Bug-Out And Survival In A Travel Trailer Or RV

Ever thought about a ‘mobile’ bug-out with a travel trailer or RV? Pros? Cons?

For many, purchasing another home or piece of property away from ‘the city’ or dense suburbs to have as a ‘bug-out location’ is unattainable. Given a worst-case-scenario whereby a bug-out to a safer location is or would be a matter of survival, perhaps one option would be to utilize a travel trailer or RV as one’s bug-out vehicle and mobile bug-out location…

Here are some thoughts on that:


 
Some variables come to mind, including the specifics of the travel trailer or RV itself, how it is to be equipped and prepped, as well as having a specific bug-out destination and pre-planned route and alternate routes to your destination.

I happen to have a trailer, a ‘5th-wheel’ actually, and before we travel with it, I put some thought and preps into the rig such that it will be better prepared for SHTF, just in case.

The thing is, I suppose that one could take it to the next level and consider using it as a ‘home base’ should the need ever arise to get out of Dodge…

When you begin thinking about a trailer or RV as a semi-permanent bug-out location, the wheels really start spinning as to what you might consider doing, retrofitting, and preparing the rig for such a thing.

There are two primary concerns. The rig itself (and how it’s equipped to deal with this role), and the destination location (or locations) of the bug-out.

Lets touch on the later first. Where are you going to go??

Some good first options may be if you know someone else who is already living in a location that may be more survivable than ‘the city’ or dense population regions. With their prior consent (important), your rig will serve as your ‘home’ on their property rather than integrating into their existing home. (Note: Winter RV’ing is difficult to impossible without freezing pipes, etc.., so bear that in mind or have solutions to these problems)

Note: Be sure to have a Road Atlas for each state that you may travel in…

Note: Best Large Scale Road Atlas USA

Don’t just think that you’re going to take off and live ‘on the road’. Sooner or later you will run out of fuel. You need to plan a destination that gives you a chance for survivability and functionality in this role. This will likely mean scouting it out ahead of time. And then plan for a second location in case your first option is no longer an option…

Given that the hypothetical (extreme) bug-out conditions that warrant leaving one’s area in order to stand a better chance of survival, these conditions will also create great security concerns. You may only have a relatively short time to make your decision to bug-out, to actually bug-out, and the time to arrive at your destination (days?) before the rest of the population realizes that they’re in deep $hit…

 
There are A LOT of things to think about, including…

Is a travel trailer or RV defensible? How?
Should camouflage or being out of sight at your destination be a priority?
Is there a water source there?
How will you deal with waste and disposal thereof?
Do you have enough food supplies for the long term?
Can you rig up a solar power system?
Will there be weather concerns?

 
It’s interesting to think about and consider a travel trailer or RV as a bug-out vehicle and destination shelter. Have any of you thought about this? Any ideas? Pros and Cons?

62 Comments

  1. One possibility in many areas would be to equip your vehicle with railroad tires. If trains aren’t running you could avoid the worst congestion–with the caveat that some trains might have stopped on bridges and such, so plan for having to backtrack.

    Given the right opportunities a trailer could be a permanent home, but only if you have a permanent home base in mind. A little difficult to raise chickens or plant a survival garden in a trailer.

    But for the immediate SHTF period, it might work very well as long as you can store enough gas.

    1. All the he-said-she-said bull I have had motor-homes for 40 years the only way to bug out very simple very easy to dispose of things you don’t need you don’t use your toilet if you’re out there very long that is only for an emergency and your water system comes from somewhere else usually an outside shower unless it is winter time but it is better to have loved than not to have one if you had to bug out without one you would be up the creek without a paddle.

  2. Except for a situation of going to someone else’s property I don’t think either a trailer or an RV is a sensible bug out plan. With either you are stuck to staying on roads that will contain others and if the situation is bad that is not going to work.

    Now if you were bugging out due to a fire, flood, etc. that would be a different story. To have or build a BOV I think you need a truck and camper or truck with a shell and the truck needs to be 4×4. Even this is not going to get you far off road or deep into the woods but it will get you off road and out of site at least for awhile.

