[QUOTE="EricB1970, post: 163032, m
As a side note, it always cracks me up when I read and hear about people's survival plans for SHTF. I especially love the vehicle recommendations and discussions. Now, I do own an M35A2 Deuce and a half, and I bought it specifically for a bug out vehicle. I hear a lot about buying a mechanical diesel because they're EMP proof, can run on almost any fuel, etc. This is true, but no one ever talks about maintenance on these vehicles. Especially fluids, let alone hard parts. Where are you going to find brake fluid 5 years after SHTF? 10 years? How about new batteries? Brake hoses and calipers/wheel cylinders? Antifreeze? Transmission fluid? Oil for the engine?
Sure, you can make your own fuel, but can you make your own brake fluid? The coolest most awesomest bug out vehicle in the world is only cool until it needs brake fluid, then it's just another rusting carcass on the side of the road. This is why I get a kick out of the Mad Max movies, there's no way those vehicles will be running 10 years after the apocalypse with no AutoZone open on the corner.....
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I can make bio diesel but I can also run my van on Veg oil, and their is a Veg oil plant not a mile from here. And the distributorship for my nissan van is only in the next town. I keep POLs a plenty Cable ties, hose Clips, Fuses, Duct Tape, Brake Pipe kit, Exhaust clamps, Anti Freze, Universal brake fluid, screen wash, fuses, relays etc parts lists and repair manuals etc
You dont need a battery for many diesels they can be jerry rigged to work without them as they are only needed to start the engine, You can fit Air starters to some. Or as I saw overseas they just park on a hill and bump start their trucks
Dunno about the US but in the UK many battery stores dont charge their batteries with acid until they sell. So there are thousands if not millions of batteries in storage that dont decay, you simply have to add the acid to activate them.