Survive the Drive – Vehicle Survival Preparedness, by Prepper Ray

Where will you be when the SHTF? You need to consider that you may not be at home when the world around you begins to fall apart. You are very likely going to have to travel to get home or a bug out location. You may be at work out shopping or even on vacation. No matter where you are the problem is going to be just being able to get from point A to point B. The type of vehicle you have and the equipment you have in that vehicle may in fact determine your ability to get to where you need to go in a TEOTWAWKI situation.

I discovered many years ago while trying to reach relatives in the destruction and aftermath of Hurricane Hugo that driving even a short distance, can be difficult if not impossible without the right vehicle and equipment. I learned in a real SHTF situation how important the type of vehicle you choose can make a huge difference in getting there or not. While trying to bring emergency supplies into what was at the time Ground Zero, I ran into police road blocks due to evacuation routes, detours, impassible roads and utter destruction in my path. I was not a prepper at the time, I just so happened to own a 4 wheel drive truck with oversized tires and a bumper mounted winch. I had a good knowledge of the “back roads” and few alternate routes to get where I needed to go. The 4 wheel drive function and larger tires proved to be the key in driving through the downed power lines, fallen trees, debris and driving around disable vehicles left abandoned in the roadway. Realizing how important it was to have off road capability, I have always owned a 4 wheel drive vehicle since that time. It’s now been 26 years and I am now prepared to survive the drive and much more.

The vehicle you choose is critical, A truck is a solid choice, not only does it make sense in any SHTF situation, trucks are useful in hauling supplies and equipment to your bug out location in non emergency times. A heavy duty 4-wheel drive (4WD) option is a must and a crew cab will give you extra room for people or storage. My choice of vehicle was the Jeep Wrangler 4WD 4-door. What it lacks in hauling ability was made up in the ability to go almost anywhere off road, its nimble size and power to weight ratio is what I needed in my area.With an add-on cargo rack and factory high capacity fuel tank that I keep at least half full all the time, it was a sensible and economical choice for me.The vehicle’s ability to perform above and beyond most normal driving situations is the point I’m trying to make. In addition to the vehicle itself there are several items that the prepared individual needs to have available at all times.

Road Atlas or Road Maps

You might think that a paper map or road atlas book is old school when you have GPS technology, but GPS electronics may or may not always work in a SHTF situation. An up to date paper map always works. You should know how to read a map and practice driving alternate routes, there’s always more than one way to get somewhere. From time to time try driving alternate routes so they are familiar to you in non emergency times you will find it helpful to know the roads when you need it.

Tire repair kits and 12 volt air compressor.

Driving over and around disaster areas can be treacherous, not only on the vehicle’s drive train but mostly on the tires. With no time or ability to get help or even change to your spare tire, it’s imperative that you have a good quality tire plug and repair kit and a good quality 12 VDC air compressor in the vehicle. A can of Fix-A-Flat is not a viable option. The cans are of little to no use in my experiments, the pressure they provide is usually not enough and they just don’t always work as advertised. You can however permanently repair a flat tire faster than you can find your jack with the right tools and know how. I don’t think it’s even necessary for me to mention how vulnerable you become to criminals while on the side of the road, changing a tire. Speed and efficiency is critical in survival mode, especially when traveling and making roadside repairs. Remember this; desperate people will do desperate things during disasters. Get a commercial quality tire repair kit from a automotive supply dealer, not your local Wal-Mart.

Trauma Kit.

I’m not talking about a simple glove box first aid kit, you may have to self-treat more serious injuries. Have a well-equipped trauma kit with splints,eye wash, slings, tourniquets and heavy duty bandages and dressings. You won’t be treating an ingrown toenail. You may be self treating a broken arm,a serious laceration, or worse.

Fuel

Most vehicle manufactures offer high capacity or dual tank systems to increase your fuel capacity, if not, there are aftermarket options in most cases. In addition to my high capacity factory tank I carry a nice 12 volt fuel transfer kit designed to defeat most anti-siphon type tanks along with extra hose and a hand pump style transfer pump. Since storing gasoline in your vehicle may not be the best smelling or safest thing to do, there is no harm in storing a clean empty gas can along with a hose and funnel in case you need to extract fuel from an abandoned vehicle along the way. Don’t expect gas stations to be available, they won’t be.

Tools and more

A tool kit is necessary for emergency repairs along the way a variety of good quality tools is imperative, include a socket set, extra belts and hoses for your engine. I also have emergency fuel tank repair epoxy, just in case. It wouldn’t hurt to keep a couple of spare quarts of oil and even extra headlight bulbs and fuses.

A vehicle mounted winch is critical, make sure it’s above and beyond what you think you need in capacity. Having a variety of tow straps, snatch blocks and town chain can make quick work of pulling yourself out of a bad situation.A pair of leather work gloves and hat-mounted or head-mounted light are a must.A set of binoculars will help you evaluate dangers or obstacles that lay ahead.

Comfort Items

When your normal drive time is about an hour you can obviously expect a much longer time in your vehicle during a SHTF situation. I drove over 5 hours in what should have been an hour under normal conditions. You will need to keep a couple of bottles of water and an MRE or food item, since stopping at a roadside store is not an option. Keep a supply of sanitary hand wipes, a blanket and most of all a roll of toilet paper, need I say more? nature calls so be ready for that.