    Myself I have 2 jeep grand Cherokee’s that you can remove the rear seats from and store quite a lot of supplies in. You can also make up a small bed/room etc. to help you survive the elements.

    1. I pretty much concur. We have a travel trailer and I would hate to have to bug out in it. Ours is 20 feet and we can pull it behind our Dakota but carrying capacity is severely limited. The more weight you put in it the less mileage you get. For the vast majority of scenarios we would bug in. Abut the only time I could see us bugging out with the RV would be if a small asteroid was projected to hit the Pacific. If it was a big one think Yucatan.

      1. How about the San Andres? You could live in your own driveway if your house was destroyed.

        1. I agree completely. San Andreas is not much of a concern where we are but the Cascadia fault is.

        2. We live about 2-3 miles from the San Andres fault – and that’s exactly what we plan to do should an earthquake take the house. We’ve got a motorhome and have equipped it with several useful things for this situation.

    2. Pulling a travel trailer in a traffic jam is no fun, believe me, and your gas mileage goes straight to hell at a time when you can least afford to run out of gas. Better to have the trailer already set up at a preselected bugout location and use the tow vehicle for the bugout vehicle to get to your BOL.

      1. We have an older 27′ motor home. It’s been parked at our BOL #2 (hunting/fishing/recreation property) for the last 10 years. We live at our primary BOL. We have slowly stocked the #2 so we have duplicates of most hand tools. Just picked up a used 200 gallon propane tank for #2 and they filled it @ 80 cents a gallon vs. 20 lb propane bottles that only hold about 4 gallons @ $2.65 a gallon. We are still learning and tweaking things @ BOL #1 & #2. We have plans to build something @ #2 with a foundation, multi-fuel heat sources, and 100% off grid electricity. Tired of chasing mice in the motor home.

    3. Living in an RV sounds great, but unless you have your own property to park it on, you will just be some glorified Refugee and at the will of available Gas, electric water and the rest of those necessities, on the road in cramped quarters without any security, sitting in a tin box on someone else property, which you can be kicked of off, unless you are paying some sort of rent to be there. Months fly by and that adds up tp a lot of rent money.

      Vs. You are better off using your money, to buy a few acres out in the boonies all paid for, and parking a trailer or mini house on it, digging a well and using Solar off grid, and making a real homestead out of it and where you can raise some animals and planting a garden. Hard to do any of that on the lamb as a refugee and wasting gas driving around to find some place to park it cheap and always looking over your shoulder and someone breaking in your RV when you are away. I went through all the pros and cons a few years back and chose to buy some land for off the grid living. 22 months now off the Grid here in FL. Cheers everybody!!

      1. I would not want to be stuck on the highway someplace in an RV, and sitting in traffic for hours, the gas tank is burning up, then you run out, and then what? You abandon your entire life on a highway to go fetch some gasoline, and when you come back its been broken into and every thing is gone? You have to think about all types of situations. In a massive evacuation situation, you would rather be more safe in a 4×4 heading down into the ditch skip all the traffic, hit a off ramp and find an new route to your BOL. Why don’t you all just get out of the cities now and move permanently to your BOL homestead. It will take a few years to get it set up right.

  3. I have lived in a camper for 8 months out of 12 for the past 35 years because of my work and I know all the pros and cons of camper life. I work in some of the most rugged and beautiful areas of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming. The older I become the more I appreciate a comfortable bed LOL.

    I prefer the trailer hitch to a 5th wheel because it allows me full cargo space of my pickup bed and less hassle when hooking and unhooking. Radiant heat furnace is preferable to force air which requires a battery and daily charging with a generator. In cold weather I use water only from 5 gallon water jugs.

