Lessons Learned from My First Bug Out Truck – Part 2, by H.J.

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(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

Using one side of my mechanic friend’s two-car garage, the gasoline engine was removed and the 4BT was prepared for test fitting by pressure washing the engine and scrubbing down with degreaser. One of the top killers of diesel engines is high exhaust gas temperature (EGT), which can occur under hard use and heavy loads and can melt the pistons and cylinder rings. To monitor this temperature, the turbocharger was also removed, the exhaust manifold was drilled and tapped for an aftermarket pyrometer, and the turbo re-installed. It is important when monitoring the EGT to do so in the manifold and not in the exhaust pipe due to heat loss through the turbo. To ensure that the engine was receiving adequate fuel, the banjo bolt connecting the lift-pump hard fuel line to the fuel filter housing was removed and then drilled and tapped to accept an aftermarket fuel pressure sensor.

Since the manual transmission was being retained, a universal flywheel tachometer adaptor from Dakota Digital was used to work with the original tachometer. It is important to get an accurate count on the number of flywheel teeth before bolting the engine to the transmission (ask me when this was found out), as the adaptor has a control box which requires you to set a series of switches so that the signal to the tachometer is correct. Once this is done, the unit works flawlessly.

Following the recommendation from the 4BTSwap web site, the stock diaphragm lift pump was replaced with a higher-performing piston-style unit. The engine was than lowered, dummy bolted to the transmission, and blocked in place. Using cardboard, we mocked up motor mounts which were cut out of scrap 1/4″ steel plate by using a handheld oxygen-acetylene torch and stick welded together. The resulting mounts were hardly show-worthy but have proven to be more than sufficient over the years.

The engine was then installed properly and bolted into place. The existing fuel tank was re-used after being dropped, drained, and rinsed out with diesel fuel several times. The stock fuel line was reused and we left the in-tank fuel in place but removed the fuse from the circuit. It is important NOT to use the in-tank fuel pump because it operates at a much high pressure than the 4BT fuel system is designed to handle on the incoming side, which can blow out seals in the lift- and injector-fuel pumps.

Exhaust Work

Moving onto the exhaust, the downpipe was slightly modified to clear the passenger side firewall-transmission tunnel seam. The downpipe was temporarily connected to the existing exhaust system by using flex pipe. A local exhaust shop later replaced the flex-pipe with a correct and much more sturdy exhaust pipe.Continue reading“Lessons Learned from My First Bug Out Truck – Part 2, by H.J.”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

2

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” – 1 John 3 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — November 14, 2020

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On November 14th, 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano erupted in Colombia, killing over 20,000 as nearby towns are buried in mud, ice, and lava. Scientists studying the volcano believed an eruption was imminent and had recommended an evacuation of the area which was largely ignored, resulting in the high number of casualties.

—

I have a sale announcement: Harvest Guard is having a 15% off sale at canninglids.com

Beginning Friday the 13th, all products on their website are discounted 15% by using the coupon code CELEBRATE during checkout. The company’s president notes:  “Not only is it Friday the 13th, but by the end of the day we will finally be back to normal shipping times of 1-3 days from receipt of orders, with the caveat that red lids are still about 7-10 days away from being available.”

That is worth celebrating!  Note that this sale ends at midnight on Sunday, November 15th, 2020, so get your order in right away, with the coupon code!

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 91 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. 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).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Round 91 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Lessons Learned from My First Bug Out Truck – Part 1, by H.J.

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Many moons ago, as a semi-broke college student, I purchased a used 1995 Ford F-150 for my first all-weather, practical vehicle. Being a young man, this selection was driven completely by brand loyalty and cosmetic appeal rather than any careful consideration of vehicle capabilities. By the grace of God, my selection would prove to be an excellent base from which to build my first Bug Out Truck (BOT) after I entered the prepping world.

The truck in stock form delivered reliable service for many years with the original manual transmission and 5.0L gas engine. While dependable, there were several outstanding qualities and several shortcomings that become glaringly obvious very quickly.

