Posted: 8/15/2008 3:49:08 PM EDT
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What is the maximum distance you would consider to a BOL? ETA: I'm talking about setting up a more defensible position with pre-positioned preps. I live in the city so I would prefer to bug in in most situations rather than try to fight my way through the visigoth hordes. If my home becomes untenable, I'd like a place to go, however. |
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I think a little less than 100 miles would be alright, provided that it's out of the way and you have multiple routes to avoid traffic/holdups. Obviously closer is better, but in terms of likely bug out situations, 100 miles wouldn't take too long nor be too far to make it safely. I do think that anything over 200 miles is really pushing it, though- you can't be as familiar with your route(s) as you need to be since it's such a trek, and if your motorized transport breaks down that's a loooong way to go on foot. That reminds me of the BOL vs. homes of the group in Patriots- they lived in Chicago, IIRC, and the Idaho retreat was almost 2000 miles away as the crow flies! Of course several people had problems getting there; they would have been better off with a slightly less remote retreat in Iowa or even the Dakotas. |
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About the only thing I consider worrisome planning on a bugout location regarding distance is anywhere you have to depend on additional services than what you start with. That's basically having to buy fuel etc. Even then "The Big One" still hasn't happened and the vast majority of bugout scenarios are still most likely to be regional. With proper planning (long-range planning) you can provide for making hundreds of miles without refueling or stopping (traffic dependent of course). A rule of thumb I use based on vehicle fuel consumption averages is 1/3 more fuel than is normally needed. This is to compensate for increased congestion as well as possible detours. The average vehicle is good for between 250-300 miles per tank. That tank size can vary from typically 12-22 gallons with a diesel typically popping 35 gallons. This size is really more dependent on the drive-train and expected fuel economy rather than a random size picked out by manufacturers. How much spare fuel you car carry is also typically balanced out by vehicle size. For example, a V8 gas hog typically not only will have a larger initial tank but a better payload capacity for extra fuel. Likewise a smaller vehicle won't have as much payload but require less extra fuel. It kind of balances. Within these vehicle sizes there are exceptions to the norm such a pickups, vans, mini-vans, crossovers, and SUVs which due to their body style lend themselves to more cargo. Its one of the many reasons they are so popular as BOVs. External cargo devices are also a very good idea for BOVs and for that matter everyday living. Hitch and cargo racks are very good tools by extending your cargo carrying capacity, however they still have to work within the limitation of the maximum payload of the vehicle. By far the best way to extend you carrying capacity is a trailer. Towing capacities will always be much higher in orders of magnitude than payload capacities. I think the Europeans much better understand the value of a trailer than the majority of American. Though they drive much smaller vehicles than Americans, almost 1 out of every three vehicles has a trailer hitch. Even a small 4 cylinder economy gas miser will typically have a 1,500 lb towing capacity. Oddly I have found towing capacities to be under stated on small vehicles and over stated or larger ones. Regardless, in a pinch on one time even an understated larger vehicle capacity can be pushed above its rated capacity. Small trailers are very inexpensive starting around $500 and can increase your load capacity by around 1,000 lbs of gear. It also comes in awfully handy for those who do not own a truck to keep from having to rent or borrow one. For a little more money, you can get the same small trailer that folds neatly for limited garage storage. Higher the vehicle tow rating and more area you have to keep a trailer, the bigger trailer you can own and use. If you noticed any scenario both in history and even today that involves mass exodus bugout, the transportation is loaded with everything it can haul. Its only those caught unprepared, unexpectantly, or victim that is throwing what they can in a pillow case then walking. Right after find and buying a bugout location, the biggest concern any of us have that don't live there is security. What you keep there, how you keep it, and how you secure it are the subject of many topics on this forum. Unfortunately, the real bottom line is even if our reason to bugout is localized and our bugout location far enough to not be in the direct path of the mass exodus, we still can not totally 100% depend on our supplies being there. It really isn't a bad idea to have both stored supplies and take supplies to our bugouts if possible. Since most reasons for a bugout are regional/localized, I often think too many people take a simplistic approach to finding a bugout location. If you think about it, if you are leaving your home other than say a very localized event like a fire or chemical spill (most likely events btw) then so will the majority of the people within your region. Areas that are nice and rural suddenly won't be depending on how close they are to population centers. If you can think of it, 1,000s others will and if they didn't prepare for it then they will take what they can find. That can be your bugout location. Depending on where you live, a few hundred miles away location isn't really a bad idea but actually one of the better ideas. Anyone who has lived through a hurricane can tell you that. During a hurricane there's a given distance where its considered fairly safe. At that distance, every hotel is going to be full, every campground, and any space you can think of that can be had. You only option is go farther until you find space which can be hundreds of miles. Unless of course, you already planned ahead and have a place in the safe zone but even then you will still have to compete not only with the locals for supplies in the area but the new influx of people. I think when asking this question, it is often best to look at the maximum distance rather than ideal. As you can see, the ideal is really dependent on both where you live and what scenarios you plan for. Traveling for a living, an active outdoor lifestyle, bugout trials, and having tried a variety of vehicles hs led me to put that distance at around 8 hours driving time during normal conditions. 8 hours will put you far enough away from about any regional crisis you can think of. If it doesn't then it isn't regional and we're all in a big hurt. For most average vehicles, that's 1 and 1/2 tanks of fuel or about two five gallon gas cans above a full tank. (Always plan on filling up before you bugout even if its tapping car two at home or keeping fuel at home to top off your tank.) I think that is a good maximum number. How far of course should be varied on your situation trading often what is ideal against what is practical. Anything longer than that then you are pushing the may need assistance from services or have to get more elaborate in your planning like a specialty vehicle. I know this isn't a set in stone answer but hope it helps in the thinking process. Tj Edit: BTW, My option number one is less than five miles away but then its a boat and can move on its on in less congested travel ways and into very rural areas. My second is 4 hours drive away, the old family farm, 438 acres. My third is the maximum 8 hours away a small patch of land we have designated for the family to gather in hard times to pool resources. |