    I use a 1 ton Chev dual wheel pickup which pulls my camper like it isn’t even hooked on. My sewer tank will last a long time with just me but if there are others it will fill up fast. Depending on the situation or emergency one could devise an improvised sewer especially if a grader, excavator, or time to dig one was possible or even find a good dump spot, “we are talking emergency scenario here”. Use the woods by day and the sewer for cold nights. Grey water is no problem.

    I inverted my trailer suspension springs to give much needed ground clearance. I have pulled my trailer up Maqruder crossing Idaho and into places most people thought was impossible but one does have to be careful. Campers can hold large amount of supplies but be careful not to over load them. I use a Big Berkey water filter with located creeks and water sources. Security, camouflage and defense ability would depend on many factors but if feasible a camper is another viable alternative.

    1. Good information from someone who (apparently) has experience with this type of living. I also like the idea of parking it in advance of needing to ‘bug out.’ It’ll save a lot of time, effort, expense, and headache.

      Blessings,

      Son of Liberty

      1. There is no “apparent” with my history and camp trailers unfortunately. When I was in my 20’s it was a luxury hotel but now that I”m pushing 60 it’s not quite as much fun as it use to be. Nothing is better than one’s home and bed.

  4. I had considered solutions to several problems regarding BOL’s and RV vehicles.

    Problem one is how to secure your BOL when you are not around. Problem two, how do you survive in a trailer etc. in varying climate conditions.

    If you constructed a metal building on a rural property that had a clandestine sewer hook-up and well (complete with submersible pump) and otherwise empty, it would not present a target for looters. Then you could pull your RV into this building, out of the weather and hook it up to water and sewer. Many RV’s have a small generator that could pump your water etc.

    You could also bring solar equipment with you. A small wood burning stove in the building could keep the unit from freezing and allow some space outside your RV for cooking and working. Supplies for survival could be hauled in your truck and RV or you could have a secret stash hidden on the property. There are many other points to cover but I will leave that to others with specific solutions to individual requirements.

    If you feel you must bug out in the future, please plan ahead.

  5. Bugging out in an RV or pulling one while bugging out? Maybe, if the event that precipitates it is a slow roll, with plenty of advance notice of inevitability, but plenty of lead time to act. Otherwise, it is destined to be abandoned along with all the other vehicles in a hopeless gridlock.

    If bugging out is in your plans, you should have a destination in mind, already prepared for occupancy. Your load out should include nothing you can’t carry with you easily, or can afford to abandon. Anything more is not bugging out, it’s moving out.

    I have no plans to bug out since I would be hard pressed to find a place more remote or defensible than where I am at. If I did live in a more populated place, I would still bug in, hunker down and defend if possible. At my age and with my physical limitations, I would prefer death rested, comfortable, in familiar surroundings, than cold, tired, fatigued, and in strange geography. Just my opinion.

    1. Saw it somewhere that Homeland security/State police in an emergency evacuation situation will not allow ANY towed vehicles–they must be left on the side of the road for you to proceed. If you’re planning on doing this better get outta Dodge real early! Anyone else know about this??? Definitely sounds like something they would do…

      1. Did a google search on this and in several states it seems you are right.

  6. I too have a 5th wheel trailer that I keep partially stocked with clothing and non perishables. I live in an area with high fire danger and could have to bug out at a moments notice. This trailer gives me grate peace of mind knowing that my family has a safe and clean place to live should anything happen. The alternative might be tent camping in winter or a FEMA camp! I also take bicycles with my trailer for local transportation. I tell my friends that live in the city if they have a trailer and food they are welcome at my house. I also have friends out of state that we can stay with if need be.

  7. I have lived a few years in trailers and 5th wheels when I was younger. I agree with both Dennis and Anonymous. An RV is wonderful to protect you from the elements of weather. In the winter, you will find yourself going through a lot of propane to keep warm and heat your water.

    Geographically, I have also noticed that many RV parks are in sub-prime locations that are subject to floods, tree falls, wildfire danger in addition to a nice paved road for humanity to follow you. Ideally, you would have a level pad to park on with a gate on the driveway on private property not too far from a small town where there is propane and groceries available. That last description sounds a lot like my present home.

