How to Turn Your Car into the Ultimate Prepper Vehicle

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Another guest contribution from Megan Ray Nichols to The Prepper Journal. If you have information for Preppers that you would like to share then enter into the Prepper Writing Contest with a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies!

In many survival situations, your vehicle may be one of your most valuable tools — if you’ve prepared it to be. In scenarios in which driving is possible and advisable, your car may be able to help you get to your bug-out location quickly and safely, again, depending on the general panic, the Golden Horde, road conditions and capacity. We have looked at the Golden Horde in the past so for this post we will concern ourselves with the vehicle preps.

You might have the ability to purchase a vehicle with the intention of making it your bug-out vehicle. You might also have to work with the vehicle you have, whether it’s a car, SUV, truck or cargo van. No matter what your situation is, here’s how to turn your ride into the ultimate prepper vehicle.

Qualities of a Bug-Out Vehicle

You need different things out of a vehicle in a survival scenario than you do in everyday life. If you’re buying something new or used, look for the following characteristics. If you’re modifying something you already have, make improving or compensating for these qualities your goal. The ideal prepper vehicle is:

• Fuel-efficient — You want to be able to drive as far as you can on as little fuel as possible. You don’t want anything to force you to stop driving, and fuel may be hard to find
• Rugged — You want a vehicle you can drive over a variety of terrains. Four-wheel drive is essential
• Spacious — You have to balance this with fuel efficiency, but you need to make sure you have room for all the people and supplies you’ll have with you. Creative organization can help you fit more stuff in smaller spaces
• Reliable — A vehicle that breaks down frequently will slow you down and waste precious time and resources
• Easy to fix and maintain — Some cars are easier to repair, while others require more work. It’s easy to find replacement parts for some cars, while others require rarer, more specialized parts. Choose the former
• Inconspicuous — In some survival scenarios, it’s best to have a vehicle that blends in relatively well. You don’t always want to advertise to everyone that you have resources they might want to steal
• Affordable — Ideally, you want a vehicle that has the features you need, but won’t cost you a fortune to buy, fix and maintain.

You might also want a vehicle with fewer or simpler electronics. The electronics in many modern cars might not survive an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event. An EMP attack could render a vehicle that relies on complicated electronics useless. Older vehicles, as well as modern ones that have simpler or EMP-hardened electronics, may be a better choice for this reason.

You should also consider whether you want a gas or diesel vehicle. While gas may be easier to find over the short term, you can make DIY biodiesel, so you could potentially run a diesel vehicle indefinitely.

Types of Vehicles

Some vehicles are naturally better suited to survival situations than others, but with some work, you can make anything into a decent bug-out vehicle. Here are the benefits and downside of some common types of vehicles and tips on how to transform each into the perfect prepper ride.

A Car

Your typical small to medium car isn’t the ultimate bug-out vehicle. With the right preparation, though, many can do what you need them to do. Plus, the supplies and equipment you bring and your skills behind the wheel make a huge difference.

Because of the small size of most cars, you can’t bring a lot of supplies, so you have to prioritize. You can also add some extra space with a cargo carrier that you attach to the roof of your automobile.

Although you give up cargo space, you gain the advantage of fuel efficiency. Most don’t do great off-road either, but you can find relatively compact all-wheel-drive vehicles.

An SUV

Many sport utility vehicles, or SUVs, make excellent bug-out vehicles because they drive well off-road, have lots of cargo space and are inconspicuous. They’re typically four-wheel drive and relatively fuel-efficient for their size.

The Jeep Wrangler makes an excellent prepper vehicle if you’re getting out of Dodge on your own or in a small group. They have less storage than other vehicles in this category but have the benefit of being extremely rugged. You can hitch a trailer to the back, but that makes it harder to cover rough terrain. If you’re traveling in a larger group or with more supplies, you may want to choose a larger SUV like the Ford Expedition, Chevy Tahoe, or a Toyota Land Cruiser.

