I'm new on this site but have been prepping for almost ten years now.(just coming out of the closet now LOL) There are some good topics on here and some level headed thinking individuals,finally. Any how the subject that I've put up for discussion; our little group has been working with a monthly budget of 1500 dollars , and we've managed to purchase over time 2 toyota 4x4 s a small RV camper van and 2 dirt bikes. some mods that we've done to the pickups are mounts front and back (slide in hitches) for winches, wire cutters on the front, roll cages, and covered boxes for storage. Now before everyone starts in on the expense of all this note that all the vehicles afore mentioned were purchased for under 5000 dollars over time.One of our little group is a mechanic/welder so the mods were easily taken care of. We chose the toyotas for various reasons, one being tough and dependable, easy to find parts, good fuel economy, no electronic ignition, and of course relatively inexpensive. the draw backs of course is the smaller pay load it can carry (hence 2 instead of 1truck) and not the fastest runner in the race, also sidehilling can be a bit nerve racking. does anyone have any further ideas for mods that does not include making them into APC's?
When in doubt think it out...(you thought I was gonna say something else?)
Since you put the wire cutters on the vehicles, remember to mount them on the bikes as well, that is a standard and easy done tactics to taking down bikers.. Since you even mentioned this I believe you or someone in the group to be ex military, combat arms.
Look into making up some self recovery hubs to be mounted in times of turmoil with the ropes and end clips as well to attach to trees or other objects. We used to keep bolt cutter wrapped in canvas up behind the winches. They come in so handy that it was not even funny. Might also want to look at the long handled tree de-limbers, some are adaptable and some have extension poles. External mounts for Shovels to dig out vehicles as well. saves rooting in the boxes, the ex military person will remember the configuration for the adaptors/slide ins to make.
Cam Nets ! Cam Tarps
cargo nets, look to African and other Safari vehicles to see just how useful they can be, on top of the drivers area, on the hood, over the truck cap/canopy, etc.
Toyota's can be found at the junkyard right, so try to get a couple of front end broken ones, turn the boxes into trailers. Voila, matching trailers with proper heights, mount truck caps/canopies on them with some racking on top and you're good to go! If you can manage it, remember the underside with removable plates, that way you're less concerned with stumps and the like.
External fuel tanks or external holders for fuel cans?
Destination? So you're group is in the city and you have a bug out location other than a provincial park I would think?
quick chains as well as full winter chains, for winter and mud.
Since you have a welder in the group, you have only the limits of your imagination.
Roll bars might be an idea since you mentioned the sidehilling issue.
Here are a couple pics of the bumper mods on my old Ford Aerostar...believe me, I almost never got cut off when I drove this!
And not many tail gaters either!
nice bumper system not in city but lots of fences around and planned routes are mostly off road hence the wire cutters. cam nets I have but only for in the night laager. We are all ex military
When in doubt think it out...(you thought I was gonna say something else?)
Sweet bumper system on the ford, will do something simmiliar on the camper van thx
When in doubt think it out...(you thought I was gonna say something else?)
when you posted wire cutters, I was thinking the vehicle mounted wire cutters for wire across the roads, as well as hand held cutters.
ya they are vehicle mounted and we've bolt cutters(the master key..LOL) Visit my profile and gimme a shout
When in doubt think it out...(you thought I was gonna say something else?)
Howdy nobshere,
Standardization. I like that. That is a group survival technique. But you already know that. 🙂
Here is a product you way want to check out. I have been looking around the web, and it seems difficult to find low prices on these, as the primary customers are fire departments from all across North America. But the quality seems to be too rate. No cheap Chinese knock-offs on the market yet.
This supplier, I have not used yet, seems to have a good rep and the prices are not out of this world.
http://www.desertrat.com/products/?id=6989
Hope this helps,
Mountainman.
Some nice nice stuff on that site thanks. Offroad tire pricess are about 150-200 cheaper than out here in "we've got oil so everyone must be a millionaire land" wonder what shipping costs will run. I liked the tie down clamping systems to. We're adding another toyota to the fleet soon hopefully my acreage is starting to look like a scrap yard and the better half is getting cranky, so it'll take some convincing...LOL
When in doubt think it out...(you thought I was gonna say something else?)
Anyone ever seen the matrax system on a pickup? If you have , does it require lots of maintainance, how is it for climbing,sidehilling and such, oh yeah can you beat the crap out of it for long? the system has alot of moving parts just wondering on the durability. Seen it on quads in muskeg they went along pretty good but when you get stuck youre sol. any experience or comments welcome
When in doubt think it out...(you thought I was gonna say something else?)
Howdy,
If you need a means to hide "the junk yard" in plain sight, may I suggest:
http://www.whitelineshelters.com/index.php
These are good people who own and run this company. The product is very good. The single tube buildings can be skidded around an acreage to provide weather protection where needed once built. The truss arch shelters on the other hand work best when securely anchored to a cement slab or use concrete lego blocks for the foundation.
With one of these buildings your 9er domestic, will be able to smile at the neat and tidy yard. You of course will have a covered place to work on and store your Toyota fleet.
Just a thought,
Mountainman.
sounds good we were going through it all this afternoon and have already gotten rid of the very unusable parts(on threat of being put on that hoarders show) I'll definately look into those covers. thanks (9er eh...dont tell her that lol
When in doubt think it out...(you thought I was gonna say something else?)