    If one is worried about bullets or bombs, I would build a bunker or surround the RV with hescoes (stone walls built with wire and hardware cloth.) although you would still not survive the direct hit from artillery. Water: I would be using the filter or boiling mine from a stream as the spigots are turned off in the winter.

    It is currently below freezing where I live and I type this within a warm and well maintained home. Camping in this weather means you spend a tremendous amount of time, energy and resources just to stay clean, warm and dry. Add to this an 8+ hr workday and you are living pretty rough.

  8. I can see an advantage in ‘Diasaster Lite’ scenario, where a person/family has to move out of their permanent residence because of hurricane/flood/mudslide/etc. and move onto a property with a relative or friend temporarily.

    Otherwise, any needs for utility/sewer hook-ups would have to be unmet (though solar power set-up would help some minor electrical needs.)

    Calirefugee made great point about insulation, but if trailer could be insulated with stacked hay, that would help quite a bit. Especially if said trailer was inside a barn, that provides extra skin, dead air and then the insulation.

  9. One problem that many are not aware of when you live in an RV in cold climates – condensation to the point that all your bedding and clothing can get wet. Anything up against an exterior wall will get wet or freeze. Propane cooking just adds to the moisture your bodies produce.

    1. I always kept a window cracked open in my former van camper, not only for cooking moisture buildup, but for propane fumes from the stove and heater to escape and fresh dryer air to come inside. Just breathing will fog up windows if shut tight, so imagine two people and two large panting dogs all cramped into this van when it was below freezing outside!

    2. @homebody, I learned this the hard way! With our first travel trailer (not a nice one), I thought it would be pleasant to have a window at the head of the “bed”. Sleeping with the window open, fresh air, and all that crap.

      We ended up camping in 20ish degree weather one week. The condensation from the humidity in the trailer dripped on my head and pillows. Miserable! The only solution was to leave a couple of windows cracked. Luckily we had cold weather sleeping bags. The mattress had to be replaced and I got rid of that dumb trailer as fast as I could.

      I’ve been looking for a true four-season rv for quite some time now. luv ya’ll, Beach’n

  10. Uśed 21′ toy hauler—————$10,000
    Used diesel dually—————–$7,500
    Used dualsport motorcycle—$1,500

    Ability to explore the back-country and develop survival skills with the family while calling it camping————–PRICELESS.

    Blessings.

    1. Hey, I know some who have million dollar motor homes they use in Arizona RV parks/resorts and they call it camping lol.

  11. I have had the opportunity to “live” in my 18’ trailer for a year or so when building my own homes (5 of em), as long as you have it set up right it’s not a problem (Water-supply, Sewer, Electricity, and So-On). I still have said trailer, and it’s defiantly set up for Bugging-Out, fully stocked 100%, and makes it easier for a camping/hunting trips also.

    Personally I have NO plans of leaving the Home-Base, but ya never know when a wild fire or chemical spill will MAKE you leave. If you ONLY plan on Bugging-In, than sure as hell you WILL be run out of your place, remember Mr. Murphy?

    The problem with those that say they will never Bug-Out is one never knows what SHTF will hit. Now I agree with most that 90% of the time there is absolutely no reason to leave what you have, BUT, there is always that 10% that will kill ya if you stay put.

    So, yes I 100% agree in having a “small” trailer for that 10% of the time. BUT!!!! You had better make darn sure you have a place to go and not just show up somewhere and expect to be welcomed if it’s a major SHTF. Most people are not going to be too happy with 10,000 trailers “dropping by” for a few years. AND forget about hitting the “woods” that will become very crowded very fast, and resources will drop to zero in a heartbeat.

    I believe that we should all make plans on heading up to Ken’s place, what y-all think?

    NRP

    PS, if you do have a connection on a place to “drop in on” than you might think about storing a few supplies there now, beforehand.

