Page 197 – RECOIL OFFGRID

DIY Bicycle Generator from Junkyard Parts

Posted on May 7, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Have you used an exercise bike, elliptical, or rowing machine recently? If so, you've probably noticed the machine's electronics turn on only after you start moving. That's because the exercise machine is converting your physical movements into electricity, and using this electricity to power the various screens and readouts on the device.

An exercise bike uses a dynamo to turn pedaling into electric current.

A modern exercise bike uses a dynamo to turn pedaling into electric current.

Now, as a survivalist, you may wonder if this electricity can be re-purposed to charge batteries or power your electronics off the grid. The answer is yes—and it's surprisingly simple and inexpensive to do so with an exercise bike. It can even be accomplished using parts from a junkyard or yard sale, plus a few items from an auto parts store.

It may not look pretty, but it'll help you stay physically fit and keep the lights on at night.

Here's a basic rundown of the items you'll need for a DIY bicycle generator:

Bicycle in decent working condition
Bicycle stand (or some wood, nuts, bolts, and screws to make one)
DC motor, such as one from an old treadmill or electric scooter
Chain, belt, or other method of coupling the bike's pedal drive to the motor
Car battery charger, connected to the motor to regulate its charging current
Car battery, connected to the battery charger
Optional: AC inverter to connect electronics to your car battery
Optional: Zener diodes to prevent reverse current flow or accidentally overloading the battery charger

That may sound complicated, but it's really not so bad. Here's a video from The DIY World that shows how it works:

Here's an alternate step-by-step guide from Instructables on how to build a bicycle generator.

There's one caveat to all this, and that's the fact that this setup isn't very efficient. In other words, you're not going to be producing an immense amount of electricity. Depending on your motor and how fast you're pedaling, it may take up to 40 minutes to fully charge a smartphone, or up to 9 hours to recharge a car battery. If you're able to pedal faster and output more amps of electrical current, these times can decrease.

Regardless, building a DIY bicycle generator helps you stay in shape (something that's essential to survival) and also generates some useful electricity to recharge your electronics off the grid. That's what we call killing two birds with one stone.

Animated Tornado Probability Map

Posted on May 5, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

Tornadoes pose a major threat throughout much of the continental U.S., especially in the region known as Tornado Alley. Most of us are aware that these midwest states—specifically Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota—are at a higher risk for this destructive weather phenomenon.

Tornado Alley is the meeting point of several major weather regions, causing increased storm activity.

However, the time of year also plays a major role in determining the frequency and severity of tornadoes. Studying both the peak geographic regions and the peak times of year can help us understand the risks of tornadoes, but combining these two data sets paints a much more cohesive picture.

A still image from the tornado map animation. See the link below for the animated version.

One Reddit user combined daily tornado risk data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center into an extremely informative 365-day animation. Whether you live in the epicenter of Tornado Alley, or you think you may travel there in the future, this animation provides useful info for preparation and survival.

Click here to view the animated tornado probability map.

Can a Bug-Out Canoe Be a Viable Transportation Alternative?

Posted on May 3, 2016 at 12:00 pm.

Written by Offgrid Staff

In This Article

Weighing Your Options
Gear 101
Bugging Out
Basecamp Basics
Conclusion
Top 5 Tips to Keep the Hair Side Up
Stay Dry
Tricked Out
More From Issue 11

New York City is home to approximately 8.5-million people. On any given day, the city has only a three-day food supply if the bridges and tunnels are cut off and resupply trucks are not able to get in. As history has shown, when crisis hits a city, people flee. For the surrounding suburbs, the strain on resources will prove unsustainable. Fortunately, urban crises have a finite life span and people will eventually return — but what can be done until then?

One option is to shelter in place and prepare for looting and civil unrest. Another option is leave the danger zone and return after things quiet down. Luckily for New Yorkers, just north of the Big Apple is the Adirondack State Park. It's home to 6-million-square acres of rugged land, some of which is so remote that access is limited to those with watercraft and the skills to navigate its winding channels.

Here's where the bug-out canoe comes into play. This scenario is not exclusive to the City that Never Sleeps. Metropolitans were established around major waterways, which can provide egress when streets and overland routes become chokepoints. From Puget Sound in Washington to the Okefenokee Swamp in Florida, there is a canoe bug-out location found in every state. If a bug-out is necessary, the panicked and unprepared will flood the roadways, turning freeways into parking lots. Preppers without off-road rigs might hit the backcountry on foot, but a more effective means of escaping with a larger load is by water.

Weighing Your Options

“But aren't canoes too heavy and bulky for a SHTF scenario?” we hear you asking. Traditionally done with standard dual-capacity canoes, the carries and portages are often dreaded for good reason — hauling both a go-bag and a canoe can make overland travel painful and exhaustive. However, standard materials like canvas, leather, wool, and wood can be substituted with carbon fiber, Kevlar, sil-nylon, and Primaloft Insulation. And featherweight solo canoes — like the ones from Hornbeck Boats out of Olmsteadville, New York — allow you to cover a lot of ground, and water, with less effort.

Modern canoes are lightweight, making them practical for recreation and bugging out.

There's a stereotype that people who paddle ultralight canoes are granola types who drive Subarus and eat vegan diets. But even the toughest, most-seasoned outdoor adventurer can appreciate how light this type of craft feels after a long carry. In fact, the British Special Air Service (SAS) have used small paddle-powered boats for warfare, and the portability and mobility of these solo canoes afford the user a level of stealth not found in other craft. The open design is an advantage over closed-cockpit boats providing easy entrance and exit in a hurry.

With a well-thought-out route, any prepper can tap into existing supply stores, cache critical equipment, and spend an indefinite amount of time afield.

Gear 101

Before setting off though, there are some basic items no boater should be without. In addition to the gear carried in the daypack to address camp needs, this supplemental gear weight can quickly add up. However, if one is willing to make a significant investment in a featherweight canoe, spending slightly more on a quality paddle, life jacket, and dry bags shouldn't faze him too much.

Paddle: This style of canoe is best maneuvered with a double paddle (kayak paddle). At roughly $400, the Werner Paddles Kalliste is a top-of-the-line touring paddle. But, there is a distinct difference between using any heavy economy paddle compared to this ergonomic, all-day, double-bladed stick. For really tight channels, a single-bladed canoe paddle like the Werner Carbon Bandit will make propulsion easier than a double-blade that could snag on low-hanging branches.

Life Vest: The ultralight boater should seek out a quality personal flotation device (PFD). The common type II — nicknamed “Mae West” for the busty actress of the 1930s — can work as a floatation device, but it is generally blaze orange, making visual camouflage difficult. Plus, there are better options for form and function. The type II isn't the best design for range of motion, and many modern life jackets, like those from Astral, are designed with canoers and kayakers in mind. Many are equipped with knife tabs and gear pockets for essential safety gear.

Water Bag: The canoe tripper should have a good supply of quality dry stuff sacks like those from Outdoor Research, as well as a water-resistant personal-security kit (filled with items for signaling, fire starting, etc.) within arm's reach. The UST Micro Survival Kit is a good way to start as it comes with an Aloksak waterproof bag, and the whole kit can fit in a PFD pocket.

Old-School GPS: Last but not least, a topographical map should be carried in a Ziploc bag. This map should be treated with Thompson's WaterSeal to provide an extra level of water resistance.

Bugging Out

When it's go time, the outdoorsman should move quickly but deliberately to load his canoe atop his vehicle. The basic bug-out gear can be tucked inside the canoe in storage to prevent disorganization and unnecessary searching when time is critical. Should roadways be clogged and the designated put-in location be within reasonable and safe walking distance, it's not infeasible to park a vehicle and hoof it with an ultralight canoe over the shoulder.

