If you plan going off road, sell the Ford and get a Jeep.

Depends on your budget. Run flat tires, light armor - ballistic window inserts, increased suspension and 4" lift min, 33" KO2 tires. Steel plate (cheaper, but very heavy) or ballistic composite panels in the rear and doors. Anti-carjacking flame dispensers, side and front. Drop tray on rear with 3" caltrops for pursuit deterrance. Flat rattle can camo paint job.
Heavy rack on top with starlink and foldout solar panels. Or maybe a rooftop tent.

Locking metal "gang box" bolted behind rear seat for guns, survival gear, etc.

I just discovered my shotgun won't fit the gun rack in my pickup.

Rack of KC lights, on roof.

 

Thanks User Name Taken,
I have some solar panels for my 5th wheel that I was going to on there but I started to think about doing it to my BOV...
Right now I have holsters mounted to the dash for my .45 ACP and on my driver's seat I have a BOB with my 9mm and extra ammo on mags for both I just can't figure out how to mount my long guns and my ham radio...
But I think you are right I might need to trade it in for a jeep of some kind...
Once again thanks you so much h for the input...
Be safe and watch your 6
Txsred66

 

I've been thinking of picking up a older Suburban or Excursion for the same thing .... Mostly for old mine and ghost town visits here in Northern Nevada. Our compound is technically a bug in location for us and a few friends.

 

The problem with heavy big vehicles like suburbans and expeditions is the length and weight off road. That's why the Jeep Wranglers/CJ's do so well. I've pulled I don't know how many big suv's out of the sand trap in the desert behind my house. I pulled the PD's explorers out so many times they started calling me for a ride in my Jeep when they had to go out in the "blow sand," until they got a Can Am. But the trade off of course is space.

If you are staying on highway or reasonably good dirt roads, maybe dealing with some snow, or need to tow a trailer, the big suv's are great. But in snow, like sand, they sink, where a lighter rig with big tires, floats on top.

An issue in tight areas - like say the Black Bear pass switchbacks, a long rig can't make the turns (without a lot of work).

Jeep XJ's (Cherokee) are excellent off road and on. Problem is they are old and most are rust buckets. If I ever find a really good one with a 4.0L 6 cyl I may swap for my TJ.

 

If I ever find a really good one with a 4.0L 6 cyl I may swap for my TJ.

Get behind me satan.

 

I spend a lot of time running on old mining trails, dried river beds, into Arroyos and just plain bush crawling and I agree with everything UserNameTaken said. My car is a very modified sand rail I call my Rat Rod Trail Rail. It's powered by a hostile Ford V6 and has taken me every place I wanted to go and some I probably shouldn't have. It's like a mean spider with big muscles and is very light.

The only place the larger four wheel drive vehicles have an edge on me, is on a steep climb. My car just sort of skitters along the dry river beds and over the soft sand while the big trucks have to go fast and plow thru. On some trails, I wish for my kidneys sake I had a low range gear so I could crawl instead of busting butt.

Somehow and totally without plan, the exhaust system ended up being stealthy. At low speed, especially if I'm using a gear to high for the speed, it just sort of murmurs along. We've snuck up on groups of deer and other animals (and Illegals) using the same trail we were on. But if I drop it a gear and nail it, she screams like some kind of demented animal. The Illegals probably thought the Chupacabra's PO'd Daddy was coming up behind them. I'm pretty sure I saw one of them trying to climb a Cactus.

The biggest problem with it as far as being a bug out vehicle, is a lack of storage room. For that reason, we've dubbed it the Last Resort. We don't plan on evacuating but if forced to and the real roads were still open, we would start out in our motor home towing my Nissan truck towing the Rat Rod Trail Rail behind it. Both have built in tow bars. We'd downsize as required by the situation. I hope we never have to use the Last Resort though. My Wife will be very angry with me for duct taping her arms and legs and mouth and strapping her down onto the deck rack so my two German Shepherd Dogs can ride inside with me.