  12. I lived out of a 74 Ford van for months at a time winter camping. I built a camper in it with a few amenities as a home such as a stove, ice box, cabinets, insulation, gas heater, sink and hand pump faucet with a 5 gallon jug of water, a custom bed, and extra gas tank. It would have been a good base to stay in while building a cabin, repairs on a home, for unexpected guests, or waiting to acquire other permanent structures as I used it for that. It served a useful purpose until the engine blew up the second time, but I so desired to have a real home when the weather was below freezing.

    I also used a TiPi I lived in for weeks at a time, especially trips out west or up at the lake property my family owned near here. I used an ozan to trap the heat from the fire, or raised a side for cooling, but everything was primitive in living. I never ran out of fuel to heat or cook with as long as I camped in a forest and I never ran out of food with the natural resources available. I’d bring in mushrooms, fish, cattails, edible greens and flowers, berries of all sorts, even turtle meat, crayfish, duck and grouse.

    I now have a Suburban without back seats to BO, but have a relative’s cabin to go to if I have to with my warmer weather tent, gear, and food packed, otherwise I plan to stay here being so isolated as it is.

  13. Years back I bought a 1973 FMC motor home. It was in poor shape, and needed a new interior. Through the years I’ve completely gone through it. Making upgrades to everything. Interior has more storage, better systems. Electrical has improved panels, added solar panels and inverters. A larger battery bank, a smaller and more efficient generator.
    This list goes on, but it and a large in closed trailer that it can tow. Is our get out of dodge back up plan. With a location we can easily reach in about 30 minutes.
    Just a back up, hopefully we don’t have to use it!

  14. We have a 27 foot RV w/ a Dodge Ram 350 to haul. We chose a trailer hitch w/ the locking protection against sway (instead of 5th wheel) for extra room in the truck bed.
    We would have no issues w/ using our RV during an evacuation that involved a chem spill or other temp evac measure. We would be exceptionally wary using our RV as a BOV. We have forested land where we could drive to, but it is about 75 miles away. However, the security issues would be our greatest concern.

  15. For a short local “disaster”, some form of a trailer is probably not an unreasonable idea.
    But, I’d suggest that anyone thinking about getting out of Dodge and living in a travel trailer after the SHTF should watch the movie “Panic in the Year Zero”.

    Yes, its from 1962 and a little “hokey” — but the issues , AND the ramifications of using a trailer are still very believable and relevant.

    The movie is available on line to watch.

    http://putlockers.ch/watch-panic-in-year-zero-online-free-putlocker.html

    1. Thanks for the link. Full of good examples of what not to do. It was so bad it was almost funny. But it is an interesting time capsule that touches on several pertinent issues that are just as relevant today.

  16. Oh, yes, I’ve thought of this subject often but not necessarily as
    a bug out option – just to travel around the US for a couple of
    years. The awful truth about Class A’s is that the cargo capacity
    is awful. I would alter the following with the assumption that it
    would initially be set up for me alone but easily adjusted for two
    if necessary.

    I’d buy a rig with the full bed in back and remove it. Any heavy
    cabinetry would be removed for lighter material. The heavy breakfast
    seats would be removed for a lighter portable chair and table. The
    kitchen stove would be removed probably but the frig would go for
    sure for a portable refrigerator unit which could be put where
    you wanted and moved around if necessary. I would run the portable
    refrigerator from solar, as well as lights inside the unit from
    the same.

    I’d remove the toilet bowl with a compost toilet while on the road.
    The shower would remain…for showers, of course, although carrying
    water would be minimal to keep the weight down and water replaced
    at parks or streams because I’d have a portable 3 filter unit which
    could reach 100-200 feet on BLM land.

    If I kept the stove I’d be cooking off gas but if I eliminated the
    stove I would use a portable butane stove which I’m familiar with.
    For food I’d have MRE’s, lot’s of freeze dried and much canned.

