The long list of potentially useful stuff in bug out, SHTF, car kits, and more...

[Poppy]

Polyester (rain) skirt:
Years ago I was at an Army / Navy football game at West Point. It was a rainy nasty day, and we sat in the bleachers with ponchos and umbrellas.

Down on the field though, some in uniform, had what looked like a two piece poncho. The top a little shorter than average, and the bottom like a long skirt. Periodically I searched the net for it, and rarely I'd be in an army surplus store, but never found them.

Last year, I discovered that there are a number of trail hikers who make their own. Essentially a piece of silnylon and some velcro. They pack very small, and allow freedom of movement so that the hiker can vary his gait, and take those long strides to jump a stream, etc. They are cooler than rain pants, and allows one to relieve him/herself a little more gracefully.

Typically they make them long enough to be just below the knee, or knee height, your calves will be unprotected, unless wearing gaiters.

 

[Monocrom]

Hey guys, related to food bars would be beverage baggies. one per BOB. Though closer to being a luxury item than a necessity, such a small baggie can help with mood. And mood can determine what types of choices you make sometimes.... and whether or not you regret them.

Items include: Single serve pouches of coffee (some come with powdered creamer inside already), ordinary Tea bags, other types of powdered drink mixes (for example, single serve Crystal Light lemonade mix), or small squeeze bottles of concentrated ice-tea or fruit punch mixes for example. Other items would be sugar (or substitute sugar) packets, salt, and pepper packets. Bullion cubes or the powder form from Ramen noodles. Gum, as well as caffeine gum for us coffee lovers. (More for alertness than the taste.)

This large accessory packet once again is more about helping your mood, staying alert; than anything else. But mood is very important. Got reminded of that yesterday at the bank. Beautiful day, great mood. Encountered a worthless, disgusting, creature with a pock-marked ugly face that clearly hadn't seen soap & water in many years. He didn't like the fact that I refused to tolerate his B.S.

Had I not been in a good mood, I likely would have yanked his pants down and spanked some discipline and manners into him, the way the worthless sperm-donor pretending to be a father should have done about 3 or 4 decades ago. In a situation horrendous enough to require bugging out, the last thing you want to do is anything rash that you might regret once everything has normalized again. I don't mean jail. I mean being haunted by one's conscience.

That's the reason why I believe an accessory pack such as the one mentioned above, although technically a luxury item, is still worth including in a BOB. Both it, and any other comfort items. Photo of your family during a happy occasion, a challenge coin given to you by a good friend or family member, etc.

Just anything to keep your mood up, keep you grounded, keep you focused on what matters.

 

[Going_Supernova]

Hey guys, related to food bars would be beverage baggies. one per BOB. Though closer to being a luxury item than a necessity, such a small baggie can help with mood. And mood can determine what types of choices you make sometimes.... and whether or not you regret them.

Items include: Single serve pouches of coffee (some come with powdered creamer inside already), ordinary Tea bags, other types of powdered drink mixes (for example, single serve Crystal Light lemonade mix), or small squeeze bottles of concentrated ice-tea or fruit punch mixes for example. Other items would be sugar (or substitute sugar) packets, salt, and pepper packets. Bullion cubes or the powder form from Ramen noodles. Gum, as well as caffeine gum for us coffee lovers. (More for alertness than the taste.)

This large accessory packet once again is more about helping your mood, staying alert; than anything else. But mood is very important. Got reminded of that yesterday at the bank. Beautiful day, great mood. Encountered a worthless, disgusting, creature with a pock-marked ugly face that clearly hadn't seen soap & water in many years. He didn't like the fact that I refused to tolerate his B.S.

Had I not been in a good mood, I likely would have yanked his pants down and spanked some discipline and manners into him, the way the worthless sperm-donor pretending to be a father should have done about 3 or 4 decades ago. In a situation horrendous enough to require bugging out, the last thing you want to do is anything rash that you might regret once everything has normalized again. I don't mean jail. I mean being haunted by one's conscience.

That's the reason why I believe an accessory pack such as the one mentioned above, although technically a luxury item, is still worth including in a BOB. Both it, and any other comfort items. Photo of your family during a happy occasion, a challenge coin given to you by a good friend or family member, etc.

Just anything to keep your mood up, keep you grounded, keep you focused on what matters.