Defend Yourself

I haven’t mentioned a firearm since that’s something you should have with you, on your person at all times anyway. But I will mention that having extra ammunition and extra magazines in your vehicle along with bear spray and a knife are a must. Why bear spray? It’s a high capacity pepper spray perfect for crowd control. Mob scenes, looting and rioting are always a possibility.Before storing any type of pepper spray in your vehicle keep in mind that high temperatures during summer can be a problem for an aerosol can. Keep some cash onboard, not a lot but enough. How much? You won’t be stopping by the store for milk and bread but you must consider that some cash may be necessary depending on your location and distance to travel, don’t expect ATMs to be available or working, they won’t.

Many of the items I have mentioned can be organized in a “Bug-In” kit,how you choose to organize your equipment is not as important as having the stuff you need in your vehicle and having the ability you use the equipment you have. Several times I have used the word “good” and “quality” remember that you get what you pay for and you don’t get what you don’t pay for.Bargain basement tools and cheap equipment won’t work very well . In closing it is important to note that during a SHTF situation it is never safe to travel unless absolutely necessary and you want to avoid driving whenever possible.Any movement away from your survival location is dangerous but properly equipped in the appropriate vehicle your chances of survival can be increased.- Prepper Ray Lexington, S.C.

Praise For Chris Walsh and Revolutionary Realty

Over a period of time I have accumulated many letters of recommendation for Chris Walsh and his real estate agency, Revolutionary Realty. (It is a two-man agency that specializes in retreat properties in The American Redoubt.)

I’ve actually received nine letters of recommendation for Chris, but the latest one reminded me that I’ve been remiss in mentioning Chris in the blog. So from the nine letters, I picked just six particularly succinct ones to post, as a representative sample. Note that some of these are just excerpts from longer letters. And I’ve redacted a few details to protect the privacy of the writers.

Three years ago, my husband and I started looking for a new retreat location in North Idaho as we knew our current home, while good and fortified, would not last if TEOTWAWKI came. I did some research and found Revolutionary Realty through a prepper blog that I frequent. After checking out Chris Walsh’s website, I felt that he knew a thing or two about solar power and windmills as he had detailed out his own experiences. Other agents when I inquired on properties acted like I was crazy when I started asking questions or better yet, ignored my questions and just wanted to show me the property. Not only did he have a very easy to navigate property search, he quickly made contact with me on the phone to ask questions on what our goals were and to get a better understanding of where we were and what we needed.Chris was so patient with me as I would send him dozens of listings while I was trying to narrow down what to see when we came to visit. He was open and very honest about each property. It’s so tough to tell or learn a area from 1,100miles away but with his help, I learned the area before I even got there. His knowledge of the outlying areas was incredible. From what parts had bad sun exposure, water issues, too easily accessible or not defensible, he was able to explain almost every properties pros and cons so we could better utilize our time when we got there. Out of the five we ended up narrowing it down too, we ended up writing a offer on the perfect location that was more property and a better value than I expected to find. Even when we were in escrow, we needed anew easement deeded to us and he helped us lay it out so it looks like the road just dead ended. No one knows, except for a few neighbors now, that we live in that enchanted forest! Chris is still there for us three years later and is a wealth of knowledge for us to learn from. I send all of our Prepper friends to him as he is the real deal and a huge asset to the Idaho prepping community. M. in Northern Idaho

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In 2013, we began looking for property that we could use as a retreat. We have become awakened to the many different ways that could cause us to be unsafe in our home in the city. My husband found Chris Walsh’s website and sent me the link. I thought “this is the guy we need!” My husband spoke to him once or twice and then I spoke to him. We met with Chris and he sent us some properties to look at on line, and I sent him some properties I found. He is very knowledgeable about the area, the homes we should look at, those we should not consider and was very specific about why.Eventually we settled on a few properties and he took us around to look at them. It was an entertaining and educational experience. Chris is one-of-a-kind. He has an in-depth knowledge about prepping and loves to share it.

Chris was invaluable to us. We were new to prepping, a little panicky about making sure we did it right and neither my husband nor I possess skills in most areas necessary to be prepared for an emergency. He helped us find a place that was well below our budget, but it left us with enough money to do more to be prepared. He took us to his home and showed us what he has done. He gave us tremendous ideas about what we needed to do. He gave us hours and hours of advice on how to set up a “legitimate” (as he calls it) solar system that now powers our cabin completely. He helped us to figure out the best place to do it on our property, and even taught me a little about electricity which I thought was impossible. We got tips and advice about storing food and gasoline, how to best defend ourselves, how best to fish out of the local lake and he even came up once or twice to check on us and answer some questions. We spent the summer putting in our solar system and we followed his careful instructions and it worked out really well. I suspect we saved tens of thousands of dollars by following his well-researched advice. Honestly, Idon’t know what we would have done without him.

In the end, we became friends. Chris is much more than a Realtor. He truly cares about the people he finds properties for and has a heart of gold. – Mr. & Mrs. [Redacted], near Spokane

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Well, things were changing around our Georgia suburban neighborhood and after a lot of research and a visit to Northern Idaho, my wife and I agreed that it was time to make a radical change in our family’s future. Our son suggested contacting this “special” Realtor before going any further. The man our son was referring to is Chris Walsh of Revolutionary Realty. My wife and I are no strangers to home buying or realtors so my first instinct was to avoid Chris and just search on our own, having bad experiences in the past with Realtors whose only concern was their commission and a quick sale.

