Post EMP Vehicle | What do you pick to Bug Out?

[Sportin' Wood]

I'm halfway through the book "77 Days in September" and have been thinking about this topic (EMPs) a lot in light of current events.

Just as the title suggests, you get one mode of transportation to pack your preps, loved ones, and worldly possessions to escape to your safe space. Which do you choose and why?

I figure the subliminal message of Bug Out and EMPi provides prophetic inspiration toward the venerable, easy-to-fix Baja Bug. The downside is no capacity, payload, or 4WD. Likely just a true bugout option. I can't think of a better low-cost option than an air-cooled VW. $20K gets you a turn-key ready-to-rumble vehicle, half that gets a pretty decent unit that needs attention. Everything above $20K seems engine-swapped and defeats the purpose.

The Gen 1 Toyota 4x4 Hilux, Gen 1 Dodge Cummins W250 4x4, Mid 70's Honda Scrambler, early Deisel-powered Land Cruisers, and Land Rovers also come to mind. Early Jeeps with points are also plentiful, yet all of these are gonna cost a few bucks. IDI Ford F250/3504x4 if you can find one? Sqaurebody Chevy?

Certainly, a shelf life on a gas-powered vehicle.

What do you build or buy?

 

[HNL2LHC]

E-bike…hopefully I can remember how to peddle when the SHTF……

 

[monkeyswrench]

I'd do an IDI Ford 4x4 with a four speed. Not fast, but fairly stout. Can run on most anything and mileage isn't bad. Pretty easy to work on, and not real finicky. A close second would be a military CUCV 1ton Chevy, for the same reasons.

 

[Flatsix66]

Old Baja Bug

 

[Sportin' Wood]

E-bike…hopefully I can remember how to peddle when the SHTF……

You'll get about a day out of that charge; then you get to peddle a heavy bike. In the book, the guy considered a bicycle but abandoned the idea after considering how the bike would kick his ass after a few days and lack of payload.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I'd do an IDI Ford 4x4 with a four speed. Not fast, but fairly stout. Can run on most anything and mileage isn't bad. Pretty easy to work on, and not real finicky. A close second would be a military CUCV 1ton Chevy, for the same reasons.

Did the CUCVs have hardened electronics, or do those non-turbo Deisel versions just simply run? I assume the gas versions have electronic ignitions?

 

[79 HUSTLER]

Got a 59 Baja bug and 86 k5 blazer that I hold onto. The Baja being non 4x surprises the hell out of me with where it can and does go. Either one would work quite well, I think.

 

[Riverbottom]

One of my employees built an early Dodge 4X4 , 3/4 ton flat bed. Has a fresh 360 with points distributor and carburetor. Loaded with spare parts etc. Keeps it ready to roll at all times.

I want to find a 70's Chevy 4X4 with an inline 6 and a manual trans. Do a complete KISS principle build.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Beast Mode 5 speed

 

[Big B Hova]

Tesla plaid. If shit hits the fan I wanna go fast and watch Netflix. Also self drive mode. If the world's gonna end I'm putting on porn hub and my hands will be busy while I bug out

 

[TonyFanelli]

I'm ready...except for the 6 miles per gallon! '72 ford f100..360 motor, 75 chevy k10..350 ..both 4 speeds

 

[EmpirE231]

Will an EMP truly destroy all electronics, or just some? What is the range? Assuming it would destroy things like a modern day car with tons of tech, but what about something like a 1991 Toyota pickup with a 22re / manual trans? Would something like that be disabled in an EMP event, if it wasn’t too close to the blast zone?

I’ve heard about EMP’s etc, but have there been any real world scenarios to read about / learn from?

 

[DRYHEAT]

Will an EMP truly destroy all electronics, or just some? What is the range? Assuming it would destroy things like a modern day car with tons of tech, but what about something like a 1991 Toyota pickup with a 22re? Would something like that be disable in an EMP event, if it wasn’t too close to the blast zone?

I’ve heard about EMP’s etc, but have there been any real world scenarios to read about / learn from?

I’ve kind of wondered whether an EMP would destroy the coil and make vehicles that use points useless? Wonder the same about magneto’s? I think, nonelectronic, old diesels with manual transmissions would be the way to go.

