mozzie101
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Post by mozzie101 on Dec 23, 2016 8:18:27 GMT 10
This is just my 2 cents worth on Quad Bikes as a BOV.
Firstly I own a couple of Quads and I use them regularly on my property as well as for hunting. So I have a little bit of experience with them.
For a semi-rural/residential environment I think it is entirely possible to use them as a BOV. In an urban (big city) environment probably limited to a few scenarios.
Firstly they are very common these days. Due to their perceived ease of riding compared to a two wheel bike to learn to ride on. They can carry quite a lot of weight for there size. They handle very well off road, good on fuel consumption and have a small foot print.
I find them easy to hide. If I leave the quad when hunting on foot, I usually drive into a shallow gully/depression or creek bed to put it out of site out of mind. A bit of cam would go a long way to hiding it as well.
The noise signature is the same as a std two wheeler or a small 4x4. Playing with the exhaust makes them “GO” better but also make them louder as well. That goes for any vehicle.
With powerful engines, 4 wheel drive, aggressive tires and a width of only 48 inches (or less), this allows them to go over almost any obstacle. I routinely push mine through light vegetation that would be a lot more difficult to do on a two wheeler. The fitting of bash plates under the quad makes this a lot easier and safer to do. A quad bike is a lot slower than a two wheeler over most terrain though.
Comm’s can be run straight off the power outlet if its 12v or through an inverter if not (5v etc) or even for charging of most things electrical.
They can even come with a small electric winch for recovery. I would personally use a hand winch due to the fact you can winch in any direction instead of just straight ahead and it can be used on other vehicles as well.
Actually there are many aftermarket options for quad bikes these days and a lot of those options make sense for a BOV such as a small utility trailer to go behind your Quad for added carrying capacity. I know a lot of people that won’t tow a trailer because of not being able to reverse it if need be. But with a little utility trailer you can disconnect them and move them around where you want just like a wheel barrow. Some of the cheaper utility trailers are actually wheel barrows with a tow hitch.
Pro’s – Can go almost anywhere, Can cover difficult ground at good speeds. Fairly fuel efficient. Built for the extreme and they are fairly reliable if you buy a name brand. Affordable (you can pick up a used one pretty cheap) now.
Con’s – Limited protection from the elements, Limited range. Limited carrying capacity compared to a 4x4. Limited number of passengers.
The above is food for thought. Getting from your current location to your BOL is a risky business. Ideally, you’ll want to get there as soon as there’s any news of something bad happening. Understand the risks, assess your unique situation, and make your choice for a bog-out vehicle(s) accordingly.
Cheers Mozzie101
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shinester
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Post by shinester on Dec 23, 2016 15:31:57 GMT 10
Carry capacity - 4WD > 4wheeler > dirt bike Go anywhere - dirt bike > 4wheeler > 4WD Fuel usage - dirt bike > 4wheeler > 4WD An engine is in effect an air pump, draws air in, and then pushes air out. The better it breathes on either end effects it's power. This also doesn't necessarily mean noise, which can be attenuated particularly on the exhaust side with longer/wider exhausts for a cost in space and dollars. This is true for all ICE engines. The larger issue to my mind is how long you can keep it fueled for, how much fuel you can carry and consequently what distance you can take it. Fuel doesn't store particularly well either, unless it's LPG. Good for a while and diminishing restrictions and utility due to fuel, unless you also have a plan to make say ethanol from crops I suppose. Could be used for some light tractor duties, could do harrowing fertilizing and seed spreading over larger areas, rather labor saving. Not sure what you'd do on the other end [harvesting], but it could grow some fuel, haven't punch the numbers to work out how viable that is, though possible. You also might want to be growing food not fuel, haven't made a spreadsheet to know either way ha.   linky for aboveIt's ultimately an in-between, it's not as good as a 4WD in capacity, not as good as a bike for go anywhere, not as good as a real tractor for food production, though it might be just what you need. |
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Morgo
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Post by Morgo on Dec 23, 2016 16:29:52 GMT 10
BOV probably not so great for the cons you listed. Main being size, just to small to really fit the role of a BOV.
