T2K survival..RV style
 

I was sitting here at my computer, reading some of the posts, enjoying an adult beverage...And I had a thought. (Oh, no! :p)

Somehow, the movie Independance Day came to mind. Specifically the part where Captain Hiller (Will Smith) meets Russell Casse (Randy Quaid) as Russell is part of a caravan of RV's and other camping types escaping from the devistation of Los Angeles.

So...my thought ran...is this a viable tactic?

In favor:

1) Mobility. Yes, RV's have a horrifying MPG rating. But you CAN move. A full tank of gas would get something like Russell's RV about 350-400 miles.

2) Comforts. You can sleep in a bed, have a roof over your head, cook something on the internal stove, have about 50 gallons of water, whatever food is stored on board. You can even use the internal toilet.

Against:

1) Reserve stocks. RV's have a good bit of internal room. Nothing like our houses, though. I would think that after a week to ten days, you are empty.

2) Mobility. Once you are out of gas, you are DONE. No movement.

I am interested to see what you think.

My $0.02

Mike

Take an 8-ton (metric) delivery truck and convert it to an RV. You'll have much more room and if you choose wisely (let's say, Mercedes-Benz Actros or Unimog), you'll have (at least some) off-road mobility as well. With a bigger vehicle, more room for stores and relatively smaller mile per gallon ratio.

Edit: And if you want true mobility, no matter the weather, build the RV on Ural or Zil and you can guarantee, it will start even in -35 degrees centigrade - if not, build a fire underneath the engine and try again in fifteen minutes.

Don't forget that most decent sized RVs have an onboard generator.

As far as fuel, it's like any other vehicle. Convert it to alchohol or biodiesel.

As far as T2K vs Independence Day -- in Independence Day. the apocalypse is severe, but it has just happened. Not everything is wrecked or worn out, and people are still civilized and patriotic (at the end, for the entire planet).

In T2K, the apocalypse has been going on for nearly five years. Almost everything that still works is being quickly overworked. Civilization has given way to mere survival in most cases. Patriotism is given to whoever allows you to take care loved ones.

Your RV is a luxury now, because it still works. Therefore, it's a target for criminals, or may be taken by your new government because it's something that works. Most civilian vehicles are not built for such abuse, and most other RVs haven't survived to this point. You need to be heavily armed to keep your RV, and to take spares from other people who have them. (How many campaigns have you been in where the players have become marauders out of necessity?)

Such a large caravan of RVs will not happen in T2K.

Spare parts are a issue, as a rolling caravan moves in time they will begin to break down and parts for RV's may share some compatibility with other vehicles that compatibility will not be a 100%. I give it something like a few months before they begin to break down and scrounging fails to find fresh parts. Even tires will be a issue given time. On a lighter note, you can always pull the engines and lighten the load and have cattle or horses pull them and replace the tires with something more durable.

Paul and StormLion1 are both correct. Paul is right because he reminded me of the time frame involved, Stormlion because IF RV caravan is going, parts do become an issue. That will teach me to post while indulging in an adult beverage. :D

How about this? The caravan starts during/right after TDM? That fits more into the Independance Day scenario, the govts have not absconded with anything left over, parts are still available, gas is somewhat available (power for gas pumps comes to mind), criminals are still reeling from TDM as much as anyone. There, that might cover it?

My $0.02

Mike

You'd basically be stuck with backroads (which isn't necessarily a bad thing given the social breakdown, but fraught with it's own hazards as well) given that most/all cars on the highways would be dead, stuck in the lanes, due to EMP.

If you have a working RV the main roads will be a good source of parts and most especially tires. Your going to want to load up on tires and tire patch kits. Which of course adds weight which reduces mileage. Which will already be reduced due to running on back roads and dirt roads as there the ones most likely be to clear. The best bet is to act like a Gypsy Caravan. Moving short distances and setting up shop for a time and then moving on scrounging as you go. One thing I will say though your standard RV isn't bulletproof so anyone takes a pot shot at it is going to leave holes.

I think the real value of an RV chassis may not be in a conventional one with living quarters, but in one that serves as a specialized facility on wheels. A mobile dental clinic*, health clinic, veterinary clinic**, workshop/machine shop, soil testing laboratory***, or so forth is going to provide much greater functionality than a few cases of portable equipment. With proper staffing, it also becomes a serious resource that can be used to barter with survivor communities. In this scenario, the PCs can either be part of the primary specialist team, "convoy" security and scouts, or other support specialists.

If you want to stretch the concept, you also could build a convoy around a mobile command post, which serves as both team comm/ops center and a link back to a higher echelon to which the PCs presumably report.

Going a little farther afield, I've always thought a racing team's support trailer would be interesting as a base vehicle (particularly in a Merc: 2000 setting). With one of the bigger 53' semi-trailers, you get living quarters and a workshop area and tools. Fueling that prime mover is gonna suck, though.

- C.

* After three years of unchecked tooth decay, how much would you pay for anesthesia and professional removal?

** May sound useless, but consider its value in a livestock-dependent agricultural community.

*** Likewise a potentially priceless resource for re-establishing agriculture after several years of nuclear and chemical warfare, population movement, and uncontrolled industrial waste releases.

Two good books that deal with moving across the country after an apocalypse are "The Stand" by Stephen King (get the extended version) and "The Last Canadian" by William Heine.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...-last-canadian

Here are some examples that I found

Travel trailers are much more 'economical'
 

Gentlemen: In real life I bought a travel trailer rather then an RV, since there is less to break on a trailer then an RV. I already had a truck, that can pull a trailer, as most military vehciles could.