My wife and I thought we had a firm grip on buying a property, making the correct choices on where our children would grow up,where we’d call “home” for many, many years, until we met this high-energy guy:Chris Walsh! The saying goes “You don’t know what you don’t know” Within the very first hour we spent with Chris we knew we had chosen the right person to deal with. Not just that he was a Veteran like myself, but he was teaching us about the various micro-climates in Panhandle Idaho, the soil conditions, well water issues, and a host of other important factors one should consider carefully before making a huge decision like that. My wife and I found a listing we fell in love with and drove out to see it for ourselves, loved it,called Chris and told him we wanted to purchase it and an hour later he called us and informed us that we would be very unhappy half of the year at that location due to the flight path directly over this property leading to a resort area’s airport nearby that we’d not even considered! Chris could have made an easy sale there, but instead, he worked for us.

When I mentioned “high energy guy” I wasn’t kidding! Many nights my wife and I would find a property online and e-mail Chris well after dark. Often we woke to a reply e-mail from Chris (who we later learned is up and reading his e-mail messages before dawn) and Chris would be asking when we wanted to get going and see this listing.

This high energy, motivated, down to earth, America-loving veteran is a “what you see is what you get” man. He will tell you the truth, not just want you may want to hear. Checking out the Revolutionary Realty web site and the thoughtfulness and care Chris puts into helping like-minded folks sums it up best. He’s the real deal!!

Regards, [Name Redacted] in Sagle, Idaho

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Describing Chris Walsh as a Real Estate Agent is actually far from the truth. He is so much more than this. I purchased aproperty in Northern Idaho almost a year ago. I used Chris as my agent during my initial search for properties and for the purchase of my new homestead.Chris’ knowledge and integrity are absolutely outstanding and unique. He is as valuable a resource as any property you buy. Upon reflection, I was an absolute novice when it came to purchasing a property that had the attributes of a self-sustainable refuge and homestead. Chris educated me on all aspects. Chris actually spent considerable time and energy explaining why I should not purchase the properties that initially interested me. I thought this was extremely unusual, but refreshing, behavior for a real estate agent. The fact is that Chris really knows what a good property is and has the integrity to not sell a property that he does not believe is a good investment for both monetary and self-sustainability reasons. When we finally found the property I purchased, I knew it was the right decision and the perfect property for what I was looking for. If it was not for Chris’ knowledge and integrity, I would not have found or recognized the unique and necessary aspects of the property that I am now proud to call home. There are so many aspects that make up a good property and Chris knows how to recognize and analyze all of them: Defensibility, privacy,water resources and development, accessibility, local county government policies. I could go on and on. I have dealt with a lot of agents in my investing career and Chris is absolutely beyond compare. I would never dream of purchasing a property through anyone else. Thank you Chris for being a mentor,ally and friend! – Andrew R.

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We want to let people know that if they are looking for a unique property, maybe even one that is away from it all, ouronly recommendation is Chris Walsh of Revolutionary Realty. 13 years ago, my wife began looking for a quiet piece of land that bordered a national forest. She was quite specific in what she wanted. During the 8 year search,she contacted several out of state realtors and was impressed with Chris, as he was the only realtor/broker who responded to every question and with a quick turnaround. He didn’t tire of the numerous e-mails, either. Instead, he got to know us and offered some suggestions to help us find that perfect property.Upon meeting Chris in person, we knew we had found someone who would honestly work for us, to find us the real estate we wanted. Five years ago, Chris showed us a lovely piece of property that was exactly what we had been looking for. Ono ur last trip to retirement dream (north Idaho) we contacted Chris to get his input on several “Off The Grid” concerns. Our questions varied from building sites to technical issues such as water, power and heating to which he was happy to share his knowledge and experience. We wanted to pay some type of consultation fee, since he spent a half day walking the property with us, but he refused, saying, “I get paid with the sale of property and referrals”. Chris went well beyond his duties as a real estate broker, and he has helped us in so many ways. We are so glad he was our realtor/broker and now our dear friend. -C&L (formerly Californians)

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My husband found Chris Walsh off of the Internet,he liked what he read off in Chris’s web site and therefore gave him a call.

Chris was right on it. He asked questions on what all we were looking for in a property and home. Chris was all over it. He sent us listings over the Internet for us to look at. We made millions of phone calls back and forth thru this whole process. Chris knew every detail and information on every property we thought was interesting. If the property was good or bad Chris gave us his honest assessment every time. We appreciated him being thorough and honest.

We flew into town many times to look at numerous properties. Chris took us all over the place to view all of them, sometimes as many as 10 homes or more per day. He showed us the surrounding areas as well so that we would know what was around us especially when it came to being prepared. Chris had even taken us to his home. We met his lovely family but also showed us all the things that we needed to learn and get “prepared” on our future property. Chris gave us so much important information and also told us that he would teach us everything he has learned over the years so that we wouldn’t make the same mistakes he made. He treated us like family and made us feel comfortable.

We made several sight unseen offers on several different properties/homes. Chris was always right on it with all the paperwork. Chris made is very easy even with it being done long distance. Then we would fly into town only to find that the property or house wasn’t what we were looking for and the offer would then be canceled, needing even more paperwork. Chris never complained or treated us badly due to of all the extra work he was putting in because of us.