  • As a full-size single cab, it provided plenty of room for my brother and myself on the four-hour trips from home to college. However, I had not put any thought into how a third passenger would affect everyone’s comfort. This was especially true for the person riding in the middle seat, as the gear shift sat between his/her knees. Having a manual transfer case, the four-wheel drive lever was under that person’s left foot. I had also not considered how to transport luggage in bad weather. A used, across-the-bed style toolbox was quickly found and Glad trash bags become a major part of the truck’s emergency kit.
  • While being a full-size vehicle, the short-bed wheelbase made the truck very maneuverable, quick to steer, and tight turning. This allowed me to easily navigate the parking lots, garages, and street stalls of an over-crowded college town.
  • A college student with a truck is always the most popular and in-demand person around, even to complete strangers. I later learned this applies equally well in the recently-married stage of life as friends and family bought new furniture and/or embarked on their first Do-It-Yourself home improvement projects.
  • The 5.0L V8 gas engine was a terrible choice. As a young man, I was instantly sold on the idea of a V8 engine and thought the truck would have plenty of power. Instead, I found it to be grossly underpowered and required high RPMs to deliver adequate performance when merging with interstate traffic or passing on two-lane roads. Fuel mileage was also dismal, typically averaging 13-14 MPG. Combined with the 18-gallon gas tank, I passed up very few gas stations.
  • Bad weather performance was much poorer than I thought it would be. I mistakenly thought that having four-wheel drive would allow the truck to go anywhere I wanted no matter what the weather conditions were.
  • You can and will quickly exceed the comfortable weight carrying capacity of a truck. I learned this very early on when I started making Lowe’s and Home Depot trips for friends and family. Just because you can fit a pallet of bagged concrete in the bed does not mean you should.

A few years after college, several life events occurred over several years that would change how I looked at life and especially how I considered vehicles.

First, I purchased One Second After by William R. Forstchen and immediately proceeded to read it three times in a week. This opened my eyes and plunged me headfirst into the world of prepping.Continue reading“Lessons Learned from My First Bug Out Truck – Part 1, by H.J.”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

Just in case “President” Biden (or should I say… Harris) gets sworn in, I hedged my bets and bought another $1,800 worth of full capacity magazines. (Mostly AR-15, AR-10, Glock, SIG P320, and M1A.) I expect that we’ll soon experience massive and chronic shortages of 11+ round magazines.

This week I got the studded tires back on our SUV and had the oil changed. (Yes, I’m now at the stage of life where I pay to have that done.) I also hooked up our Western plow on our pickup truck. The controls were acting a bit glitchy, so I gooped all of the terminals on the detachable control and power cables with dielectric grease. That fixed it.

I”ve been busy with radio and podcast interviews — promotion of my two most recent nonfiction books: Survival Retreats and Relocation (now available for ordering) and The Ultimate Prepper’s Survival Guide (in print since late August). The latter has been selling very well, so it looks like there will soon be a second printing. That batch should be available in late January or early February. (They are printed in Hong Kong, and they come to the States via cargo ship.) Take note that there could be a drought of available copies, in the interim. So if you get the chance to buy any at your local Costco, then jump on them. You’ll be able to re-sell them for $25+ each, on eBay.

I also did yet another Polish radio interview about the new Polish-language edition of my bestselling How To Survive The End of the World as We Know It nonfiction book.

It feels good to settle into our winter routine. Summer and fall tend to be very hectic for us. So it is nice to have days where the most memorable highlights are, feeding the cows and horses,  sweeping snow off the porch, and tossing logs in the woodstove.

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

1

“Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.

Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.

We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.

We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.

Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.

We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.

Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.

We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.

Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.

They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.

Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.

 They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.

The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.

The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.

The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!

For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.

Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.

Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?

Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.” – Lamentations 5 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — November 13, 2020

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Continental Army Brigadier General Richard Montgomery took Montreal, Canada without opposition on this day in 1775.

—

Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, was born in Scotland on November 13th, 1850.

—

The Kindle edition of the book Survival Retreats and Relocation (that I co-authored with my #1 Son) is now available for pre-ordering at the discounted price of just $9.99.  Delivery (via download) will begin tomorrow — November 14th, 2020. Take note that the Kindle version is the same large format layout as the hard copy book, so it will display best on a tablet or with the desktop computer Kindle app. The multi-platform PDF e-book is also available for pre-order at $9.99.

Ready Yourself for a Turbulent 2021 and Beyond

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The year 2020 will be remembered as an exceptionally turbulent year, marked by multiple worldwide crises and massive urban protests and riots. It has been a year of significant drama and trauma. I do not expect that 2021 will mark a “return to normality.”  If anything, 2021 will be just as jarring to our collective psyche. Parenthetically, I should mention that I created a meme for that.