I don't drink Starbucks coffee, but in my kit I do keep some of the freeze dried packets of Starbucks Via coffee. Since they are single serve and only need hot water to prepare a tasty coffee treat, I keep them in the kit. That's my sinful pleasure. :devil:

 

[Wendee]

Hi guys,
I had read a few weeks ago about cutting screen to put over a vehicle window and attach it using "rare earth" magnets. I'm sure it was in this thread. I can't find this post now, anywhere. :thinking:
I think this is a great idea. I bought the screen but I need to buy the magnets. There are so many sizes to chose from and I have no idea which ones to buy. Can someone suggest the smallest (therefore, cheapest) "rare earth" magnets that would do the job? I've never used magnets before so I have no idea. I figure 8 magnets for one window (one on each corner and one in between on each side)? Would 20mm x 2mm work, or are they too big or too small?
Any info would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[Poppy]

Yes Wendee, it was in this thread.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...its-and-more&p=4910899&viewfull=1#post4910899


20 x 2 mm might work. I would say that 20 x 4 would certainly work.

 

[Wendee]

Yes Wendee, it was in this thread.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...its-and-more&p=4910899&viewfull=1#post4910899
20 x 2 mm might work. I would say that 20 x 4 would certainly work.

Thanks Poppy! What an excellent idea you posted about the screen! Now we will be able to keep our truck windows open at camp so it doesn't get brutally hot inside (and full of dear flies/mosquitos). I can think of a number of scenarios where the window screens would come in very handy. I'll keep them in the vehicle just in case someday we ever did need to "bug out" too. It certainly wouldn't hurt to have them handy!

I had thought that someone had mentioned the magnets after that. Then again, I may be combining topics/posts. I read so many that my brain gets scrambled. :duh2:

I can't find 20x4 but I found 20x3. I'll buy those and cross my fingers. Thanks again for posting that awesome idea! :thumbsup:

Update: I should mention that I've been reading this thread for a while now and there are so many great ideas that I've incorporated into my emergency preps and bags (I can't even count how many). This is a really great thread! Thanks to everyone for sharing great ideas and information.

 

[Poppy]

Wendee,
I knew that I had seen it too, that someone carried magnets to hold a plastic screen to the window.
I found it.
HERE

 

[Monocrom]

Some things are easy to overlook. For example: Large bag of kitty litter for the BOV. Just in case you have to bug out and then your vehicle gets stuck. Going to feel like crap if you have to abandon your BOV and hoof it, or use your bike or bicycle the rest of the way. Not because your tires got shoot up by a desperate person you encountered while driving. Not because you left on foot to scout out the area up ahead with your binocs, and some desperate individual popped a hole in your fuel tank with a hammer and screwdriver to steal your fuel (thus completely ruining your tank in the process).

But simply due to you BOV getting stuck.

 

[Poppy]

Some things are easy to overlook. For example: Large bag of kitty litter for the BOV. Just in case you have to bug out and then your vehicle gets stuck. Going to feel like crap if you have to abandon your BOV and hoof it, or use your bike or bicycle the rest of the way. Not because your tires got shoot up by a desperate person you encountered while driving. Not because you left on foot to scout out the area up ahead with your binocs, and some desperate individual popped a hole in your fuel tank with a hammer and screwdriver to steal your fuel (thus completely ruining your tank in the process).

But simply due to you BOV getting stuck.

Be sure to mount your High-Lift jack to your BOV, and don't forget the recovery strap, and a good winch, or at least a come-along.
You might want to bring some lengths of chain so that you can drag cars or trees out of the way if they are blocking your path.

You might want to get a bigger truck.

 

[Going_Supernova]

Some things are easy to overlook. For example: Large bag of kitty litter for the BOV. Just in case you have to bug out and then your vehicle gets stuck. Going to feel like crap if you have to abandon your BOV and hoof it, or use your bike or bicycle the rest of the way. Not because your tires got shoot up by a desperate person you encountered while driving. Not because you left on foot to scout out the area up ahead with your binocs, and some desperate individual popped a hole in your fuel tank with a hammer and screwdriver to steal your fuel (thus completely ruining your tank in the process).

But simply due to you BOV getting stuck.

I think some JB Weld might be able to be used for a patch in such a case. That liquid rubber stuff that is advertised on TV might work, as well as possibly a rubber tire plug. At least these might work temporarily well enough to get you down the road to your BOL. Heck, if you didn't have anything else, a wooden peg/plug might work well enough to get you were you are headed to.

 

[Poppy]

I think some JB Weld might be able to be used for a patch in such a case. That liquid rubber stuff that is advertised on TV might work, as well as possibly a rubber tire plug. At least these might work temporarily well enough to get you down the road to your BOL. Heck, if you didn't have anything else, a wooden peg/plug might work well enough to get you were you are headed to.

We once made a temporary fix with some bubble gum, and a sheet metal screw.