Do Your Research: Waiting until after aliens have invaded is not a good time to figure out where to hit the water. Examine your escape route by physically scouting it out. In general, boat ramp signs found from state to state will give you an idea as to where there's a high amount of motorized boat traffic. These areas should be avoided. The ultralight boater can instead use any hiking trail that leads to water as his boat launch.

A good guide to canoeing in a given area will provide the macro details, while friendly discussions with locals encountered in country stores will fill in the minor details not found in print or online.

Entering the Water: Once at a convenient boat launch in a state or national park, the outdoorsman might have to sign in before traveling through the backcountry. Plenty of people “forget” to do this and don't disclose their destination, the number in the float party, or their length of stay. The waterways will take the paddler through different areas of varied occupancy and traffic.

Canoe Camping: Some campsites are fed not only by the water, but also by roads that allow RVs and trailered campers. Other campsites are primitive with no running water, electricity, or facilities — these are generally marked with a yellow placard on a tree facing out from the water.

The resources in the campsites will vary depending on the amount of use it sees. Campsites nearest canoe trail junctions and not far from civilization will be picked over, but as the sites extend deeper into the wilderness, more branches within arm's reach reappear, and signs of use are few and far between.

Clearing a Path: Speaking of branches and wood, to reduce your signature and presence in the park, a sturdy bow saw works more efficiently at creating less waste than a chopping tool like an axe or machete. If weight is a major concern, the saw blade can be carried on its own and a buck saw frame can be built off the land. If canoe camping is done in the late fall or early spring, a medium-sized axe will benefit the boater, providing the means to access the dry wood inside seemingly waterlogged firewood.

A reliable bow saw can help clear branches and gather firewood.

Basecamp Basics

In camp, a handful of dedicated kit items will make the extended stay more pleasant.

Shelter: A large area tarp, muted in color such as brown or gray that can blend into the foliage and rocks, makes shelter and living space an easy setup.

H20 Ways: A water-bottle purifier allows the boater to dip and drink on the go. In cooler weather, boiling in a wide-bottomed pot is the preferred means of water purification as ceramic-filter elements can freeze, causing micro cracks that render the filter useless.

Gone Fishing: A takedown ultralight spinning rod with a small tackle box packed with flies, jigs, spoons, and spinners will put fresh panfish (bream, rock bass, perch, etc.) on the dinner plate nightly. [Editor's note: See “Teach a Man to Fish…” in our Summer 2014 issue and “Improvised Angling” in Issue 9 of OG for more ideas on how to catch dinner.]

Consider packing lightweight fishing gear with your bug-out canoe. You'll thank us later when things get...

Spice It Up: Though not a life-saving tool, a recommended item is a spice kit to fight off food boredom. While the Adirondack Park, for example, is filled with wild edibles that can supplement the fish and fur food taken from the woods, a spice kit containing salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, honey, olive oil, and hot sauce (Sriracha all the way!) will take the bland out of your limited menu options.

Supply Runs: Since the canoes used for this ultralight bug-out are minimalist in size and carrying capacity, it will be necessary to resupply at some point. Look for roadside stores containing the basics for camp-like coffee, propane, insect repellent, canned goods, and camp provisions. Canoers generally stash their boats, securing them to docks with painter cords or pulling them on shore and out of sight.

Pre-Staged Cache: In an emergency, many of these stores will likely be emptied before you reach them. In the off season, these stores might not be open at all. However, if your bug-out plan is to canoe to a remote park, you should create and hide a sealed 5-gallon bucket cache of supplies well in advance. For example, flour, baking powder, and salt are all that are necessary to make backwoods bannock. These supplies and others deemed essential to long-term survival can be sealed, stored, and accessed when other gear known to the public has been depleted.

Conclusion

When crisis strikes and refugees are crowding the streets, the savvy ultralight paddler can escape quietly into the wilderness. The ultralight canoe provides sufficient storage for a bug-out kit and room for other gear acquired along the way. With steady paddling strokes, the ultralight canoe has almost no presence in the water with the exception of a few drips of water coming off the paddle on the recovery of each stroke.

As the city falls into chaos, the overwater route out of the city may be the best option to safety. With the right preparation, equipment, and mindset, the ultralight canoe could be the best bet to take you off the grid.

Top 5 Tips to Keep the Hair Side Up

1. Understand Primary/Secondary Stability
Boats have primary and secondary stability. Primary stability refers to the initial tendency of the boat to tip over when the boat is positioned upright in the water. Secondary stability is when a boat is riding on its side slightly and the tendency of it to continue over to capsizing or return upright. Many boats have “tippy” primary stability, but come into their own once they are on edge. This gives them a more responsive feel and improved handling.

2. Turn into Wakes/Waves
When paddling a small solo canoe, every ripple in the water is felt. While the solo canoe is extremely fast through the water, it can be compromised by big water. Whenever possible, the paddler should turn the boat perpendicular into the wake or waves encountered. The boat has a longer surface to address the wave/wake lengthwise than it does widthwise.

3. Trim and Balance Properly
Solo canoes range in size from 9 feet on up. Depending on the design, the paddler will sit somewhere in relation to the centerline of the boat. The further back from the center, the more the paddler will need to offset the balance in the water with extra weight up front toward the bow. This practice is called “trimming.” With proper trim and balancing the weight evenly between port and starboard, the boat will perform better in the water.

4. Avoid Overloading and Swamping
A properly loaded canoe should have no less than 3 inches of freeboard (the amount of space seen on the side of the canoe between the gunwales and waterline) visible. The more weight carried, the less performance a paddler can expect. Too much weight and the boat may swamp if overcome with a large wave or an accidental lean to one side.

5. Move Deliberately
Erratic movements and jerky-style paddling are leading causes of capsizing. Reaching over the side of a canoe, moving the center of balance too far to one side, will cause a boat to flip. Rushing paddling strokes and sweeps also leads to body movement inside the boat and creating instability. Moving deliberately, understanding the slower pace of a canoe, and staying calm will keep a canoe upright.

Stay Dry

A personal dry bag containing emergency essentials should always be carried close to hand while in a canoe or kayak. This bag may or may not be tethered to the paddler's personal floatation device and should be compact and light enough not to affect the buoyancy of the life jacket or range of motion while paddling. The Outdoor Research 5L Lightweight Dry sack is an ideal size and has sufficient water resistance for this application. The contents of the kit should be determined by purpose and reality.

Capsizing is a real threat to the open boater. Inside the personal dry bag, the paddler should carry an immersion kit. This kit should include various fire-starters that are easy to use with cold hands, as well as a flame source such as tinder or a candle. The open flame paired with a reflective blanket to trap heat will help mitigate the effects of hypothermia. These items should have priority placement at the top of the dry bag for immediate access.

A quality water-resistant white-light emitting flashlight should be carried. At night, this will prove useful for obvious navigation, but also to alert larger boats, should they be encountered, of your presence. Signaling devices such as a floating mirror and whistle should accompany this light for daytime use.

Miscellaneous items including a small roll or card of duct tape, spare cordage, high-calorie energy bars, and minor first-aid items should take up some of the extra space in this bag. The rest of the space should contain a spare key for your vehicle, your identification, wallet, and everyday-carry items.

Tricked Out

The author's bug-out canoe of choice is the New Tricks from Hornbeck Boats — a family owned company that's been building boats in Olmstedville, New York, for more than 40 years.