    By eliminating a lot of heavy furniture I’d free up weight for
    other storage stuff besides food and water. Although it sounds
    Spartan, it needn’t be and could be quite comfortable. And I’d
    make more room for clothes and probably a bike for tootling around.
    And I’d have internet for news and communication, probably
    satellite TV before the SHTF. Afterward? Well,…

    Would this be practical for a bug out? Probably not unless you
    had time to get to someone else’s protected retreat and I don’t
    know anyone with a retreat.

    In a SHTF situation, AND near water, I could see myself set up
    with enough fuel and food to last possibly 3-4 months easily. Would
    I be able to protect myself alone from the bad guys? I think not.
    So, the comments are for what it’s worth department. Wishful
    thinking, probably.

  17. A Nice shiny camper or travel trailer would make for a fun target to shoot at in SHTF scenario. Bullets would pass right through it. ;)
    Being serious, the trailers and campers would attract way too much attention from people on the road. Sorry to pee in anyone’s cornflakes. Its best to preposition caches and travel light.

  18. My concern,living in Canada,would be the cold winters.However if the trailer were to be left in one spot,perhaps adding a woodstove would work.Has anyone done this to a trailer?

    1. I saw it done with a friends wall tent, and every one would gather to his place in the morning for coffee and contained warmth. He used a small wood stove taking 1′ long wood, with water jackets and a 5″ flue. If I had a stationary trailer, that is what I would use, and insulate it better than as-is. Of course if it is a small trailer, room must be made for it.

  19. On “Pure Living For Life” blog you see a young couple move to Idaho & are preparing for their 2nd winter in a camper trailer. Lots of interesting ideas & there is lots of snow there already.

  20. The ultimate bug out vehicle – a string of pack mules. Fuel grows almost everywhere. Tremendous all terrain performance so who needs roads; fence cutters maybe but not roads. Capable of helping break ground in your new location. There’s the possibility that a potential thief would get himself kicked to death or at least to discouragement. Worse comes to worst you could always eat them – something you can’t do to a RV. You can pack a wall tent, camp stove, saws and axes, cooking vessels, arms and ammunition, food, clothing, spare mule shoes etc. Carrying capacity no problem – buy another mule ahead of time. They can help you drag dinner home either whole or skinned and quartered. Admittedly it might be problematic to care for them in an urban setting so get out of town now and buy the mules later.

    1. Agree with you, except for me it’s horses. Never ate mule but I have ate horse over in Europe and it was good. I’d have to be desperate though, they’re just too handy

    2. Mules and horses both have an issue as bugout transportation. You need to store them somewhere until they are needed to move you from your suburban home to your rural bugout location. If you store them at your bugout location, how will you get there? You might live there, which would make it your permanent home, so you dont need z y bugout strategy.

  21. I would love an RV. I’m currently living in a beat up old van down by the river. With a nice cot and a couple good sleeping bags it can work just about anywhere. Of course, it gets pretty cold once you peel off the sleeping bag. May need to go further south next year.

  22. Typical camping trailers are actually pretty flimsy in construction, depreciate in value fairly quickly, and are limited in mobility. A slide in camper in a pickup or a converted bus would probably be better options for bug out vehicles. School buses are actually more solidly constructed than motor homes. There is at least one business in the U.S. that specializes in converting them to 4 x 4 but I can’t remember the name or location offhand.

    1. School buses go better than most 4 wheel drive suv’s do to their high ground clearance and dual wheels in the rear.

  23. We gave serious consideration to securing a small pop up camper to use as emergency shelter in the event of having to bug out from our home in the rapidly deteriorating suburbs. Here are some of the things we had to do.

    We looked at securing a box truck or old school bus and modifying it to become a heavy duty camper.

    Create a space to store the camper at our house. It does us NO good sitting at a storage lot and many neighborhoods have codes forbidding vehicles (including campers) parked anywhere but the driveway.

    Secure permission from MORE THAN ONE friend in other locations to head their way with a camper.

    Take an HONEST look at what we would realistically be able carry in the camper and tow vehicle.

    Take an honest look at how impacted our mobility may be if we were driving a camper truck or pulling a camper in the event of a bug out.