Now a Bug Out Location Vehicle (BOLV), they would be ideal. Quicker and more agile plus will go more places and use less fuel doing so than the BOV.
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mozzie101
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Post by mozzie101 on Dec 24, 2016 10:15:59 GMT 10
Carry capacity - 4WD > 4wheeler > dirt bike Go anywhere - dirt bike > 4wheeler > 4WD Fuel usage - dirt bike > 4wheeler > 4WD An engine is in effect an air pump, draws air in, and then pushes air out. The better it breathes on either end effects it's power. This also doesn't necessarily mean noise, which can be attenuated particularly on the exhaust side with longer/wider exhausts for a cost in space and dollars. This is true for all ICE engines. The larger issue to my mind is how long you can keep it fueled for, how much fuel you can carry and consequently what distance you can take it. Fuel doesn't store particularly well either, unless it's LPG. Good for a while and diminishing restrictions and utility due to fuel, unless you also have a plan to make say ethanol from crops I suppose. Could be used for some light tractor duties, could do harrowing fertilizing and seed spreading over larger areas, rather labor saving. Not sure what you'd do on the other end [harvesting], but it could grow some fuel, haven't punch the numbers to work out how viable that is, though possible. You also might want to be growing food not fuel, haven't made a spreadsheet to know either way ha. linky for aboveIt's ultimately an in-between, it's not as good as a 4WD in capacity, not as good as a bike for go anywhere, not as good as a real tractor for food production, though it might be just what you need. I can't agree with you more shinester. Any thing you use as a BOV should be considered as expendable from the moment you get into/onto it in a SHTF situation. If you don't have enough in a BOL then you have missed the boat so to speak. At the end of the day I would rather if given the option of either walking all the way with a pack or riding a quad part way to a BOL. The quad would get used. A bad ride is better than a good walk any day.  |
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mozzie101
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Post by mozzie101 on Dec 24, 2016 10:23:56 GMT 10
BOV probably not so great for the cons you listed. Main being size, just to small to really fit the role of a BOV. Now a Bug Out Location Vehicle (BOLV), they would be ideal. Quicker and more agile plus will go more places and use less fuel doing so than the BOV. It depends on the individual situation. How much gear do you want to carry? etc etc. In my end of the world every third vehicle I see has a quad on the back. |
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Morgo
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Post by Morgo on Dec 24, 2016 10:48:40 GMT 10
BOV probably not so great for the cons you listed. Main being size, just to small to really fit the role of a BOV. Now a Bug Out Location Vehicle (BOLV), they would be ideal. Quicker and more agile plus will go more places and use less fuel doing so than the BOV. It depends on the individual situation. How much gear do you want to carry? etc etc. In my end of the world every third vehicle I see has a quad on the back. Alot more than any quad can carry that's for sure. If I need to bug out then its highly likely its long term. I wouldn't bother taking a quad with me, too much wasted space vs supplies. I would have one at the BOL already. Don't forget a loaded up quad en route to a BOL is going to be much more of a target than a 4x4 which people are used to seeing everyday which makes them grey. A quad draws attention, especially as a BOV on the roads. |
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mozzie101
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Post by mozzie101 on Dec 24, 2016 10:55:52 GMT 10
It depends on the individual situation. How much gear do you want to carry? etc etc. In my end of the world every third vehicle I see has a quad on the back. Alot more than any quad can carry that's for sure. If I need to bug out then its highly likely its long term. I wouldn't bother taking a quad with me, too much wasted space vs supplies. I would have one at the BOL already. Don't forget a loaded up quad en route to a BOL is going to be much more of a target than a 4x4 which people are used to seeing everyday which makes them grey. A quad draws attention, especially as a BOV on the roads. Depends on the situation. |
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Morgo
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Post by Morgo on Dec 24, 2016 11:01:52 GMT 10
