Bug-Out and Survival in a Travel Trailer or RV
by Ken Jorgustin, Modern Survival Blog:
Ever thought about a ‘mobile’ bug-out with a travel trailer or RV? Pros? Cons?
For many, purchasing another home or piece of property away from ‘the city’ or dense suburbs to have as a ‘bug-out location’ is unattainable. Given a worst-case-scenario whereby a bug-out to a safer location is or would be a matter of survival, perhaps one option would be to utilize a travel trailer or RV as one’s bug-out vehicle and mobile bug-out location…
Here are some thoughts on that:
Some variables come to mind, including the specifics of the travel trailer or RV itself, how it is to be equipped and prepped, as well as having a specific bug-out destination and pre-planned route and alternate routes to your destination.
2I happen to have a trailer, a ‘5th-wheel’ actually, and before we travel with it, I put some thought and preps into the rig such that it will be better prepared for SHTF, just in case.
The thing is, I suppose that one could take it to the next level and consider using it as a ‘home base’ should the need ever arise to get out of Dodge…
When you begin thinking about a trailer or RV as a semi-permanent bug-out location, the wheels really start spinning as to what you might consider doing, retrofitting, and preparing the rig for such a thing.
There are two primary concerns. The rig itself (and how it’s equipped to deal with this role), and the destination location (or locations) of the bug-out.
Lets touch on the later first. Where are you going to go??
Some good first options may be if you know someone else who is already living in a location that may be more survivable than ‘the city’ or dense population regions. With their prior consent (important), your rig will serve as your ‘home’ on their property rather than integrating into their existing home. (Note: Winter RV’ing is difficult to impossible without freezing pipes, etc.., so bear that in mind or have solutions to these problems)
Note: Be sure to have a Road Atlas for each state that you may travel in…
Note: Best Large Scale Road Atlas USA
Don’t just think that you’re going to take off and live ‘on the road’. Sooner or later you will run out of fuel. You need to plan a destination that gives you a chance for survivability and functionality in this role. This will likely mean scouting it out ahead of time. And then plan for a second location in case your first option is no longer an option…
Given that the hypothetical (extreme) bug-out conditions that warrant leaving one’s area in order to stand a better chance of survival, these conditions will also create great security concerns. You may only have a relatively short time to make your decision to bug-out, to actually bug-out, and the time to arrive at your destination (days?) before the rest of the population realizes that they’re in deep $hit…
There are A LOT of things to think about, including…
Is a travel trailer or RV defensible? How?
Should camouflage or being out of sight at your destination be a priority?
Is there a water source there?
How will you deal with waste and disposal thereof?
Do you have enough food supplies for the long term?
Can you rig up a solar power system?
Will there be weather concerns?
It’s interesting to think about and consider a travel trailer or RV as a bug-out vehicle and destination shelter. Have any of you thought about this? Any ideas? Pros and Cons?
One HUGE problem with a drag along camper is you have to have a HUGE pick up gas guzzling or diesel guzzling vehicle to haul it with. And in a bug out situation you’re not going to find any spare gasoline or diesel ANYWHERE unless you have a huge tank in your backyard with your own personal stash. Nice try no cigar.
I live in the mountains and I own a large travel trailer (which can be pulled by either a truck or an SUV , such as my jeep) . There are multiple locations from where I live that I could easily reach in a reasonable amount of time and I’ve scouted them personally and been to each of them many times using both hi-ways and back roads and each of them has a good accessible natural water source . Extra gas (and food) can be taken along easily (gas in Jerry cans and food in sealable plastic tubs) and it could easily be stored and hidden in any of those locations as well . Large cammo netting in warm weather and cammo white “snow” netting in winter could easily hide a vehicle and trailer as long as there wasn’t a heat signature which could be detected by FLIR cameras on an aircraft or a drone (which there ARE ways to hide from and beat) ! If you remove the inside paneling from either an RV or a travel trailer you can put extra heavy duty insulation all of the way around (including the floor and ceiling) and if you take clear heavy mill plastic and gorilla tape you can seal both the inside and outside of the windows for extreme cold weather . Just make sure that your vehicle is rated to pull the weight of the trailer and it’s contents and have heavy duty enough tires to go anywhere and you should be OK ! I’ve stayed in my travel trailer in the middle of the winter in the rockies so I KNOW that it’s possible to do and to survive in first hand !!!