All those cons are fixed by using a Mule or side by side.

 

Thanks for the reply, first off!

I would agree with you, but we are just increasing the size of our vehicle. Those Cons could be the same with the side-by-sides, and the answer would just be a truck. Also increasing the size of our vehicle we are taking away some of the advantages of the smaller quad... gas mileage (minimal due to a side-by-side will never be weighed in tons =P), manueverability still minimal but there is a difference in the width of a one person quad and the side-by-side, and the final price. We are just upping the $ value for more metal.

The side-by-side does have take away some of the cons, but has demons of its own.... Guess just pick your poison eh? =P

 

Yeah, you can only satisfy so many of your demands. Just have to decide which ones are the greatest. I have 2 Sport Quads and love them but they can barely carry anything and require lots of maintenance, atleast mine do. They are very versatile in terms of the terrain they can cover but they can also wear you out if you ride for longer than half an hour.

http://www.polarisindustries.com/en...view.aspx?WT.si_n=ORV-FromFamily-Model-r12wh7ea-2012_rgr_crew_800_eps&WT.si_x=1

Something like that would be great. You would lose a little bit of your terrain versatility, such as riding in very heavily wooded areas but it makes up for it in alot of ways.

I don't think I would depend souly on an ATV as a BOV. I trailer them behind my BOV and would use them to escape in an extremely dangerous situation! I've been thinking of getting a mule since I have 2 children now.

 

I think quads are great....I have a 1998 Yamaha Grizzly 600 cc and have a front and rear rack for carrying items....I made my own roof out of a canvas tarp and 1" square tubing for a frame that is attached to the racks...For a windshield i used 1/4 inch thick Lexan.....It only gets 20 mpg....
If gas milage is very important to you do a reasearch on the type of quad that you want to buy.....:thumb:

 

What are you intending on using it for? there are certain things that a full size BOV can do that a quad cannot, tow capacity for instance, no internal heat (you will freeze if your outside during the winter on your quad).

 

Don't think I would consider one as a BOV but certainly wouldn't turn it down if SHTF and one was available.

My son's cheapy chinese quad-bike runs a LONG time on a tank of gas, we mostly just use it around the property but I'd wager it gets 30+mpg. Pretty rugged, goes places no car can go but can't carry squat other than 1 or 2 people (if you're friendly).

Definitely not a replacement for a BOV, but certainly a great thing to have.

 

I do like tidea of using an ATV. Going with a Diesel like the Arcticcat would increase mpg. Works if you already have the same fuel in the main BOV.

 

I love my 4x4 Mule but it is governed down to about 25mph. That's not a problem in my situation because I live at my BOL and there are no roads anyway. Some of the older 2-up atvs are prone to roll-overs but I think that has been fixed.

 

Thanks for the replies boys! Your insight is appreciated!

 

The Honda trx250ex is very good very good mpg and stonge i use it to move trailers around the yard and it shaft drive an air cooled. I have had lorger quads but thay eat fuel.

 

makes perfect sense. my primary BOV of choice right now is a motorcycle. Cons to a Motorcycle and ATV are easily made up by the fact that they are much more maneuverable and will help a ton when you hit traffic jam parking lots. Case and point is season 2 of the Walking Dead where they had the guy on the motorcycle lead because he could make it between everything while the big vehicles got stuck.

 

Gas mileage is terrible if you're really counting. I use mine for zipping around my farm. I don't think I put 10 miles on it before it's down a gallon. (Grizzly 450)


But yeah, If you're only going short distance over rough terrain, that's the ticket.
If you're bugging out 120 miles like me - not happening.

 

Grizzly Or If U want Rhino

 

While that wouldn't be my first choice, a quad is a great secondary vehicle. My whole idea is to start big and shed weight if needed. Camper, truck, dirtbike, boots, in that order.

 

A quad is a good secondary choice,I have a 06 kawasaki brute force 750,One thing i have been working on is i bought another carb for it so i can convert it to run fuel from my still.so in a shtf scenerio when gas is in shortage or prices soar i will have a fuel effecient bov for recon and hunting.