We finally found the property that we really liked and so did Chris. His input was important to us. Chris liked that it had plenty of acreage for our own food source, it had numerous natural springs for plentyof water, several cisterns, a pond with edible fish and was very close to ahuge lake for another food source. It also backed up to thousands of acres ofState and forest land, but most importantly the property was defensible.

Chris is an honorable man. He is very knowledgeable in every aspect of getting prepared. He is an awesome realtor, person and friend. I would recommend Chris to everyone I know who is looking for this particular property or any property for that matter. You will not be disappointed. – Mr. M.

I can also personally recommend Chris Walsh. He is very knowledgable about the Inland Northwest, he has a great eye for viable retreat properties, and he is a true patriot. – JWR

Economics and Investing:

Municipal Bankruptcies and more on the way

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Paul Caron: 2015 International Tax Competitiveness Ranking: U.S. Is 32 Out Of 34 OECD Countries

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Dr. Housing Bubble reports: Chicago overtakes Detroit as the worst performing housing market: San Diego outperforms while Los Angeles hits a snag.

Items from The Economics Team:

Ron Paul Rages “They” Refuse To Learn From Their Mistakes – Put perfectly… (No surprise that this is from Ron Paul.)

Year End Government Spending Spree – Spend It or Lose It Leads to Government Waste of Taxpayer Dollars

American Manufacturing is in Recession

Odds ‘n Sods:

A very useful piece was recently posted at the Thoughts From Frank and Fern blog: Survival Radio Net #1

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There is a lot of talk in the news about the mass shooting at a Umpqua Community College in western Oregon. A few alternative media types are asking about the shooter’s MySpace “connection”, Mahmoud Ali Ehsani. But the mainstream media outlets and the Obama regime are predictably grandstanding for civilian disarmament. Avalanche Lily (Mrs. Rawles) asks: “Why isn’t the network news asking about Muslim extremism? Why punish the 99.9% of gun owners who use their guns responsibly, when it is just the criminal behavior of a few fanatics that is to blame?” As usual, the statist-collectivists are directing their wrath at an inanimate object rather than sinful acts. If they want to stop deaths by drunken drivers, do they intend to ban cars? the same logic applies.

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I just read an announcement that Infidel Body Armor (one of our loyal advertisers) has produced a new DVD and a companion survival book. The video,titled Driven From Our Homes, was professionally produced and features a family that bugs outto a remote location and is accompanied by an Army Ranger combat veteran. It’s an action/training video. The companion book goes into much more detail, but the movie is 100% legit with no Hollywood fakery. Purchase of the DVD and book includes a one month free subscription to Team Infidel, which gives folks a 10%discount on purchases from Infidel Body Armor.

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RBS recommended this video by Pat Condell: The Invasion of Europe.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“…The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.” Deuteronomy 33:2 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – October 2, 2015

SurvivalBlog readers on the East Coast are doubtless already making preparations for the expected double whammy of a nor’easter and Hurricane Joaquin. Meteorologists are expecting “a historic” 10 to 15 inches of rain in only 72 hours perhaps between Georgia and Virginia. Batten down the hatches! You are in our prayers, folks.

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Today we welcome our newest advertiser, Tom Henthorn, CPA, of Somers, Montana. (That is deep in The American Redoubt, up at the top end of Flathead Lake, not far from Glacier National Park.) He has taken up the small advertising spot that was formerly occupied by Mara Helland, CPA, who is also in Montana. Mara decided to discontinue advertising on SurvivalBlog, but only because of her success–her roster of accounting clients is now full. (And I assume that many of those clients are SurvivalBlog readers.) Tom Henthorn offers very similar services as Mara’s to residents of most States, and he of course has the same very strict level of confidentiality. In addition to personal tax accounting, he also specializes in consulting and accounting for companies in the oil and natural gas industry, including oil field service companies. Welcome aboard, Tom!

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A brief note of clarification from JWR: I have never used social media, and I do not intend to ever do so. I consider these web sites little more than intelligence gathering tools and traps for self-incrimination. Everything that you post on social media is archived FOREVER, even if you delete it. Intelligence and law enforcement agencies regularly use social media to build relationship databases. And even if you have a couple of degrees of separation between yourself and some criminal or crazy, you will inevitably end up on multiple watch lists as a “known associate.” For The Record: All of the Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, and other social media accounts using my name are fabricated and were not created by me, and none of them were created with my permission or my input. I have had several of them removed, but they keep popping up like mushrooms in a cow pasture. Here is just one example of a fabricated social media page that still exists: www.facebook.com/James-Wesley-Rawles-Books. (Facebook refused to delete that one.)

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Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case–a $1,700 value.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 MagPul PMAG 30rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

    Second Prize:

    1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
    2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
    3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training. (A $400 value.)
    4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
    5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
    6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
    7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
    8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
    9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
    10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value).

    Third Prize:

    1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
    2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana.
    3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
    4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
    5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
    6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
    7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
    8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
    9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

    Round 61 ends on November 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

    Gun Show Tips and Tricks, by Prepper Ray

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    By now, many of you reading this should have attended a few gun shows. If not, you should go to one. All across the country these shows are meccas for shooting enthusiasts, survivalists, and gun collectors. Gun shows are great places to pick up items that you just can’t find anywhere else. But be warned, you won’t always get the best deal at a gun show unless you have the right tools and information before arriving at the show.

    Here are a few tips and hints along with a little insider information so that you can get the most out of your next show. I have worked the gun show circuits in the Southeast for six years as a dealer and I have learned that the customers that are best prepared usually get the best deals. Of course you should already know that being prepared always has a better outcome, right?