 

Hello all,
I need some ideas on how to turn my 2006 Ford Expedition into a bug out vehicle...
I had a 2001 Ford F-150 4x4 i made into a bug out vehicle then some drunk totaled it and I have a 2006 Ford Expedition..
I'm looking for gun racks and size tires and if I should get a lift kit for it or not... View attachment 617983 this was my 2001 Ford F-150
View attachment 617985 this is my new BOV A 2006 Ford Expedition
So please give me some ideas on how to beef it up...
Thanks in advance
Txred66

Mechanical 1st, obviously.
Basic mods/tune for more powah and better mpg. Cut the cats.
Suspension upgrade and lift to accommodate 33" tires. Steelie wheels.
Reserve fuel cell.
Polycarbonate windows all around.
Bumpers, pushbar out front.
Rip out all the interior, carpet, junk. Strip the seats to only as many as you need.

That's the 1st 20K.

 

Very dependant on your location,and where you are bugging out to,and why where your going is better than where your at.
I'm with Cliff above.In SWFL,realistically,instead of bugging,I'd be evacuating a hurricane,escape if you will.Have a 2007 Ford Escape,keep it mechanically fit..good tires,won't be doing any offroading unless I cut across a median.Have solar panel/battery,fire extinguisher,very large tarp with PVC frame.Tools,full size spare(Jack/inflator/plugs),FAK,lights,etc..etc..don't keep it all inside,takes a few minutes to throw in all the other stuff from the garage.
12v cooler/TV,small gen..the list goes on and on..
I'm just planning for the most likely,not a mad max scene.

One main thing I think of,is am I willing to walk away from it?I paid 3,000$,then spent a little more,but its mainly stuff I had.If there is a 50 mile gridlock and out of gas,am I worried about parking it?
Stopping at a sketchy place to sleep,but can't because keeping an eye on it?
Narrow opening,have to push my way thru,worry about dents or paint?
Can I fix it with common parts,from a common platform?
I've never had a 30-50K$ vehicle,but my mindset might be different.

Basically,have a reliable vehicle,room to throw stuff in,and not worry about it.

Sidenote,got hooked on watching YouTube demo derbies,the compact and minivan classes..they get modified depending on the rules..but those suckers take a licking and keep on ticking.

 

A lot depends on your budget....We have a larger honda pilot suv which is a great easy to drive rig.. i have a fulll set of wheels with some tough truck type tires for it but it is long and wide and even tho it has a low range for the all wheel drive it will get stuck on rocks and wash outs here in the montana rockies.
For getting into rougher stuff we have a 2006 honda CRV which is the older boxy model someone else added a small lift to and I have some tough tires on it....noisy on the pavement but no gravel flats.. I also have a fulll set of wheels and tires extra for it. Didn't cost too much used and also has a low range for creeping around....
Either one will carry a lot of our home freeze dried food, small generator, water filters and enough guns and ammo for immediate use. We live close enough to serious wilderness so gas is not much of a problem..

 

We all pick our poison, my bug-out rig is my ‘18 Ram 3500 SLT CCSB SRW 4x4 6.7L HO/ Aisin w/ 52 gal. replacement fuel tank, Toyo M-55’s, Ali-Arc front bumper, & Leer canopy. It’s still a work in progress…

 

Hello all,
I need some ideas on how to turn my 2006 Ford Expedition into a bug out vehicle...
I had a 2001 Ford F-150 4x4 i made into a bug out vehicle then some drunk totaled it and I have a 2006 Ford Expedition..
I'm looking for gun racks and size tires and if I should get a lift kit for it or not... View attachment 617983 this was my 2001 Ford F-150
View attachment 617985 this is my new BOV A 2006 Ford Expedition
So please give me some ideas on how to beef it up...
Thanks in advance
Txred66

How many miles?

