Vehicle recommendations

I have been pretty amazed at cold starts in that jetta. There have been a lot of mornings I go out thinking "no way is it gonna start, gonna have to dig out another vehicle", hop in hit the key and hear wraaar wraar super slow and then it fires up. It certainly doesn't like it at all, but it starts. I have often thought I should install the frostheater dealie for winter time, but it has never let me down on cold starts without it.

I generally do not like sedans, but I really like that little jetta. Stick, so it is sporty and fun to drive. Autos are dogs that can't get out of their own way. And only filling the 13 gallon tank once a month is pretty sweet too.

The PSD gets plugged in if temps drop below 30, just cause it runs like crap for too long when it starts cold. I put one of those boater plugs on the front bumper to make things easy.

I get 17-18 mpg in my PSD when empty. Towing moderately heavy it will drop to 13 to 15. I did a long haul recently with 16000lbs on a trailer and (guessing here) was at 10 or 11 or so.

I have come to prefer diesel. Part of that is simply due to the elevation out here. The power benefits are not at great at sea level. But the turbo in the mountains and long grades is really nice. My wife's car is still gas, my tractor is gas, but everything else runs diesel. The concern about fuel storage has reinforced that direction also.

Current is a 2000 F250 7.3L, desire is restored M37 and M715 that I can customize. I would like to get away from modern electronics in my bug out vehicles.

If you're unarmed, you are a victim

Those are vehicles I'd not considered before, and excellent suggestions and reasons, Wulf! I'll look into the SDuty crew cab.

I have a 2006 F250 SD extended cab, long bed, 4x4, with a 5.4 Triton, 5R110W tranmission. It has 280,000 miles and runs like a top. I just drove it round trip to Key West in January. My long term plan was either to Fummins it when the engine dies or just drop a new crate engine into it and see if it will go another 300,000 miles. The only complaint about the truck is if it doesn't have any weight in the back, no one else wants to ride in it. It is not a soft ride.

I am considering a 2007 to 2010 high mileage Suburban with a good frame and interior. I am intrigued by the idea of taking it down to FL and having Duraburb drop a Duramax into it when the engine dies. Suburbans (GM) trucks just seem to ride softer.

I would love a deuce but not practical unless you live out in the country, IMO.

Getting parts and being able to do the work yourself would go along way for me in picking a SHTF vehicle.

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Originally Posted by cstone

I have a 2006 F250 SD extended cab, long bed, 4x4, with a 5.4 Triton, 5R110W tranmission. It has 280,000 miles and runs like a top. I just drove it round trip to Key West in January. My long term plan was either to Fummins it when the engine dies or just drop a new crate engine into it and see if it will go another 300,000 miles. The only complaint about the truck is if it doesn't have any weight in the back, no one else wants to ride in it. It is not a soft ride.

I am considering a 2007 to 2010 high mileage Suburban with a good frame and interior. I am intrigued by the idea of taking it down to FL and having Duraburb drop a Duramax into it when the engine dies. Suburbans (GM) trucks just seem to ride softer.

I would love a deuce but not practical unless you live out in the country, IMO.

Getting parts and being able to do the work yourself would go along way for me in picking a SHTF vehicle.

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That's a good point that keeps cropping up. Replacement parts are important, as is doing the work yourself. The question for the latter is, where would I even begin to learn that? I mean, Youtube is great is you know what to ask it to show, but I have a feeling learning about working on your car is like learning another language. Maybe I'll check Amazon for how-to books.

I've got a '96 F250 7.3L and absolutely love it. They don't have the power of new diesels but definitely have the reliability far exceeding most. Does great at towing 10k lb loads or used as a daily driver which it get's used for both.

The stock transmissions in the older vehicles, E40D and gearing is what hurts them on mileage over 55 mph. They have a 4 speed automatic or 5 speed manual transmission. And most came with 4:10 gearing. They are great for low end power for towing but get hurt on mileage over about 55 mph. Mine got 18mpg stock when I cruised slow in the mountains. I've now done some mods to the exhaust and still waiting for results to see the improvements though.

SHTF Bugout vehicle? Earth Roamer, or a Tundra with a full camper. You're not going to tow a 12' trailer very far on 4wd roads or across the prairie. Or on I-70 east or west until traffic comes to a permanent halt? Good luck with that. And why get something that needs to carry a whole repair parts store to keep it running? Reliability comes first. It could be a life or death option.

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Originally Posted by Hummer

SHTF Bugout vehicle? Earth Roamer, or a Tundra with a full camper. You're not going to tow a 12' trailer very far on 4wd roads or across the prairie. Or on I-70 east or west until traffic comes to a permanent halt? Good luck with that. And why get something that needs to carry a whole repair parts store to keep it running? Reliability comes first. It could be a life or death option.

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It seems the OP is more interested in a practical setup for potential wildfires and what not, i.e. needs to haul out as much property in one shot as possible.