Make & Model: Hornbeck Boats, New Tricks
Weight: 15 pounds
Length: 12 feet
Beam: 24.5 inches
Profile: Mid
Materials: Carbon/Kevlar construction with rot-resistant Pennsylvania cherry wood trim
Features: Polyethylene foam seat, custom-installed adjustable aluminum foot braces
MSRP: $1,695
URL: www.hornbeckboats.com

More From Issue 11

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Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 12

Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original print version for the web.

7 Keys to Survivor Mindset

Posted on May 2, 2016 at 12:00 pm.

Written by Offgrid Staff

In This Article

Key 1 Learn From History
Key 2 Physical Conditioning
Key 3 Think Survival
Key 4 Eliminate Two Emotional Traps
Key 5 The Power of Focused Anger
Key 6 Maintain Hope
Key 7 Training
The Common Thread
Reading Material
About the Author

Eddie Rickenbacker is most noted for his exploits as a World War I pilot, achieving the title of Ace of Aces with 26 confirmed kills. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, seven Distinguished Service Crosses, and the World War I Victory Medal, among many other accolades. A true American badass if ever there was one.

Although most military history buffs may be aware of his record in the First World War, Rickenbacker actually escaped an early demise numerous times as a precocious kid, race car driver, and airline owner. One of Rickenbacker's most famous near-death experiences happened after he returned to civilian life. In October 1942, then head of Eastern Air Lines, but still a celebrity of sorts, he was asked to participate in a tour of bases in the South Pacific. He and seven U.S. Army airmen were provided an older B-17 as transportation, but when the bomber flew off course and their fuel ran out, they were forced to ditch in the central Pacific Ocean. They were hundreds of miles off course, dangerously close to Japanese-held islands, and drifted in life rafts while sharks circled for weeks.

Rickenbacker naturally assumed a leadership role. He captured a seagull that had landed on his head, helped divvy it up as food, and used parts of the bird as fishing bait. When the men would lose hope, Rickenbacker encouraged and pushed the men to get mad. After 24 days adrift, they were spotted by a U.S. Navy patrol aircraft and rescued.

An analysis of this particular Rickenbacker event shows that, at various times during his long-term survival situation, he utilized all of what I consider to be the “Seven Keys to Survivor Mentality” at least once and a few every day. He probably never consciously thought, Now is the perfect time to use Key Four. His survivor mindset was so fine-tuned that conscious intent was not needed. But how about for the rest of us? Follow along as I explain the seven concepts, how they've been used historically, and how you can start developing them in your everyday life.

Key 1 Learn From History

An important method to building your own survivor mentality is researching historical examples of iron-willed...

While all seven keys are important, possibly the most important resource can be found in the historical accounts of those who have survived harrowing ordeals. Let this article be the trigger for an exploration into the history of the trials and tribulations of people who overcame incomprehensible odds and persevered.

By using Internet search engines (or better yet, that old-school archive called a public library), you have the greatest window to view the history of men and women whose stories are truly inspirational. You will begin the process of imprinting and awakening your survivor mindset by consuming nonfiction books and documentaries of adventurers, military heroes, and ordinary people who have reached deep into their inner core to find their survival instinct.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. ” — George Santayana

Key 2 Physical Conditioning

While one's mental state is often the deciding factor in whether one survives a life-threatening situation, there's no denying that one's physical state is a huge part of the survival equation. If you're fit and capable of overcoming external obstacles, there's a good chance your mind will push to overcome internal obstacles, too. After all, when all is lost, the only tools you'll have left are the ones you were born with.

One extraordinary example of this occurred in March 1943. A team of four expatriate Norwegian commandos, including Jan Baalsrud, sailed from England to organize and supply the Norwegian resistance. Betrayed shortly after landing, the team was ambushed by the Nazis, leaving Baalsrud as the lone survivor. He was poorly clothed, one foot was entirely bare, part of his big toe was shot off, and he was relentlessly pursued by the Nazis. He survived an avalanche, suffered from frostbite and snow blindness, but made his way over the Norwegian mountains and tundra to a small Arctic village. He had three great assets: his determination to return home, years of physical conditioning, and his training as a commando.

Here's a more modern example: As a security contractor, Robert Zugg is stationed in one of the world's most dangerous places: Afghanistan. He always makes physical conditioning a priority when he's not working for the U.S. government in the area around Kabul. With suicide bombings, anti-American sentiment, attacks by all sorts of warring factions, brutal winters and scorching summers, and just the general hazards of living in that region, Zugg learned from his combat experience as a decorated U.S. Marine that preserving in the face of adversity is a lot easier if you can walk up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing.

Robert Zugg takes a break from trail-running in Afghanistan, where he needs to stay fit to maintain not just a strong...

Fitness competency is the physical engine that helps survivor mentality become a reality. If you're lost in the woods, facing a trio of street thugs, or swimming through a flooded street, it's a little too late to begin an exercise program.

Key 3 Think Survival

There's a saying in gymnastics that the body follows the head. In the psychology of self-preservation, if you say something repeatedly, the brain will do everything in its power to make the repeated mantra occur. Therefore, repeating the phrase, “I am a survivor,” is one of the most effective techniques for success.

If, in the final mile of a marathon (26.2 miles), a runner repeatedly thinks, I'm too tired. I'll never make the finish line, his brain interprets this statement as a command and begins the process of slowing the biochemical reserves needed to provide energy for the final 1,760 yards. This is an example of negative-outcome thinking. Repeat something often enough and the brain will make it reality. There's a reason why having a positive mental attitude is preached ad nauseam in every survival book, scout manual, survival video, and military SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) class.

Aside from thinking positively, another fuel that propels survivor mindset is motivation. What would motivate you to stay alive in a life-and-death situation? For Steve Callahan, it was family.

On the night of January 29, 1982, the sailor and naval architect headed from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean alone in a small boat. On February 5, his craft sank in a storm, leaving Callahan adrift in the Atlantic in a 5 and 1/2-foot inflatable rubber raft with only 3 pounds of food, a few pieces of gear, and 8 pints of water. Callahan drifted for 76 days on the ocean before he reached the Bahamas. Throughout his ordeal, he never gave up thinking about the people who needed him.

What motivates a person to stay alive when everything has gone wrong? Many survival stories speak of the survivors' faith, which provides them with hope. Other survivors have told of their intense desires to get back to family, friends, and loved ones. The motivators for each individual will be different. So, if you were in Callahan's wet boots, what would motivate you to live on?

Key 4 Eliminate Two Emotional Traps

It's important to think positively and have a mantra to rely on. But those two strategies might be difficult if you don't first eliminate two common emotional traps:

Freezing up or having feelings of “Why me?” after a traumatic incident can weaken your survivor mentality.

1. Mental Paralysis: Here's a really simple formula to explain why this emotional trap needs to be eliminated:

Anxiety > Panic > Mental Paralysis > Failure to Survive

The essence of anxiety is inaction, and when the anxiety levels increase to panic, several consequences occur:

Mistrust of others
Impaired decision-making
Inability to follow directions
Inability to visualize a successful outcome
Inability to act as a team member
Self-pity and self-sabotage

How do you reduce anxiety and stay calm? Especially in a dire circumstance? The answer to that could be enough to fill a whole other article. [Editor's note: See the “Evolution of Mindset” feature in Issue 15 of our sister publication RECOIL.] But without professional consultation, one of the best resources would be reputable websites on the Internet and, in particular, videos. A quick Google search for videos to reduce anxiety produced 2,180,000 hits in less than a minute.

Learning to control anxiety and panic reactions is a skill that can and should be used in everyday life — but, again, finding yourself in a life-threatening situation is not the time to begin practicing those skills.

