[Southern Dad]

Let's say that you happen to have an EMP proof vehicle and you are one of the few people able to move around. The next question is how do you keep this vehicle? I'm sure most of us have read the book, One Second After, by William Forstchen. We all know that our local, county and state governments will not be prepared for this event and will not have vehicles operating. It is really hard to tell the State Police that they can't have your vehicle when they demand it with a few drawn guns.

 

[pakrat]

My insticnts tell me, unless you absolutely have no choice, don't drive it. As soon as wheels turn, you're a target. Once you start rolling, you need to be gassed up, strapped in and reasonably sure you've got a clear shot and an alternate route in case you have to 180 somewhere.

My BOV has an ignition kill switch (highly recommended)... a second key switch tucked away you have to hold on while turning the starter key or it won't start. Anyone attempting to use vehicle will assume it's like all of the rest... no go. It's like any other survival resource and I have no desire to make its existance as such public... looks like crap unless you lift the hood or crawl under. All go, no show.

If police draw guns, I turn the ignition off, hand them the keys and see where it goes from there. If you don't have balls, it would be best to stay off the roads when SHTF. A BOV could get you KIA.

 

[MountainMan]

Totally agree. Our groups bug out plan involves a good trek with no vehicle. We're lookin' at a few hundred miles of walkin' and we're ready for it.

 

[Irish]

1st of my BOV stays in the garage. 2nd I have similar set ups to my ignition as packrats, ( slightly different)( I have the same set up on all my vehicles so nobody can ever actually steal 1 anyways, 3rd 4 wheeling is my main hobby & I have several routes that do not require me to go on pavement at all( besides the first half mile to mile, 4th it's fast as f#@* ( I have no worries of somebody catching me)

 

[whoppo]

The folks in my neighborhood are good, law-abiding citizens, but I kinda think that LEO's drawing their weapons to confiscate personal property because they're unprepared would, for many, be crossing a line that would best be uncrossed.... if you know what I mean.

 

[Southern Dad]

Commandeering my vehicle by the government would be a big worry for me initially. That is why I believe that I would use the first days of confusion and uncertainty to me and mine to the North Georgia mountains. Then I'd park the vehicle or vehicles not to be used again until other vehicles were up and moving. The police would look at commandeering as something that needs to be done for the greater good.

 

[Lucky Jim]

If we know how to EMP-proof our vehs, i'm sure the army/police know how to EMP-proof theirs too, so why should they want to commandeer ours?

 

[Southern Dad]

Jim, good question. My thought on an EMP safe vehicle would just be to own something really old and military. I can tell you that my local police department and the county sheriff's department where I live wouldn't know what EMP stood for let alone if their vehicles could handle it. They are all late model vehicles filled with electronics. As I mentioned the book, One Second After, they discovered that only the older vehicles were still working. The local police in that book also wanted to take his car because it was working. I don't think too many police departments have made any type of plans for EMP or other disasters like this.

 

[Fuzzee]

You're certainly going to be a target when so many have no working vehicle and have gotten desperate with little concern about trying to take your vehicle. I know I wouldn't want to leave mine behind when bugging out. For finding fuel be ready with a brass coated punch and hammer, and syphon pump. All those abandoned cars and trucks will have some gas in there tanks and you'll have to take advantage of them if you want to stay moving and alive, in your vehicle. You'll have to be prepared to defend it with passengers willing and able (I know that's asking a lot with kids and pampered, weak willed wives) or it will be taken from you if you're out on the roads trying to make it to a BOL. Staying away from populations as much as possible, bringing along spare gas cans and keeping them filled at any safe opportunity will be SOP. (standard operating procedure) Traveling the back roads if you vehicle isn't loud I believe most if they don't seee you coming down the road won't know you're there till it's too late to do anything and you'll be on your way. That doesn't mean it will be anything but dangerous and a constant concern to watch your six. Hopefully your BOV is fast while still being fairly good on gas, though that is definitely asking a lot, if not dreaming. The more time has gone by, the more valuable your vehicle will be and more desperate people will be. If you're plan is to go to a BOL when an EMP event were to happen, I wouldn't goof off in doing it. There will be a certain amount of shock period I believe before people really see what's happened and think about the future. You should already be at your BOL at that point if you can. I'd move out within hours of understanding what happened myself.

