I've watched several of southernprepper1's videos and like what he does and talks about. I think what he said about stashing supplies on your land that you haven't moved to/developed yet is a great idea. Got the wheels turnin'....

I believe cashes are a must,

-If you become removed from your home for some reason and can not go back for a long period of time; they can provide you shelter, food, water and gear
-You can regroup in them, hunt from them and vanish from sight in them, as well as launch defensive/offensive action from them
-Give you larger items that will become impossible to find or replace if SHTF. I like the plastic ones, there water proof and last forever and can be used in so many ways
-Having a few in different locations and set up differently also will help you avoid detection and aid in travelling around a bit.
-keeps you from putting all your eggs in one bracket to be robbed, then what?

If u plan on using the plastic types (septic, water tanks) for cashes I recommend you use them above ground level or in the side of a hill. place the opening on the buttom or 45 degree facing slightly downwards (beaver house style) This will prevent harmful gases from building up from your breath while you sleep from poisoning you, a small vent at the top can also help but you gotta make it impossible for bugs, water and such from entering your cashe. you can then create your own hill over it and plant weeds and grass to hide it from sight, as well as fallen trees or what have you. Be creative, soon with some thought and imagination even you will have a hard time finding it. Again check your cashes in the 4 seasons to make sure it's stealth remains and animal aren't trying to mess it up on you. especially in fall when the leaves fall from the trees some cashes can become very obvious so check and check again.

Great post Buggie & Coinzero! I live in a small city, I have no rural area to go to, I have heard of burying caches in your yard (in the event everything else gets taken you have something left) or storing some items in a storage company's units where you have key access 24/7...seems like that might be what we do and store some food items, water etc. there.

I had always considered smaller type Cache containers, so this really gets the mind juices flowing. If you could not get to your BOL for a extended period or even just in the mean time having a BOL out in the boonies, this would be effective against the simple scavenging type looters that roam around even today, nevermind after the SHTF.

Best part is, no one would raise an eye brow.

Hey buggie, what are you doing?"
"Oh I'm just instaling a new septic tank"
"Really? How come?"
"Because I eat a lot of chinese food"
"Oh... Wow...gross...ok carry on"

Meanwhile in the back of their minds they are thinking "when shtf, the last place I would look for supplies is inside that septic tank"

Great post Buggie & Coinzero! I live in a small city, I have no rural area to go to, I have heard of burying caches in your yard (in the event everything else gets taken you have something left) or storing some items in a storage company's units where you have key access 24/7...seems like that might be what we do and store some food items, water etc. there.

I had thought of using a storage company unit. I'm a renter, so I'm not able to bury a septic tank in my yard (I'll do that in my BOL), but there is a storage company right across the street from me that would be very handy and easy to get to. I don't want to keep all of my preps in one location so spreading them out, even across the street, would be a good idea I think.

Their are several problems with using a storage company that I've thought of.

1) In the event of a total shtf scenario, the chances of the manager being on site to actually let you into the building or yard are slim to none.
2) These places are designed from the ground up to keep people out. You'd have a tough time scaling the fence and getting to your preps when you need them most
3) Obvious targets for looters

There are obvious benifets too, but I wouldn't use one of these locations unless for absolute short term storage (basically while you are looking for a better spot to put them. I definatley wouldn't put anything that I need imediate access too in their, such as weapons.

Our storage company here is accessible 24/7 so access is not an issue here...I wouldn't put all my weapons there but perhaps a couple incase the ones from my home were taken and perhaps additional BOB's, needed equipment, some food/water.

Good post Buggie plastic septic tanks are worth considering. As Canadians we would have to be careful not to bury them too deep and keep the cap covered by only a few cm of course gravel or other suitable material so that they would remain easily accessible when the ground is frozen.

You wrote "when shtf, the last place I would look for supplies is inside that septic tank". An interesting historical note is that during the US Civil War underneath out houses was a common place to hide caches of money weapons etc. It was very successful and some of them are still being uncovered today.

An interesting project would to be to get one large enough (bigger then the one in the video, perhaps 1000 gallon). And rig the inside up with some sort of storage shelving for stocking emergency food+water, as well as first aid, weapons, and anything else you would need. Then set up 2 hook at either and of the inside to sling up a hammock to sleep in, so you can maximize storage space, and sleep comfortably.

It would neet to be vented somehow so you wouldn't suffocate, and the hatch and vents could be easily concealed by gluing dirt or plant material to the exposed parts. Perhaps burry it underneith a garden or planter box, and run the vents up the side, giving the appearance of a water funnel for the plant beds. I've got a lot of ideas for this application now lol.

For you "survival retreat" types, the easy concealment would make it an ideal lookout outpost shelter, or snipers nest. Just imagine the lid opening raised out of the ground enough, concealed with a "tree stump" or something to that effect. Cofer it in plant life and voilla, instant ambush or sentry post.

Buggie,

You are on to something here.

ICRCC, I would bury this thing at least 54" below ground to get below the frost line, so the water or food that may be stored inside do not freeze. I am sure most on here could devise some sort of extention for entry/exit. I would recommend a good layer of sand or pea gravel over the opening if buried in the "backyard" as these are easier to dig when frozen.

You might want to think about burying it below your garage. Then you could have what looks like a floor drain/grate covering your entry.

For those using or thinking of building caches from PVC or ABS pipe, remember to bury them vertical at least 3 feet below the surface and pack your metal items at the bottom so metal detectors cannot find your cache. Oh, yah - remember to map the location of your cache(s) so you can find them later. 🙂

Cheers,

Mountainman.

For those using or thinking of building caches from PVC or ABS pipe, remember to bury them vertical at least 3 feet below the surface and pack your metal items at the bottom so metal detectors cannot find your cache. Oh, yah - remember to map the location of your cache(s) so you can find them later. 🙂

Cheers,

Mountainman.

Just how far down exactly can metal detectors detect metal? (If a wood chuck could chuck wood lol)

If it is magnetometer type it will be good to 20' plus.... a standard iron detector as used by utility companies 6' - 8'

as in 20 inches? or feet. If I have to climb down a 20 foot concrete sewer pipe with a ladder just to get to it, then it kind of defeats the purpose. Think ill just take my chances and assume that no one near me will have one lol. and if they do, and they open the hatch, they will get a face full of 7.62x39