both interesting points...
I remember hearing about earth being a good protector against EMPs, but would have to go look that up again.
A buried sea can might just do the trick, but as a faraday cage, it would have to be completely sealed...no holes or gaps.
I think a bigger issue would be fuel...if vehicles ARE damaged, you can bet that the power grid would be too, not to mention the gas pumps themselves...
which leads us to your other point of the off road vehicles.
Certainly an ATV or motocross can go lots of places that cars or trucks can't and they use way less fuel.
The more I look into nuclear EMP's, the more I'm inclined to believe that it's a moot point, given the research that has been done with the conventional weapons we know about. On the other side of that coin however, is the weapons we DON'T know about.
No, I'm not going off on a conspiracy tangent here...I think it makes perfect sense that the military would be developing weapons that are kept from civilian eyes.
We do know about an EMP weapon already developed like this one...
http://defensesystems.com/blogs/cyber-report/2012/12/emp-weapon.aspx
so it stands to reason that there are other weapons, possibly more damaging than that, either in development or hidden away waiting for the right time to be used.
That is an excellent link! I have a garbage can that looks just like that, it has a few things in it... including a CB radio! It was fairly easy to set up. A great you-tube channel for weather, solar watches.... ehttp://www.youtube.com/user/Suspicious0bserverser It is just a 2 minute blip easy to watch it every morning. I have learned a lot from listening to it.
All,
Some very good points which I am sure will help anyone considering the investment in a BOV. Having already gone down this rabbit hole I thought I could add to the discussion. To that end vehicles do not need to be that " old". The are a plethora of mechanical engines produced up until the early 90's. The cummins 12v 5.9l comes to mind. Also if you are so inclined there are few vehicles that are well suited to engine swaps. As stated previously diesel with a manual trans probably provides the most utility. It should be noted that generally BOV are just that a vehicle to transport loved ones and supplies to safe/safer location. Although many of these diesels can operate on WVO ( waste vegetable Oil) and Bio Diesel that can be made by the lamen I would suggest investing in BOV to be mobile post SHTF is not the main objective. Personally I am planning to be able to accomplish 1-3 moves max. If communities like this one survive the event and we can take advantage of this vehicle that would be gravy in gravyless times!
It is not as daunting a proposition as it sounds. If you have the means and are mechanically inclined prepping towards acquiring/building a BOV becomes part of the lifestyle and just as much fun as any other prep.
Cheers
.
Also I like the idea of enduro type motorcycles as a secondary backup ...easy to hide easy to get around on and with a pack set up you can carry a reasonable amount of materials or supplies if you are going to get supplies, not as a main bug out vehicle but a back up. They can go places to lose a tail and be more covert than a larger 4 wheel unit.
Just a heads up. Clearly, I ride a Motor cycle. The bad news is that 2 wheels are not as fuel efficient as most people assume. A couple are good, like the newer Suzuki dr200 that got discontinued...but not the small dirt bikes that you would expect. they are bad on gas. We own 2 MCs, a small car and 2 trucks. Here is my rule. The truck uses twice as much gas as the car. the car uses twice as much as the Moter cycle. The MC saves gas but is rough on the body. Me and Mrs C5 both ride...but two bikes worth of gas equals the corolla which can keep us both warm and dry, un wind bashed about, and loaded with gear , inside and out on the flat roof. I love to ride.... but it has its shortfalls. the small girly station wagon wins out over the MCs or the truck, 9 times out of 10, gas wise, gear wise and distance wise without rest. That's why its our go to vehicle 30 times to one.
PS, My MC is sitting in the shipping container at the moment, over the winter...as a faraday cage. Sounds like I was over cautious.
I have a Tactical Harness and I have a Tool Belt. The Tool Belt is more Useful.
I myself am having trouble with the diesel as its the bread and butter of our economy. If its a complete SHTF with army control then I fully believe they will have this fuel avenue covered and it will be very hard to acquire. Petrol on the other hand can be found in a lot of places due to the wide range of equipment that uses gas from Gen-sets to lawnmowers. Gas can also be used for more than one purpose so I myself like the versatility of the product. Everything Army driven is diesel. Also they will not want to contend with all the working size rigs that the common man drives today. They are big, heavy, can haul and they can cause them grief at a roadblock mores than the minivan can. They are off road capable which I believe they are seriously wanting to curb that luxury for us as well. They want us on asphalt and in cities so not even allowing us to get off the beaten path would I believe be their objective right off the bat.
My understanding is a high voltage/EMP attack is pretty mush strictly a DIODE issue and as you mention Denob there is a testing procedure that gives us an idea but not really. With the Diesel I worry about fuel pressures and injectors along with the basic computer driven acc's that it needs for engine management.
My pick would be a 73-79 F series truck. Mega plentiful for parts. Tough as nails. and the only thing needed to protect would be the electronic ignition modual and if your a ford guy you have a couple already as its the only thing that could and does go wrong.
I think is imperative that you have 4wd capabilities for numerous reasons but I surely think I will have an easier time finding petrol than diesel.
Just my .02
Whatever tomorrow brings,… I will be there! 😉
I recently read an article about CME/EMP preps and for EMP the danger zone for wire was given as 30 inches in length. They even suggested removing the radio antenna if it screws into a base on the vehicle.
From that article I would do if I had some warning:
1) remove the positive battery cable and ground it.
2) remove the radio antenna
3) earth ground the vehicle using booster cables between a single chassis point and a steel stake driven into the ground.
Than= I’d rather be rich than poor.
Then= I first became hungry then I ate.
There = She is there now.
Their = They have their things.
They're = They're going to the mall.
To = They came to the house.
Too = That's too bad.