    Take an HONEST look at the cost of modifying the camper’s suspension to be off road capable in order to get further off the beaten path.

    Now, we live in our bug out location. We are way off the beaten path in a nice home with land. We sold the place in the suburbs.

    We have a heavily modified Jeep Cherokee (replacing the steering for the last 2 days in the bitter cold) and a 4×4 F-150. Our property is heavily wooded with hardwood trees and we have a large pond. Hopefully, we could just bug in here!

    All that being said, it is still the practical choice for some folks.

  24. I lived in a trailer for 6 years on my property. I was very comfortable in the winter snow storms as well as the summer heat. If you know anyone who has property in a secure area, ask them if you come with your own food and trailer will they let you stay there. I think you’ll find that most people will be happy to add another person to there group that is self sufficient and doesn’t add a burden to the group. If you have to live by yourself in the forest it is easy to camouflage your trailer with natural vegetation. But I prefer to stay with a group for surety. Having a trailer gives me options and I like that.

  25. Kimberly wood stoves. Designed and built for boats and RVs. They have thermoelectric units available that charge your batteries and are capable of heating water and cooking. No condensation problems either.

  26. We also have a 30 foot travel trailer and use it often for short 2-3 days and/or our trips to Tennessee and Florida. We too plan to “bug-in” (small town) but there is always a chance for local emergencies and need to vacate the AO for a few weeks or a month. We have several destinations planned out within an hour of our farm and provisions for several weeks if need be (dry camping)….as long as it rains on occasion -or- camp on a lake which is our primary destination. Heading South is the way to go for us. Gasoline and propane are major issues if we have to bug out. We have mulled over this issue a lot and have made a few assumptions in an emergency: #1, we have enough time (minimum 24 hours) to prepare for a trip. #2, we plan to turn my F-250 into a rolling gas can with extra 20# propane tanks (8 or 10 each) if needed for the camper and our generator. If it’s Winter, fuel becomes an absolute necessity for us.

    It all depends on the extent of the circumstances for the emergency. You have to be very flexible…adapt, overcome and adjust fire as necessary to survive—-Develop a plan and practice the plan.

  27. We also have an RV trailer. I always thought it would be great to have that metal building sitting on some property on in the middle of nowhere.

    Just pull the RV in and hang tight.

    Defending it is the big problem. Bullets go right through that stuff like a hot knife through butter.

  28. In my ancient past I delivered lumber to building sites. One of my customers then was a couple withe 4 children between 3 and about 11. He worked, she educated the children and THEY built their home. They lived on site in the foothills of the Cascades. Yes, they got snowed on.

    They lived in 6 yards sheds. Two 12 X 16s were set with a 20ft 2×10 set as a ridge pole between the large sheds with 8 X 10 sheds 2 to a side. They hung a tarp across the ridge pole to the shed roofs with a picnic table under the tarp. The sheds were insulated and lined with OSB and they burned lumber scrap for heat. They lived that way for TWO years while they built their home.

    1. I will add this my above comments. One 12X16 shed was the kitchen, they had power to small electric heaters in all the sheds. When they shut the doors they were all quite warm at night. They also had an operational well plus a outhouse. What else do you need?

  29. Over the years I have lived and worked all over the world from the Arctic, desert and jungles. I was raised in many areas because of being a military brat and in the military myself. No matter how or where I lived, I always looked for escape routes for safety. We had been taught how to hunt and fish. Learned how to live of the land.

    What the majority of America does not know is that urban areas only have is about three days of food on hand. Don’t plan on help because more or less everyone will be looking after them selves. At the minimum you want to be as far as two tanks of fuel will get you. Once the SHTF most people will be stuck within fifty miles of an urban location. That too, will be the the main limit of hooligan path looking to survive. These hooligans will kill to survive. I’ve seen this personly in war zones. Carry every thing you need for several months. There are numerous sites that all have credence on how to survive.

