Bugging out and towing things

[rmgill]

Unless, of course, you just happen to own an M35...

Mine's bigger.

Seriously, an M35 is a very good option for a bug out vehicle. Don't want the large size, get one and bob the end.. Make it a 4x4

 

[rmgill]

Dang! Nice rig there, Overby.

I'm still kind of hung up on the issue of offroad capability, though. In the various bugout scenarios I can envision, I don't think I'd want to be limited to on-pavement travel, especially since I expect the pavement to be either impassable in places or choked with others in on-road only vehicles.

The guy with the M35 has me thinking. They're reasonably cheap to buy, and certainly off-road capable (6 wheel drive and many have winches!). They've got plenty of cargo capability. Has anyone ever put an enclosed box on one of those things? Wouldn't an M35 "Class C" conversion be the ultimate offroad motorhome?

You'd want one of two things. An M35 with a shelter (S280 typically) or an M109. for larger, you could go with the 5 Ton Shop Van.

M35 w/ S280 shelter

M109 (A Deuce) with the Shop Van Body

The 5 Tons have longer shop vans on a long wheelbase chassis (about a 20' long bed) and are expandable to the side. The side walls roll out on tracks and the floors and ceilings fold down/up respectively. They typically have conduit and raceway already for handling power for lights and gear on 24 volt AND AC power. The limitation is they're taller and more top heavy than a basic truck. I'm thinking of putting a smaller S250 shelter in the back of my truck at some point and making up a shorter canvas cover that still allows access and makes a good semi-dry cargo area.

 

[rmgill]

Mark has since sold this M109 (for $7500), but here's a very good page showing how he set his M109 up for use as a camper and HAM truck. He overbuilt the power for the ham gear so you don't need to go quite so far. With an M109 trailer, you could store some of the extra kit elsewhere. A few under bed storage locations might also be able to be fabricated for tools and tanks. Between the frame rails for some tanks would work as well. Just have to keep clear of the propshaft and pumpkins.

Oh, there are nice little Diesel powered heaters that can be added to the front corner that have integral pumps that'll pull from the truck's diesel fuel tank and keep the shelter warm.

 

[Otherguy Overby]

Oh, there are nice little Diesel powered heaters that can be added to the front corner that have integral pumps that'll pull from the truck's diesel fuel tank and keep the shelter warm.

There are diesel refrigerators, too. However, they are a bit more maintenance intensive than propane ones.

If this has already been mentioned within this thread, my 'pologies.

 

[rmgill]

There are diesel refrigerators, too. However, they are a bit more maintenance intensive than propane ones.

If this has already been mentioned within this thread, my 'pologies.

Keep it simple. Refrigerate small critical things with electricity. Get a 12 or 24 volt Peltier cooled cooler for medication and stuff. (see http://www.peltier-info.com/)