 

[Xring01]

If you truly dig down into the deepest depths of the rabbit hole that creates a EMP events…

I doubt very few will be lucky enough to be worried about a vehicle. If you are worried about a vehicle that implys you have a 25-50 year supplies stocked in a very deep cave (well below ground or very deep in a mountain).

Bottom line - Top Side will not be inhabitable for a very long time.

For those trying to figure out what is a EMP..
Electro Magnetic Pulse, that is created when a thermo nuclear weapon detonates. Meaning the moment one country launchs, many others will be launching while the first country that launched, weapons are still in the air. Literally the missiles will be crossing paths in the atmosphere. EMP is a direct result of Nuke War… If your fortunate enough to survive the first 24 hours, you better be getting underground with 50 year supply of food / water… even then, pending the proximity you are to the initial war heads impacts, you still may only have 7-10 days, to die of radio active poisoning.

 

[bonesfab]

I have my 29 model a sedan that you can crank start and it will just about run on piss. Then I have the bus with the 12 valve in it. But it does have some electronics in it.

 

[Desert Whaler]

Mini-Bike w / Briggs & Stratton & a daypack.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Did the CUCVs have hardened electronics, or do those non-turbo Deisel versions just simply run? I assume the gas versions have electronic ignitions?

The old school ones I'm thinking of were non-electronic. Full on string puller, with a Dana-60 front axle.

 

[C-Ya]

Sailboat with a lot of fishing gear……..

I bet I can get a whole lot further than those of you that plan on driving. Much more relaxing too!

 

[Lumpy]

Children…where ya gonna go? If you survive and go drive around you’ll be dead in 30 days tops if you’re lucky.

 

[HTTP404]

Will an EMP truly destroy all electronics, or just some? What is the range? Assuming it would destroy things like a modern day car with tons of tech, but what about something like a 1991 Toyota pickup with a 22re / manual trans? Would something like that be disabled in an EMP event, if it wasn’t too close to the blast zone?

I’ve heard about EMP’s etc, but have there been any real world scenarios to read about / learn from?

This is my question. How would an EMP impact a modern vehicle if it was sitting with the battery disconnected? Does the EMP just scramble integrated circuits whether they are active or not?
What about phones or 2-way radios that are powered off?

 

[HTTP404]

Baja bug with a trailer hitch.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

EMP causes a surge of EMI that basically burns out the traces of circuit boards and induces enough current in wires to melt them.

Unless something is 100% mechanical, you’re not going anywhere.

 

[Big B Hova]

EMP causes a surge of EMI that basically burns out the traces of circuit boards and induces enough current in wires to melt them.

Unless something is 100% mechanical, you’re not going anywhere.

So even a 12v battery?

 

[monkeyswrench]

If you truly dig down into the deepest depths of the rabbit hole that creates a EMP events…

I doubt very few will be lucky enough to be worried about a vehicle. If you are worried about a vehicle that implys you have a 25-50 year supplies stocked in a very deep cave (well below ground or very deep in a mountain).

Bottom line - Top Side will not be inhabitable for a very long time.

For those trying to figure out what is a EMP..
Electro Magnetic Pulse, that is created when a thermo nuclear weapon detonates. Meaning the moment one country launchs, many others will be launching while the first country that launched, weapons are still in the air. Literally the missiles will be crossing paths in the atmosphere. EMP is a direct result of Nuke War… If your fortunate enough to survive the first 24 hours, you better be getting underground with 50 year supply of food / water… even then, pending the proximity you are to the initial war heads impacts, you still may only have 7-10 days, to die of radio active poisoning.

The question would be if it would be one ground burst from a rogue nation, or the good ol' "War Games" Global thermonuclear war with the all out nuclear winter. It would be smarter for a country to do a single air burst over the midwest. It would possibly cripple us, but not have the same fallout. People would be happily enslaved by whoever came with food and water.

 

[arch stanton]

I have read that things can be protected from an EMP don’t know who true it is but a car parked in a metal garage or underground or say a radio wrapped in foil
If this is true just keep spare electronic parts for your car stored in a gun safe a spare battery with no electrolyte in it yet
Someone do some research and post it up

 

[mash on it]

Did the CUCVs have hardened electronics, or do those non-turbo Deisel versions just simply run? I assume the gas versions have electronic ignitions?