2. Victim Mentality: A victim mentality might be one of the initial reactions to traumatic situations that involve prolonged periods of survival. Unfortunately, if left untreated, this will infect motivation, perseverance, and hope. It could manifest itself through dysfunctional thoughts and verbalizations. Victim mentality could show up as a verbal criticism of others, unwillingness to take responsibility for one's own actions, and a belief that survival is for other people.

Key 5 The Power of Focused Anger

“Anger is bad.” “Anger is a wasted emotion.” “Anger is trouble.” “Anger is not a solution.” The use of anger has had a negative reputation ever since Sigmund Freud tiptoed through the unconscious mind. Sure, anger can be a wasted emotion, and uncontrolled anger can lead to dire consequences — but under certain circumstances, anger can be one of the key ingredients to survivor mindset.

Controlled anger activates the basic survival instinct that can alert the body's physiology to be prepared for a challenge and force the brain to focus on a solution that leads to survival. The aforementioned story of former fighter ace Rickenbacker is another example of well-focused anger boosting chances for survival.

Key 6 Maintain Hope

Jon Krakauer's bestseller, Into Thin Air, detailed the events of the ill-fated expedition that left eight people dead and marked one of the deadliest climbing seasons in the history of Mount Everest. The most amazing part of the narrative focused on Beck Weathers, who was twice abandoned and presumed to be dead. Unbelievably, Weathers spent 18 hours in subzero temperatures in Everest's death zone before regaining his senses and staggering into camp. He was suffering from severe frostbite, corneal lacerations, and hypothermia — and his face was so badly frostbitten that it scarcely seemed human.

“Never, never — in nothing great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” — Winston Churchill

Over the next year, Weathers underwent 10 surgeries and his entire right hand and most of his left hand were amputated. He said that he survived his Everest ordeal through constant self-talk, telling himself not to give in to the cold.

Never giving up is essential to a successful survivor mentality. This doesn't mean being foolhardy or taking foolhardy risks.

Key 7 Training

Keys 1 through 6 are really precursors to the final key: training. The seventh concept serves as the transition to utilize and refine the survivor mindset under controlled experiences. Make it your goal, and that of your loved ones, to attend at least one seminar and one experiential training course each year. The survival skills and techniques taught in these courses will increase your self-confidence and reinforce a survivor mentality.

Take training classes to learn skills, build self-confidence, and reinforce a survivor mentality.

Remember, there's a gigantic difference between thinking and experiencing. As an example, your chances of starting a fire without matches or a lighter are greatly improved if you've already practiced it until it became a skill. Having the fire-starting skillset not only allows you to keep warm and to cook food, but more importantly it also gives a jolt of self-confidence to the survivor mentality.

The Common Thread

Every member of our species survives the trauma of childbirth with an innate capacity of developing a survivor mindset. As we grow, mature, and choose our unique paths through life's mazes, this begins to weaken through disuse and verbal self-talk — but it never totally disappears. Some behavioral geneticists proselytize that we trained ourselves to become a society of people who give up at the first indication of failure or danger, immediately waiting to be rescued. The Seven Keys of a Survivor Mentality is a method for reestablishing the skillsets that helped us to take our first deep breath and test out our lungs.

The takeaway for the naysayers is that every human being starts life with the survival imperative. It's always present, but not always functioning. Each individual must make the conscious choice to flip the internal switch and turn on the self-preservation mode.

The bottom line is that survivor mentality has the potential to positively affect one's lifestyle. Although most people don't experience life-or-death situations on a regular basis like a first-responder, military personnel, or outdoor adventurer might, the use and practice of the seven survivor mentality keys may be the difference between a life well-lived or one of mediocrity.

Reading Material

Here's a partial list of books that influenced the development of Dr. Neal Olshan's “Seven Keys to Survivor Mentality.”

Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea
by Steven Callahan
Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors
by Piers Paul Read
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
by Alfred Lansing
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
by Jon Krakauer
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10
by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson
Man's Search for Meaningby Viktor E. Frankl
Papillon
by Henri Charriere
The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
by Laura Hillenbrand

About the Author

Dr. Neal H. Olshan is a consulting psychologist, pilot, writer, and fine art photographer, as well as the chief combat psychologist for LMS Defense. He's the developer of the Evolution of Mindset Training Program. Olshan is the author of six non-fiction books and wrote the novel The Panama Escape with his wife, Mary. He can be reached at mindsetdoc@gmail.com.
http://www.drolshan.com

Hershey Launches New Dried Meat Bar Line

Posted on May 2, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

When you hear the name Hershey, what comes to mind? If you think like most Americans, it's most likely a creamy milk chocolate bar in a dark brown wrapper. This confection has been a staple in the candy industry since its invention in 1900. In fact, it was so successful, the company's hometown of Derry Church, Pennsylvania even changed its name to Hershey, Pennsylvania.

A Hershey's cocoa ad from 1918. Source: Wikipedia

However, the times they are a-changin'. While many people still enjoy the original Hershey bar, many others are looking for products with less sugar and more nutrients. So, the Hershey Company took a bold step and purchased Krave Jerky in 2015 for close to $300 million. Now, Hershey has announced that they're going to use these dried meats in the form of Hershey Krave protein bars.

Krave Jerky offers many unconventional flavors, such as Basil Citrus and Black Cherry Barbecue.

According to the Wall Street Journal, this new dried meat bar line will incorporate dried fruits such as mangos and cranberries, as well as healthy grains such as quinoa. The company has gone to great lengths to achieve the right balance of protein content, sweetness and moisture, and to avoid the potentially unappealing image of a dried meat bar.

“We aren’t going out there saying it is a meat bar. We’re saying it is a Krave bar,” Rusti Porter, vice president of marketing for Hershey’s Krave said. “It’s not just beef jerky in a bar in your mouth.”

The original Hershey Bar is a far cry from the new meat-based Krave bars.

Hershey is also developing a protein-oriented brand known as SoFit. This new brand will offer protein smoothies in squeezable pouches and other healthy snacks. Details on SoFit and Hershey Krave bars remain scarce, but from a survivalist's standpoint, it's interesting to see major companies branching out into healthy and nutrient-dense products.

We've enjoyed testing survival meat products in the past, and we'd say a dried meat and fruit-based protein bar could make an excellent addition to a bug-out bag or day pack. So, we'll keep an eye out for these Hershey Krave bars hitting shelves in August.

Nuclear Knowledge: The Zero Launch Code

Posted on May 1, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

JFK's National Security Memorandum
The Whistleblower
The Catch: Additional Security Measures

In today's high-tech world, passwords can be a troublesome nuisance. In order to keep all your sensitive information secure, you'll need to come up with strong passwords for all your online accounts. These passwords often involve long strings of capital letters, numbers, and even punctuation that can be hard to remember (and tricky to enter correctly on the first try). However, there's a good reason for this — highly complex passwords are hard to crack, and nearly impossible to simply guess.

Most of us have also heard of people who circumvent this frustrating process by entering something like “password” or “1234” as their password. We also know this is a very bad idea, because these are some of the first things criminals will guess if they try to access your accounts. It's akin to leaving the key to your front door under the welcome mat, in the hope that nobody will look for it there.

Now, imagine if you were in charge of setting 8-digit password codes for launching nuclear missiles — what would you set them to? Well, if you were the United States Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Cold War, you'd set them to 00000000. Unbelievably, for nearly 20 years, the PAL launch code for every nuclear missile silo in the U.S. was set to 8 zeros.

