Congratulations! The world has ended. What are you going to do now?
Whether you’re going to build a survival shelter and hunker down or set out on the road in an apocalyptic convoy, one thing is certain — you’re going to need reliable vehicles to transport you through the wasteland. And the standard car or truck that rolls off the lot isn’t going to cut it.
A modded vehicle is your best bet. But before you buy out every aftermarket modification on the internet, what are the best options to help ensure your survival in a SHTF scenario?
Choosing the Perfect Car
First, before you start stocking up on modifications, it’s important to choose the perfect car. The exact make and model will depend on what you’re trying to accomplish, but in general, you’ll want to look for these criteria:
- A common make and model. Not only will it be more affordable if you’re building your SHTF vehicle before the world ends, but it will also be easier to scavenge replacement parts in the future.
- A diesel engine. Gasoline will become scarce, but you can use organic waste to generate your own biodiesel to keep your vehicle running.
- Easy to work on. You won’t have the option of taking your car to the shop if something breaks. The easier it is to work on, the easier it will be to keep your apocalypse ride rolling.
Once you know what you’re going to be working on, it’s easier to choose the perfect apocalypse ride so you can move to the next step — planning out your modifications.
Drivetrain Modifications
The first place you’re going to want to look at for modifications is the engine and drivetrain. All the cool armor and weaponry isn’t going to do you the least bit of good if you don’t have the power to move it from point A to point B.
Engine
First, let’s take a look at the engine — the heart of any apocalypse vehicle. The main aspects you’ll want to look for here are power, torque, durability, and fuel economy.
Snorkel
Taking your car off-road or navigating obstacles will often leave you in some rather unfortunate situations. If you try to drive through floodwaters or into a puddle that’s a little too deep, you risk ruining your engine by getting water in the cold air intake.
If swamps or deep puddles are a frequent occurrence in your neck of the woods, consider investing in a snorkel for your engine. Snorkels seal your engine’s cold-air intake and raise it above water level. It won’t turn your car into a boat — that’s a whole different can of worms — but it will save you from waterlogging it if you have to drive through a puddle.
Air Intake
If a snorkel isn’t necessary or you’re not worried about water, upgrading your cold air intake can improve performance. Your engine isn’t entirely unlike the human body in that it can’t function if it can’t breathe.
Adding a cold air intake is a popular addition for some of the most common vehicles on the road, and it’ll help your SHTF vehicle perform optimally.
Performance Modifications
There are lots of different performance modifications you can put on your apocalypse vehicle to help you get the most out of it, no matter what you’re driving. They don’t necessarily have to be the most expensive changes, either. Even small upgrades can make an enormous difference when it comes to performance.
Upgrading your throttle body by removing slack from the cable doesn’t take anything extra — all you need is a pair of wrenches and a bit of patience.
The exact modifications will vary depending on your make, model, and needs, but you don’t need to break the bank to tweak your engine and get the best performance possible.
Transmission
While the transmission is an essential part of the drivetrain, upgrading it can be more challenging and often out of reach for the average DIY mechanic.
Convert FWD to RWD or AWD
One of the best upgrades you should consider — especially if you’re tricking out a small truck or sedan — is to swap your drivetrain from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
This isn’t an easy project or one that should be undertaken lightly, but if swapping your car for an AWD model isn’t an option for whatever reason, the drivetrain swap is your next best option. RWD and AWD vehicles are going to serve you better in the apocalypse, giving you more control and improving your ability to go off-road. This is even an option in models that aren’t typcially designed for off-roading.
Suspension Modifications
Once you’ve got the drivetrain tuned to your liking, the next step is to move on to suspension modifications.
Shocks and Struts
Most modern cars are designed specifically for paved roads unless you opt for an expensive off-roading package. You need something that can take a beating and still keep you moving forward. Making the ride more comfortable is just a bonus.
If possible, start with a vehicle that already has an off-roading package. If that isn’t available, upgrade your shocks and springs to a heavy-duty version designed to take a beating. You can find heavy-duty shocks and struts easily.
