Posted: 4/16/2011 6:39:42 PM EDT
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Been thinkin about the whole bug out bag thing. Having a family it seems like maybe having more of a storage box like the rubbermaid action packer to throw into a vehicle and go would be better. Other than food and first aid kits, what would you put in yours?? Also do any of you use this idea already and is there anything else that is fairly reasoably priced like the one shown in the link. I like these for camping gear and would store in the garage.
actionpacker |
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I've got a couple of these, and some other rubbermaid containers that are like foot lockers stowed away with some gear. Before I moved recently I had them set up on shelves in my garage. The theory was in a quick bug out I'd have the truck backed into the garage near the shelves and it was then just a matter of tossing the containers in. One container was camping gear (axe, rope, shovel, tikki torches, torch fuel, stove and fuel, lanterns, stuff like that). Another tote was sleeping quarters (tent, tarps, tent pegs, sleeping gear, etc.). Another tub was the mess gear and food...and so on. I also had fuel, water cans, tools, etc. setting near by, as well as some empty totes for tossing in last minute things. Right now though, everything is stacked all over the place in the garage until I can get it organized.
These totes aren't bad...but don't forget they aren't waterproof. You'll want to protect anything in them with some sort of waterproof/element proof bag, etc. Also, try not to overload some of the totes to the point where say a weaker person in your family can't quickly load them into a vehicle. You never know when you might be away from home and one of your loved ones has to load up things. Granted...the Bug out bag if generally just one bag, and doing this was actually more of a load up the necessities quickly and get out of Dodge with the expectation that you have a little time to pack, but it'd be unlikely that you would come back. Of course if you organize things in a fashion for camping as well, you'd at least get to test your gear from time to time. I used these and similar rubbermaid type totes because they were cheap...but some day intend to upgrade to something better. Just my humble opinion on things. Good luck with your set up. |
I used to keep a lot of my stuff in some of the plastic footlockers with the idea that I could throw them in the back of my truck or on my utility trailer quickly. Right now they're buried with all my other junk in storage as I basically live out of boxes when I'm in the States. 
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We use small Action Packer totes for the vehicle kits. They get rotated with the season. When I put the snow tires on the winter kits go in, and vice versa.
I remember seeing pictures of a bug out setup where they had shelves in the garage that lined up with the back of the BOV. Large containers. Back vehicle into garage, slide 'em in, and go. Looked like a good setup to me. |
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I kinda have this set up in 6 large Pelican cases, but rather than one case for this, one case for that, I took a tiered approach. The first kit has the basics of shelter, water, fire, food, protection. I also have first aid and other necessities in there. Each subsequent case has more of the same, plus some extras. My theory is that if I can at least grab case 1, I can go for 3 days mininum. Case two makes it 3 weeks, case 4 makes it 6, etc etc. I like the "like items in one case" for storage, makes stuff easy to find, but if I gotta go in a hurry, I'm grabbing one box and out the door in under a minute.
Action Packers are good totes, but be cautious about how heavy you make them. I had a buddy that stacked a dozen of them up 3 high in his trailer to move across town. By the time he got there, he had a pile of junk and a lot of cracked and broken plastic. |
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I have been thinking about the action packer idea for awhile myself because that's what's in my budget. I really don't see the action packers breaking that easily without some abuse.
As you know these are not the cheap 5 dollar Rubbermaid's. For a vehicle bugout these should do the job. But if you have deep pockets you could get the pelican cases and have the best. Whatever route you decide, good luck in your preps. |
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an Action Packer or tote, footlocker or other large box can make a good SUPPLEMENT to your BOBs, but you should still have the BOBs.
imagine a worst case scenario where the BOV is involved in an accident, has mechanical problems, gets stuck or whatever. you now have to move out on foot. if all you have is large, heavy boxes of stuff, it's gonna be difficult. if you still have the BOBs, you can take them and continue. whatever you have stuff packed in shouldn't be so large and heavy that your wife, or a teenage kid couldn't load it by themselves, or help unload when you get to the BOL. if you're injured, large,, heavy containers of stuff are going to be more difficult to handle. |
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This concept may give you some ideas:
http://shelterbox.org/about.php?page=9 |
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heavy containers of stuff are going to be more difficult to handle. ^^^ this. if your GF/SO/wife can't carry it, it's no good. or just buy an air travel RORO and use it for your bug out box. tactical, no. functional, hell yes. example below; TravelPro makes good stuff, you'll see the typical US-based aircrew using it. ar-jedi 
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Rubbermaid totes are great for storing things for a quick buggout, I have bags also, and bags will go first, bins second, within about 5 minutes I would be good for a month or 3 real easily. The bags are packed and used when I go camping, I replace items used when I get back from trips and the bins are filled and pre staged for a quick access to grab and go.
