What did you do today for your bug out vehicle?

[tirls]

I always wanted a packraft, but they are so expensive. 

[eugenenine]

I can't seem to start a dedicated thread because every time I try the forum says its exceeded the length, even with a small picture.
This is their cheapest model and I caught an end of season sale so it was under $500
https://kokopelli.com/products/xpd-2024
only issue with being the lowest model its a little bigger and heavier when packed than others.

[majorhavoc]

I can't seem to start a dedicated thread because every time I try the forum says its exceeded the length, even with a small picture.
This is their cheapest model and I caught an end of season sale so it was under $500
https://kokopelli.com/products/xpd-2024
only issue with being the lowest model its a little bigger and heavier when packed than others.

This is a whole product category that I wasn't aware of.  I mean, I guess I vaguely knew that there must be some sort of higher-quality alternative to those vinyl inflatable boats I knew as a kid (scarcely more than pool toys). 

But the idea of a durable, ultra-compact means of water transport opens up a world of bugout possibilities.  Combining it with a bicycle for a truly go-anywhere, self propelled bugout capability is fascinating.  The ability to get yourself across a large water obstacle in an emergency situation when highways and bridges would be gridlocked by the fleeing masses could be a lifesaver depending on the geography and road infrastructure in your AO.

[eugenenine]

https://alpackaraft.com/collections/packrafts are really nice.
https://kokopelli.com/pages/bikepacking gives some info.
So I live in Ohio and my farm is in WV. For a bugout I'd have to cross the ohio river.
Its 250 miles. I've biked 50 miles before https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5601100638 but that was five years ago, I've improved my fitness a lot since. Mountain biking the 1.5mile green (beginner) trail would wear me out to where I had to stop half way around and then come home and lay on the floor an hour to rest. By the end of that summer I could do that 15m green trail twice. Then tried the six mile blue trail next to it and took two hours. Started alternating between the two the next summer and got the blue trail down to around an hour. Next summer tried the blue/black and took like 1.5 hours the first time around and by the end of summer could make it in 45 minutes. I'll do another 50+ mile trip again soon to see how much I've improved. Its a common thing in the biking world to ride a half century (50 miles) or a century (100 miles). So I'm pretty confident I can do it.
I either need to get a smaller compressing packraft like the Alpacka or improve my rack and tie down, its just a little wobbly.
I don't use Kokopelli's big backpack, rather just rolled the raft up around the paddles and wrapped it with my life preserver/fishing vest and made my own handelbar bag for the pump and small accessories. Then my regular camelbak I wear on me.

[NT2C]

Bought a new farm jack to replace the one a friend borrowed 6 years ago and moved to another state with.

[eugenenine]

See, thats why I don't have any friends

[Uomo Senza Nome]

I went to the ATV dealership and picked up an oil change kit and a gallon of antifreeze. The oil was last changed around 2021 and the antifreeze was completely empty. 

The machine was automatically shutting off due to no coolant as soon as it would get warm. I will try to get it sorted this week. When it snows around here most people switch to ATVs and other off road vehicles to get around because the county has no snow plows. 

In the past I would put snow cables on my FJ Cruiser but I sold it because I live alone and had six vehicles at the time, not including the ATV. Now I have four vehicles but don't want to drive my Nissan 4x4 around in the snow. 

[NT2C]

See, thats why I don't have any friends

I saw him while I was down in Texas this year.  Told him I wanted it back, and he said it's in his van parked in the driveway. Then I forgot to grab it when I left. 

[eugenenine]

The tonneau cover on my truck was getting so thin its leaking. I found I preferred having a cap anyway so I picked up an old used on this weekend. Its a little taller than cab height so it gives a little more headroom.
I need to sand off the flaking clear coat and paint it to match.

[NT2C]

Okay, a 60" farm jack is a little heavy and awkward.   

Edit: Ordered a mount for it that will attach it to my roof rack.

[wolf_from_wv]

I found my traction boards and put them in the back.

[NT2C]

Working on mounting the farm jack to my roof rack and protecting it from the elements.  Added a neoprene boot over the mechanicals that should help.  The mounts came with plain wingnuts to hold the jack on; I got some black chrome stainless stop nuts and washers to do away with the wingnuts.  I'll be drilling a hole in one of the mounts to put a padlock through.

I also bought this to lift the Jeep from a wheel if needed:



When I went to tighten the bolt in the strap though I had flashbacks to working on GM vehicles back in my shop in the 90s. The bolt is threaded 7/16-14 (confirmed with a thread gauge) and has a head that takes a 5/8" wrench.

The nut is also threaded 7/16-14, but takes an 18mm wrench.   

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Attempted to fix Momma Chimp's Explorer, but come to find out I had the wrong battery cable splice thing.

So back to O'Reilly's it goes and I guess the truck will sit in my driveway for a bit longer until I can get it fixed.

Probably will have to replace the entire battery cable set which'll run me about 60 bucks per cable.

[NT2C]

Bought a cheapish battery impact gun to take when I'm off-roading, to make flats easier to deal with.  I have a plug kit, spare replacement valves and stems, even a sidewall repair kit, this will just make things easier.

[MacWa77ace]

I took off a bunch of the PPF from Oreo. Did it over a couple of weekends. What a PITA.
Got the handle wells, door edges and trunk lip off.

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Still have to do the hood.


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Then immediately put some PF stickers back on for seasonal effect.

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[Uomo Senza Nome]

I took the Pan America in for service and software update. They changed the oil, brake line flush and new brake fluid and updated the software. 

When I returned home I installed this on the rear. 

https://www.vevor.com/top-boxes-tail-bags-c_13459/55l-motorcycle-top-case-universal-motorbike-tail-box-with-leather-lining-p_010361222541

I am not 100% pleased with the case. It appears sturdy but it is made from a plastic of some kind and I will just have to wait and see how it holds up. I should have gotten the 45 liter case instead, the 55 liter case is quite large. 

[MacWa77ace]

I am not 100% pleased with the case. It appears sturdy but it is made from a plastic of some kind and I will just have to wait and see how it holds up. I should have gotten the 45 liter case instead, the 55 liter case is quite large. 

is it plastic plastic or polymer like Apache/Pelican?

[NT2C]

Paid the kid (mid-20s young adult) next door $100 to install the subframe brackets and the rear diff shield.  Fortunately, I did too, because one of the OEM subframe stamped sheet steel brackets was bent and folded over on itself from a boulder I hit in Moab years ago.  Had no idea it compromised that bracket.

[NT2C]

Got the brackets mounted for my farm jack, and it doesn't fit.  The studs on the brackets are 1/4" off, and they don't line up with the holes in the jack. I think I can get them to line up if I loosen the mounts, but then another issue arises. The normal way of putting the jack on is with the "hook" up and the handle down.  If I do that, the handle covers my side lights and strobes.  I can maybe flip it, but I think then the hook is gonna hit the Jeep.  I'll have to see in a bit when my arms stop shaking from lifting that fucking 5' long cast-iron jack to head height and holding it there trying to get studs lined up.
 
 

[NT2C]

Sent off an email to the owner of the shop that makes the brackets, with pictures, asking for a price on some taller ones.









Just need the studs about 2" higher, maybe 2.5"