    Do not trust our government or any other government. Their interest for your survival is not in your best interest. Study, learn and be safe.
    DB

    1. truer words have not been spoken. Wise words from the experienced

  30. I love my redneck camper which is a 4 horse trailer that I enclosed the sides with metal roofing, I then had the inside roof and part way down the side sprayed with foam for insulation and to prevent sweating, I mounted 4×8’1″inch styrafoam to the inside and when in use I put down 2 layers of carpet on the floor. I use this trailer for storage when not in use for my hunting camp which is about 3 months of the year, I have to relocate it every 2 weeks in the fall. I also have those ramps that you use for oil changes that I run my 4 wheeler up on into the trailer and can haul it where ever I go. This is a great bug out trailer, I throw my cots and sleeping bags and food supplies and 13 brick rocket stove and other gear such as chain saws and lanterns and coleman stove in and I’m ready to travel. I now heat with a small propane heater, but I’m thinking about putting a wall tent stove in for heat and cooking and venting it out the front of the trailer where there is now a ventilation hole. If nessasary I know of many places to bug out to, there are even State camp grounds that are off the beaten path that have restrooms and water wells with hand pumps. Trekker Out. A Country Boy Can Survive!

  31. I have to agree, the best way to go unnoticed with a camper trailer is to take it to your spot and set it up before SHTF. Then get some sort of security for it and make sure it is monitored. Last thing you want is to arrive to your location and find some other family found it and set up camp. IMO the danger in a “bug out” scenario and hauling a camper trailer is a target for troublemakers.
    Now if you need to get out due to fire and or flood, I think I would also find a good location and set up “camp” now also. Last thing you should be doing when you need to evacuate is trying to hook up and get out while hauling a camper behind you. I like the idea of a truck bed camper. My brother lived in one for years. It goes right in truck bed, has all the amenities one needs to survive and is removable. And still only have to bring spare tires for the truck, none needed for camper!!!If I had to get out and needed a camper, truck bed camper would be what I choose.

  32. About 3 years ago, my wife and I moved into our class A motor home. While not suitable for long term off grid living, it’s definitely the way to go for a bug out, with the following caveats:
    1. LEAVE EARLY!!!
    2. Keep essential gear and supplies ALWAYS loaded.
    3. Have multiple routes planned, scouted and prioritized for each destination.
    Full time RV dwellers as a rule tend to be self reliant and self supporting. They’ll be neighborly, they’ll offer help and share their spare parts if necessary but they won’t own your problems.
    We’re currently workcamping in East Texas. Many of our neighbors are like minded. Our plan is to bug in here. If we’re on the road when the balloon goes up we’ll try to find an isolated RV park with enough manpower to survive as a group or make our way to an RV park that meets our criteria for a bugout location.
    As a full time rv’er, we have everything with us. Big plus having all your gear loaded. Don’t have to make difficult choices about what to keep and what to sacrifice.
    All our family is scattered. We have a couple of relatives within an easy drive, but nobody that’s going to arrive unprepared and unannounced and make a bad situation worse.

  33. An RV is unsuitable as a means of transport once you have it setup in a secure location. Carry some other wheels to get around.

  34. Bugging out as the saying goes in a travel trailer is doable, and we are in an information age when anything from composting toilets to solar energy and passive water heating can be researched. A travel trailer should be equipped with gutters for water catchment, and some barked logs can be set up around it and wrapped with clear pallate wrap for an instant cold frame that also is a solar heat sink in the winter, a travel trailer has a storage bin usually located in the tail section, perfect to set up either quail, rabbits or a worm composting bin, paint one side dark slate camo to absorb the Winter sun, and white and tan camo to reflect heat in the Summer. Mount gutters or other kinds of vegitable growing containers directly to the skin of the trailer and raise some vegitables, dig a root cellar or keep your beverages cold in a stream or man made pond. Get familiar with a composting toilet and using the waste as next year’s garden. Netting and shrubbery will give your home away from home a vistually obscured look. Down with naysaying. Use your head.

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