here? My requirement are: 32×11.50-15, …


Two Letters Re: Push or Pull Carts For All-Terrain Hauling

Hi James, Thanks for the very useful letter about the All Terrain Carts. There are lots of things to think about after reading your article; I had some thoughts to add. I like the input you had about storing liquids, etc… In the tubing of your frames for these carts. A very likely necessity IMHO. I would hate to cart 20 gallons of water 90% of the way home, and spill 1?2 of it before you get there! In the article, the web links to the different types of carts all have inferior wheels as a week link unless you …