    Gun Show Arrival

    Get to the show early on the first day, so that you will have the most inventory to choose from. If you decide on going to the show on the second day you will find that everything has been picked over, so don’t waste your time. If you can’t make it the first day, then you might not find what you need, and last minute end of the day deals are few and far between.

    Remember to be respectful of the dealer’s products, ask before you touch, be polite and courteous. Remember they have spent hundreds of dollars for the tables, driven many miles and worked long hours setting up usually with a poor night’s sleep in a cheap hotel. The last thing they want to deal with is a “know it all” customer with an attitude that only finger fondles their stuff and then walks away.

    Be Prepared

    Wear clothing with lots of pockets and that is comfortable. Wear a good pair of comfortable shoes as there will be lots of walking. Have a pen and paper just in case you need to make a note about a deal or a trade. Bring money, cash is king and credit cards are not always accepted. If they are accepted you can expect at least 3 or 4 percent “upcharge” fee to use your card, since that’s what it costs the dealer and you will pay for the convenience of using your card–whether it is a debit card or credit doesn’t matter. The ability for a dealer to accept plastic at a show is expensive and they will pass that expense along to you. If necessary stop by an ATM away from the show, since often the ATM at the show (if there is one) has high fees and limited funds.

    Always carry a backpack; lugging plastic bags around can be uncomfortable a couple of empty gun rugs (zippered soft pistol cases) just in case and always have a good flashlight or bore inspection light and small magnifying glass, as most gun shows have poor lighting. Most of all use your smart phone for looking up prices, trends and information. Nothing is more disappointing than finding out that your deal wasn’t such a deal after you get home and look it up online.

    Prepare to haggle over prices. Don’t be bashful, prices are often slightly inflated and the worst thing a dealer can say is “no”. Haggling is expected, so ask: “Is that the best you can do?” or “Do you have any wiggle room on that?” There is no harm in asking if it will save you a few dollars. Bundling multiple items is a great way to make a lower offer and get a great deal. It’s best to always know what you are looking at, so be informed and do your homework or look it up on your phone.

    Be very careful as dealers will in fact lie to you. They will tell you a gun is new, when it is actually previously owned, they will take a factory refurbished guns and remove labels, selling them as new or they might tell you how only a few rounds were fired through a used gun when they really have no idea–and it could have been ten thousand rounds. Don’t just take their word for it–inspect guns closely. Most importantly be prepared to walk away if the price or condition is not right or you think they are being dishonest, there will always be another show and another deal.

    Don’t bring distractions with you to the show, especially your kids or spouse. Even your know-nothing friends can keep you from being focused on your mission. [JWR Adds: Plan on making an extra gun show trip or two each year, dedicated to the education of your children. Don’t expect to buy much on these educational trips. But these forays will give your kids a wealth of knowledge. Dealers are often happy to share their knowledge, especially at quiet times, such as on Sunday afternoons.] Once inside the show, plan and navigate the show carefully and methodically, don’t wander around aimlessly or without focus. Make a quick sweep of the show and keep a sharp eye out for the items you came for. Be sure and take note of signs and landmarks so as not to get lost–believe me it happens. On your second go-around talk to the dealers, make conversation, sometimes they can provide you with valuable information and occasionally have items that are not out on the table or know of another dealer that might have just what you need. If a dealer asks, “Can I help you?” don’t say “I’m just looking” and saunter away. Tell him what you are interested in finding, and talk with them. They might actually be able to help you. I can’t tell you how many times customers tell me “I’m just looking” or even worse “I have to ask my wife” or “my wife will kill me.” How pathetic. If you honestly can’t walk into a gun show and spend money without asking your wife, then stay home and wash a load of clothes or do the dishes. Your wife will appreciate that.

    Don’t buy things you can easily get somewhere else, unless of course the price is right. It is easy to be sucked into all the frenzy and spend your money on stuff you can get at any store. But you might then find a real gem at a bargain price but you will have already blown your budget on beef jerky and junk that you can get anywhere. Do not spend any money until you have closely examined everything at the show.

    It is often thought that the best deals are made just before the close of the show on the last day; dealers are packing up and just want to make that last minute deal, right? Wrong. That’s an old school train of thought and it might have been the case back in the day, not necessarily true anymore. It can happen but many dealers have brick and mortar shops or sell their products online, so gun shows have become just supplemental to their business, not a primary source of income. Most dealers don’t really “need” to make that last minute sale. They have other more profitable means to sell their goods,they are ready to go home and don’t want to put up with your low ball offer in the last few minutes of the show.

    Don’t Get in Trouble

    Know the law and obey it. Remember crossing state lines to buy or sellany [post-1898] firearm is a felony [under Federal law] for private party sales. Any transactions of modern guns across states lines must be “to or through” a FFL dealer. Gun shows are known for having undercover law enforcement officers in the crowd. If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Don’t buy anything that is questionable from anyone. I have seen fully automatic parts kits and those oil filter gun cleaning debris catcher “solvent traps” (suppressors) that are at least in my ind not something I even want my fingerprints on. If you are not fully informed of the law or licensed to possess an item, just keep walking. You don’t want to get that tap on the shoulder and a badge flashed. That just messes up your whole day.

