Suggestions / comments on this bug out plan

[Sig226]

Wife has come up with an idea - comments / flaws / suggestions please.
Going to keep this as short as I can.

We will be moving to the big bad city soon (DFW). No choice or debate or this move.
We will be renting an apartment / townhouse while we are there.
Info from survival posts on another board have convinced us that we will need to bug out to a rural location in the event of nearly every possible SHTF scenario.
A full tank of gas will get us from our apartment to her Moms place in the sticks near Huntsville.

Original plan was to store some preps at her moms place.
Problem is that her place is small and cannot store everything.

Wifes new plan is to buy a small used travel trailer (about 30ft) and park it on her property behind her garage.
It would be used to store preps and to house us should we need to bug out.
It will also give us a place to stay in when we come to visit her.

Is there a better way?

[JayOlliver]

idea's sound solid ... however take into account that thinks may change very quickly on the Bug Out ... roads maybe blocked due to traffic (cos everyone wants to get out asap) ... so driving out might not be a option ...

Couple of things to consider ...

how far is it to 'Moms' ? ...
how long would it take you to walk there ? ...
what supplies you need to get you to moms (poss on foot) ? ...
can you travel long distance with BOB (consider physical fitness) ? ...

Really like the trailer idea ... home and stores on wheels ... to the point where i might consider doing something similar ... my parents own a caravan, movable shelter with battery power source and inverter ... i will say it again ... the trailer is a clever idea ...

only concern is would a 30ft trailer too big to tow efficiently ? ... could you manage with a small trailer making it easier to tow ... ?

[TxTowman]

30 foot FEMA trailers are in abundance right now for $5000.

Just don't plan on taking I-45 south, better to take the farm roads.

If you can get a place on the southeast off of 175 it has many south exit roads.

[Charles Martel]

Sounds good. The two things that I'd be concerned about are:

1) Realistically (and be brutally honest with yourself), how likely is it that you would be able to reach your mother-in-law's place in a true SHTF scenario? I'd live as close to the outskirts of town as I possibly could so that you won't have to navigate busy freeways and/or major inner-city areas if/when you have to bug out. That may mean a longer daily commute, but that's the price I pay every day for the peace of mind that comes with knowing that I could get out of dodge with minimal effort if I needed to.

2) Will your trailer be climate controlled? I'm not from Texas, but I hear that it tends to get a little warm in that neck of the woods. :0) Heat does terrible things to many of the foods that you would normally consider storing. You'd hate to finally arrive at your bugout location after a harrowing journey only to find that a good portion of your food stores are inedible.

Anyway, I'm sure you've already thought about things.

Charles

[Charles Martel]

Originally Posted by JayOlliver

Really like the trailer idea ... home and stores on wheels ... to the point where i might consider doing something similar.

For sure. It's a great Idea. I might buy a few used trailers and place them on willing relative's properties in every direction from here. I might even go with 20 foot shipping containers.

This is why I joined this forum.

[Majorpayne]

It's a good idea,but the 1st problem I see on a long distance BOL is TIMING!!! When to pull the trigger so to speak. A lot of conversations on who,where and what but none of that does any good if you start to late.The WHEN almost the most important.So my advice is to sit down and discuss when this happens we go now. Good luck,Really!!!

[dontbuypotteryfromme]

if you plan on driving anywhere rural buy a chainsaw.

But yeah good plan.

By the way have a set up your end for mum. Just in case us internets people are wrong

[Eagle Six]

Originally Posted by Sig226

Did you mean this as you typed it "Wifes new plan is to buy a small used travel trailer (about 30ft) and park it on her property behind her garage."

or, as in "Wifes new plan is to buy a small used travel trailer (about 30ft) and park it on her mothers property behind her garage."

Just asking for clarity....

Best Regards......Eagle Six

[WTucker999]

Any way to put up a little storage building there instead of a travel trailer?

The problem I see is that the travel trailer will probably get stuffed with preps and make it impossible to stay in during your visits. I lived in a pretty new 30' for about 6 months and loved it - but I had a place for everything and it was pretty full without preps.

[Sig226]

Originally Posted by JayOlliver

idea's sound solid ... however take into account that thinks may change very quickly on the Bug Out ... roads maybe blocked due to traffic (cos everyone wants to get out asap) ... so driving out might not be a option ...