 

I ride a 4 wheeler daily and put between 1500-2000 miles a year on my machine. In the last 20 years for use in my work and around my farm, I have owned a Yamaha Moto4 250, two Suzuki Quadrunner 500's, a diesel Kawasaki Mule, a Yamaha Big Bear 400, and a Yamaha Kodiak 450, and on the subject of fuel economy, they have all been very bad. As far as reliability, the Yamaha Big Bear 400 takes the prize hands down. I am currently using the Kodiak 450, and it is my least favorite of all.

As for an ATV being a BOV, it would depend on how far you intend to travel and what you need to haul.

 

07 grizzly 700 MPG sucks but can go thru just about anything I will be trailering mine

 

Myself and the other my other prepper buddy both have quads and figured we would use them as QRF or scout ahead vehicles in a SHTF scenario. Figured we ride ahead of our BOV's with the misses driving and do route recon without endangering all of our supplies in the main vehicles.

Good size, more agile, and can be used in more places than my SUV. With having two if any impromptu roadblock pops up its a lot easier to flank the position or turn around, reroute and not risk the whole convoy getting into a firefight.

They have great speed, a lower profile, and my Polaris is built like a tank and gets 50-55 MPG. I think they definitely don't hurt to have around, but I still like my SUV pulling Pop-up camper loaded for the long haul.

 

heck yeah thatl work great

 

check out my post in the show me your BOV thread, to see our vehicles,we know their capabilities because we use them every day.

 

I have the small (50") Polaris Razor. The mileage sucks at 15 but with the 10 gallon tank has a range of 150 miles.

It is a side x side but only 2" wider than a quad. You can get extra cargo racks and heated cabs.

It is not my primary BOV but I'd sure take it if it was the only thing able to get me out of town!!!

My primary BOV is a pickup camper. Time permitting the Razor will go on the trailer behind along with extra fuel and supplies. Be a great scout vehicle for my BOL.

 

id like to have a quad at a bail out location because it would be perfect to make short trips like going out to get water, or going out to hunt or search for something. I wouldnt replace my bov with it though because i think the main point of my bov is to get me to my bov and also have the ability to take what gear i think ill need, plus food, water and also be my shelter while im getting to where i plan on stayin. If i was going to give up, fuel range, hauling capibility, shelter, etc i would go with horses. With a horse u get all the same advantages of a quad or motorcycle without any of the cons except that if your going to cover a huge distance you wont get there quite as fast.

 

A Honda 250ES Big Red 3 wheeler would be a good choice except for not having 4 wheel drive. Much cheeper and more manuverable in tight areas, lighter, possibly better fuel milage due to the lighter weight but maybe not as the newer fuel injected newer and more efficient quads available now compared to the Mid 80's technology.

 

07 grizzly 700 MPG sucks but can go thru just about anything I will be trailering mine

700 MPG sounds pretty nice to me

 

Heck if your buggin out with at least two people to include yourself, why not bug out with both?

 

I didn't think much of this topic until I saw an ABC (Australia) documentary on the SAS in Afghanistan. The're using Quads loaded up to the gills with jerry cans and equipment to do their patrols because they can carry more fuel and equipment than 2-wheel bikes, can get around the terrain that funnels regular vehicles into IED traps and are more comfortable than 2-wheel bikes.

As a BOV, sure, you'd be out in the weather, and their durability might be lower but we're talking about emergency situations. In my area the major risk to evacuation are our reliance on a limited number of bridges. If they get knocked down (eathquake, Tsunami) or just clogged by traffic in an emergency...everything stops because of these choke points.

A quad still might be small enough to get through on the bridge or light enough to get through a shallow crossing and/or boggy ground up/downstream. It would also do better on the slippery grass and mud/sand that line our highways.

Also it would be a lot less to invest in than running a dedicated 4WD that you're stuck using for everyday use (fuel comfort parking etc) eg car + Quad + comfort = < 4wd ?