A Truck

Trucks are similar to SUVs as far as bugging out goes, but they tend to emphasize ruggedness and hauling power more than cab space. While you can find some trucks with a lot of seats, this isn’t the focus for most models. They do, however, have tons of space for cargo. You can also easily add roof racks or haul trailers. If you want a tough vehicle with lots of room for cargo but aren’t traveling with a large group, a truck may be an ideal choice.

A Cargo Van

If you want the maximum amount of space for people and supplies while remaining relatively mobile, a cargo van may be your best option. While they’re typically not quite as rugged and can’t drive on rough terrain as well as SUVs and trucks, you get an incredible amount of space. With a cargo van, you can use van shelving to keep your supplies organized and maximize your storage space. If you take out some seats, there’s also plenty of room to lie down and sleep in a van comfortably or set up temporary living quarters.

The Right Supplies

Of course, having a vehicle won’t do you much good if you don’t have the supplies you need to survive. You should bring your bug-out bag — complete with food, water, tools and medical supplies — with you. It will be crucial if you have to abandon your vehicle for any reason.

You’ll also want to keep some supplies in your car so you’re ready to go anytime. No matter what type of vehicle you’re using, you should have some basic equipment for fixing and operating it, including a portable jump-starter, tire sealant to fix flats, a seat belt cutter and a windshield hammer. You may also want some spare fuel and a tow rope.

It would also be wise to keep some water and food, a sleeping bag, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, a pocket knife and other basic tools, a CB radio and other emergency supplies in your vehicle at all times. If you have a smaller car, you’ll have to prioritize space. With a larger vehicle, you can fit more.

No matter what type of ride you have, you can transform it into a bug-out vehicle that’ll serve you well in all sorts of emergency scenarios. Just consider the qualities of your vehicle, enhance them and compensate for them as best you can and adjust your plan according to the resources you have available to you. And remember, while the equipment you have is valuable, your knowledge, skills and attitude are even more crucial.

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How Do You Prep For a Government Shutdown

Written by Wild Bill on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Did a shutdown happen? Or did the never-ending circus in Washington D.C. continue with business as usual, $10,000,000,000 earmarked as aid to Mexico and Central America, and no funding for a Border Wall, or security? (Those nations need our $10,000,000,000 for what exactly? And it is an emergency because? I am fuzzy on all this.)

Was it the same “next time” argument fed to a populace numb from government inaction? The Prepper Journal is winging it’s way away for the Christmas Holiday and while I will look this morning, I will do my best to tune out the on-going nightmare from the Northeast. Either way the information below should be of value to preppers, for today, or for the same old lame threats “the next time.”

Google says “In United States politics, a government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass or the President fails to sign appropriations: legislation funding federal government operations and agencies.” And in typical fashion, I had to edit that statement to correct the typo’s.

Google also says “In fact, in the four decades since the current system for budgeting and spending tax dollars has been in effect, Congress has managed to pass all its required appropriations measures on time only four times: in fiscal 1977 (the first full fiscal year under the current system), 1989, 1995 and 1997.” And these are the people we continue to reelect.

So that would be under Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and twice under Bill Clinton. An even split (and zero success since.) So, for an endless stream of political theater reruns, a worn out stage for grandstanding and threats, this game of chicken with American citizens lives and fortunes, is business as usual to the occupiers of government. That is how I see 4 out of 41: No NFL quarterback or coach and no MLB player or manager, would keep his job with those stats. For that fact no coach at the college level as well. A better one is would you fly an airline that has a success rate of 4 out of 41 successful landings?

And what will happen, the doom and gloom is everywhere. For every article saying one thing you can find another saying the opposite.

Who Gets Shut Down

As preppers we prepare and the basic services that the federal government provides us will remain in place. While Yosemite and Yellowstone may be closed, the military is still on duty though they will not get paid until Congress appropriates the monies. As CBS News states – Only once Congress acts will the military be paid. According to the Department of Defense, the military, along with “essential” civilians, will not be paid until funds are appropriated. Troops will continue to earn their paychecks but won’t receive them unless and until a new spending bill that includes back pay is passed.” So they take yet another one for the team in this on-going demonstration of what failed in the sandbox over toys in kindergarten is still the mainstay of negotiating tactics of these mature adults, our elected representatives.