The 6.2s and 6.5s used a stanadyne mechanical injector pump, as does the 6.9 and 7.3 idis.

Dan'l

 

[monkeyswrench]

The 6.2s and 6.5s used a stanadyne mechanical injector pump, as does the 6.9 and 7.3 idis.

Dan'l

I think the 6.5's went to a semi-electronic deal...I know they'd overheat and fry, so the fix was to mount them with an extension harness by the holes in the bumper. I think you can swap the pumps early to late though.

 

[mash on it]

My 77 C-30 with an idi 7.3 should be fine.
The powerstroke 7.3s I have might be in question.

Dan'l

A dual point Mallory is on the shelf for my CJ7 327 4spd.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I have read that things can be protected from an EMP don’t know who true it is but a car parked in a metal garage or underground or say a radio wrapped in foil
If this is true just keep spare electronic parts for your car stored in a gun safe a spare battery with no electrolyte in it yet
Someone do some research and post it up

It’s called a Faraday cage.

An alternative use of such a cage is to keep signals out, like if you wanted a cell phone free zone in a building etc.

 

[evantwheeler]

I dont have an oil well or the means to process oil, so i dont worry myself with such things. The only reliable EMP proof means of transportation is a bike or a horse.

But, my answer to the actual question posed, because it was one of the vehicles mentioned, is this…..

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

So even a 12v battery?

A 12v (or any) battery with electrolyte in it is in a charged state so yes, probably.

If you removed the electrolyte then it’s just plates of metal and it’s probably less susceptible but not immune, as EMI can cause heating of materials.

 

[Orange Juice]

EV with 4 windmill generators to recharge the battery on the fly.

 

[ka0tyk]

I got nothing. Where do you all live just in case I need a ride?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

View attachment 1290131
EV with 4 windmill generators to recharge the battery on the fly.

Well you don’t have to worry about being robbed and killed post EMP when you tell everyone you are too dumb to live.

I like the strategy.

 

[dread Pirate]

Sitting here with half a dozen IDI Fords and seeing dollar signs..

and people thought I was crazy,,,,

 

[mash on it]

I got nothing. Where do you all live just in case I need a ride?

County Rd 64
About 20 miles out.
Head West.
Cross the tracks
First left.
Then first right.
800 ft
East side.
Simple.

Dan'l

 

[Orange Juice]

Well you don’t have to worry about being robbed and killed post EMP when you tell everyone you are too dumb to live.

I like the strategy.

I’d drive at night with the lights off, no one will hear driving past them. Stealth.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Sitting here with half a dozen IDI Fords and seeing dollar signs..

and people thought I was crazy,,,,

May be the same out by you, but here they are pricey for a decent one. There's a 2wd, f250 extended cab with a dually kit. Clean for an 86, was a horse hauler, 7500obo!

I missed an 87 4x4 with a utility bed, banks turbo and a GV...it was only 3500

 

[mjc]

I have 54 Willys wagon that is about a basic as they come. Has space inside and 4x4.

 

[dread Pirate]

May be the same out by you, but here they are pricey for a decent one. There's a 2wd, f250 extended cab with a dually kit. Clean for an 86, was a horse hauler, 7500obo!

I missed an 87 4x4 with a utility bed, banks turbo and a GV...it was only 3500

Haven't really priced em in awhile. Just ended up collecting them as work trucks when something came up cheap or free. I have had one for 22 years and did all kinds of work to it. Trying to resurrect it, but more important stuff keeps getting in the way.

 

[Ducksquasher]

I have 54 Willys wagon that is about a basic as they come. Has space inside and 4x4.

Can you post pictures...love those!

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Children…where ya gonna go? If you survive and go drive around you’ll be dead in 30 days tops if you’re lucky.

Home to Montana. I think we might last a few more days if we can make it home, but we have to cross a few rivers that might make that impossible. I'm just thinking of an insurance policy for the best opportunity. For me, it's not about survival as much as cheating death. I just want to see what pioneer-style living brings about.

