SHTF Vehicle: Toyota Tacoma

I Have for some time neglected the subject of a SHTF vehicle. I think as we all do our research, we will find, that Max Brooks is full of crap! The idea that vehicles will be useless for those of us who are prepared is ridiculous; most of the preppers/survivalists I have met don't tend to be 13 year old kids who cannot drive and lack the funds to common-sensically decide what works for their environment. Even at this date one could simply peruse the Zombie Squad forums (Link to thread I am talking about) and see examples of what would make reasonable bug out vehicles.  Although, I am a bit off subject now, whats important for any prepper to realize is that what matters is a reliable form of transportation from point A to point B.

In Many Environments a bicycle simply will not cut it. For Example the high desert of New Mexico, as it goes to stand my primary bugout point is 40mins by car.... 15 mins of that is through very rough terrain. In order to take the most direct bike route I would be riding through mostly suburban areas and I would be severely restricted on what I could take as to not stand out. This would not be a good strategy for me as I would make myself a very large target and It would be much easier to follow me.

Currently I see a 4x4 truck and/or a SUV as the most viable for a bugout. While Not optimal on fuel I have done my own testing with a Sedan on this same terrain and within a year of going out to this location at least 2 times a month for a year I totally wrecked the suspension and front axle of that vehicle. This test was done with a late 90's early 2000's vehicle that was in like new condition with 2xx,000 miles on it. The idea of this was mainly to see whether or not a car could survive that kind of tole in the event it was all you were able to get by with. Since then the entire suspension and axle have been replaced.

As I do more with my Tacoma I will post more and have updates. But the Taco was picked mainly for its use by special forces and 3rd world heartiness. The Idea is to soon have this Taco converted into something similar to what is pictured.

Heavily Modified Toyota Tacoma