That hurts. But then we always lose when adults act as children, or criminals.

Social Security and other government entitlements will continue as scheduled.

The grocery stores will receive their regular deliveries and supplies will be available and should a disaster strike FEMA and the American Red Cross and other agencies will step up. Utilities will be unaffected and the internet will still be available, avoiding the crisis ever parent fears the most, having their child meltdown and then having to occupy them in other ways.

But THIS Shutdown May Be Different

The unparalleled hate that exudes from every pore of every Washington D.C. insider for this President can not be denied. New members of the House of Representative who ran on this platform of hate, impediment and even impeachment were just elected and will further this agenda in the new year. The incoming Attorney General of New York has vowed to investigate everything and everyone associated with Trump in any way. Silly me, I thought they were elected to investigate crimes, not manufacture them. The witch-hunters of Salem are alive and well and embodied in every branch of our local, state and federal governments.

The point here is that this dinner table is set like none before it. No chair is safe and the traps are set everywhere. And a shutdown presents an opportunity to punish those that are not responsible. As preppers this really is a call to embrace Santa Clause’s basic rule, making a list and checking it twice. Reviewing supplies, plans and assets. The Prepper Journal has written before about the financial planning one should consider and this may become a string of rainy days as the old rules of compromise, civility and a desire to do what is best for the country are gone. We can only hope that our military personnel have had the opportunity to put away some cash, and they have the support of family to help them should this not be settled in a day.

Since I will get roasted for bringing up politics in the first place, even thought this event is happening on the day it is being posted, I will add two more points to consider.

When I Googled “government shutdowns before 2018” the first sixteen (16) items returned were about today’s proposed shutdown. And the results of a search for “how many times did the government shutdown during Obama’s presidency” had similar results, the first seven (7) items returned were again about today’s shutdown. My reason for the search is that during the 2013 government shutdown, which lasted sixteen (16) days, a total of 841,000 “non-essential” government workers were furloughed. When they returned to work they were given their back pay and any other benefits that would have been earned (vacations, sick leave. etc.)

The result:

• at that time we had 841,000 “non-essential” government employees on full salaries and benefits in the Federal Government
• Each and everyone received a 16-day vacation on us

But there was a glimmer of bright light then as well as the World War II Monument in Washington D.C. had guards posted to turn away visitors. The light comes from the fact that this is a static monument, has no staff and has no gates or fences. The shutdown government actually paid a private security service to deny people access to a facility that normally has no control on its access.

This, as much as mother nature, is why we should all prep. Today’s shutdown may not even happen but the Sword of Damocles still hands above us.

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Prepper Pantry – Finger Foods

Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Another guest contribution from R. Ann Parris to The Prepper Journal. If you have information for Preppers that you would like to share then enter into the Prepper Writing Contest with a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies!

Whether we’re buying kits or building our emergency pantry one bag and can of rice and beans at a time, chances are pretty good our food supply is heavy on “spoon meals”. Soups, boiled grains, stews, instant potatoes, mac-n-cheese, and even a lot of casseroles and scrambled eggs offer a lot of repetition in texture and eating utensils.

That repetition will get wearying, unless we’re already eating that way. Especially if we’re experiencing a personal or localized crisis rather than watching the whole world fall apart, some relief to spoon meals will be more than welcome.

Happily, there are some easy fixes that can help. Finger foods are one.

Most of the ingredients are inexpensive enough – or inexpensive enough as a weekly/monthly treat. In fact, many of us probably already have the ingredients in our kitchens or storage.

Some of them require extra time and effort. Others, however, are ideal for even vehicle evacs, packing trips, and power-outage SIP kits, offering no-cook and less-mess meals that don’t require much wash-up for dishes.

Breads

Having some crackers or bread can help right off the bat. One, they are finger foods. Two, they can help us turn other storage foods into sandwiches, stackers, and wraps.