JFK's National Security Memorandum

The story of this “zero code” begins back in June 1962, when President John F. Kennedy signed a document known as the National Security Action Memorandum 160. This directive was prompted by concerns over the security of U.S. nuclear missiles, specifically the concern that missiles would be captured and launched by enemy forces, or that they would be launched by rogue American military officers.

The National Security Action Memorandum 160, signed by JFK in 1962. Source: JFK Library / Wikipedia

Before the implementation of this security memorandum, missiles were secured only by physical locks, leading to concern that ICBMs could be launched by high-ranking officers without outside consent. U.S. Air Force General Horace Wade wrote the following about a fellow Strategic Air Command officer, the appropriately-named General Thomas Power:

“I used to worry about General Power. I used to worry that General Power was not stable. I used to worry about the fact that he had control over so many weapons and weapon systems and could, under certain conditions, launch the force. Back in the days before we had real positive control [i.e., PAL locks], SAC had the power to do a lot of things, and it was in his hands, and he knew it.”

The PAL system was developed at the Sandia National Laboratories, now owned by Lockheed Martin.

The PAL system was developed in secret at the Sandia National Laboratories, now owned by Lockheed Martin. Source:...

In order to alleviate these concerns, the National Security Memorandum 160 mandated that the old physical locks be replaced by new electromechanical locks called Permissive Action Links (PALs). The PAL locks were extremely complex devices that were virtually impossible to crack or hotwire. One weapons designer stated that bypassing one of these PAL locks would be “about as complex as performing a tonsillectomy while entering the patient from the wrong end.”

A PAL launch control module. This is a later model from the 1990s, updated with a laptop computer.

When it was time to implement the PAL locks in nuclear missile silos throughout the U.S., Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara personally supervised the process. However, much of the Strategic Air Command leadership at the time resented and opposed this process. They felt adding more complex locks would slow our reaction time to an attack, and prevent launching missiles quickly in a real emergency.

As a result, shortly after McNamara and his staff left the facilities, the Strategic Air Command reset all PAL codes to 00000000. This was done because SAC leadership felt that it would ensure that the nuclear missiles would be ready to use at a moment's notice, regardless of whether the President was available to authorize a launch. In their mind, this instant readiness took precedence over any potential safety concerns.

The Whistleblower

Bruce G. Blair was a launch officer at an underground silo in Montana during this time, and now serves as a nuclear security expert and research scholar at Princeton University. Blair exposed the massive security flaw to the public in an article published in 2004. He wrote, “The codes were the only real mechanical or technical impediment to the crews launching missiles, and they were all set to zero. The safeguard was non-functional.”

On top of this, the new “secret” code was written down on a checklist and handed out to airmen at each facility. Blair wrote, “Our launch checklist in fact instructed us, the firing crew, to double-check the locking panel in our underground launch bunker to ensure that no digits other than zero had been inadvertently dialed into the panel.”

Blair also personally revealed the facts about the all-zero PAL launch code to former Secretary McNamara. Mr. Blair stated that McNamara's response was one of shock and outrage, as he asked “Who the hell authorized that?”

A B-61 nuclear bomb, with its PAL module seen in a metal case on the right.

A disassembled B-61 nuclear bomb, with its PAL module seen in a metal case on the right. Source: U.S. DoD / Wikipedia

Recently, Air Force representatives have disputed Blair's claims, stating that the PAL codes were never actually 00000000. Although there is no undeniable public proof of the zero code at this point in time, testimony from other nuclear security experts supports Blair's statements: “Bruce is correct about the major historical narrative at stake – the United States Air Force, particularly Strategic Air Command, generally resisted the introduction of technical safeguards out of concerns that such measures might make it more difficult to use the weapons in the event of a conflict.”

The Catch: Additional Security Measures

If you've done any reading on nuclear missiles in the past, or even watched one of the many Hollywood thrillers about the topic, you'll probably be thinking that it takes more than a single code to fire a nuclear weapon — and you'd be right. The major catch to this 00000000 launch code is the fact that it was typically only one of many security measures preventing inadvertent mutually assured destruction.

This photo from the USAF Museum Archives shows the test launch of a Mace tactical cruise missile. Source: Wikipedia

According to Steven Bellovin, a professor at Columbia University who teaches security architecture, these PAL codes were designed to prevent the launch of a nuclear missile that had been physically captured by enemy forces. For example, missiles were often stored in NATO countries outside the U.S., and these codes were intended to prevent enemy forces from launching our missiles in the event that one of these overseas facilities was captured.

So, while the PAL launch code may have been 00000000, actually arming the nuclear warhead required a much more complex system. The arming procedure involved sealed envelopes, simultaneous turning of keys, and verification of three different codes over a secure phone line. This means that enemy forces or saboteurs may theoretically have been able to gain access to our missiles with the zero code, but the nuclear warheads would not have been armed without first defeating more security measures.

Then again, we also know that even the much more complex security features were far from foolproof. In fact, we narrowly escaped all-out nuclear war on several occasions despite these additional safeguards — go read our previous article on Nuclear Near Misses for a more detailed explanation.

How to Restore a Vintage Axe for Under $20

Posted on April 30, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In today's consumer-driven society, when an old tool breaks it's often easy to think, “time to get a new one”. There's not necessarily anything wrong with this thought, as it sometimes provides the opportunity to buy a higher-quality tool, or one that better fits your needs.

In the videos below, Derek explains how to restore this old axe he found in a barn.

However, there are plenty of instances when these old survival tools can be restored with a little elbow grease and a few dollars in supplies. This restoration can be a satisfying process, and it's also a useful skill to have for any survivalist. If you know how to fix your tools with simple materials, you'll be ready if one of them breaks after SHTF.

We've previously mentioned the importance of a good axe or hatchet for survival in the outdoors, as it makes collecting firewood an easy task. So, this three-part video series from Derek's Version on YouTube caught our attention. It shows how to restore a vintage axe, using relatively basic tools and only about $20 in consumable materials (a $5 sanding wheel, and a $10 piece of ash wood, and a little boiled linseed oil).

Part 1 shows how to clean up the pitted and rusty axe head:

Part 2 demonstrates how to carve a new handle out of ash, after using the old handle as a template:

Finally, part 3 shows the restored axe being tested in the field. Unfortunately, the head came loose on the handle after testing, but as Derek says, it's all part of the learning process and can be fixed with a little fine-tuning.

What If You Have to Deliver a Baby Without Medical Help?

Posted on April 29, 2016 at 12:00 pm.

Written by Offgrid Staff

In This Article

Plan Ahead
The Big Day
Pre-Delivery Prep
Crowning
Post-Delivery Care
Self-Delivery
Conclusion
Pregnancy Myths
OB Kit on the Go
More From Issue 11

Warning!
This article is meant to be a quick overview and not a detailed guide on obstetrics and child delivery. Consult a trained medical professional or accredited healthcare agency before even considering these techniques.

When you realize you're going to have a child, it seems that the planning never ends. Selecting a name, shopping for clothes, and going to Lamaze classes are all part of preparing for the big day. But people often forget to plan for one outcome that happens a lot more often than you'd expect: delivering a baby before medical assistance can be reached.

We all hear about those stories on the news — the baby was in a hurry to get here or some complication prevented the mother from getting to the hospital and the delivery had to take place without a doctor or nurse. You may have heard about a woman who recently went into labor at a San Diego Padres game. The delivery came so quickly that it had to be performed at the stadium. Fortunately, the mother was lucky enough to be assisted by a nurse who happened to be there.

But what if she'd been somewhere remote, without the help of that experienced Petco Park staff nurse who happened to be a midwife as well?

