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White76Knight
White76Knight
Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 3:44 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 3:44 PM EDT
So you're getting ready to get out of Dodge, and you going for somewhere that's defensible and isolated so that it won't attract mobs of Panicked people Before the SHTF or mobs of Zeds after. Is that about right?

Sounds good so far. The only problem is that it doesn't matter how defensible or empty of other people a place is if it won't sustain you. Having a well stocked BOL prepared in advance is ideal, but not everyone has that.

To that end, one thing that you might consider is having a few weeks (or months) worth of food, water, supplies, weapons, etc all preloaded on a utility trailer and ready to go so that, when the sh!t goes down, you just have to hook up the trailer and take all your goods with you. That way you can still try to find a place with the same defensibility and lack of crowds, but you'll also have something to live on in case you have to stay for awhile.

Come to think of it, such a Bug-Out-Trailer might be a good idea for anybody who isn't Bugging-In, but doesn't or can't have a well established and well stocked BOL prepared in advance. Thoughts?
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White76Knight
White76Knight
1. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 3:46 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 3:46 PM EDT
THOUGHTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT UP:
"Toxic_Shock wrote: Wow, that is a great idea! The only issue I could see that trailer making your "bug-out drive" a bit tedious. Navigating around abandoned cars, wreckage, and off road could knock that trailer off your truck. A dedicated bug-out vehicle that is pre-loaded would be more maneuverable.

Or if you are going with a trailer, it could be a tow-behind camper loaded with supplies. Then you're towing your supplies and BOL with you."
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White76Knight
White76Knight
2. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 3:46 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 3:46 PM EDT
I could see towing a trailer being problematic depending on terrain abandoned cars etc, but you can get some trailers with high clearance and if you beef up the attachment mechanism you should be okay. Just don't beef it up so much that in the event of an accident the trailer takes the vehicle with it.

A pre-loaded dedicated BOV would be great, but a vehicle is a much larger investment than a trailer. Some people can barely manage to afford the vehicles that they have to use all the time these days, let alone having to lay out the costs associated with a vehicle that they'd hopefully never have to use. I can't see sinking that much money into buying a vehicle only to load it up and park it somewhere without using it.

A trailer, on the other hand, is much cheaper than a vehicle, so it wouldn't sting as much to lay out the cash for one and then not use it all the time. Even using a camper trailer as a portable BOL (good idea too, btw) would still be cheaper than buying a whole new vehicle.

And besides, just about any utility trailer will have more storage space than just about any vehicle short of a full sized van. For example, my family has a minivan (dear lord how did I get that old? LOL) and I could load it up with just as much as I could fit in a trailer, but I'd have to take the seats out to do it, so I'd end up with a van load of supplies, but no room for my family. With a trailer you could still load the supplies while leaving the space in the vehicle for passengers.
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White76Knight
White76Knight
3. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 3:48 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 3:48 PM EDT
"FrankLeeDeRainged wrote: The bug out trailer could be a valuable tactic for 'certain' situations. Landrover made trailers for their units that were designed for the military, dare say US has similar. But my first thought was building a trailer out of 'boarding up' materials. Tow it to your destination, unload it and 5 minutes with a spanner to strip it to the bed and you have a mountain of clean sheet material to secure where needed."

And

"I could get quite a lot of traditional domestic windows out of an 8 x 10 cargo trailer. Especially if I'd built it myself, being as how I'd double line the sides and maybe triple the floor. The maximums would be the weight I think."
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FrankLeeDeRainged
FrankLeeDeRainged
4. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 4:10 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 4:10 PM EDT
This is someone's renovation job on a CDN m101 military trailer

http://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/472189-just-another-cdn-m101-rtt-build.html

Which I'm bringing up because it is the best trailer I have any experience of, or seen for that matter. A friend has one behind his vintage Champion Jeep (that's the British jeep with the Rolls Royce engine) So we rolled down into a mud hole, the muck swirled over the jeep, up to our chests. He floors the pedal and it clawed its way up the other side. "seems to be struggling" he bellows over the engine. We get to the top, look back and the trailer had filled. and we had just towed half of the mud hole away. . . .

See the guy in the pictures has welded all the drain holes shut, might not want to do that amigo. . . .