    The Dealers

    Remember this: Dealers are not always in competition with each other, in some cases dealers are actually working in collusion. Dealers sometimes know each other can easily communicate by phone or text during the show. Many times I have had a call from a dealer a few tables down, the call goes something like this: “Hey there’s a guy trying to sell a Model 1911 .45 coming your way, I offered him $300.” This happens all the time. So don’t think that every dealer is completely independent of each other, they are not. They will work together to profit at your expense. I have had to buy quite a few beers at dinner for other dealers that provided me with a whisper call about a gun trade or sale.

    After the Show

    If there is something you like or don’t like about a gun show, maybe the fact that there are too many tables that are selling items not related to guns.If so, be sure to tell the show promoter about your concerns. Your comments and suggestions can make a difference in the quality of the dealers at your next gun show. You can usually find the promoter or manager at the entrance or just ask. They are glad hear what you have to say, positive or negative, let them know how you liked the show. – Prepper Ray in Lexington, SC

    JWR Adds: I strongly agree with Ray about doing your homework. If you are considering buying a particular model of gun at an upcoming gun show, then spend a few evenings studying up on all of the details on model variations, production numbers, prices, and key inspection points before attending the show. If need be, print out hard copies of references and bring them with you. These references used as leverage, in price negotiations. I have authored and co-authored several can also be used as leverage, in price negotiations. BTW, I have authored and co-authored several FAQs on guns and ammunition that you might find useful to print out as references.

    Preparedness-minded individuals are strongly encouraged to gain experience on both sides of the gun show table. Even if you don’t need any extra income, I recommend gathering up some extra items and renting a table at a local gun show for a weekend. By acting as the seller rather than the buyer, you’ll gain some very important skills and insights that could be crucial to a future barter-based economy. Haggling skills take time to develop. It also takes time to develop a smoothly-paced spielabout your merchandise. (There is a fine line between extolling the virtues of your merchandise, and being too pushy.) And you will learn to be observant for shoplifters. Most importantly, you will also soon develop a discerning eye about your customers–their backgrounds, their personalities, their motivations, their income levels, their intelligence, and their level of knowledge about guns. These are crucial “people skills” that might prove to be worth their weight in gold, in a post-collapse society.

    Letter: What You “Learn” Can Kill You

    HJL,

    My name is Mark and I’m a Prepper. Sounds faintly like how you’d introduce yourself at an AA meeting, but even though I’m afflicted by the Prepping bug it’s not a disease like most of America would want you to think. Most of my family years ago were farmers and poor backwoods people. So prepping was the only way to survive the harsh winters after the short growing seasons. I fell into it easily being raised to hunt and raise a garden. When the last administration was installed in 2009 I saw what was happening. And being former military, I recognized it for what it was, after I had seen what had previously happened overseas. Even though I was well past my prime it drove me to harden my body and bring my skill sets up to par again. I began by jogging and eventually settled on bicycling as a way to renewed fitness. It took several years to finally get into shape again (which really surprised me.) At 63 years old I’m probably as fit as a man can be, at least one who is this gray and wrinkly. I also joined USPSA 4-½ years ago and began competitively practical shooting. At 63 I have just entered A class which puts me in the top 10% internationally which is no easy feat for and old fellow like me. I also noticed that even though this is a “sport” and a “game” that Navy SEALs, cops and civilian contractors were showing up to shoot too. The Army Marksmanship Unit is also heavily into this training format and attends major matches. I strongly recommend trying this “sport”.

    I fully retired in June of this year and began living in a small tent in the high country here in Arizona. I do mountain biking for exercise. I found that a 29″er [mountain bike] is probably the best way to get around in the field and to move fairly heavy loads of equipment. A high quality mountain bike is most certainly a great prepping tool. The one thing I did find from my experiences so far is that we’ve been poorly trained for survival by our doctors and our government. Seems even I was unfit to survive from how I had “learned” to eat lately. The high animal fat and high protein diet I had consumed as a young man had been replaced by the faddish “new” healthy low fat diet for modern man. In an attempt “eat healthy”, I was gathering things like thistles and dandelions. I lost 25 pounds in two months, even while I was eating double servings. I have gone back to fatty foods and have stayed away from anything that is “healthy” and my weight has stabilized. I include a can of lard in my survival food now and cook with it and add a bit of it to my meals. I repeat: Be careful about what you “learn.”

    Being fit enough to survive won’t happen overnight. It takes a long time to harden especially if you are older. Most “tactical” courses are money that is wasted. The way you have been trained to eat will kill you. Prepare for war. Pray for peace. God bless, – Mark X.

    Economics and Investing:

    Why US Rates Can Never Rise: In 1 Awkward Chart

    o o o

    The Mises Institute Podcast interviews Bill Bonner

    o o o

    At The Blaze: You Might Have Gotten a New Credit Card With a New Chip Embedded in the Front — Here’s What You Need to Know About It

    Items from The Economics Team:

    UBS Is About To Blow The Cover On A Massive Gold-Rigging Scandal

    Swiss Regulator Names Seven Banks in Precious Metals Probe

    Understand and Prevent Identity Theft

    Odds ‘n Sods:

    Reader Jon C. spotted this news story from Omaha, Nebraska: Judge rules in lawsuit by neighbor: No chickens; owner will continue fight to keep them. JWR’s Comment: This underscores the importance of avoiding buying property inside a community with a HOA and onerous CC&Rs.

    o o o

    The creeping Nanny State: Court ruling makes Minnesota latest state to call BB gun ‘firearm’ (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)

    o o o

    B.B. recommended this video: The ISIS apocalypse: The history, strategy, and doomsday vision of the Islamic State.

    o o o

    Tim J. Sent us this: Woman is hysterical while begging bear to stop breaking her kayak. JWR’s Comment: I’m often asked if I carry Pepper Spray when I’m hiking. My reply: “No, I carry Lead Spray.” (Actually, I often carry both.) It is noteworthy that a 230-grain .45 caliber bullet travelling at around 1,050 feet per second certainly beats harsh language, in deterring an attack by either two-legged or four legged predators.