 

[wash11]

If I'm fortunate enough to be home when something happens, it's doubtful that I'll ever drive again. 120 air miles from Vegas, 150 from Phoenix we MIGHT have a chance against EMP's and excessive fallout. Any direction I'd go puts me closer to ground zero. Instead of having a bug out vehicle I've spent the money on having a nice stock of Whites Boots and Merril hiking shoes. That should get me where I need to go while the radiation cancer eats my body

 

[Xring01]

The question would be if it would be one ground burst from a rogue nation, or the good ol' "War Games" Global thermonuclear war with the all out nuclear winter. It would be smarter for a country to do a single air burst over the midwest. It would possibly cripple us, but not have the same fallout. People would be happily enslaved by whoever came with food and water.

I do not see that happening at all.

Anyone who sends Nukes our direction… Is going to get FUCKING BLASTED (Before their Nukes even get into our airspace), our weapons will already be in the air… Ours war heads will be set to send those fucks to the Stone Age…

That alone will make the earth un inhabitable for a very very long time, regardless of what there weapons are set for.

We have ICBM capable Submarines that are always in the major oceans, in close proximity to our major nemesis‘s at the time. ALWAYS… Hint Hint. Look at my avatar. Our missiles are very close to our targets 365 days a year… ALWAYS…

Honestly its fight no one can win. Those that dont recognize that, do not have the necessary appreciation of nuke weapons capabilities, and long term implications.

If your thinking that the warheads we used in WW2 are powerful. Thats childsplay in the modern age. We can put warheads with that capability on very small missiles 25 years ago (Not ICBM’s, but devastating). Modern day Nuke Warheads are no joke…

 

[angiebaby]

Disclaimer: First, I apologize for the book Second, I am by no means an expert on the subject, but I've done a little research, as stated earlier, and it is a regular topic of discussion for our family. You are free to do your own research and disagree with me on things, or even better, teach me something.

No one can say exactly what would happen. Factors include height over the atmosphere, size of nuke, accuracy, etc. Who knows how hardened our systems are? I can tell you that computers would be fried. Hospitals, grocery stores, vehicles, transportation, banking . . . all run on computers. Even if the electricity gets restored quickly, there is no way to quickly fix this many critical computer systems in a short amount of time. It would take months or years.

I’ve heard about EMP’s etc, but have there been any real world scenarios to read about / learn from?

Yes. Kind of . . .

I'm quoting myself here from my own research:
"During the events at the height of the Cold War, a nuclear bomb detonated (1962) at an altitude of 400 kilometers above the Earth and 1400 kilometers from Hawaii caused the failure of street lights, tripping of circuit breakers, and damage to a telecommunications facility there. Others were exploded over South Central Asia, which caused damage to overhead and underground cables, surge arrestor burnout, blown fuses, and power supply breakdowns 600 kilometers away.[1] While no one knows exactly how an event like this would unfold, most experts feel that anything connected to a circuit of any kind, including automobiles and cellphones, computers, and house appliances, would be rendered useless.

---

[1] "Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack -Critical National Infrastructures." April 2008.


The Carrington Event in 1859 destroyed telegraph lines in both the US and England. This was a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), or solar storm. These disturbances can cause damage to electrical equipment, including transformers, aircraft navigation systems, and satellite transmission. Smaller ones have led to blackouts across Eastern Canada and Sweden. Scientists estimate that a Carrington-sized event happens once every 150 years on average (THE LAST ONE WAS 1859) and could cause blackouts ranging in time from several hours to one to two years. [1]

---

[1] Roger Andrews. "The Next Carrington Event | PSI Intl." Principia Scientific International. April 10, 2017.




Some relevant quotes from people regarding the fragility of the grid, who may not align with you politically, but they are not stupid people:


Janet Nopalitano-former Secretary of Homeland Security- “There’s no plan that would be adequate in that circumstance,” regarding grid failure.

Also -“there is an 80-90% chance that a nation-state or independent actor could knock out one of our power grids.”

Craig Fugate –Former FEMA administrator- “Large regions of the U.S. could go dark.”

“Most people expect . . .that somehow we have enough tools in the tool chest to get power turned back on quickly. The answer is no.”