 

[Going_Supernova]

We once made a temporary fix with some bubble gum, and a sheet metal screw.

Note to self: Add bubble gum and sheet metal screws to BOV...

 

[chaosdsm]

I think some JB Weld might be able to be used for a patch in such a case. That liquid rubber stuff that is advertised on TV might work, as well as possibly a rubber tire plug. At least these might work temporarily well enough to get you down the road to your BOL. Heck, if you didn't have anything else, a wooden peg/plug might work well enough to get you were you are headed to.

Anything rubber based is a bad idea for a fuel tank fix, the petroleum will degrade many modern rubbers pretty quickly. Regular JB Weld is okay as long as there is no residual gasoline around the repair area. AutoWeld Epoxy (by JB Weld) is a better option as it will stick to the tank even when gasoline is present (i.e. an active leak), and is ready in 5 minutes (full cure in 1 hour) instead of 4 - 6 hours (full cure in 15 - 24 hours), bonus... it's even cheaper than regular JB Weld.

 

[Poppy]

Note to self: Add bubble gum and sheet metal screws to BOV...

LOL...
Note to self: Supernova is a little whacky

If things have gone.. so far to #h1t that I have to repair a tank because someone put a hole in it to steal my gas my bob is going to look very different.

More along the lines of a Sig 226, a Thompson center contender in 223, and a machete.

I imagine, first of all if someone punctured my tank there wouldn't be any fuel in it, so there is no reason to repair it. Just take another vehicle. Or trade the fuel that I would put into MY vehicle, to someone else who has a functioning vehicle, for a ride.

I guess it all depends upon how bad things had gotten.

Another solution to repairing the tank might be:
"WAL-RICH 1709004 1/2 EZ FIX BOILER PLUG PASCO 620"

 

[Monocrom]

I think some JB Weld might be able to be used for a patch in such a case. That liquid rubber stuff that is advertised on TV might work, as well as possibly a rubber tire plug. At least these might work temporarily well enough to get you down the road to your BOL. Heck, if you didn't have anything else, a wooden peg/plug might work well enough to get you were you are headed to.

Last thing you want to do is weld a recently-punched gas tank. Enough fuel vapors to make a bad situation even worse. A plug likely won't work due to the tiny size of the hole.

 

[ceramicknife]

Even carrying 50% of these recommendations would require a pickup truck.

It might be more responsible to put a size and weight requirement here, with extra points for light and small.

I go for Dental Floss as a true multi purpose product, get waxed & you can suture, tie your shelter, sew your clothing, this stuff is tough, fishing line, repairs to a huge variety of items.

 

[Monocrom]

Even carrying 50% of these recommendations would require a pickup truck.

It might be more responsible to put a size and weight requirement here, with extra points for light and small.

I go for Dental Floss as a true multi purpose product, get waxed & you can suture, tie your shelter, sew your clothing, this stuff is tough, fishing line, repairs to a huge variety of items.

Obviously, multi-purpose items themselves are the best to include. Though if you break down each category that is truly necessary, the combined items of each category put together with other categories will fill up a large hiker's pack or something along the size of a large ALICE pack. Bigger and longer items are clearly BOV only. But a solid pack from many of the recommended items is do-able.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

The long list of potentially useful stuff in bug out, SHTF, car kits, and mor...

Last thing you want to do is weld a recently-punched gas tank. Enough fuel vapors to make a bad situation even worse. A plug likely won't work due to the tiny size of the hole.

JB Weld is a high strength epoxy.

http://www.jbweld.com

It not only lives up to the hype, it exceeds it. Should be a candidate for the "Stuff that just works" thread, if it's not there already.

 

[Poppy]

Anything rubber based is a bad idea for a fuel tank fix, the petroleum will degrade many modern rubbers pretty quickly. Regular JB Weld is okay as long as there is no residual gasoline around the repair area. AutoWeld Epoxy (by JB Weld) is a better option as it will stick to the tank even when gasoline is present (i.e. an active leak), and is ready in 5 minutes (full cure in 1 hour) instead of 4 - 6 hours (full cure in 15 - 24 hours), bonus... it's even cheaper than regular JB Weld.

Thanks for the tip! I never heard of AutoWeld, but it is nice to know that it exists.

 

[Poppy]

Last thing you want to do is weld a recently-punched gas tank. Enough fuel vapors to make a bad situation even worse. A plug likely won't work due to the tiny size of the hole.

A plug would work.
If man can make a hole, man can make the hole bigger if he needs to, to make the size plug he has, work.

But really, I am not going to carry a boiler plug in my go bag, or vehicle.