Don't think it can't happen to you. If your car breaks down, you're snowed in, or just happen to be somewhere isolated and you have to deliver a child on your own, you need to know what to do. Your child's life may depend on it. Here at OFFGRID we believe in preparing for the when, not the if. Here we've put together some basic how-tos if you're alone and have to self-deliver or help the mother deliver and may only have small household items at your disposal to aid in the process. It should be reiterated that we're not advocating child delivery outside of a hospital setting; however, we know that emergencies do occur when medical help cannot be reached. We took the time to speak to some subject-matter experts to outline the steps to take should you be put in this “What If?” scenario.

Plan Ahead

First of all, it pays to be prepared. Don't assume you'll be able to reach the hospital in time — plan ahead, especially if you're nearing the due date or know you'll be in a location where reaching a hospital in a timely manner may be difficult. Certain airlines and cruise ships impose restrictions on traveling while pregnant and may require written permission by your doctor before allowing you to travel. These vary among companies and should be investigated well in advance. It's best to consult with your doctor before taking any extended travel, especially during the third trimester. Your doctor may recommend against it, particularly if any irregularities have been detected during your pregnancy.

At the very least, whether traveling or staying home, plan out routes to nearby hospitals. If you're traveling, are unfamiliar with the area, or will visit multiple locations, you should research hospital proximity for every stop you intend to make. The last thing you need is trying to figure out where to go and how to get there when labor has begun.

You'll want to prepare a go-bag with spare clothes and any medication you'll need to be on as directed by your doctor to safely continue during and after your pregnancy. Other essentials you should pack are diapers, baby clothes, spare food, baby bottle, and breast pump. Some people even forget that once they leave a hospital, they'll need a car seat for the baby. Best to have one of those beforehand.

Commercial OB kits are great resources to have on hand in preparation for a possible unassisted childbirth. The contents are sterile, available for purchase at virtually any medical supply store or website, and are relatively inexpensive. Assembling your own kit is another option (see sidebar on page 40 for content recommendations). It's advisable that you bring it with you or store some OB kits in places you may be staying. You can never be absolutely certain when the mother may go into labor, and you have to deliver at home, in the car, or in a location where no help is available.

It's also recommended you take an infant CPR course. If you plan on becoming a new mother or father — check out CPR courses in your area so you can better prepare yourself should you need to perform this procedure after the delivery if your baby is having difficulty breathing.

The Big Day

Let's say you are completely caught off-guard. An emergency forces you and your pregnant wife to leave home in a hurry, and her delivery date is quickly approaching. The next thing you know, you're staying in a secluded place with only basic household items at your disposal. Then the labor process begins, and the likelihood of reaching a hospital or paramedics is low. It's looking like you'll have to deliver the child because you have no other option. What do you do?

First of all, don't panic. Women have been successfully giving birth since long before hospitals and modern medicine existed. Stay calm and pretend you're back in log cabin days when it was common for women to deliver at home. If you have a phone and can call 911, do so and follow the instructions of the dispatcher so they can walk you through the process, and you can report any problems. There are various complications that can occur during the birth process. We can't cover every possibility, such as Caesarean sections, so the process detailed here is with the assumption that you are dealing with a normal baby delivery.

Pre-Delivery Prep

If you can't call for help and the mother starts going into labor, see if you can quickly assemble the following items in preparation for the delivery:

Clean blankets
Clean towels or gauze
A couple lengths of string or small, clean clamps such as twist ties
A clean, sharp knife or pair of scissors

“As labor gets underway, the mother will need to do what's comfortable for her. She may want to walk around, and if it's early enough, she can still eat and drink. Being hydrated and fed are important, especially if the labor is long,” says April Schwartz, a 10-year paramedic who has delivered four babies in the field. “Keep track of the contraction intervals. When they are consistently three to five minutes apart for about an hour, the delivery is imminent.”

Contractions occurring less than two minutes apart and the mother complaining of the urge to bear down are telltale indications that the delivery process is about to start. If you're seeing these signs, have the mother lie down and get comfortable. Lying down is not imperative, but when she begins to push this will help you be in a better position to deliver the baby. Your role is basically to assist the baby's birth. The process happens by itself and you'll need to help guide the baby as best you can.

Crowning

Begin by washing your hands thoroughly and wearing sterile gloves if possible. When you begin seeing the baby's head “crown” (presence of baby's head at the birth canal), the birth process is beginning.

“You never want to reach in and grab or pull,” says Schwartz. Check to see if the umbilical cord is wrapped around its neck. If the cord appears to be wrapped around the neck, this can be problematic and prevent the baby from breathing. “Place two fingers under the cord and guide it over the baby's head so it's not wrapped, taking care not to force the cord by pulling it,” says Joe Ferraro, a 15-year paramedic who has delivered three babies in the field and teaches EMS child delivery at a junior college in San Diego County. “You just want to loosen the cord as best you can and make space between the neck and cord as the delivery progresses.”

If you are still unable to free the cord after trying to guide it over the baby's head, clamp the cord in two spots with clamps in the OB kit or by tying a couple lengths of string a few inches away from each other on the cord and cutting it in between the two clamps or ties. This will keep the cord from causing a constriction. If you have a sterile knife or scissors, they can be used to cut the cord. Usually the cord is not around the baby's neck and, if that's the case, the delivery will continue to progress normally.

If a shoulder begins to present, you want to apply a minimal amount of unilateral pressure so the other can come out. Tilt the head up slightly so one shoulder can be relieved, and then the other shoulder. Usually the baby is turned sideways during a normal delivery. You do not want to push on the top of the baby's head — their cranial bones are very soft and pressure to the top of the head can cause brain injury. Just apply light pressure so it's not an explosive delivery. Do not pull or push the baby, just guide it as the head is coming out while the mother pushes.

Post-Delivery Care

Once the shoulders are relieved, the baby will begin to expel rapidly. Help gently guide it out to keep it from falling. Once it's out, you'll want to quickly warm and dry the baby. “Stimulation from drying it lightly, but vigorously will encourage the baby to breathe,” Ferraro says. “Once it starts taking its first breaths, it will usually begin crying. The important step at this point is to keep the baby level with the vagina to keep blood flow regulated since the umbilical cord is still attached, unless you've already cut it to free it from the baby's neck.”

The baby will appear somewhat bluish after the delivery, which is normal. Check the baby's pulse — a newborn baby's heart rate should be 120 to 160 beats per minute. “If the baby has a low pulse, appears sluggish, does not open its eyes, start crying, or breathing normally, they may need a few rescue breaths to see if they wake up and jostle,” says Schwartz. “You can also try gently smacking the bottom of the baby's feet to encourage breathing.” Be sure you're familiar with infant CPR before attempting this — like adult CPR, there is too much that can go wrong if you are inexperienced with the process. If there are respiratory difficulties, you can start CPR on the child or use the syringe bulb in the OB kit to suction the mouth and free it of any fluid or blockages. If the crying has a good strong tone and the baby is breathing normally, suctioning or CPR is not needed.

If everything appears to be proceeding normally, prepare to cut the cord. “Generally after the birth, the cord will pulsate for a couple minutes,” says Ferraro. “Once it stops, clamp or tie it off 6 to 8 inches from the child and then another clamp 2 to 3 inches from that toward the mother. Once it's clamped, cut between the clamps.”

“If no means to cut the cord are available, you can go about a day without cutting it, as it will shrivel up on its own,” Schwartz says.