Pretty much any baked good can be turned into a griddle cake. Thin it out more, and from brownie batters to cake and muffin mixes to Bisquick, we have crepes and tortillas. Those can be combined with counter top microgreens, canned beans or meats, or fruits or pie fillings for a tasty treat.

We can use tin cans, muffin tins, small Pyrex bowls and custard cups to quickly and efficiently bake biscuit, bannock, and for-real breads, then slice them for sandwiches, burgers, and crostinis to further increase variety.

Looking for an easier-yet option?

Tortillas are pretty inexpensive from supermarkets and Dollar Tree, and have decent shelf lives. I’m not much fan of the B&M breads, but they’re there. Green-sign Dollar Tree also sometimes has shelf-stable rolls and skinny Italian loaves with months of shelf life (longer stacked in a fridge and freezer).

Bread Toppings & Fillers

The Dollar Tree can also offer a lot of options for jazzing up those breads, as can supermarkets. Supermarkets will sometimes be less expensive by weight/serving, but there’s sometimes benefit to the smaller serving sizes we can move through as individuals, pairs, and small families, without leftovers.

I’ll skip the Vienna sausages turned into corn dogs and hot dogs, personally, but it’s an option. I’m also not wild about canned herring or sardines (fresh is fantastic), but there’s good ol’ tuna, salmon, and baby cocktail shrimp that can go on a wrap or crostini as-is or mixed into a salad with herbs, fresh veggies, and mayo or an alternative.

All over the U.S., Dollar Tree has been the least-expensive option for me for shelf-stable pepperoni in a couple of formats, and regularly carries 1-3 types of salami. (Not the fridge stuff – ick.)

Add the skinny dollar-store jar of the pickled veggies and can of olives, and even without a bread option, we can roll those lunch meat slices into tubes for a Saturday finger-food or toothpick snack my family will enjoy right now – after, during a big time crunch, that $3-$6 investment would be a full-on holiday treat.

Generic Walmart-brand summer sausages can also provide us with a finger-food meat to stash for months/years, or we can smoke our own.

It’s more hit-and-miss now, but the dollar stores also rotate through canned beef and chicken with and without gravy (okay), canned bologna (meh to eek), and canned pulled barbecue, teriyaki, and buffalo chicken and pork (no blech-ier than way-expensive supermarket versions).

Burgers

Canned at home or purchased, we can turn all sorts of shelf-stable goodies into burgers. Fish cakes and bean burgers are versatile enough for a bun or open-faced sandwiches topped with salsa or chutneys or some of the canned and jarred cheese and pasta sauces available.

We can also turn the same “burger” recipes into little meatballs that we bake, “dry fry” or skillet fry, and present to eat like protein-laden hush puppies with other finger foods, or use them in wraps akin to falafel.

Some of the simplest bean burgers just call for retaining the juices from chili beans and mashing the whole kaboodle together. We can pre-season and buy other types to accomplish the same. Other recipes call for things like breadcrumbs that we can repackage and store pretty compactly, whether we buy them or make them at home.

Crostini

We can turn almost anything into a finger food to serve atop homemade tortilla chips, toast points, the split and sliced and flat-cooked breads from our varied mixes, or native fry/stone breads. Various holiday cracker toppers can be a great place to look. So can open-faced sandwiches and appetizers that we can control the liquids for or deconstruct to create finger foods.

Most of us would have to specifically pre-stock ingredients like shrimp to serve with herbs and Parmesan cheese sauce or an Alfredo sauce (from packets or homemade), or olives to turn into tapenade or creamy spreads.

Beans are pretty ubiquitous in most prepper pantries, though. We can turn any of them into a creamy hummus for a base. We can also augment chutney and brochette made from garden veggies with our white beans, chick peas, black beans, or kidney beans.

Any meat products can be whipped into mouse or rilletes, and even windowsill gardens and foraging can provide herbs for pseudo-pesto, as well as sunflower seeds, elm samas, etc. instead of pine nuts.