 

[Fuzzee]

If we know how to EMP-proof our vehs, i'm sure the army/police know how to EMP-proof theirs too, so why should they want to commandeer ours?

Knowing and doing are too different things. If an EMP where to knock out the PCM's and electronic sensors in modern vehicles, most vehicles in the effected area will not be protected from it. Police work around budgets and pinch their pennies at times same as the rest of us. None of the police vehicles I've seen today if exposed to an EMP seem protected against it if the EMP were to burn out the now standard componets of modern vehicles.

 

[whoppo]

I have a gut feeling that we'll run into a non-EMP SHTF situation long before an EMP surprise party, given the crap our "leaders" are dishing out.

 

[Leon]

Underground garage?

 

[WoadWarrior]

Here's another option you can consider: sign up and become a reserve deputy, officer, ranger, etc. This has multiple advantages:

1) You get to serve your community
2) You get some great training (I'm taking a POST certified knife fighting class on the 14th and am awaiting the final details for an FBI sponsored handgun class at Quantico and a man-tracking class this fall)
3) You get to keep weapons that could be confiscated from civilians post-SHTF
4) Ammo is about 1/3 the cost
5) You have access to gear that is restricted to civilians
6) You are seen as one of the "good guys" by the govt and don't have to deal with the harassment (pre, trans, and post-SHTF)
6) Your vehicle has a better chance of staying with you since you can claim it for official use (post-SHTF)

 

[Southern Dad]

Excellent idea, Woad.

 

[jgriner]

Let's say that you happen to have an EMP proof vehicle and you are one of the few people able to move around. The next question is how do you keep this vehicle? I'm sure most of us have read the book, One Second After, by William Forstchen. We all know that our local, county and state governments will not be prepared for this event and will not have vehicles operating. It is really hard to tell the State Police that they can't have your vehicle when they demand it with a few drawn guns.

I believe in a situation where it's wrol (without rule of law) Caused by some form of civil war, terrorist attack, north Koreans / Iran. In which case there is no form of police, just who has the most firepower. After a while there will be groups of thugs that will claim to be police, kinda like gangs that run the Somali pirates, but it will mostly be anarchy.

In the long run outside influence from china, will attempt to take control of America. Anyway owning the most firepower is key to surviving.

 

[Southern Dad]

Desperate people do desperate things. I think having a working vehicle would be a real issue to just about everyone. People who are out of shape and walking everywhere get desperate quick. Everyone would be a threat to your vehicle; neighbors, travelers, police, thugs, etc.

 

[Elapid]

I live in rural Mississippi and have no bug out plans. I will go to a farm I have and a few that plan on being there also. Together we have food, firepower, (I'm talking over 100,000 rounds), water both stored and in the ground, and around 8 years of supplies. Everything is stored in several locations and I don't think anyone will be able to get to them without our knowing. I think gas and fuel of any kind will be one of the first things to dry up and you might want to think more on limited travel, a BOV that uses fuel might let you down. I guess I'm more of a stay put thinker with a mind set to defend your little community.

 

[PrepperLite]

If we know how to EMP-proof our vehs, i'm sure the army/police know how to EMP-proof theirs too, so why should they want to commandeer ours?

Money is allocated elsewhere. The probability of an EMP event does not justify the monetary investment.

 

[PrepConsultant]

I have a Jeep Wrangle Unlimited 4x4 with 4 doors and it has a few things extra. Including an ignition kill switch. I also have a toggle that shuts off all of the brake lights,blinkers and stuff like that.

 

[Nathan Jefferson]

http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/08/real_world_emp_effects_on_moto.html

I'll just leave this here...