    Jim’s Quote of the Day:

    “If those who wrote and ratified the 14th Amendment had imagined laws restricting immigration – and had anticipated huge waves of illegal immigration – is it reasonable to presume they would have wanted to provide the reward of citizenship to the children of the violators of those laws? Surely not.” – George Will

    Notes for Thursday – October 01, 2015

    On this day in 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T–the world’s first truly mass-produced automobile. The Model T had an initial pricetag of $825 (and was only available in black.) But by 1925, with the economies of scale, the price was reduced to just $260.

    o o o

    Today, we present the first entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction
    writing contest    . The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

    First Prize:

    1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case–a $1,700 value.
    2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
    3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
    4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
    5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 MagPul PMAG 30rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
    6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
    7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
    8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
    9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
    10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

      Second Prize:

      1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
      2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
      3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training. (A $400 value.)
      4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
      5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
      6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
      7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
      8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
      9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
      10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value).

      Third Prize:

      1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
      2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana.
      3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
      4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
      5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
      6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
      7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
      8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
      9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

      Round 61 ends on November 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skillsfor survival have an advantage in the judging.

      Judging for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog Writing Contest — Winners Announced!

      Our staff has completed the judging for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes are awarded as follows:

      First Prize goes to Iowa Farm Boy for Traversing the Hinterlands – (Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3.)

      Second Prize goes to A.J. for Learning How to Grow Food in the American Redoubt.

      Third Prize goes to Redoubting Thomas for The 20% Solution.

      And Honorable Mention prizes ($30 Amazon.com gift cards) go to these nine fine articles:

      The Aging Prepper, by R.H.

      MultipleFamilies on Your Retreat, by Farmer Brown

      Buildinga Simple Multiband Antenna That Works, by The Consultant

      Low-Budget TEOTWAWKI Preps – Parts 1 & 2, By E.J.H.

      Ten Non-Power Tools That Will Help Long-Term After An EMP, by Z.T.

      Hidden Groundwater Sources in Urban/Suburban Settings, by ALP

      Sources of Vitamin C in a Post-SHTF World, by Okie Ranch Wife

      A SHTF Guide to Mass Casualty Incidents, by W.G. Curry, NRP, TP-C

      Renters Can Prepare Too, by FLSnappyTurtle

      Note to the top three prize winners: Please let us know your current e-mail address, as well as your USPS and UPS addresses, for your prizes. Thanks!

      New Prizes For Round 61 And Beyond

      We are pleased to announce that three new prizes have been added to the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest prize packages, starting with Round 61. (Which begins
      today, October 1st, 2015..) These prizes are:

      1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case–a $1,700 value. (Added to the First Prize package.) Note that this prize is just their “starter”-size mobile off-grid power system. They build them all the way up to 3,000 watts!
      2. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training. (A $400 value, added to the Second Prize package.) They also offer a wide range of firearms courses, including a highly-recommended Team Tactics course.
      3. A $245 gift certificate toward the purchase of any in-stock knife from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana. He makes fabulous knives that really hold an edge, and are quite reasonably priced. (Added to the Third Prize package.)

      Be sure to visit these three web sites and check out their great products and services.

      These new prizes bring the combined value of the top three prize packages to nearly $12,000. Even more prizes may be added shortly. By our estimate, a whopping $400,000 worth of prizes have been awarded by our very generous sponsors since the contest began in October of 2005.

      Wilderness Fire: An Unexpected Retreat From Our Retreat, by L.F.P.

      We have a boat-in only glamorous camping (“glamping”) retreat on a large lake in the West on the very edge of Wilderness-designated public forest land. The nearest road is more than three miles away. We were there in early August on summer vacation from the city. Several small lightning-caused wilderness fires had been burning for more than a month during the ongoing drought conditions. These fires flared up in very rugged terrain due to a rare severe August windstorm with gusts above 60 mph. The smoke had started to get noticeable on the lake and light ash was raining down from the fires which were over fifteen miles away and on the other side of the lake. Firefighters were quickly overwhelmed by the wind-driven flames with dry conditions and retreated. Containment of the fires was suddenly near 0%. Air assets were deployed mostly elsewhere in the state and region. These normally available but now missing air assets contributed to our prolonged calm since large growing or threatening wildfires usually are accompanied by lots of helicopter and airplane noise. We only witnessed spotter planes twice per day. We felt safe both in distance from the fire and being on the other side of the lake. There were lots of natural rocky firebreaks due to the mountainous terrain. We planned a late day excursion up the lake to view the fires as it got darker. We had also seen the fires in previous weeks. Anybody who has not seen an actual wildfire is in for some grim excitement. This was a very fine stretch of inaccessible roadless wilderness that unfortunately was on fire. The wind had kept the lake free of heavy smoke.