In this essay, I’m posting my recommendations for SurvivalBlog readers on how to ready yourself and your family for any of the following in 2021:

  • Economic Turmoil
  • Sociopolitical Upheaval
  • Global Military and Terrorism Threats
  • Supply Chain Disruptions
  • Renewed Pandemic Lockdowns
  • Anti-Second Amendment Legislation
  • Urban Outmigration
  • A Resurgence of Inflation

I don’t claim to be any sort of prophet. I simply extrapolate from current events, trends, and my study of history.

Economic Turmoil

The massive debts that many governments have racked up since the outbreak of COVID-19 are staggering.  In just the past 11 months nearly $2 Trillion Dollars has been added to our national debt. Federal debt, as a share of the economy, hit 98 percent in the 2020 fiscal year. To put the mountain of new debt in perspective: It took about 200 years for the Federal Government to build up its first $1 trillion in debt. (That threshold was reached circa 1976.) The debt is now north of $28 trillion, and climbing. And that figure does not include out-year obligations such as Federal pensions. So, I realistically, think of it as a $50+ trillion debt!

Specific Recommendations:

  • Because we can expect layoffs, develop a second income stream from a home-based business.
  • Reduce your consumer debt as much as possible.
  • Invest in anticipation of both a weaker U.S. Dollar on the Forexand much higher currency inflation. (More on that, later in this article.)

Continue reading“Ready Yourself for a Turbulent 2021 and Beyond”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at rising gun and ammo prices. (See the Economy & Finance section and the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Silver price falls 7% on vaccine news, but here’s key difference between gold and silver

o  o  o

Gold Price Forecast: Gold Plummets Towards New Target. The article begins:

“I saw the potential for market-changing news over the weekend, but I did not expect it to be on the vaccine front. Pfizer announced a successful vaccine, and gold is plummeting.

Our cycles supported a turning point in precious metals around November 6th (+/- a few trading days). I assumed it would time a low aligned with our 6-month target. Today’s market action to the vaccine suggests that instead of a low – gold inverted and formed a high overnight. The election fiasco kept gold elevated long enough to force the cycle to invert. Subsequently, gold pushed its 6-month low into the last half of December.”

Economy & Finance:

Seeking Alpha reports: Tesla Just Put The Accelerator Down On The EV And Battery Boom

o  o  o

And at Yahoo Finance: Negative yields may be coming to U.S.: Guggenheim CIO Minerd

o  o  o

Gunmaker Stocks Soar at Prospect of Biden Victory. JWR’s Comment: As the article mentions: the prices of guns are expected to also rise. I anticipate that the biggest price increases will be for semi-auto rifles. A “Plain Jane” AR-15 may be selling for $2,000+, in January. I trust that my readers have stocked up on guns, stripped AR lowers, magazines, and ammunition. Your return on investment will likely exceed that of the best performing stocks.

o  o  o

At Wolf Street: State of the American Debt-Slaves, Q3 2020: The Stimulus & Forbearance Phenomenon

Commodities:

Copper MMI: Copper price reaches 28-month high.

o  o  o

OilPrice News reports: Citibank Forecasts $49 WTI For 2021. Here is an excerpt:

“Two months ago, Citi was expecting oil prices to recover to $60 a barrel by the end of next year as the oversupply will have been drawn down by then, as major investment banks and analysts were fairly bullish on oil.

However, the surge in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks and the renewed lockdowns and curfews in major European economies—including France, the UK, Italy, and Germany—are pressuring oil prices downwards as the rebalancing of the oil market is once again slipping to a later than initially expected time.

In its note on Monday, Citi said that prices would be supported by OPEC+ not easing the cuts from January, as currently planned. The group will likely extend the cuts as-is through the end of the first quarter of 2021, according to Citi.”

o  o  o

AAA Mid-Atlantic: Gas Prices At Lowest Levels Since 2004

Derivatives:

OTC derivatives not immune to Covid-19 market turmoil

o  o  o

Forex & Cryptos:

Post-Election USD Sell-off Plummets to Critical Support- Gold False Breakout Risks Deep Losses

o  o  o

When I last checked (Thursday evening), it took $16,460 USD to buy one Bitcoin.  Buckle up.

o  o  o

FUD or regulatory change? Rumor clouds swirl around crypto exchanges

Tangibles Investing:

AMMO, Inc. Sees Demand Increase 291% for Its Streak Visual Ammunition Year Over Year

o  o  o

USN&WR: Pandemic, Presidential Election Leads to Run on Ammunition

o  o  o

Say Goodbye to Inventory at Your FFL?