After ensuring the baby is healthy, breathing, and crying, it should be given to the mother for warmth and to begin breast-feeding. This process will stimulate the mother to stop contractions and bleeding, as well as feed the child. “The child will begin to develop passive immunities through the mother's milk,” Ferraro says. The baby should be kept skin to skin with the mother as much as possible. The mother's smell will help the baby start to perk up and breathe better. Cover the mother and newborn with a clean, warm blanket. Babies can easily lose heat since their body is not ready yet to regulate temperature. Keeping the baby's head warm is important since they lose heat through their head. Softly applying a skull cap can help keep the baby warm, and these are usually found in an OB kit.

The placenta and afterbirth will deliver itself, and you don't need to pull it out. Once it delivers, the bleeding should be minimal. Try to stop any bleeding with sterile dressing or a clean cloth by applying a minimal amount of direct pressure — don't pack the vagina with any of these materials. Have the mother lay down and put her feet up to keep from fainting or excessive blood loss.

After the delivery is complete you should do whatever you can to reach a hospital, taking care to move the mother as little as possible since fluid loss will still be occurring.

Self-Delivery

If you are the mother, and have to deliver alone, you'll need to basically do what's been previously described as best you can. Put your hand down to guide the baby to make sure it doesn't fall. Assuming the delivery happens without complications, try to rest, let the placenta expel, and keep the baby at your level. Cover the baby, keep it warm, and nurse as soon as possible. Women who are alone and forced to self-deliver may choose to do it sitting or squatting — this is not unusual in other parts of the world. After the delivery, try to seek medical attention immediately.

Conclusion

Aside from these steps, there is not much else you can do until medical help arrives. The best remedy for the situation is to be prepared and not put yourself in a position where you may have to deliver the child without trained assistance. The more you can do to avoid situations where you may be unable to reach help in time, the better off you and your child are. If you're ultimately put in that position, best to stock up on the household items and medical training you might have to rely on. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

If you'd like to read more of our articles about hypothetical survival scenarios, pick up a copy of OFFGRID Presents: What If?, on sale now at GunDigestStore.com.

Pregnancy Myths

Certain Foods Induce Labor
Rumors still persist that things like drinking castor oil or eating spicy food can induce labor. There is no scientific evidence to prove this. It's still unknown what exactly triggers the labor process to begin. Speculation still exists that having sex can induce labor, but this is still inconclusive.

Due Dates Are Accurate
Due dates can be inaccurate by weeks and even months. There is no guarantee that the delivery will occur nine months from the date of conception, give or take several days. This is, at best, an approximation. It's hard to pinpoint the exact date, so assume it can happen at any time and plan accordingly.

Baby Gender Develops During Pregnancy
The male's sperm determines the baby's gender. The fetus is not neutral during the pregnancy process and nothing can influence the baby's gender.

OB Kit on the Go

You can buy premade OB kits, but if you prepare your own you should at the very least include:

Clean blankets
Sterile gloves
String or clamps
Sterile scissors or scalpel
Alcohol pads
Skull cap for baby
Bulb syringe for suction
Abdominal pads for bleeding control
Dressings for a sterile field

More From Issue 11

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Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 12

Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original print version for the web.

Can Conventional RVs Work In A Bug-Out Scenario?

Posted on April 28, 2016 at 12:00 pm.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

Type 1: Motorhomes
Type 2: Trailers
Type 3: Campers
Conclusions
Expedition Vehicles

What makes a truly great survival vehicle? If someone asked you this question, you might reply with qualities like a powerful engine, high ground clearance, a huge payload of supplies, bright auxiliary lights, winches, push bars, and possibly even armor plating. Although we can certainly agree that all these features could come in handy, they also have a tendency to make the vehicle in question conspicuous — and in a survival scenario, that's the last thing you want to be. If your ride's appearance screams, “I'm prepared for anything,” sooner or later someone less prepared will try to take it from you.

That said, consider a mobile survival platform that's common enough to blend in, spacious enough to be comfortable, and tough enough to use for years without repairs. Fortunately, there's a type of vehicle that's readily available and meets all these criteria — the recreational vehicle, or RV.

An RV will never be as stealthy as a motorcycle, or as capable off-road as a Jeep, but these homes-on-wheels are easy to find just about anywhere. Their living quarters provide plenty of room for gear and supplies, and best of all, anyone behind the wheel will end up looking more like a retiree on vacation than a hardened survival expert. So, don't discount that old motorhome in grandma's driveway just yet — it can be a real asset if you need to bug out.

A recreational vehicle is simply a motor vehicle with an attached living space. A wide range of vehicles can be considered RVs, from massive tour-bus-sized motor coaches to tiny pop-up trailers. There are three main categories of RV: motorhomes, trailers, and campers. Each class of RV has its own pros and cons to consider, so read on to determine which best fits your needs.

Type 1: Motorhomes

The first and most common type of RV is the motorhome. These vehicles are characterized by the powertrain and living quarters integrated together into a single package. Many motorhomes simply replace the rear section of a truck or van's body with living quarters, retaining the original chassis, engine, and driving position. These vehicles are known as Class C or midsize motorhomes, and can be identified by an extended section over the cab that often contains a bed.

The second category of motorhomes is the smallest, known as Class B (also called camper vans or conversion vans). These vehicles don't feature an extended section over the cab, resulting in a lower-profile roof. Often, Class-B motorhomes are based on passenger vans, like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford E-Series, or Chevrolet Express. The biggest upside to this design is its appearance — some Class-B motorhomes aren't easily recognizable as RVs, and therefore avoid unwanted attention in a survival scenario.

From left: The Winnebago View: Note the extended sleeping area directly above the vehicle's cab, this identifies...

Finally, Class-A “integrated” motorhomes are built from the ground up, with driving position inside the living area. These mega-motorhomes are typically larger, feature a vertical windshield, and appear more similar to a commercial bus than to a passenger car. Features can include washer/dryer sets, expandable rooms, and even underside storage compartments for motorcycles or ATVs. As cool as that sounds, due to their cumbersome nature and noticeable appearance, Class-A motorhomes are better suited to transporting rock stars and celebrities than surviving the apocalypse. If you're behind the wheel of one of these giants, most onlookers will assume it has lots of desirable resources inside, and that's not a good thing in a dangerous situation.

From a cost standpoint, motorhomes run the gamut from tens of thousands to several million dollars. In a survival scenario, keeping a low profile is more important than having a fancy built-in jacuzzi or movie theater, so it's probably wise to avoid the more luxurious and expensive models. In addition, large Class-A motorhomes will be more difficult to maneuver and much more conspicuous on the road, so we recommend sticking to the smaller Class B and C motorhomes when SHTF.

Here's the interior of the Winnebango Grand Tour. This palace on wheels will make you forget you ever evacuated...

Pros:

The most common form of RV
Spacious and luxurious with many available amenities
Wide variety of sizes and configurations to choose from
Moves under its own power, just hop in and hit the gas

Cons:

The most expensive form of RV
Larger models can draw unwanted attention and be difficult to maneuver
May require specialty parts for repairs; most require diesel fuel
Usually two-wheel drive with poor off-road performance (with the exception of expedition vehicles)

Type 2: Trailers

The second type of RV is the travel trailer or caravan. Just as the name implies, travel trailers are living quarters that attach to a car or truck via a tow hitch, and can only move when towed. These are the oldest form of RV, dating back to the 1920s, and are relatively mechanically simple due to their dependence on a tow vehicle.

Travel trailers can be much smaller than a compact car, nearly as big as a city bus, or anywhere in between. Smaller trailers can be towed by an ordinary car, while the larger 30- to 40-foot trailers may require a purpose-built tow rig. For the purposes of survival, small and mid-size trailers shorter than 25 feet in length are ideal, as they can be towed by common pickups and SUVs.