      When we were halfway to our planned view of the fire, the smoke quickly and suddenly got heavier down at the lake, and the falling ash became bad enough that we were getting ash-blasted at 35 mph in the 25 foot boat. It was difficult to see without protective glasses at that speed. We changed plans and headed back to the retreat. Once there it was obvious that the smoke on the entire lake was getting far worse due to wind shift and increasing fire. By now the kids were joking that we should enjoy the ash because it was the best snow we would likely get this year! The previous winter had been a bust at most ski areas. Suddenly we noticed a steady film of grey wet ash all over the top of the very large lake. Mother nature and wild fires can be amazing. By now you could look directly at the lowering sun with bare eyes. The other side of the lake was now invisible. Visibility became one half mile or less on a sunny cloudless day. A few people were still tubing and skiing on the lake.

      As adults we were getting more worried. Two of the eight kids had slight asthma. Steady, heavy smoke isn’t healthy for anyone. We were not convinced that it would not become worse. Days later the air quality would be retroactively classified as “hazardous.” The nearest hospital, if needed, was a thirty minute high speed boat ride away or a twenty minute high speed boat ride and a 40 minute car ride. There was a real possibility that the ash would become heavier and maybe spread the fire closer upon us. It would be dark soon.We were wilderness fire veterans and had been through this before in past years. The news reports weren’t good and tourists and some locals were fleeing the area in haste due to the conditions. Then we heard news of a new rapidly growing fire that was causing the evacuation of the nearest town and it’s hospital. The town was in real potential trouble. Roads were closing,evacuations were becoming mandatory in areas 10 miles away and also in several new large areas further North and one area only six miles away over several major ridges. Fire officials were calling for backup that wasn’t available. A few days later authorities made the unusual call for previously-trained citizen volunteers to assist. The fire and smoke and ash situation had deteriorated badly in just a few hours of unseasonable weather change, drought conditions,and high winds. We made the cautious decision to bug out from this local disaster while it was mostly still daylight out. We quickly packed one bag each, left everything else, and headed across the lake in the boat as it was getting dark. We made it to the Suburbans and then headed toward the nearest mid-sized city that news reports said was mostly unaffected. The kids were livid that we were leaving the cabin and thought it totally unnecessary. What was some smoke and a little ash?

      We planned on getting a motel room in the un-named mid-sized city but had a friend in the area and family in the area as backup. We were also only three hours from home. Roads were still staying open in the area we were. As it turns out it took over a half hour with four people each on the phone to find an available hotel room. The only one left was an expensive 2 bedroom suite but we took it with our group. The kids were soon enjoying themselves. The adults were a little stressed.

      Our backup plan? For various reasons family and friends were unavailable,unable, or unwilling to take us on short notice. We didn’t push it but we learned a lesson! We ended up leaving our vacation a few days earlier than planned. The area where we obtained the hotel suite was “smoked-out” toward the late morning and we left for home. This was in effect areverse bugout!

      In the end, we learned that our retreat was fine. But others in the area weren’t so lucky. A friend couldn’t retrieve his trailer for weeks when he left it in a hurry. Roads remained closed for three weeks and dangerous due to downed power lines, tumbled-down large rocks and rock slides, and downed trees and fences and guard rails with burned posts. Hundreds of homes and some businesses in town burned including waterfront homes that had obvious water sources nearby. Boats and docks even went up in flames fueled by fiberglass and fuel tanks. Trees,rocks, and power lines covered some roads. Fences burned. Both domestic and wild animals were all on the move, some injured by fire.

      I am glad that we did not take chances by staying or even just staying any longer. We did several things wrong: We left our camping gear and sleeping bags at the retreat. We didn’t take enough of the food and water that we left at the retreat. At one point I was worried that was going to be a real regret. We took longer than we should have to bail out because we were still enjoying ourselves and entertaining ourselves with the situation. We also misjudged the situation because the lack of government response (no large amount of helicopter noise as there had been on past large wildfires) but that was due to their being overwhelmed. That is something to keep in mind: the government response was fairly quickly overwhelmed for over a week due to other regional uses on other wildfires including international wildfires and therefore the response was not as expected for the situation. By the time we left the direction we needed to go was open and safe, but it could have been different. In a larger regional or national disaster I would have been far more worried about security and refueling. There was some theft and looting but LEOs acted within days by publicly posting patrols. A couple of locals also needed to make their shotguns visible to turn unknowns away from where they shouldn’t have been.

      We did several things right: We could have gone back to the retreat and wisely left that option open. Our vehicles and boat had plenty of fuel in them as is my habit even on vacation. That was crucial because businesses including gas stations and marinas were all evacuating or in closed areas. We left the retreat with several options available: Public services, family and friends, or going all the way home. The entire time we stayed in touch with several current local news sources and official web sites and knowledgeable friends. This would have been more difficult or impossible if cellular, internet, or power grids were down. Even on vacation, carry a radio communication device that is independent of the electrical grid, the cellular system, and the internet, such as a CB radio as a minimum. We had enough fuel to get home, but that may have been different if the disaster was larger geographically, more people were on the move clogging up roads, or if we weren’t able to get directly where we were going.

      I was the only real “prepper” in the group, and much of this was not obvious to the ones who had never thought this type of situation through or at least read about it. Interestingly, the kids who had seen survival shows were much more aware than even some of the adults. Fire and smoke is a real threat in many retreat locations. In our case the fire had not even reached within six miles of us on our side of the lake. – L.F.P.