All the advantages with in my opinion less of the costs/logistics. The "West Side Boys" group I posted had their Headman equipped with a trailer as a 'luxury' and status symbol.

T2K RVs
 

I think some of these might be seen?

More PA RVs
 

3 More

Come off of it... no one thought of this classic??? (Stripes with Bill Murray)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bENF0...layer_embedded

IIRC, I came up with a version of this on my site. (If I didn't, I need to.) Look in the Best Vehicles that Never Were section -- if I have it, it will probably be under Best APCs that Never Were.

There's a lot of data on converting the 2 1/2 ton shop truck into an RV. I call it the "Fun Truck". With the fixtures from an RV or travel trailer they are pretty roomy.

I also posted a picture of it above too

Professional vehicles aside, of the ones posted above, the Toyota Landcruiser conversion would be the most useful - an early 90ies Landcruiser is a beast when it comes to mobility off-road and well, unless you are hauling a family of four, you can fit in to the vehicle just fine. Add a tent, folding down from the rear end, some camo paint and netting and you'll have a mobile outpost that can out-run or -maneuver most enemies but provide some standard of living.

The Landmaster? That's from Damnation Alley, right?

I'd tweak the weapons and their placement a little if it were up to me, but other than that....yeah, THAT'S the sort of RV you want for the apocalypse. :p

Yeah, I have that, but I was thinking of the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle from Stripes. Guess I have to get to work...

The ADC(M) in Korea (and I'm sure, other generals) have modified 5-tons that are basically a mobile bedroom complete with bed, dresser, small cubicle bathroom, a toaster oven, a small table, and other amenities all bolted down so they don't slide around during movement. Even the drawers on the dresser are lockable against movement.

Email me about your tweaks. We'll talk.

I've always thought about this bass akwards. I've thought it would be cool to make a RV out of something like a BTR. Obviously wouldn't be as big internally, but still cool. IMO.

RVs
 

Rvs would be a great solution for survival in a post-apo.

But IMHO some small modifications should be made.

It should be able to run on ALC - so a still is a must
Some ARMOR plating could also be smart
A plow in case of snow etc. + chains for the wheels
a device to harvest rainwater might be smart
maybe a lookoutpost on top
spare parts offcourse

well that was some of my suggestions

Here the landmaster and EM-50

Isn't this pretty much the default for long distance travel in TW2K? Unless you are carrying a lot of spare fuel or you have pre-prepared fuel caches surely there is no other way to do it? And I doubt a Humvee is more fuel efficient than an RV (even if the humvee has other advantages).

I love Tegyrius's idea of the mobile specialist facility. In the Highlands of Scotland there are still mobile libraries, banks and shops (my Uncle is visited by a fishmonger once a week - and he is only about 11 miles from Inverness). Actually I could see mobile traders tagging along with the doctor and dentist - selling to the patients and their relatives coming for treatment. I think this could work into quite a few possibilities: characters becoming traders and travelling a circuit as the clinic does it's "rounds", being employed to guard the doctor, using the caravan as cover for intelligence work, all kinds of stuff.

T2K2 Special Ops has an RV in it and Twilight 2013 had various sizes of RVs and Travel trailers that can be reversed to T2K2 stats. Another option would be a GMC Suburban like the one in "Dante's Peak" and a travel trailer.

RV's in T2K
 

I think we covered some of this in a previous thread. I can not find it right now. (My Google-fu is weak tonight.)

My Observations:

1) As war starts in China, I think you would see some preppers start heading for the hills.

2) First nukes in China, I think any prepper left in a city is out the door. Heading to their main base camp. Getting down into their hole and pulling the cover over them. You will also see the first civilians heading out. Most of them do not have a CLUE where they are going...They just want to be away from the city.

3) First Nukes in Europe: The average civilian will be scared to death. Any one with the sense God gave an ant is heading outbound from the major cities. The problem is with so many on the road, the roads become clogged....quickly. Look at Atlanta during last ice event. once the first problems hit the roads, EVERYTHING stopped.

Now where does this leave the RV'r? IF they got out early, I do not see major problems. Oh a tie up here or there, sure. Maybe some gasoline shortages as people fill their RV's, towed vehicles, and spare gas cans. IF the roads deteriorate, the RV'r is in trouble. As I read RV's, roads only or VERY Mild terrain. I point at the RV convoy in Independence Day Movie. Out in very flat desert.

I look around my area of Fayetteville, NC. Yes, relatively flat. BUT most of that flat area consists of farms. That means you have to negotiate the rows that the farmer planted. IF they are pointed the way you want to go fine. Going over said rows, not so good unless moving very slow. No more than 5 - 10 MPH. I would think at more than that, you tear the bottom out of your RV. IF the ground is not wet. Soil here in this part of NC is mostly sand. Can be very nasty when very wet, but it does dry out fairly quickly.

Now let's say, you are good at reading the tea leaves. You read last night about the first nukes that Russia dumped on China. You packed your RV, filled the gas tank, maybe got 10 - 20 gallons extra in gas cans. Maybe you even thought a little and topped off your propane tank and got 10 - 20 more gallons of water.

Now what do you have? About 400 miles of travel before gas tank starts getting really LOW and you need to think about using your reserve gas. Forty gallons of water in the clean water tank, what ever food, clothing, weapons, people and odds and ends that you crammed into said RV. A family of four, you probably have at most 10 days to two weeks of supplies on board.

I am really tired tonight, so I am going to end this diatribe here. I will pick it up again soon. Trust me, there is a reason I am going down this particular rabbit hole. No, I did NOT see a White Rabbit.......

My $0.02

Mike

Admin Note: Merged the two threads.