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Bug Out Vehicle Considerations

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First off – my plans involve bugging in – not bugging out. As with any plan – there should be back up scenario’s “just in case”.

I currently have a 2000 Chevy Blazer ZR2 4×4 2 door SUV. I like it a lot – and it does well off road. My thoughts on a bug out vehicle is several things need to be taken into consideration – and I am not sure if I should replace the Blazer:

• The vehicle should be able to hold all of my family
• The vehicle needs to be reliable enough to be depended upon to travel the distance which the fuel supply would allow and that I may need to go
• Must be fairly decent off road as obstacles may neeed to be traversed and normal roads may be undrivable
• Must be able to carry sufficient cargo
• The vehicle must be able to tow a trailer of some kind to expend cargo capacity

I am going to be in a position to possibly purchase another vehicle in the Fall of 2011. I really like the ZR2 but my main concern is reliability. It is currently 10 years old – and has a slow water leak (don’t know where the water is going). I have had to replace small vacuum hoses for the 4 wheel drive system a few times Other than that – it has not offered any problems that would interfere with it’s “bugging out” ability.

Some other specifics -

Range – 304 miles(full tank)
Trailer Hitch – Yes
Off Road – Yes, stock lift kit
Cargo Capacity – Minimal but capable of pulling trailer
Internal Capacity for Family Members – Minimal, but adaquate

I have a couple of options.

First, I could sell the Blazer and take that money, plus the additional amount planned to be spent on fixing it up – and step up to a better one. I figured I could sell my Blazer for approx $5500. Add to that another $3000 for planned repairs/modiciations. Now I would have around $8500 to purchase something. But what?

Second option is to sink approx $3000 into the Blazer – replacing hoses, checking compression to see if engine work is needed, replacing the battery for a high perfomance unit, replacing all hoses and belts, etc. Once complete – hopefully it would be a more reliable vehicle. By the way – the Blazer has approx 136,000 miles on it right now and I only put about 10,000 miles on it per year.

I havee a little over a year to think about it.

Anyone have any thoughts on what I should do?

Rourke

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