Posted: 6/21/2009 5:48:19 PM EDT
| I have a 2005 gmc 4x4 2500HD diesel (with an Edge tuner) extended cab. I have a hard tri fold bed cover. What else should I do to it to make it a great BOV. I have a winch but I'm not sure if or how to mount it. Any help would be great. |
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HD front bumper. Push cars out of the way, etc. Provides spot to mount winch to. I've seen a video from one of the HD bumper makers driving an F-150 through some crazy shit, but apparently the crumple zone limits this. Skid plates, under carriage armor for fuel tank, diff., etc. Protect the vitals when driving over shit. Extra fuel tank. With a diesel you could get one hell of a range with an extra tank - it would reduce the amount of jerry cans you need to carry. Basic kit with Hi-Lift jack, shovel, axe, straps, etc. for getting stuck and to get out of tight spots. Slightly larger than stock, AT tread tires. More ground clearance, more traction. Small 2"-3" susp. lift. Keeps the larger tires from rubbing and gives better off road capability. Rear locker, front locker if you can. (not sure you might already have a rear LSD?) A must have or you will get stuck on some stupid shit. CB radio, scanner, GPS Basic repair parts - duct tape, zipties, hose clamps, silicone sealant, tire repair kit, etc. Extra vehicle parts - alt., fuel pump, water pump, hoses, etc. Replace it when it breaks. Hand tools, repair manual. To replace it with. Extra fluids - oil, coolant, etc. Locking storage inside vehicle. Tube for siphon. Mainly for fuel. Vehicle camo. Duct tape, burlap, camo net. Good read for ideas - http://tomsebooks.com/UltimateSurvivalVeh.pdf |
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I have a 2005 gmc 4x4 2500HD diesel (with an Edge tuner) extended cab. I have a hard tri fold bed cover. What else should I do to it to make it a great BOV. I have a winch but I'm not sure if or how to mount it. Any help would be great. Being that its government motors Obama's got you covered on the warrenty 
Other than that what BT500 listed has got you covered |
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HD front bumper. Drive straight through obstacles, roadblocks, small trees, etc. Push cars out of the way, etc. The OP's truck is built with a crumple zone; a rigid bumper will just collapse the front end of the truck if he were to go banging into obstacles. Spot to mount winch.
Sure why not Extra fuel tank. With a diesel you could get one hell of a range with an extra tank - it would reduce the amount of jerry cans you need to carry.
Extra fuel is good. There are some extra capacity tanks that replace the factory tank for the 2500s ETA link to what I'm talking about Basic kit with Hi-Jack, shovel, axe, straps, etc.
OP carry the tools you can use Runflat tires.
You got a link? |
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HD front bumper. Drive straight through obstacles, roadblocks, small trees, etc. Push cars out of the way, etc. Provides spot to mount winch to. I've seen a video from one of the HD bumper makers driving an F-150 through some crazy shit. I have recievers front and back so I can use the winch in eithet location Skid plates, under carriage armor for fuel tank, diff., etc. Protect the vitals when driving over shit. Good one. Extra fuel tank. With a diesel you could get one hell of a range with an extra tank - it would reduce the amount of jerry cans you need to carry. Also a good idea. Basic kit with Hi-Lift jack, shovel, axe, straps, etc. for getting stuck and to get out of tight spots. Good gear if you learn how to use them. Slightly larger than stock, AT tread tires (runflat if possible). More ground clearance, more traction. Small 2"-3" susp. lift. Keeps the larger tires from rubbing and gives better off road capability. Rear locker, front locker if you can. (not sure you might already have a rear LSD?) A must have or you will get stuck on some stupid shit. You can get by with the rear locker or no locker if you know the capabilities of yourself and your rig. CB radio, scanner, GPS Basic repair parts - duct tape, zipties, hose clamps, silicone sealant, tire repair kit, etc. Extra vehicle parts - alt., fuel pump, water pump, hoses, etc. Replace it when it breaks. Hand tools, repair manual. To replace it with. Extra fluids - oil, coolant, etc. Locking storage inside vehicle. Tube for siphon. Mainly for fuel. Vehicle camo. Duct tape, burlap, camo net. Probably will not need and isn't wothh a darn if you don't know how to properly use camoflage. Good read for ideas - http://tomsebooks.com/UltimateSurvivalVeh.pdf |
| That is one nice looking truck. What do you get for MPGs. These are great ideas. Any other opinions would be great. I know pics have been posted before but I dont like this this search tab. It isnt very friendly. If you have pics please post, or links to some pics. Thanks. |
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Thats my goal any way , dont know if Im going to get there . Right now Im just tring to fix issues that dodge did not , upgrading ball joints and steering components . I get 22 running 60 and 20 running 70 , 19 towing my jeep and 15 pulling the 31 foot rockwood double slide out camper loaded. I figure the mods will drop my milage by 2 mpg across the board from weight and skinny pedal. Stuff I didnt see mention is a chain saw (I keep a small 16" in the tool box with gas and bar lube under the tool box) , a case of water ,a few odd and end wood blocks,inverter, a spool of rope, on board air compressor (on the truck and jeep) , box of electrical ends,wire ,wire pliers and a multi meter
Since you have a diesel also , a couple bottles of anti gell like 911 diesel and at lest spare 3 fuel filters . Forgot I also keep a UHF/VHF portable beam,coax and a military fiberglass camo mast but Im a ham so that doesnt apply to every one Very Important , If you have a way to read your codes a code cheat sheet in the glove box with codes ,problem , possible solutions . Heres mine currently 
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Good list, but unless you with real bumpers and a set of sliders, there will not be any lift points on the truck to use that hi-lift.