Alot more than any quad can carry that's for sure. If I need to bug out then its highly likely its long term. I wouldn't bother taking a quad with me, too much wasted space vs supplies. I would have one at the BOL already. Don't forget a loaded up quad en route to a BOL is going to be much more of a target than a 4x4 which people are used to seeing everyday which makes them grey. A quad draws attention, especially as a BOV on the roads. Depends on the situation. Sure though IMO 99% of the time 4x4 > than quad. YMMV. |
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mozzie101
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Post by mozzie101 on Dec 24, 2016 11:04:06 GMT 10
Depends on the situation. Sure though IMO 99% of the time 4x4 > than quad. YMMV. Yep. Still not 100% though. LOL. |
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Morgo
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Post by Morgo on Dec 24, 2016 11:21:25 GMT 10
Yup, its for that 1% chance of my 4x4 being clogged by the bodies of Zombies and having to make my way on whats left |
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mozzie101
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Post by mozzie101 on Dec 24, 2016 11:59:41 GMT 10
Yup, its for that 1% chance of my 4x4 being clogged by the bodies of Zombies and having to make my way on whats left Ok enough rum balls for you. |
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Post by Joey on Dec 24, 2016 21:35:51 GMT 10
I've got my dual sport bike for a town runner, hunting bike and whatnot, I've put an aftermarket fuel tank on it for that extra few litres of petrol and also the navara for getting around as well.
Overall I would like to get a buggy, mainly for hunting but has more carry room and little safer compared to a quad.
But the bike would be good for getting out of a city with blocked highways and such with the limited gear you can carry in a pack, panniers and tank bag.
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shinester
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Post by shinester on Dec 25, 2016 4:44:17 GMT 10
I can't agree with you more shinester. Any thing you use as a BOV should be considered as expendable from the moment you get into/onto it in a SHTF situation. If you don't have enough in a BOL then you have missed the boat so to speak. At the end of the day I would rather if given the option of either walking all the way with a pack or riding a quad part way to a BOL. The quad would get used. A bad ride is better than a good walk any day. Ha, I think you're disagreeing  All for it of course, perspectives are great. My BOV is just my car, I'm already fairly rural and if I have to go somewhere else, I can go as is as it's already ready to go at all times and with half a tank at least plus another 10L onboard, I'll get at least 350kms without additional fuel, my furthest BOL is about 90kms, or at most 120kms if I take very back roads. 2 weeks of food, a little solar [20W] BOB, folding bike if that fails, walking failing that, extra water, etc. I could easily go camping right now and with half a tank always [usually more] I should b:) With a little more time I can load it with a years worth of food in 10-15mins as I have them in kit form just for that purpose [they have other roles also], as well as some additional kits for various other tasks/roles that might be loaded. My BOV is driven around normally, looks like any other car. Now I do believe that disposing of it is rather wasteful, even without fuel, the car's a great all weather tent and table. It fill many roles. My thinking is that my BOV isn't expendable, nor is it necessary, rather it's part of a series of redundancies, each tier a step less capable, I even have every day supplies that would help in my pocket such as water tablets. My weak link in the chain is the BOLs which aren't well stocked, though that's where I'm headed with my kits in the longer term, to locate some there for that purpose. Ultimately if I have to leave my house things are VERY bad indeed and I my current location is far better than in a city. So if you have a BOV, why wouldn't you want to use of it and make it part of your preps, resources are resources. For instance and sure, you might have a redundancy such as having the same 4 wheeler at your BOL so you could cannibalise parts if need be and a certain amount of fuel. I also get that you probably wouldn't abandon your ride if you got it safely to the BOL. I think of the BOV as a resource in case I still have it, which is why I plan to have it and plan to not have it |
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All for it of course, perspectives are great.