IMO, the best place to start is to make it as reliable as possible and address the mileage/age related wear. Especially the "soft" parts. (hoses, bushings, etc)

I don't know the common issues of an '06 Expedition but there are plenty of online resources (i.e. Ford forums)

Looks like it could use a suspension refresh. Getting a little more ground clearance with a small lift, cutting off those running boards and AT tires. If you go for a lift, research first. It's easy to get a Rough County Lift kit but sometimes the better quality parts can be pieced together for the same price or a little more than a crappy RC kit.

Depending on how many potential passengers you need to carry, rip out the rear seats and 3rd row and open it up. All that room will give you all sorts of ideas. Beds, drawers, platforms, etc. And seeing your previous rig was a standard cab...I assume you won't have too many passengers.

 

For the Expedition, definitely think about tougher all-terrain tires—something like 33” would give you better ground clearance without going overboard. A mild lift kit can help if you want more clearance and a tougher look, but don’t go too crazy or it might affect handling

 

PA,just curious,why ditch the running boards.I'm guessing it might "hang up" on a rock or something off-road,but is that a real concern?It doesn't seem lower than the frame,which is a lot more sturdy,so it can just bend or break,better than being stuck.

I thought about getting some for my Escape,both for looks and utility..they are only 100$ or so last I checked,bolt in.
Only asking because I never thought of a downside,maybe ice/snow if you live in the nasty north.

 

Rock sliders serve a purpose. Factory running boards are just for looks and I'm not a big fan of the look.

I have a '95 XJ which had some nerf bars....sliced them off. I cut the running boards off of one of the two 3rd gen 4runners I have. Side by side, the one without the boards looks better. The boards don't come down lower than the frame, but it just seems to be a little more of a PITA to get under the car with boards.

But that's my opinion. And you know what they say about opinions.

 

There’s a lot of room between a semi truck
and trailer, and a military jeep.

Even with semi trucks there’s a large choice.
One big thing to consider, fruitliners do not
last long in the oilfield. That is true even if
they’re kept to relatively “smooth” gravel, or
dirt roads. Kenworth, Peterbilt, and Volvo
seem to last longer. (But don’t buy a truck
that was used in the patch! They‘re usually
beaten to death.)

Most oilfield trucks have relatively short
wheelbases, and airbag suspension. Spring
suspensions fatigue the springs and they break.
Air suspension is also easier on the butt & back.
The best trucks to drive have at least one of
the rear differentials with a locker.

(If you look on maps and draw a triangle around
Vernal, Ut, Green River, UT, and Parachute, CO,
that’s where I’ve driven off road with a semi.)

If a semi truck is set up for off road travel, and
you can certify it as such, they will delete the
DEF nonsense.

I’d take a Pete 359 (old), 379 (newer but still old),
or 389 (bigger cab, newer), with a 400+ horse
power engine, (500+ preferred). A drop floor
trailer, enclosed & insulated . . . maybe like a
reefer, with side doors and a sleeping area set
up on the upper deck. Put windows in the sides,
etc., 45 - 48 feet long, etc., etc.. And please
put a big aluminum bumper, Aliarc preferred,
on the front.

With that rig you could travel from Myton, UT
to Price, UT on dirt roads through Nine Mile
Canyon.

I think I’ve droned on long enough.
Others can talk about smaller vehicles.

 

Chevy Express, or GMC Savana.
The older ones, without the electronic frou-frou.
Better clearance than SUVs, and you can carry an army.

 

Absolutely

 

Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about a BOV.

You will have whatever you have.

In the event of a BO? There is a reasonably good likely hood that roads MAY be impassable in & around urban areas. For any number of reasons. Rather swiftly.

Fuel MAY be unavailable, for any number of reasons. Rather swiftly.

Point being, if you all enjoy off highway exploring now, then get something you can afford to continue doing so. Otherwise, get whatever fits your work & life balance well.

A BOV to "head to the hills" (without a true destination) is simply another term for becoming a refugee. Don't be a refugee.


IMO.

 

Such a pessimist.

When SHTF, I am taking my lifted F350 4WD, crew cab, 8' bed, diesel and I am moving anything in my way. And I can do it for extended time because I have a bed tank with an additional 90 gallons.