In the event I am leaving quickly I could have plenty of gear,food and water for about a any trip I would be making, to get out of the area. I highly reccommend them for storage of gear and other items needed and used for a quick buggout. |
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Quoted:These totes aren't bad...but don't forget they aren't waterproof.
A way to make these a bit more weather "resistant" is to get some sticky sided weather stripping and put that in the channel on the lid that matches up with the lip of the bottom portion. It's not going to be perfect but it will work better. I had multiple Action Packers in the back of a pickup truck driving from NC to CO with some pretty heinous weather...nothing got wet. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:These totes aren't bad...but don't forget they aren't waterproof.
A way to make these a bit more weather "resistant" is to get some sticky sided weather stripping and put that in the channel on the lid that matches up with the lip of the bottom portion. It's not going to be perfect but it will work better. I had multiple Action Packers in the back of a pickup truck driving from NC to CO with some pretty heinous weather...nothing got wet. That's a great idea. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the tip. |
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These are what I keep in my vehicle all of the time. Wife calls them my "dooms day box". Inside you will find a host of different things. These are not my BOB though. These boxes contain items that may or may not be needed. Just depending on the situation.
I remember a while back there was a topic asking who carried an e-tool with them. Many folks stated that they just could not see a need to have one. Others stated they had to have one. Well, with my dooms day box, I can decide then what is needed for that situation and take it with me and what is not needed I just leave behind. Again, the box is not my BOB. It stays in the vehicle always and provides a "choice" if I ever am forced to leave. (I do like the idea mentioned above of having several of these boxes to group items for quick loading/locating/invertory.) |
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Quoted:
Quoted:These totes aren't bad...but don't forget they aren't waterproof.
A way to make these a bit more weather "resistant" is to get some sticky sided weather stripping and put that in the channel on the lid that matches up with the lip of the bottom portion. It's not going to be perfect but it will work better. I had multiple Action Packers in the back of a pickup truck driving from NC to CO with some pretty heinous weather...nothing got wet. or run a bead of clear silicone along the lid so it creates a "seal". it acts just like the seal on a ammo can. just mark off where the lid meets the box, open the lid, run a bead along that mark and allow it to dry. make sure to clean the lid edge really well so the silicone sticks to it. |
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Quoted: Quoted: a storage box http://losdos.dyndns.org/public/bugoutbox/DSCN0697_sm_sm.jpg <snip> http://losdos.dyndns.org/public/bugoutbox/DSCN0752_sm_sm.jpg nice! what kind of box and content list please (besides the obvious)?? |
| Me, the wife, and the two kids all have backpacks. They are not focused on zombie Apocalypse, but on us having to leave and stay comfortable for a couple of days. Then we have the rubber maid tote which supplements the packs. All our clothes and stuff like that are in our individual packs, so the tote has a bigger first aid kit, extra toilet paper, sanitizer, camp soap, emergency crank radio, more lights and extra batteries, bigger fire kit, some tools, extra food, some n95 filters in case we're fleeing fires or something like 9/11 attacks. Basically if we had to leave our vehicles we would have the packs and I think that's important to have first, the box is to supplement the pack. Oh we also have two aquatainers to go as well. |
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nice! what kind of box MTM-CaseGard "SPUD 7" http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/camping/dry-boxes-spud6.html The SPUD 7's spacious design offers a whopping 2,073 cubic inches of dry storage. It can carry items up to 14 inches tall. It is also the perfect height (15 inches) for dove and waterfowl blind hunting and as a chair when using MTM's predator shooting table. It also comes with a nylon shoulder strap for hands free carrying. Load one up for the range and then use it for a chair once you get there! Both the SPUD6 & 7 offers several features including: Water resistant O-ring seal; top access lid compartment ; deep 2/3 length lift out tray; four Bungee hook receivers; large comfortable handle; thick sidewall construction; heavy-duty snapping latches; and double padlock tabs. Quoted:
content list please (besides the obvious)?? sorry, i don't really have a formal inventory list. just off the top of my head –– the top cart has medical goods, convenience sundries, knife, leatherman multitool, LED lights, a variety of matches, batteries, germicidal hand cleanser, whistle, cash, compact flash card and USB keyfob with all my docs scanned, etc. underneath is a bit of water, paracord, whisperlite camping stove, fuel, maps, 2m/70cm radio, AA battery case, antennas, radio charger, lozenges/candies, various teas, tie wraps, garbage bags, duct tape, N95 masks, latex gloves, camp towel, thermos, titanium bowls, plastic sporks, bug-off, facial razor, spare toothbrushes. qty 2 Mountain House meals fit into the remaining recess. ar-jedi |