By Jeff Glucker
Today is Election Day in the United States. This website doesn’t get too deeply political. And this post will not be political. That said if you wanted to leave the country what would be the best vehicle for doing so? I’m talking about personal vehicles and not commercial airlines or boats. I will allow private planes and boats though, so feel free to flood the comments with cool vehicles for leaving it all behind.
The vehicle in the lead photo is ideal if you want to head into the middle of nowhere. But it will not help you blend in or offer any conspicuous notions that you’re just some simple traveler. You can’t run away in a million-dollar rig. I mean, you can if your destination is deep into the Yukon territory.
So, let’s say you were going to pack up the stuff that matters most to you and head off in search of a hew home. What vehicle would you use to do so? And no, don’t freak out, the Montero isn’t packed up or anything. I’m just venting on a day that’s stressful for everyone no matter which side you sit. If we can keep it light in the comments, great. If we can’t, I’ve brought this on myself…
Honda XR650…if you are feeling the need to “get out of Dodge”, so is everyone else. California freeways move at a crawl on good days…the recent fires in OC have shown us what happens in an emergency. The only way you are going to actually go somewhere is by not using the roads. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2d1e10592d17ba20b2f7b5468b85e8cc9ac7f85329017d195bf5631acb355bcc.jpg
Dobbertin Surface Orbiter. How else are you going to drive to your private island?
always a good choice
If by “good” you mean perfect. Even the segment’s flavour with the insanely wow-y voice and the intense riffs in the background is awesome, as if THE ORBITER needs any more help. I wonder if this thing exists today?
If by “good” you mean perfect. Even the segment’s flavour with the insanely wow-y voice and the intense riffs in the background is awesome, as if THE ORBITER needs any more help. I wonder if this thing exists today?
Keep in mind Dobbertin was the builder of one of the most iconic hot rods of the 1980’s, his Pro Street J2000 was a trend setter that appeared on the cover of all the hot rod magazines. He sold the Surface Orbiter to a car collector in 2004 to fund his next amphibious project. I’m sure it still exists, if only as a museum piece.
https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/4/7/8/176478-12155-pristine.jpg
I would drive my 1998 Ford travelling van . Got the 4.6 so it https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c49aecbcf22b47d0a9b2bfe78aba03bc4ba18add308c07d0b8c84cf18fcda257.jpg gets good gas mileage and has four seriously comfortable recliners.
any hovercraft with good range? I don’t know much about them, but they are cool and shouldn’t need roads.
not sure it will help blend in
The AP1-88 has a 700 mile max range (total fuel capacity is 1188 gallons).
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1e878994995c16cbcdeb808e68ac60788cf7efc767cf68254771a98802bcbed9.jpg
Reliable? Good on gas? Completely, unobtrusively anonymous? Check, check and check. And, if you’re worried about road quality, just pick up the overlanding model (one you’ve rented).
https://www.thetelegram.com/media/photologue/photos/cache/B97888355Z.1_20190227160411_000GQSNG463.1-1_large.jpg
Not even a wagon?
Bump up to a RAV4 if you want the extra cargo space?
Civilian version of the C-130 will slide in under a technicality, but in terms of taking what you want (not just what you need!), you’d have plenty of space, and likely some good prospects for hauling substantial cargo to “austere” facilities for substantial profit in your new home.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b4e257cfd0663c1080179dc226225573a393bc5cf9919cc91496a1ffaa3cff6e.jpg
If I’m going in that direction, I’m going to maximize the ratio of space to operating costs. And gain additional remote landing field options in the bargain.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3982d9760942e75566ab6658e0a2628b9382feba8f55039dce855e2a52140d2c.jpg
Probably a better approach, in terms of reality. If I’m presuming that I’m fleeing to run clandestine shipments, about all I’d have going for me in the Herc would be, in this hypothetical, the ability to operate it. Otherwise the plane would be worth way more than me to someone wanting to be the Amazon of smuggling, and really hard to hide.
Skyvans are awesome!
I actually flew on one of those once. Back in the 1990s Delta had a few in shuttle service. I was using a Skymiles ticket to fly home for Thanksgiving and one leg of the trip was Providence RI to Boston. Noisy and had thick curtains around the walls, but I could stand up inside.
I never flew in a SkyVan, but I did fly a Short 330 a couple times in the early ’80s on the short hop between Philly and Richmond, VA.
It probably was a 330 that I was on.
Rick Radcliffe makes an excellent case for a bike. But—
As much as I love my two-wheelers, if I need to live indefinitely with only a single vehicle, I’m giving it four wheels, more crash protection, and the ability to carry a spare and some extra gear. …with options tailored to any budget.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cd10ddd22c8e03b12328800778e4c94e3ba5834dc8118dffca254f7c979559ab.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4712bebfa3985b9fbfddaaad876979cbc90b9953937a3d48e431d84fcf57fcfe.jpg
Mitsubishi Fuso FG140 4WD, preferably with a box, but a flatbed would do, too. They can be quite inconspicuous. When I moved to California I bought an Isuzu NPR for the task, but the FG is a better bug-out vehicle.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a4ca0997c39629ff3f24f9d8e3b7d21762553fab3aa06069a73c5b73b8f32d44.jpg
Jimmy Buffet has it right (or had it right… I think this plane is long sold)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f22c48f0f100144bc8c63533d3385b270de5a2efeab351a4d0e28f1c2a37b80c.jpg
Just maybe steer clear of Jamaica..
Actually I believe that the plane is on display at Universal Studios Orlando.
Why is today stressful? Oh right, NFL trade deadline is today. Yeah, that is pretty stressful.
As far as vehicles – Riva Iseo should do just fine. I plan on leaving in style.
https://www.riva-yacht.com/uploadB2B//models/images/photogallery/riva/zoom/46071.jpg
I love that EarthRoamer, that was going to be my choice, but agreed on the high profile.
I’ve been RV shopping, did you know that you can get 120 month (or more) financing? Crazy.
The last time I drove my Austin Allegro up north for a car show, the border officer asked why the steering was on the right. I answered “It’s British” to which he replied “Good answer” and welcomed me to British Columbia. Maybe it would work again.
There was a time when the Ekranoplan was the obvious answer to most open questions at the ‘verse, kind of a letdown nobody fearing imminent Socialism has come up with it yet.
https://i.ibb.co/MCxc9tr/Ekranoplan-aerial.webp
In any case, good luck with your election! Everyone’s watching…
Using an Ekranoplan to “get away from socialism” would be a little like Edward Snowden becoming a Russian citizen because he doesn’t trust the US government…
So instead I propose: http://oceansubmarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/0021-UIT.jpg http://oceansubmarine.com/private/#introduction
This was the convoluted sarcasm I was going for…and your example is shining brightly.
This was the convoluted sarcasm I was going for…and your example is shining brightly.
Looks like something from Thunderbirds