He states that FEMA’s response would be “trying to hang on and keep as many people as possible from dying until the system comes back.”

Jeh Johnson-Former Secretary of Homeland Security- the threat of cyber attacks on the grid “it is potentially very large. It is potentially devastating.”

George Cotter-former Chief Scientist for the NSA-“The nation has little or no chance of withstanding a major cyberattack on the electrical system . . . when such an attack occurs, make no mistake there will be a major loss of life and serious crippling of national security capabilities.”

Newt Gingrich-former Speaker of the House-grid failure is “a very real threat” that has “deeply worried me and many others for years.”

If you truly dig down into the deepest depths of the rabbit hole that creates a EMP events…

I doubt very few will be lucky enough to be worried about a vehicle. If you are worried about a vehicle that implys you have a 25-50 year supplies stocked in a very deep cave (well below ground or very deep in a mountain).

Bottom line - Top Side will not be inhabitable for a very long time.

For those trying to figure out what is a EMP..
Electro Magnetic Pulse, that is created when a thermo nuclear weapon detonates. Meaning the moment one country launchs, many others will be launching while the first country that launched, weapons are still in the air. Literally the missiles will be crossing paths in the atmosphere. EMP is a direct result of Nuke War… If your fortunate enough to survive the first 24 hours, you better be getting underground with 50 year supply of food / water… even then, pending the proximity you are to the initial war heads impacts, you still may only have 7-10 days, to die of radio active poisoning.

These nuclear devices can be launched from satellites, or shipping containers off of the coast. We wouldn't even know until it detonated. Even after it detonates, we likely may not even know who did it. Because they are detonated above the atmosphere, there is expected to be no nuclear fallout, which is why it is such a perfect weapon, IMO. People on the ground will kill each other in mass numbers. When that is done, a nation can invade and take the resources.

I do not see that happening at all.

Anyone who sends Nukes our direction… Is going to get FUCKING BLASTED (Before their Nukes even get into our airspace), our weapons will already be in the air… Ours war heads will be set to send those fucks to the Stone Age…

That alone will make the earth un inhabitable for a very very long time, regardless of what there weapons are set for.

We have ICBM capable Submarines that are always in the major oceans, in close proximity to our major nemesis‘s at the time. ALWAYS… Hint Hint. Look at my avatar. Our missiles are very close to our targets 365 days a year… ALWAYS…

Honestly its fight no one can win. Those that dont recognize that, do not have the necessary appreciation of nuke weapons capabilities, and long term implications.

If your thinking that the warheads we used in WW2 are powerful. Thats childsplay in the modern age. We can put warheads with that capability on very small missiles 25 years ago (Not ICBM’s, but devastating). Modern day Nuke Warheads are no joke…

Again, the EMP nukes would never get into our airspace. They would be detonated a hundred or more miles above the Earth's surface.

"One of the main issues is the large transformers. These transformers are extremely expensive and exist at the heart of the fragility of the grid. A large power transformer (LPT), defined as 100 MVA (mega volt amp) or greater, refurbished, can be purchased for $3.5 million each.[1] New ones can cost up to $7.5 million. Further, they weigh between 100 and 400 tons and are therefore difficult to transport, driving the price up higher, sometimes by as much as twenty percent. Due to the availability of raw materials such as copper and electrical grade steel for manufacturing, transportation issues due to size and weight, and demand, lead time may extend between twenty months and five years for new LPTs. Currently, only nine companies in the United States manufacture these transformers, and they can accommodate around fifteen percent of the demand. The majority of manufacturers are overseas, which increases the lead time even more. To make matters worse, the average age of LPTs on our power grid is 40 years old. The Department of Energy states that the life expectancy of these transformers varies, however, “aging power transformers are subject to an increased risk of failure.” [2] Further complicating the matter, the DOE admits that “LPTs are very expensive and tailored to customers’ specifications, they are usually neither interchangeable with each other nor produced for extensive spare inventories.” [3] They are not made until there is an order, so these are not something that the electric suppliers can have on hand in case one decides to fail or is intentionally damaged.

---

[1] Midwest Switchgear Group. "TRANSFORMERS (OIL FILLED) INVENTORY FINDER."
[2] "Large Power Transformers and the U.S. Electric Grid." The U.S. Electric Grid - U.S. Department of Energy. June 2012.
[3] Ibid.