We can also seriously reduce liquids for packaged creamed soups for a base or seasoning (they will be salty, and carry the seasoning for all the rest of the ingredients), stock canned and jarred cheese dips, or use thick gravy recipes to create dips and spreads for topping.

Muffin Tin Meals

These have a couple of distinct benefits to preppers as well as the average households. One, their primary purpose here, it’s a finger food for mood boosts.

However, that also means it’s fast and convenient. It works for us – now and “later” – because I can pre-make a bunch, and people can grab when they’re ready, and they easily pack them for snacks/lunch/tea. There’s also portion control, lowered cleanup, and fast-serving aspects that can benefit preppers.

For preppers, especially, the tins cook faster than a pie or bread pan. That saves fuels as well as time.

You can also do a variety of things in a single load or baking session, easily, versus a bread loaf or stove top pot. That means whatever $0.38-$1.00 Jiffy mix didn’t run away fast enough gets turned bannock buns/muffins in half, and the other half gets faux-fried eggs or omelet-filler with scrambled eggs.

Or, make Cable Guy “ash cakes” (or the scones/rolls mix from the food-storage genius who thinks I’m making yeast bread in a disaster) to combine with meatballs, burgers, and other fillers above, and baked pancake poppers to hold for another meal.

Rolled oats/wheat/barley readily become muffins and pseudo-granola bars using a wide variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, and morsels or M&Ms.

We can convert pre-cooked grits, cream of wheat/farina, and even risotto-style rice and barley into the same finger-food or fork-able just-eat “muffins”. We can also bake them in thin layers or split them to serve as our sandwich buns or crostini. (Also check out the many wonders of “fried grits” – yum.)

Any of the hot-cereal buns can have the ingredients mixed in, or we can “frost” them and top them, further increasing the “different” meals from the same ingredients.

Another option is pressing them into cups to fill – which we do with any stiff dough. Tortillas can make convenient cups as well, as can shredded hash browns or veggie-latke mixes.

There’s no limit, whatever “breading” we make in muffin tins instead of “just” making a finger food quiche, muffin or mashed-potato popper.

Oatmeal, farina, pancake batter, or cake mix, we can go with instant Dream Whip and fruits, homemade or supermarket icing, peanut butter or Nutella, and the ice cream and milk syrups.

For savory cereals and cornbread or roll mixes, there’s spicy shrimp, oriental or taco/fajita blends, hummus, nacho cheese sauce and peppers, or Dak ham sandwiches.

Try to line the muffin tins as often as possible – sprays, flour, lard, Crisco, something. Some recipes and situations will also lend themselves to a slice of onion or pepper, sandwich meat, or spinach leaves at the bottom.

If we have them, glass and silicone muffin “tins” are fantastic. If not, try some Pyrex bowls or mini custard dishes.

Pizza For Preppers

Green-sign Dollar Tree stores also carry everything we need for a pizza night. If we can get a hold of some canned Bega cheese, all the better, but deep into a financial upset or national/worldwide disaster (or a packing trip) even that powdered-cardboard cheese can be a real treat.

No-Bake Sweets

There’s always cake-mix crepes, but from chow mien noodle haystacks and oatmeal no-bake cookies to rice cereal treats, we have a whole range of stove top/grill options to up our finger-food treats, some with as few as 2-5 ingredients.

With dollar-store packages of drink powders, Reese Pieces, M&Ms, jelly beans, and other candies, we can up our game all over again for seasonal and holiday specific pick-me-ups.

Other quickie and alternative-cooking friendly treats include dipped pretzels, spiced nuts, popcorn balls, and even simple candle-roasted marshmallows.

Boosting Variety

Using ingredients many of us already have, or that are inexpensive to lay on, we can greatly increase the meal possibilities from our food storage. Planning for finger foods can help stave off food fatigue and improve our moods, at regular intervals or specifically for treats.

Some of them also make excellent ways to reduce prep and cook time and especially dishes we’ll have to wash, making them ideal for any power-outage or water-shortage situation.

Poke around. The options are nigh-on endless and can make a real difference anytime we have to rely on our food storage, or when it’s time to rotate all those supplies.

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