Provisos:

SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.

News Tips:

Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant because they come from folks who closely watch specific markets. If you spot any news that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers, then please send it in. News items from local news outlets that are missed by the news wire services are especially appreciated. And it need not be only about commodities and precious metals. Thanks!

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — November 12, 2020

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Today is the birthday of USMC Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph “Dan” Daly (born 1873, died April 27, 1937). He was one of only nineteen men (including seven Marines) to twice receive the Medal of Honor.

—

November 12th, 1950 was the birthday of Corporal John Alan Coey. (He died 19 July 1975). He was the first American volunteer killed in Rhodesia.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 91 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. 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).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Round 91 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Home Insurance 101 – Part 2, by C.J.

7

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

Having the Right Policy

If you own a farm, ranch or if you have livestock, you most likely will need a farm policy as opposed to a standard homeowner’s policy. Farm policies will offer coverage a standard homeowner’s policy doesn’t offer. Many policies will offer coverage for your livestock and equipment such as tractors, steer skids, etc. Many homeowners’ policies will have strict eligibility requirements for livestock as well as acreage. If your home is outside the typical track home scenario, it is best to verify with your agent that what you have is eligible for the policy you have. Every company will vary on their eligibility requirements and every home will vary on their coverage needs between a home and farm policy. I specifically recommend you do this through e-mail, so you have in writing what they tell you.

Unfortunately, agents work on commission, and many have a tendency to tell you what you want to hear in hopes of not losing your business. This can be common if they don’t have an appropriate replacement option for you. Always get verification of any question to them in writing. Your agent will develop amnesia very quickly after a loss when a coverage or eligibility issue arises. The same goes with coverages. If your policy does not list the coverage, then assume that you don’t have it. Policies can be difficult to follow, so asking your agent is a good way to verify, but please get their answer in writing.

Along the lines of eligibility, be sure your carrier allows your breed of dog, home-based business, trampoline, wood stove and roof type. I know many SurvivalBlog readers may have home-based businesses and the eligibility of these businesses will vary by insurance carrier and the business’s nature. A small home office is quite different than a home-based business with your clients visiting your house (piano teacher, etc) If you come to find out your carrier does not allow wood stoves, this does not mean you need to get rid of the woodstove. Many times, it just means you need to find a new carrier. Of course, if you stay with the carrier that does not allow wood stoves, then understand a loss resulting from the woodstove will most likely not be covered, so in that case I guess you should get rid of it. My point is, don’t feel pigeon-holed into getting rid of something you deem valuable based on one carrier’s eligibility guidelines.Continue reading“Home Insurance 101 – Part 2, by C.J.”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at a few mobile tiny home innovations. They call them Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOWs.)

The New Generation of Truly Mobile Tiny Homes

Over at Fast Company: What’s better than a tiny house? A tiny house on wheels. Here is the article’s intro:

“Tiny houses—homes sometimes as small as 150 square feet, popularized on reality shows such as Tiny House Nation—have had a longstanding challenge. You might be able to buy or build one for relatively little money, but because they’re typically constructed on a trailer with wheels, the zoning codes in most cities make them illegal. Tiny-house forums online are filled with people asking how they can find a place to park their new homes. But a growing number of cities are beginning to change local regulations to allow the houses, and that could make a meaningful difference for affordable housing.”

Vote Fraud on a Grand Scale

Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Alleged examples of voting fraud pouring in despite Democrats insistence of no such thing.

And in related news: “It Defies Logic”: Scientist Finds Telltale Signs Of Election Fraud After Analyzing Mail-In Ballot Data

Will Army Infantry Squads Be Reorganized?

Pat Cascio forwarded this: The Army Is Looking at Changing Up the Size of Its Infantry Squads. A snippet:

“Maneuver officials at Fort Benning, Georgia, are looking at restructuring future ground combat units, including an effort that could change the size of the infantry squad.

For the past three years, the Army has been rushing to perfect new, advanced weapons and other sophisticated battle technology to prepare for large-scale combat with potential adversaries such as Russia and China.

Now, the service is looking at how new systems, ranging from the Robotic Combat Vehicle to the Next Generation Squad Weapon, could affect the size of maneuver units, starting with the nine-man infantry squad, Col. Alexis Rivera Espada, director of the Maneuver Battle Lab at Benning, said this week at the National Defense Industrial Association’s Armaments, Robotics and Munitions conference.”Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”