I've mentioned this before, but I will say it again. If you are interested in this subject, a good place to begin is the non-fiction book by Ted Koppel, from ABC news Nightline fame titled Lights Out. Here is a great article also, from the Federation of American Scientists https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/RL32544.pdf

The good news is that the government is aware of the threat. They are working to find solutions. Challenges are that most energy companies are private or corporations that either cannot afford the cost of improvements, or will not spend the money because of shareholders. No one wants taxes to go up to pay for gov't intervention, and no one wants utility bills to rise to pay for it. We are talking trillions of dollars to harden the grid.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I do not see that happening at all.

Anyone who sends Nukes our direction… Is going to get FUCKING BLASTED (Before their Nukes even get into our airspace), our weapons will already be in the air… Ours war heads will be set to send those fucks to the Stone Age…

That alone will make the earth un inhabitable for a very very long time, regardless of what there weapons are set for.

We have ICBM capable Submarines that are always in the major oceans, in close proximity to our major nemesis‘s at the time. ALWAYS… Hint Hint. Look at my avatar. Our missiles are very close to our targets 365 days a year… ALWAYS…

Honestly its fight no one can win. Those that dont recognize that, do not have the necessary appreciation of nuke weapons capabilities, and long term implications.

If your thinking that the warheads we used in WW2 are powerful. Thats childsplay in the modern age. We can put warheads with that capability on very small missiles 25 years ago (Not ICBM’s, but devastating). Modern day Nuke Warheads are no joke…

"The only winning move is not to play"

Sad, but true. The warheads created 50 years ago were already a fraction of the physical size of those dropped on Japan. 50 years ago, the ICBM's were the choice for delivery. Technological advancements on the delivery side alone are pretty amazing. I'd assume things could also be applied to the device itself...anything from "tactical" nukes, to world enders.

In the end, prevailing winds and distance from targets will only provide a limited time, temporary shelter. Pretty frightening to see what people are in charge of those weapons currently. The money changing may be the only thing that keeps the world alive. It could also be what ends it.

 

[Yoshiro]

 

[CLdrinker]

If you truly dig down into the deepest depths of the rabbit hole that creates a EMP events…

I doubt very few will be lucky enough to be worried about a vehicle. If you are worried about a vehicle that implys you have a 25-50 year supplies stocked in a very deep cave (well below ground or very deep in a mountain).

Bottom line - Top Side will not be inhabitable for a very long time.

For those trying to figure out what is a EMP..
Electro Magnetic Pulse, that is created when a thermo nuclear weapon detonates. Meaning the moment one country launchs, many others will be launching while the first country that launched, weapons are still in the air. Literally the missiles will be crossing paths in the atmosphere. EMP is a direct result of Nuke War… If your fortunate enough to survive the first 24 hours, you better be getting underground with 50 year supply of food / water… even then, pending the proximity you are to the initial war heads impacts, you still may only have 7-10 days, to die of radio active poisoning.

Way to shit on all of the preppers dreams.

 

[Badchoices03]

If you truly dig down into the deepest depths of the rabbit hole that creates a EMP events…

I doubt very few will be lucky enough to be worried about a vehicle. If you are worried about a vehicle that implys you have a 25-50 year supplies stocked in a very deep cave (well below ground or very deep in a mountain).

Bottom line - Top Side will not be inhabitable for a very long time.

For those trying to figure out what is a EMP..
Electro Magnetic Pulse, that is created when a thermo nuclear weapon detonates. Meaning the moment one country launchs, many others will be launching while the first country that launched, weapons are still in the air. Literally the missiles will be crossing paths in the atmosphere. EMP is a direct result of Nuke War… If your fortunate enough to survive the first 24 hours, you better be getting underground with 50 year supply of food / water… even then, pending the proximity you are to the initial war heads impacts, you still may only have 7-10 days, to die of radio active poisoning.

Are you the same dude that will say Mighty Mouse can't beat up Superman because they both aren't real? You must be really fun at parties...LOL

 

[mbrown2]

We need a new section for these "world is ending thread types".... names? Preppers and ?