After having two flats at the same time, I would recommend a second full size spare and tire plug set. The $8 slime brand kit from walmart worked great for me. In addition to mentioned recovery equipment, I would add a couple quality recovery straps (not "tow straps") and an receiver hitch adapter for a 3/4" shackle. Lockers are nice. I have only needed mine wheeling. |
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HD front bumper. Drive straight through obstacles, roadblocks, small trees, etc. Push cars out of the way, etc. The OP's truck is built with a crumple zone; a rigid bumper will just collapse the front end of the truck if he were to go banging into obstacles. Spot to mount winch.
Sure why not Extra fuel tank. With a diesel you could get one hell of a range with an extra tank - it would reduce the amount of jerry cans you need to carry.
Extra fuel is good. There are some extra capacity tanks that replace the factory tank for the 2500s Basic kit with Hi-Jack, shovel, axe, straps, etc.
OP carry the tools you can use Runflat tires.
You got a link? Runflat tires? Uh...NO. Hard bumps that can be sustained with minimal/no damage by standard tires will have significant issues with run flats. My last set had a break in the carbon fiber in the sidewall - it cracked due to a pothole impact. While the tire did not go flat - had the tire not been a runflat the impact wouldn't have damaged the sidewall as it did with the runflat. Just my .02 |
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HD front bumper. Drive straight through obstacles, roadblocks, small trees, etc. Push cars out of the way, etc. The OP's truck is built with a crumple zone; a rigid bumper will just collapse the front end of the truck if he were to go banging into obstacles. snip... Extra fuel tank. With a diesel you could get one hell of a range with an extra tank - it would reduce the amount of jerry cans you need to carry.
Extra fuel is good. There are some extra capacity tanks that replace the factory tank for the 2500s added link snip... Runflat tires.
You got a link? Runflat tires? Uh...NO. Hard bumps that can be sustained with minimal/no damage by standard tires will have significant issues with run flats. My last set had a break in the carbon fiber in the sidewall - it cracked due to a pothole impact. While the tire did not go flat - had the tire not been a runflat the impact wouldn't have damaged the sidewall as it did with the runflat. Just my .02 Thanks Archangle69, for the review of run flat tires. I was addressing some Knee Jerk responses that happen on the SF. I do not know where to buy run flat tires for a big vehicle; they are vaporware. Run flats are available for autos too small to carry a spare, and to save the space of a spare on minivans. The only way to get run flat tires in a big vehicle is to find some HMMV wheels with inserts, or from a luxury armored car builder. All vehicles of the one ton class or smaller are built with crumple zone front ends. This construction started before 2000. This construction protects the passengers in the event of a crash by absorbing energy, to absorb the energy the front end crushes. This type of front end will not allow you to just add a bumper then go casually bashing obstacles; there has to be support for your battering ram. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Vehicle camo. Duct tape, burlap, camo net. I think it was Sun Tzu in the Art of War who said: "Do not cover truck with camo net, for it looks like a truck covered in camo net..."  If you're trying to hide it in the woods anyway, any camo will help. A net will be easier. The net and burlap materials covers reflectors, chrome, paint, and other stuff that a flashlight will make glow. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: HD front bumper. Drive straight through obstacles, roadblocks, small trees, etc. Push cars out of the way, etc. The OP's truck is built with a crumple zone; a rigid bumper will just collapse the front end of the truck if he were to go banging into obstacles. Spot to mount winch. Sure why not Extra fuel tank. With a diesel you could get one hell of a range with an extra tank - it would reduce the amount of jerry cans you need to carry. Extra fuel is good. There are some extra capacity tanks that replace the factory tank for the 2500s Basic kit with Hi-Jack, shovel, axe, straps, etc. OP carry the tools you can use Runflat tires. You got a link? Runflat tires? Uh...NO. Hard bumps that can be sustained with minimal/no damage by standard tires will have significant issues with run flats. My last set had a break in the carbon fiber in the sidewall - it cracked due to a pothole impact. While the tire did not go flat - had the tire not been a runflat the impact wouldn't have damaged the sidewall as it did with the runflat. Just my .02 Good point pulled that out. |
2 wheeled v8 + dual Gatling guns = win eta: link to article about the bike |
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i sure wouldn't shoot at some1 riding that bike...