Or I may just bug in and set up my LP/OP.

 

If you really want to buy something, get a mountain bike. $50 on Facebook Marketplace.

 

Hard to beat an ATV or dirtbike. Drive the truck as far as you can, unload and relay the rest on the ATV.

 

Your BOV is personal. It has to do what you need it to do. Distance, terrain, towing, storage, etc.

I have an off road vehicle to cross a shallow river.

I have 4 planned routes based on driving around on the weekends. Six more if there are no bridges and I track river levels.

 

My go to vehicle
Waren 8,000
Chev 350

 

My priority would be range. You should be able to drive 500 miles without needing to stop.
I'd also recommend a vehicle where you can get a good sleep.

 

our old rig was a duramax 3500 4x4 pulling a 26ft camper. Range was about 350-380miles at highway speed.Kept 2 5gal cans in the truck bed. These days it's a sprinter chasis class C. Similar range close to 400 miles. Same 2 cans of spare fuel can ride on rear rack if needed. In both bugout cases, a honda trail 90 is my recon/replenish runner. not much but it'll sip the gas.

 

Jeep Wrangler saved my life two days ago in a flash flood.

My next vehicle will be a Jeep Wrangler.

 

Unknown/high water is bad juju. Really glad you all did allrite!!

 

we have a forest fire burning to the west of us and the wind usually comes out of the west/northwest. We live less than 200 miles north of yellowstone...
Either one of these turn out to be a major problem and i would head west/southwest before everyone else clogs the road....Our comfortable already loaded 29 foot mini winnie would do just fine and with the pickup full of gas cans we could go a long ways...
Major catastrophe? Roads clogged or shut down due to martial law or brigands we will just make our stand right at home.

 

Insulated.
Bed and breakfast
lunch and dinner.

AWD

 

Hello all,
I need some ideas on how to turn my 2006 Ford Expedition into a bug out vehicle...
I had a 2001 Ford F-150 4x4 i made into a bug out vehicle then some drunk totaled it and I have a 2006 Ford Expedition..
I'm looking for gun racks and size tires and if I should get a lift kit for it or not...Ford F-150
View attachment 617985
this is my new BOV A 2006 Ford Expedition
So please give me some ideas on how to beef it up...
Thanks in advance
Txred66

Is your Expedition 4x4? If not get something else. Dont waste your time and $ on a 2wd vehicle.

Friend of mine stuck her similar year 2wd Expedition in some mud at her house. I pulled it out for her. On my 1st attempt I drove my Jeep Wrangler right next to it, in the same mud and attempted to pull it out forward with a kinetic rope. No luck there - too heavy.

Then I turned around and drove by it a 2nd time, in the same mud, tied off the rear of my Jeep to a tree and winched it out using a double line pull and a snatch block.


I hate red vehicles and I would rattle can over that red paint with black, gray, or tan bed liner. It's a 2006 you're not going to hurt it's value...
Example:

At minimum put some 33" AT or MT tires on it. If yours came with that self leveling system, replace it with a coil over suspension. 35" tires would be better.

Example:

2003-2006 Ford Expedition 4 Wheel Air Suspension Conversion Kit (FX24F) – 2003 Ford Expedition Air Suspension Conversion Kits | Struts | Suspension Parts – Strutmasters

Find the Strutmasters 2003-2006 Ford Expedition 4 Wheel Air Suspension Conversion Kit (FX24F) (FX24F) with free shipping on qualifying items at Strutmasters, the home of the original suspension conversion kit. Upgrade your vehicle and save time and money buying and even installing a suspension...

www.strutmasters.com

I would then look for a used winch bumper and a 10,000lb or 12,000lb winch with synthetic cable.

 

A lot depends on one's definition of
" bugging out "
At this time I'll just say this.
If you're " bugging out " with no
specific destination, instead of your
goal being safely and quietly reaching
your retreat/base/homestead that you
should have already bought and paid
for years ago and completely stocked
it with all your needs, well . . .
you've already lost.