Anyway, Toxic_shock, that's what you want for off road or something built from that base.
_
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White76Knight
White76Knight
5. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 4:25 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 4:25 PM EDT
"This is someone's renovation job on a CDN m101 military trailer

http://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/472189-just-another-cdn-m101-rtt-build.html"
Now THAT'S what I'm talkin about. Actually, that's a whole order of magnitude above and beyond what I was talkin about, but who cares, I'll take it.

I love the way the tent just folds out and sits right on top of the trailer. That is one sexy biatch!
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JunkCollector
JunkCollector
6. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 5:05 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 5:05 PM EDT
With my Jeep or Van, I have a 12' X 7' enclosed trailer I plan on filling up with supplies (given the time and without many zombies roaming around the neighborhood).

If I use most or all of my gas bugging in, I will use my heavy duty garden cart along with my B.O.B.
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Survivor15
Survivor15
7. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 5:11 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 5:11 PM EDT
My brother keeps his cabover camper fully stocked, which means you can have all your supplies ready to go in minutes, along with your BOL. Better than a trailer, and you could even tow one if you like. Do you find this valuable?    
toxic_shock
toxic_shock
8. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 5:47 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 5:47 PM EDT
"This is someone's renovation job on a CDN m101 military trailer

http://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/472189-just-another-cdn-m101-rtt-build.html
_"
Now that's a badass trailer! With a little work, a nice top for it could be built for storing stuff long term. Or leave it open and park it in a garage.

At some point in my life, I would like to be able to have a dedicated bug-out vehicle, pre-loaded, but as White Knight said, that ain't cheap. Once I get dug out of debt I am going to seriously seek out a small single axle camper that my Tahoe can pull. I have seen older units going for under a grand sometimes. The camper can serve as my BOL till I can buy a piece of land. Even then, I can park it on the land till building a cabin is financially feasible.
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timberrattler
timberrattler
9. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 6:01 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 6:01 PM EDT
What about putting your supplies in a crate on casters? Then mount a pulley or winch onto the rafters in your garage.

When SHTF you roll your crate under your winch, lift it high enough to clear the bed of your truck and then back into your garage and ease your crate of supplies into the bed. Then lock the rollers on your casters, strap the crate down and go.

Similar to your idea but without the headaches that come with pulling a trailer. It wouldn't effect your ability to go off-road and the extra weight in the back would help you out in snow, sand and mud.
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LJ126
LJ126
10. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 7:43 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 7:43 PM EDT
I want to make "LJ-One," which essentially a Winnebago. Who needs a fully-stocked BOL in the next county over when your fully-stocked BOL can be in your driveway? Do you find this valuable?    
Filadog
Filadog
11. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 7:45 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 7:45 PM EDT
I've been thinking about getting a small trailer for my Toyota 4X4, want something a little more tougher then your regular utility one. I have seen these small military , or military type, trailers befor and think I want something like that. Saw a guy in a jeep pulling one last week.
Wouldn't mind a trailer made out of an old Toyota truck bed either so I can use the same spare tire

Towing a trailer can be a real pain and I wouldnt trust using it to carry my main supplies only my "extras" because you might hit a spot where you would have to leave it behind.
Have to get it tagged, inspected etc. which is never fun....I still have night mares over a horse Trailer I bought once that didn't have a title

. I have a cap with a roof rack on my truck and carry a lot up there with out these hassels

Other week at an auction I saw an original WWII Hand Cart, sort of looked like a heavy duty garden cart with a long tongue with a handle on the end. Were used during the war, especially by the airborne, to carry supplies and pulled by several men
I was in my car so realy couldn't buy it but was pretty cool and in great condition... only sold for $10...really had a hard time keeping my hand dowwn
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White76Knight
White76Knight
12. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 7:58 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 7:58 PM EDT
"With my Jeep or Van, I have a 12' X 7' enclosed trailer I plan on filling up with supplies (given the time and without many zombies roaming around the neighborhood). "
That's the point. If you KEEP that trailer loaded up and ready to go all the time, it won't matter who or what is roaming in the neighborhood.
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White76Knight
White76Knight
13. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 8:02 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 8:02 PM EDT
"My brother keeps his cabover camper fully stocked, which means you can have all your supplies ready to go in minutes, along with your BOL. Better than a trailer, and you could even tow one if you like."
This is a great idea too, but it only works if your regular day to day vehicle is a pickup truck. That's not really ideal for anyone who wants to minimize fuel consumption or anyone with two or three kiddies.