The guns are fake and a .22 could disable the rider ETA cute bike but it only "=win" in GD Old people in a Ford Granada can fold a bike up just fine too. Wreck: train > truck > pickup/suv > car > bike/bicycle |
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You have a heck of a BOV just as it is. That's a very good think to keep in mind when upgrading. Sometimes folks put way too much emphasis on turning a vehicle into some extreme off road machine to the detriment of the things most likely to be needed. Most of us, other than go out and have some fun, find it hard to come up with a real reason to have to climb the mountain trail in some sort of bugout. Now that's some of our ideas of having a good time but we should really keep the line between prepping and fun drawn. Its like guns, one gun the odds are unfortunately pretty high in life we may need it to save our lives in some sort of crime event but an arsenal of guns a zombie invasion is not that likely.
One of the most important things I feel is good for a truck conversion to a BOV is a way to cover and secure that back bed. I personally prefer a lockable cover that's easily removed and use a tri-fold tannaeu. Being able to secure things out of sight and from both attention and a fast grab robbery is a very good thing. The real strength of a truck as a BOV isn't where it can go but what it can haul. Anything that adds to that strength adds to its bugout ability. Towing options and trailers are good things. Probably a problem (not a problem on this forum but see it a lot) I see in off road modification vehicles is a person will often spend a fortune on lifts, big tires, etc. to make it not get stuck and not dime on "What if" it is does. Spend some time on an OHV, its almost hilarious how many vehicles from hell you see stuck and a bunch of others around it and not a two strap, shovel, etc. between them. A wench is a very good thing. There's two basic hookups, permanent or temporary. Permanent unfortunately in many diesels due to room means a big front bumper. Temporary, a hitch mount with hitches front and back a nice option. I actually like the later option best for bugout. Most times I've got myself in trouble its been head on and pulling it back more often than not a better option than pulling it forward. Right behind what if it gets stuck that's often overlooked is what if it breaks. Basic tools and vehicle specific parts that are likely to be problems is a very good thing. In any vehicle as a BOV the limiting factor on how long or how far is fuel. In this a diesel has a unique advantage in fuel tank size but a truck also has a major advantage. It takes very little to throw more fuel in the bed. Of course, the catch is you have to have it to be able to throw it back there. Now I'm not dissing off road capability. When I bought my diesel I bought a 4x4 with off road package. I haven't upgraded the suspension, yet anyway, but I can lock up my gear in the bed, have full internet in the truck, gps, radio capability, I guess I figure a good BOV is when one has to go rescue another vehicle or go camping for three days, you don't have to load up a thing. Tj |
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Im close to your vehicle but with a dodge . I have a 105 gal L tank and some basic mods. This is my end goal with mine . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c241/Hawk_308/Dodge53-1.jpg I'm a Ford guy, but this rig gives my a boner! Very nice! |
Here is mine as it sits now....of course its still in progress, but at least its getting driven now.
Of course it will have doors. Its a turbo diesel and uses virtually no electronics. You can cut the key off and the thing will keep running until you pull the fuel stop. It has a 33gal tank and gets almost 30mpg on the highway...so do the math. It has dana 44s front and rear and a dana 300 transfer case from the factory. Lockers will probably be coming in the future along with the bumpers im in the process of building, a winch will be added. I have a ton of other plans too, but Id be here all day typing it all out :P I may even dabble with adding some light armor that would be protective against small arms fire, and if i can find a source for ballistic glass I might even look into replacing that as well....but thats not priority right now. It was a rust bucket when I got it but I cut out all the rust, the floors and supports are all new. Not too shabby for $750....plus my labor of course. Plus I love my scouts. |
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Depending on the winch I would go with a portable setup and put a front receiver hitch up front and I reckon you already have one on back. This lets you decide which direction to go in when you get stuck.
As nice as a hi lift jack is, today's vehicles are not made to use them for lifting in most cases so look into what it would take to make it usable in your situation. I love the way a big bumper looks on a truck but it can add a lot of wear and tear to the front end of a vehicle so research it well before choosing that route. For fuel capacity I really like transferflow but they are expensive. Keeping full use of your bed means a lot in some cases. For the most part I would examine your truck and read up on boards where people beat the heck out of trucks like yours and you can learn what mods you need to do. Armor underneath is important. Basic spares like belts and fluids and filters and the tools to do the work are important. A small lift is always nice but make sure you can correct the speedo and if in warranty make sure it won't void the warranty. Bigger tires are also nice but depending on your gearing they may not be a good idea, depends on your current gearing and how you use the truck. I personally don't plan to add power adders to my jeep. I am keeping it stock and planning to let it live a long life the way it was designed to be. Should I have issues with something I will look into options at that point. I just am not a fan of power adders to vehicles after having a modified dodge cummins pickup. Mods can cause you to push the limits of other parts of the vehicle and that means you get to spend more money or baby your vehicle. That is not what I want to do with a bug out vehicle. |
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Hey Guys, been thinking about building some stuff for a cherokee....
what about push bumpers for convoy/breakdown situations? Heres some rubber push blocks I thought about building into the front and rear: rubber bumper blocks Remember when older trucks used to have these, seemed to be pretty easy to get someone to give you a little push out that intersection you stalled out at when every one had these.... What do you guys think? Also get a tow package with electric brakes setup. |