There are few reasons I would ever bugout from my homestead. Number one is fire, and number two is a hazmat spill on the tracks in the valley below it, past that I can’t imagine a reason to leave.
In the first instance I would likely have several hours if not days to prepare unless an immediate neighbor was the source of the fire, the second instance requires being able to leave in a moments notice.
Having (3) sheep, (50) chickens, (2) dogs and (2) cats to corral, means choices will need to be made depending on time.
Unfortunately the sad fact is that the sheep and chickens will likely burn to death or be affected by a spill that would make me leave the homestead as I have no way of taking them with. My plan is to leave the gates open, but sheep are not the smartest creatures, and thus why the Bible refers to us also as sheep.
Having the basics loaded in the truck is the key to a fast exit, but many items can not be in the truck all the time and must be loaded into the bed of the truck before leaving.
I have started leaving my 100gal diesel tank for the tractor strapped into the bed, it’s on a pallet so I can remove it with the tractor if the full bed is needed for hauling items. This gives me a ~1850 mile range when combined with half of the 32 gallon tank (always fill at 1/2 tank on your rigs) at 16mpg.
Like your bugout bag, you do not want to be taking items in and out of your kit, or you will find they tend to get left out when you need them the most, so tools also stay in the rig.
A DEDICATED PLACE
The key to finding gear quickly is to always store it in the same place and not break into it if possible.
If items are needed out of the kit, leave everything out so you will know something was taken out. Don’t pack it back up unless you have the item you stole out of it to put back in. It’s the same concept with your GHB, don’t rob from it or it will be missing when you need it the most.
I put aside gear in three main spots, the garage, walk in pantry and my “gear room” in the shop. Having everything in known spots also allows my wife to load the truck with 99% of the items on this list if I’m not home without having to look around.
The heavy items in the Minuteman Chest are not going if I’m not there because of the weight, but she can load the (3) small totes of food and clothing easy enough, along with her GHB from the car in a few minutes as well as my rifle bag with a minimal CH setup.
Electronics are kept in the HAM Shack and one set of batteries are always kept with the HT’s and the HF rigs batteries are integrated into their setups already. If I have time the FT-891 base station goes with also.
ALWAYS IN TRUCK
Chain Saw Kit
Extra chains, wrench, bar oil, cut pants, wedges, sharpener
1gal premixed fuel (extra 3 oils)
5gal Jerry Can
Tools
All-in-one Craftsman Standard/Metric wrench kit.
Ammo can fix it kit
Hi-Lift Jack
Cargo straps
Fire Extinguisher
3ft Pry-bar
2 Ton Come-Along
Sling Anchor point
Extra common parts (cam sensor, fuel injection pump valve, press sensor, etc.
Road Flares / Reflector Triangles
Wildland Firefighter shelter
2 gal water container (not for drinking, plastics left in hot vehicles are poison)
Digital Field Manpack
LOAD FROM GARAGE
TOTE 1:
5 gal LIFESAVER filtering Jerry Can, extra filters
TOTE 2:
Food
TOTE 3:
Food
5 gal Water Jerry Can(s)
Solar Genset / 160W SP
DC Fridge
LOAD FROM “READY ROOM”
Minuteman War Chest
Team Wendy bump cap
Pano-bridged PVS-14s
Assault pack w/ 2ltr reservoir
TAPS Chest Rig
Headlamp
Electronic ear muffs
From Gun Safe
Base Weapons Kit (511 Padded Range bag w/ shoulder straps)
12.5” SBR, Red Dot, SF Mini2, Perst 4, Vampire
16” GP 1-10X Eotech Vudu, Offset T1
Gadsden Dynamics Minimal Chest Rig
(3) Mags
(1) Trauma kit
(12) spare loaded mags
LOAD FROM DAILY DRIVERS
GHB from trunk of cars
Med kit in cars
LOAD FROM HAM SHACK
Base unit
Good stuff. We have a lot of parallels; both in thinking and in packing list. One thing I need to do though is distribute gear in totes so that each is standalone. Ie not a water tote, a food tote and a shelter tote. I want to have each tote contain a little of each (including fire, etc). Then every tote grabbed just adds to my capabilities and I don’t get stuck wishing I had grabbed this or that tote.
I travel a lot - either between home and the BOL, or to classes that I am either attending or teaching, so I've invested a lot into my BOV. I don't know if they're available for your truck, or if you could make one, but I absolutely love my Truck Vault. A couple rifles, a slick plate carrier, a chest rig, a loaded battle belt, PVS14, and Night Cap live in there.
I also replaced my stock fuel tank with a 52-gallon tank, and bought a tool box/60-gallon fuel tank combo. Gives me 110 gallons on board at all times, without having to transfer anything in or out, some secure storage for tools, all in a (relatively) compact footprint. Add in a handful of jerry cans, and I can expand that.
Not sure if your HTs allow it, but I have a couple charging cradles hard-wired/hard-mounted up front, along with a two Mobile stations (one for the Motos that have AES, and one Yaesu 857D for general use).
My truck is also loaded down with all the T.R.A.P emp protection doodads. I know they aren't a real guarantee, but the science *seems* solid. The wife's SUV has the EMPShield stuff. Hopefully one, or both, of them work, if needed.
Stealth features are brake light, and dash light cutouts, which were relatively cheap, and make driving under NODs much more realistic, and easy.
Finally, one of the things I have actually gotten the most use out of is an air compressor mounted up under the frame - with a long hose for an impact tool. Makes changing tires, or changing tire pressures for off-roading a breeze.
Making an Armageddon Truck is one of those rabbit holes like tac gear that I fell waaaaay down.