Couple of things to consider ...

how far is it to 'Moms' ? ...
how long would it take you to walk there ? ...
what supplies you need to get you to moms (poss on foot) ? ...
can you travel long distance with BOB (consider physical fitness) ? ...

Really like the trailer idea ... home and stores on wheels ... to the point where i might consider doing something similar ... my parents own a caravan, movable shelter with battery power source and inverter ... i will say it again ... the trailer is a clever idea ...

only concern is would a 30ft trailer too big to tow efficiently ? ... could you manage with a small trailer making it easier to tow ... ?

1) 200 miles - 3.5 hours drive
2) BOB's will be in truck with us in case we have to finish journey by foot
3) Cardio will need to be worked on

As soon as I saw 'caravan' I looked to see where you were located!
Believe it or not, a travel trailer (caravan) is the smaller type of 'RV' available over here.
A '5th wheel' would be even bigger.
The truck I have is plenty capable of pulling it (5.3 liter V8).
I wouldn't fancy having to run this truck on your petrol prices though.

[Sig226]

Originally Posted by TxTowman

30 foot FEMA trailers are in abundance right now for $5000.

Just don't plan on taking I-45 south, better to take the farm roads.

If you can get a place on the southeast off of 175 it has many south exit roads.

Thanks - I will look into alternate routes.

[Sig226]

Originally Posted by Charles Martel

Sounds good. The two things that I'd be concerned about are:

1) Realistically (and be brutally honest with yourself), how likely is it that you would be able to reach your mother-in-law's place in a true SHTF scenario? I'd live as close to the outskirts of town as I possibly could so that you won't have to navigate busy freeways and/or major inner-city areas if/when you have to bug out. That may mean a longer daily commute, but that's the price I pay every day for the peace of mind that comes with knowing that I could get out of dodge with minimal effort if I needed to.

2) Will your trailer be climate controlled? I'm not from Texas, but I hear that it tends to get a little warm in that neck of the woods. :0) Heat does terrible things to many of the foods that you would normally consider storing. You'd hate to finally arrive at your bugout location after a harrowing journey only to find that a good portion of your food stores are inedible.

Anyway, I'm sure you've already thought about things.

Charles

Who can say?
The only alternative would be to store the trailer near our residence?
This has it's pros and cons.

You are correct - only specific items could be stored in the trailer due to the heat here.

[Sig226]

Originally Posted by Majorpayne

It's a good idea,but the 1st problem I see on a long distance BOL is TIMING!!! When to pull the trigger so to speak. A lot of conversations on who,where and what but none of that does any good if you start to late.The WHEN almost the most important.So my advice is to sit down and discuss when this happens we go now. Good luck,Really!!!

You nailed it!
Success of this plan depends almost entirely on getting out ahead of the sheep.
Better to leave 'too early', discover it's a false alarm and spend a few days at BOL than to leave it too late, right?
It's not like we won't be making the trip every two months anyway for regular visits.

[Sig226]

Originally Posted by dontbuypotteryfromme

if you plan on driving anywhere rural buy a chainsaw.

But yeah good plan.

By the way have a set up your end for mum. Just in case us internets people are wrong

OMG!!!!
Can't believe I didn't think of this.
Will be getting a chain saw very soon - thanks!

[Sig226]

Originally Posted by Eagle Six

Just asking for clarity....

Best Regards......Eagle Six

Sorry for the confusion.
Trailer is to be parked at mother in laws property (the BOL).

[MikeV1234]

I think you should assume the roads MIGHT be grid locked. How bad are they at the worst rush hour???

Food stored should be between 55-70 degrees but whatever you can do.

Plan on waiting at your mother in law's house for 2 weeks + IMO.

[Illini Warrior]

think about a large cache buried under the parked trailer .... more secure and better temp control ....

[jgos929]

I to live in DFW but I have a house so I'm bugging in. But another thing to think about also. Huntsville, TX is home to the infamous Huntsville prison known to house a majority the most violent and dangerous criminals in the state. Are you sure thats the direction you want to head when TSHTF? When all hell brakes loose I dont imagine they'll stay confined there for very long. Just a thought

[Sig226]

Originally Posted by jgos929

I to live in DFW but I have a house so I'm bugging in. But another thing to think about also. Huntsville, TX is home to the infamous Huntsville prison known to house a majority the most violent and dangerous criminals in the state. Are you sure thats the direction you want to head when TSHTF? When all hell brakes loose I dont imagine they'll stay confined there for very long. Just a thought

Don't have anywhere else to go.