Trailers are highly versatile and provide many options, such as the vehicle storage space of this Jayco Octane toy...

Within the trailer category, there are several sub-groups to be aware of. Pop-ups, or expandable trailers, are handy for survival due to their low profile on the road and abundance of space when parked. Teardrops are small, aerodynamic, and lightweight (some can even be towed by a motorcycle). Toy haulers feature a fold-down rear ramp and storage space for ATVs or motorcycles. Finally, fifth-wheel trailers attach to an in-bed hitch (much like that of a semi truck) instead of a bumper hitch, resulting in improved on-road stability. However, fifth-wheel trailers are often larger and require specialized tow vehicles, so they may be less than ideal for survival.

The biggest advantage of a trailer is its ability to be disconnected from the tow vehicle. This enables establishing a home base far away from prying eyes, leaving the area in your vehicle to go on supply runs, and returning to your living quarters unnoticed. It's wise not to put all your eggs in one basket, and travel trailers make this easier than it would be in any other type of RV.

The Jayco Jay Series Sport, a compact pop-up trailer that also features pop-out expandable sleeping areas.

Pros:

Can be easily disconnected from your vehicle
Small, lightweight trailers provide excellent mobility
Can be towed by a variety of cars, trucks, and vans
More capable off-road than most motorhomes

Cons:

Typically less luxurious and spacious than motorhomes
Harder to move than motorhomes; requires a tow vehicle with a hitch
May be difficult to maneuver for drivers with no towing experience
Not all trailers have bathrooms or running water; may require an external generator for electricity

Type 3: Campers

The third type of RV is the camper. Also called slide-in, dismountable, or truck campers, these RVs are removable living quarters that sit inside the bed of an ordinary pickup truck. Campers benefit from the compact size of trailers, but feature even better mobility since they don't require towing experience — if you can drive a regular pickup truck, you can drive a truck with a camper. Like trailers, truck campers can also be removed from your vehicle temporarily, although it will take longer than simply unhitching a trailer. In order to dismount a truck camper, it must be jacked up using four corner jacks, then any turnbuckles or tie-downs must be disconnected before the truck can drive out from under the camper.

The type of camper you can use is typically determined by the type of truck you have access to. If you have a 1/2-ton short-bed truck with a gas engine, your options will be limited to smaller campers, but if you have a 3/4- or 1-ton truck with a longbed and diesel engine, there will be many more choices available. Modern truck campers have most of the amenities of a comparable motorhome or trailer, including refrigerators, ovens, bathrooms, and showers. Some campers feature pop-up or expandable sections that provide extra space when parked and a lower profile on the road.

In a survival situation, an ordinary 4×4 diesel truck with a compact pop-up camper would be an excellent choice. This setup won't draw as much attention on the roads as other RVs, is highly capable off-road, and will provide more than enough space for two adults and their supplies. It won't be as spacious as a motorhome, or as modular as a trailer, but it's certainly a nice happy medium.

From top: A pop-up truck camper, the Palomino Real-Lite. The expandable top section provides enough height to stand,...

Pros:

Easy to transport and highly maneuverable
Extremely capable off-road when paired with a 4×4 pickup
Can be removed from your vehicle, but not as easily as a trailer
Features like pop-up tops can create a low-visual profile, not much larger than a bed cap or shell

Cons:

Requires a pickup truck and must match the truck's bed length and weight capacity
Less spacious than almost all motorhomes and most trailers
Larger campers may require heavy-duty suspension and brake upgrades
May be unavailable for small or light-duty trucks

Conclusions

Given these three categories of RVs, you must choose what's best for your location and conditions. For example, a large Class-A motorhome might be fine in the flat, sparsely populated Nevada desert. However, it would be a terrible choice for the densely packed streets of New York or Chicago, where a compact car with a teardrop trailer might fare better. If you need to survive in the tough terrain of the Sierra Nevada mountains, an expedition vehicle or 4×4 truck with a slide-in camper would probably serve you best.

You must also take into consideration the number of occupants and quantity of supplies you'll be transporting. A small trailer or camper might serve one person well, but if you have a large family, look into motorhomes or large trailers. Regarding supplies, extra gear can be strapped to your vehicle's roof, stored in the vehicle's cabin, or packed creatively in the living area itself. Much like building a bug-out bag or in-home emergency supply cache, you need to decide a time frame to plan for, and pack supplies accordingly.

Consider this guide a primer on choosing an RV for survival — there's still plenty to learn before you actually bring one home. Some might say the common RV is too obvious a choice for a bug-out vehicle, but we'd say it's an obvious choice for a reason. Someday, one of these versatile vehicles might make your life on the road a whole lot easier.

Expedition Vehicles

Taking the Path Less Traveled

Aside from the three classes of motorhomes listed in the main story, there's an important sub-group to be aware of: expedition vehicles, or off-road motorhomes. These vehicles are designed specifically with extreme conditions in mind, and often have heavy-duty suspensions, large tires, four-wheel drive, and other off-road-oriented upgrades. If you need to go just about anywhere, be totally self-reliant, and truly prepare for the worst, you'll want one of these monsters.

Expedition vehicles can fall into any of the above classes, and range from simple living quarters placed on the back of a lifted pickup truck to purpose-built behemoths with six- or eight-wheel drive. However, given this article's premise of staying inconspicuous, expedition vehicles may not necessarily be a wise choice. First of all, they tend to be much more expensive than a traditional motorhome and typically must be special-ordered from the manufacturer, so they're not easy to obtain. Secondly, they're definitely going to draw more attention than an ordinary motorhome as you roar down the road on huge mud tires.

So, in a bug-out scenario where you're heading into isolated wilderness for an extended period, an expedition vehicle would be ideal. However, in a situation where you may need to frequently use public roads or leave your vehicle exposed to gather supplies, these vehicles may cause more problems than they solve.

DIY Locking Cable Snares

Posted on April 28, 2016 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

One of the simplest and most effective techniques for catching small game is the snare. Traditionally, these primitive traps would be made from braided plant fibers or sinew, but today we're able to create strong and lightweight snares from metal wire or cable. As long as you're willing to collect a few materials from your local hardware store, you can assemble several of these locking cable snares in no time.

A cable snare like this one is compact, light, and can hold hundreds of pounds of weight.

Before we begin, it's worth mentioning that cable snares are often illegal for hunting purposes, and also tend to be a less humane way of killing game than legal hunting methods. So, we would only advise you to use these snares in a survival situation, to provide food when you need it most. However, they're a great resource to have in your bag in case SHTF, and they don't weigh much or take up much space.

Old copper pennies can be drilled and bent to form a lock for the snare.

Youtube channel Bushcraft Basics shows how to make one of these snares in the video below:

Here's a summary of the materials used in the video, which you can use as a checklist:

7×7 stainless steel cable, 1/16″ diameter (approximately 3 feet per snare)
1/16″ copper end stops, 1/16″ oval swage fittings, and a swage crimping tool (or small metal nuts and a vise or press)
1981 or older 95% copper pennies (or 14 gauge/2mm copper sheet)
Cable cutters
Drill and 3/32″ drill bit (or other bit slightly larger than 1/16″)
Hammer and vise to bend pennies

Check out the video above for a step-by-step assembly of the snares. It's very straightforward, and shouldn't take more than a few minutes to build each snare once you have the materials listed above. For alternate methods of providing survival food, check out this video about willow fish baskets and this infographic on foraging for edible plants.