My truck is a mess. I try to keep the front in “ok” but the space behind the driver’s seat is reserved for preparedness.
This is the “always” things:
- US Military Sleep System.
- US Military poncho liner.
- US Military entrenching shovel
- US MRE’s, not visible, in the door behind the lens
- Blowout First Aid Kit
- Boo-Book First Aid Kit (Red)
- Bottled water.
To this is added the travel bag, a 72-hour pack, when I leave my local AO. That includes my spare boonie hat, a watch cap, another IFAK/blowout+, MRE(1), water filter, 1L canteen, extra ammo, socks, underwear, shirt, US Military poncho, US Military Poncho Liner, misc other stuff.
Fire starting equipment is at every level and in every kit. 440 paracord is at every level, the only thing that changes is the amount. I actually made a belt from paracord. 150 ft of paracord around my waist and it looks like a regular belt.
There are pocket knives everywhere, Gerber multi-tools in most of the EDCs. A nice Cold Steel folding lock blade.
The briefcase is a bit more and besides carrying my laptop it carries a full EDC set. In that one, I have flavored tuna packets. They can be eaten as is or spread on crackers or bread if you have it.
I have Ka-Bar sporks in most gear. The number of times that has been helpful is surprising.
Regardless, start putting together some supplies “just in case”. There are $100s of dollars in my EDC kits, not counting the firearms. I certainly didn’t go out and buy it all at once. It just keeps growing as I find things that work for me/us.
Comments
7 responses to “A little prepared?”
Main issue I’d have with that is, the back seat belongs to the dog….
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On the other hand, he has a “hammock” that runs from the front to rear headrests and is flat on the rear seat. It’s mostly to protect him from being tossed into the footwell or into the front seat area in case of accident; but also does a great job of hiding anything in the rear seat foot well.
As I thought would be the case coming from you; thorough from top to bottom, nothing forgotten and left to chance.
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I also have another very large dog who owns the space immediately in back of the front seats. However the back section is the essentials area. I have three set-ups consisting of seven packs each, all from Eberlestock.com. One for elementary to intermediate training sessions either at the range or the customer’s home, another one for advanced and tactical training for range or home situations, and one for personal survival-civil unrest if it occurs.
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For each of the three tasks sets there are seven packs, each one consists of two Eberlestock Hercules and two Atlas duffel packs, one UpRanger, one BigTrick, and a SkyCrane. They all fit perfectly in the rear of the vehicle. Each pack system is full of everything required for the mission they are designed for. But the survival civil unrest system also has a roof cargo container packed with everything for a fully functioning survival campsite for four men.
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The two systems for work are always ready to go, however the survival system requires about three hours to transfer from organized storage to the mobile system. It has everything and enough for four men to live thirty days in crisis. Some of the finishing touches of this system ideas I stole from Mike Glover’s bug out system from FieldCraft Survival.
Tip from an Alaskan Bush pilot I worked with a few years ago. If it is not firmly attached to you, it is not survival gear. It is luggage.
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Reasoning, if you crash your plane into a lake/river/ocean, (or if it is on fire) you do not have time to reach behind the seat and grab gear. If you are not carrying enough to get out and assess the situation, all your gear is meaningless.
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Now, you are talking a pickup, not a bush plane, and the odds of your vehicle immediately sinking to the bottom of a mountain lake are minimal, but the point remains. Be prepped enough to provide time to assess the situation, and collect gear.
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What do you carry on your person? It may be the only thing you have between you and the environment.
Truer words were never spoken CBMTTek. That’s why I implement the SkyCrane pack system to address exactly the truth you posted. Everything which is absolutely essential is in it and more than one of the most important items. Such as water management and purification and heat management, to just name two. If a person can carry 120 lbs. this pack will deliver, I used to be able to carry 100 lbs. for five hours but not anymore. I prefer 70 lbs. for that duration.
Standard carry: Fire starter, lighter, ferro rod, multi-tool, Swiss army knife, spare Swiss army knife, pocket knife, 440 paracord, prescription meds, firearm, extra mags, blowout kit, cash, cards, waterproof coat in the summer, proper protection in the winter…
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I once had a girlfriend do a mental exercise with me, “Bush plane goes down in a lake, you have only what’s on your person, what do you do?” Every time I pulled something out of my pocket in the mental exercise, she challenged me. I pulled that item out of my actual pocket to show her.
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Today, I know that I would not have survived, but I would make a strong go of it. If you haven’t, go watch Alone on the History Channel.
That is very impressive. I wish I was close to that prepared every day.
I will be the first to admit it, I am not very good at practicing what I preach. If I were challenged to pull XYZ item out, I would likely not have it on me. But, I am getting better.
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Luckily, I am rarely in a situation where my “off body” gear is likely to be inaccessible. If my car is on fire, I will most likely be somewhere near civilization and can improvise using other sources. But… I need to improve.
Not bad all I see missing is the emergency TP and wet wipes. Those little tuna packets are very nutrient dense, dont weight a lot, and you can absolutely cram them in to any nook and cranny without bulking out your pack.
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The rise of urban yuppie campers has been a huge blessing in the ability to wear and carry practical gear and clothing without standing out. When the receptionists is wearing merrells and carrying a backpack with laser cut molle panels and wouldn’t dream of touching let alone carrying a weapon nothing I do would stand out.