So you’ve got your bug out bag packed, your doomsday shelter prepped, and your family ready to move when the next extinction event happens. But have you thought about how you’ll get around? Let’s skip the typical Jeep Wranglers and Hummer H2s. Sure, they’ll work in a pinch. But you know that already.
Here are eight of the world’s legitimately toughest vehicles to survive the post-apocalypse. Note: we’re not talking whether these are readily available to consumers or not. We’re talking about what works. Let’s face it: if the world goes to shit and you’re determined and resourceful enough, you’ll find a way to acquire one of these.
#1: Local Motors Rally Fighter
Local Motors Rally Fighter
Local Motors’ Rally Fighter is touted as a “fully capable off-road prerunner, with the amenities and luxuries of an every-day on-road vehicle”. In short: it’s a 50-state, street legal off-road beast that you can drive on the highway. While it won’t carry much in the way of gear or passengers, it’ll sure as hell get you out of town and anywhere you need to go fast.
#2: Paramount Marauder
Paramount Marauder (© Top Gear)
This military-grade beast looks like it ate a first-gen Hummer for breakfast, and it probably could. It’s essentially a mini-fortress on wheels. Large enough to accommodate two upfront and an additional eight in the rear, so it’s ample enough to fit a big family. Plus your dog, ice hockey table, and probably room for a proper home theater setup. Should you decide to acquire it legitimately, the purchase price is a cool half-million dollars. But for that, you get solid protection against zombies, grenade attacks, and C4-packed IEDs.
#3: Unicat Expeditionary Vehicle
UNICAT Expeditionary Vehicle
Like the Marauder, the Unicat’s Expeditionary Vehicles are designed to go almost literally anywhere. While their inventory offers a wide selection of vehicles and options, we’d spring for the 6×6 Amerigo International. The design is toned down — though only slightly — to look a bit more civilized. The full list of features is far too long to list here. But for your purposes, you can count on: a 2,000-mile range, 112-gallon fresh water capacity, theft-proof windows, solar power, satellite communications, retractable bolts/cylinders to secure all doors, the ability to ford water over five feet … I could go on.
#4: Conquest Knight XV Armored SUV
Conquest Knight XV Urban Assault Vehicle
As it’s designed as an “urban assault vehicle”, it doesn’t have the sustainable survival bells-and-whistles of the Marauder or Unicat’s rides. But Conquest’s Knight XV is purpose-built to survive virtually any form of attack. The very lengthy feature list includes night vision cameras, external smoke screen capability, electrostatic window tinting, and under-body magnetic bomb detection. Plus, it just looks sleek and badass.
#5: Oshkosh TPV (Tactical Protector Vehicle)
Oshkosh TPV Tactical Protector Vehicle
Like Knight XV, Oshkosh’s TPV (Tactical Protector Vehicle) provides many of the same protection features — it can stop up to 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds! But, it also offers side gun ports. So, when the sh*t really goes down, you and yours can blast your way out of town if need be. Plus, the company offers a host of custom add-ons to protect against biological, chemical, and nuclear attacks. On the downside, like the Knight XV, it doesn’t offer much in the way of sustainable survival features.
#6: Sportsmobile 4-Wheel Drive Adventure Van
Sportsmobile 4WD Adventure Vehicle
We use the term “van” loosely. Sure Sportsmobile’s vehicles are based on a standard Ford E350 chassis, but with a healthy dose of HGH and rocket fuel injected into the production process. They’re a whole lot tamer than the above alternatives, as they’re built for “everyday” use by avid off-road enthusiasts. In place of the bulletproof tires and underbody IED armor, you’ll find more usable conveniences. For sustainable survival purposes, the standard list of features includes: a 46-gallon fuel tank (good for more than 600 miles), pop-up tent camper in the roof, full kitchen, and a sh*t ton of off-road upgrades.
#7: The Argo
Argo 8×8 Frontier EFI Amphibious Vehicle
Folks in the wilds of Canada’s Northern Territories know Argo’s Amphibious Vehicles well. These off-road beasts are designed to forge over land and water with ease. On the downside, they aren’t protected from the elements and offer limited carrying capacity for passengers and gear. However, that same small size makes them incredibly agile. Plus: you can buy at least ten of them (one for each of your children and pets) for the same price as many of the larger alternatives above.
#8: A “Blue Water” Sailboat
Discovery 67 Blue Water Sailboat
Keep in mind that 2/3 of the earth’s surface is water (for now). So think beyond land-only transportation because taking to the high seas might be a better option. Modern “blue water” sailboats are designed to tackle the rigors of open ocean travel. It helps that many come equipped with all the comforts of home.
What’s more: your main power supply (wind) is limitless. Although, on a calm day you’re not going anywhere once you run out of fuel. YachtWorld has a primer to get you started, but we’re partial to the Discovery 67 (pictured above). Don’t forget the polo shirts and deck shoes.