Category: Vehicles

Letter Re: Can I Burn Off Road Diesel Fuel in a Modern Diesel Engine?

James In the letter from “John in Central New York State’, he says that most late model diesels with electronic ignitions won’t work with off road diesel fuel. Do you know why? Thanks, J.P. in Montana JWR Replies: I believe that John’s statement was not entirely correct. Most Diesel engines can run just fine on the off road fuel or even home heating oil (called “red diesel”, in England), but they cannot legally do so on public roads in the U.S. and the UK. The formulations of Home Heating Oil, “off road diesel”, and road taxed No. 2 Diesel fuel …


Two Letters Re: Minimum Safe Distance From The Big City for Retreat Locales?

Dear Jim, My thoughts on retreat location, or living location (Ideally the same place) are as follows: From recent disasters (Hurricane Katrina, the Kim family, others), I see that most people are bound by societal rules of the road to stick to the Interstates or major highways, and to trust gadgets, without learning the mapping and math behind them. The worst places I can think of to live are the nice country houses one sees from the freeway. These are certain to be looted in a major disaster. US highways aren’t likely to be much of an improvement. However, as …


Which Vehicle Will Work? Choices For Post -TEOTWAWKI Transport by John in Central New York State

The following are a few comments on what might be a good vehicle at times of crisis, infrastructure failure, etc. Call it what you want – I don’t know what will, or will not happen in the future. This lack of knowledge makes it equally difficult to know what attributes might be needed in a car or truck. I live in a rural area of New York State – maybe 200 miles from New York City, 50-60 from the state capitol – Albany. My experience is that of a diesel mechanic, electrician, farmer, and house builder – mostly “old school” …


Letter Re: America’s Interstate Highway and Freeway System in Decline

Hello James, Another indicator of America’s decline: our interstate highway system. [The following was in part excerpted from a Department of Transportation history web page. and from an article at The Tax Foundation web site.] The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1952 authorized the first funding specifically for construction of the interstate highway system, but it was only a token amount of $25 million a year for fiscal years (FY) 1954 and 1955. Legislation in 1954 authorized an additional $175 million annually for FY 1956 and 1957. Under the leadership of President Eisenhower, the question of how to fund the Interstate …


Letter Re: The James Kim Exposure Death Tragedy: Lessons to Be Learned

Mr. Rawles: I followed the search and rescue story [the tragic death of James Kim–stranded on a remote Oregon logging road] in the news recently and was struck with very emotional feelings about their ordeal. Apparently he and his family did the right things, but in the end bad luck and a lack of proper survival gear was disastrous. Putting myself into his shoes I feel that I too would have definitely tried to hike for help after a week of hunkering down and waiting for rescue. See the series of Google Earth images showing his path while trying to …


Letter Re: Tire Spikes for Home Retreat Defense

Hello James, In regards to the recent post toward driveway security strips, or "spike strips" I think of another possibility to the construction in using a 2×6. I would consider fabricating the base out of treated 3/4" plywood. Not only is this already somewhat camouflage, it will take the years of abuse that weather will give it. I envision a design in which the upper three or four layers that are glued together with construction adhesive, (preferably a polyurethane adhesive like PL Pro), and then drilled for insertion of spikes. Then, apply an additional layer with a width of approximately …


Two Letters Re: Military Surplus Gasoline Cans–Questions on Cleaning Procedures and Venting

Hi Jim, I’ve restored older cars as a hobby for about 24 years (Ford is my preference. I was delighted to see [late 1960s vintage] Broncos, F250s and Mustangs in your novel “Patriots”.) I have a suggestion for cleaning older gas cans that works very well for me. Most recently I dealt with a 50,000 mile 1969 Buick Riviera. [JWR Adds: Ah, the roar of a 454! I once owned a 1970 Buick Electra 225. What a ride.] The deceased prior owner had stored the car indoors since 1983. The gas tank was full of vile liquid that at one …


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 …