Getting a cab-over camper AND a trailer would be the cats ass though.
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White76Knight
White76Knight
14. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 8:03 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 8:03 PM EDT
"What about putting your supplies in a crate on casters? Then mount a pulley or winch onto the rafters in your garage.

When SHTF you roll your crate under your winch, lift it high enough to clear the bed of your truck and then back into your garage and ease your crate of supplies into the bed. Then lock the rollers on your casters, strap the crate down and go.

Similar to your idea but without the headaches that come with pulling a trailer. It wouldn't effect your ability to go off-road and the extra weight in the back would help you out in snow, sand and mud. "
Now that's not a bad idea either.
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White76Knight
White76Knight
15. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 8:05 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 8:05 PM EDT
"I want to make "LJ-One," which essentially a Winnebago. Who needs a fully-stocked BOL in the next county over when your fully-stocked BOL can be in your driveway?"
Again, this is really only feasible for those who can afford a second vehicle, and a biggish one at that, as a winnie can't really be your day to day dashing to the grocery store for a loaf of bread vehicle...

LOL - Well, I guess it COULD, but in most cases it probably won't be.
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White76Knight
White76Knight
16. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 8:12 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 8:12 PM EDT
"Towing a trailer can be a real pain and I wouldn't trust using it to carry my main supplies only my "extras" because you might hit a spot where you would have to leave it behind.

Have to get it tagged, inspected etc. which is never fun....I still have night mares over a horse Trailer I bought once that didn't have a title"
Depending on the type of vehicle you normally drive, a trailer might be the only way you have of transporting your main supplies, although there's no doubt that, where possible, using it just for extras would be closer to ideal.

As for tagged and inspected, I wouldn't even bother. Assuming that this is a trailer that's generally never going leave my garage/driveway until after the SHTF, nobody is gonna care whether or not it has an up to date sticker. And in the event that I'm lucky enough to be able to bug out Before the SHTF, and some cop wants to write me a ticket for towing an unlicensed trailer, well knock yourself out. I'll worry about paying the fine if we survive.
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Sharpie41
Sharpie41
17. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 28 2011, 10:01 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2011, 10:01 PM EDT
I was thinking about this when I first thought about the zedpocalypse, keeping quads etc on it JIC Do you find this valuable?    
Filadog
Filadog
18. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 29 2011, 8:00 AM EDT | Post edited: Jun 29 2011, 8:00 AM EDT
"As for tagged and inspected, I wouldn't even bother. Assuming that this is a trailer that's generally never going leave my garage/driveway until after the SHTF, nobody is gonna care whether or not it has an up to date sticker...., and some cop wants to write me a ticket for towing an unlicensed trailer, well knock yourself out. I'll worry about paying the fine if we survive."
Maybe, but things would be interesting if Barny Fife pulled you over for not having any tags and ordered you to leave the trailer along the road ...with your supplies...till a tow truck could come get it like they do if you don't have tags on your car

Personaly I think keeping a trailer loaded with your supplies and not using the trailer for what could be years is not a good idea. What could be worse then when you need the trailer to find out that the tires have flat spots from setting or are dry rotted
Not only that but you are loosing the use of having a trailer till the end of the world comes. Plus the more you use a trailer the better you get at driving with it and knowing how your car/ truck performs with it
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White76Knight
White76Knight
19. RE: Hauling your Bug Out supplies
Jun 29 2011, 8:22 AM EDT | Post edited: Jun 29 2011, 8:22 AM EDT
"I was thinking about this when I first thought about the zedpocalypse, keeping quads etc on it JIC"
If the trailer is large enough, keeping a quad on board in addition to your other supplies would be a great idea. It would allow scouting and scavenging forays into smaller areas where your primary vehicle couldn't go, and it could even serve as a backup vehicle just in case your primary was disabled.
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