While this might raise the body of your car a bit, it usually won’t increase your ground clearance. So if you’re worried about bottoming out over rough terrain, it might be a good idea to opt for something with a little more height to begin with, like a truck or SUV, over a passenger car. Mad Max’s Ford Falcon looked cool, but it’s not practical if you have to tear your way through a forest.
Tires
Tires are going to be one of your biggest challenges, especially if you’re traveling a lot. A flat tire before the world ends could leave you stranded on the side of the road. A flat after the apocalypse could leave you at the mercy of whoever or whatever you’re running from.
If you have the means and can get your hands on a set, “zombie-proof” airless tires are ideal. You don’t have to worry about a blowout or someone slashing your tires because they want to steal your supplies.
If you can’t get your hands on these, invest in a good set of heavy-duty off-road tires. They won’t last as long on highways, but if you’re spending a lot of time off the pavement, they’re a lifesaver.
Brakes
Older cars are a great choice for your SHTF vehicle, but they do have some drawbacks. Most older vehicles come equipped with drum brakes in the rear — and sometimes in the front as well.
Instead of scrambling for parts when the shoes wear out, consider swapping them out for a good set of disc brakes instead. The process is fairly simple, and if you’re decently handy, you can swap out those brakes in an afternoon.
In a survival situation, the last thing you want to deal with is spotty drum brakes that could fail on you when you need them the most. Take the time to swap them out for better disc brakes.
Exterior Modifications
Once the car runs like a dream, you need to start thinking about exterior modifications to turn your newly tricked-out car into something that will help you survive the apocalypse, no matter what happens.
Lighting
Headlights are great, but you need to be able to see what’s coming at you in the dark after the world ends. Opt for bright LEDs that aren’t going to drain your battery but will illuminate vast swaths of the darkened landscape. Hook them up so they either point in all directions or you have something on a swivel that you can manipulate as needed.
If you have room, solar panels are a great option for powering your lighting when the engine isn’t running.
Glass
Your windows and windshields are going to be among the most vulnerable spots on your SHTF vehicle. While this is an expensive upgrade, swapping out traditional safety glass for impact-resistant or even bulletproof glass can make your vehicle a little bit safer.
This is especially important in any situation where you’re going to be worried about someone shooting at you. You can duck below the dash while you try to drive away, or you can keep your head high and drive confidently, knowing that your upgrades will protect you.
Body Panels
This goes along with your glass upgrade. Older cars with steel body panels might not need this upgrade, but if you’re modifying a newer car, aluminum might as well be tissue paper if someone is shooting at you.
Consider upgrading your body panels to something a little more sturdy or jumping right to the next step.
Armor
Armor is heavy and can negatively impact your gas mileage. But if you need to protect yourself from zombies or bullets, it can be the best option for a SHTF car modification.
The nice thing about armor as opposed to body panel modification is that it can be modular. You can hang a massive armored tank on the trunk and use it to haul water or fuel instead of just armoring the back of your car. You can turn your panels into other useful tools or even make them easily removable so you can take them off when you don’t need them.
Cattle Guards
Bumpers aren’t made for shoving other cars — or zombies — out of the road. If you want to keep your bumpers intact and protect your vehicle, consider adding a cattle guard.
If you have the option, choose a model that allows you to lift the guard when you’re not using it and lower it when you need to move obstacles from your path.
It might seem like extra weight you don’t necessarily need, but if you have to tear a path through a forest or move abandoned cars from your path on the highway as you make your way to your shelter, it makes an enormous difference.
Weaponry
You’ll want to be able to protect yourself from whatever might cross your path in the wasteland. That means having plenty of weaponry and knowing how to use it. Ideally, you’ll have both short- and long-range weapons on your person, but if you have access to them, vehicle-mounted weapons for your passenger may also be a good option.
It sounds excessive, but if you’re facing down a horde of zombies or a cadre of enemy soldiers, having a vehicle-mounted .50-caliber machine gun could mean the difference between life and death.
Comfort
You don’t have to ride on uncomfortable seats or freeze in the winter just because the world ended. While you’re tricking out your SHTF ride, make sure you’re considering things like comfort. Choose options that are easy to repair if necessary. But if you really want a Mad Max-style apocalypse ride with the world’s biggest stereo system, then feel free to modify until your heart is content.
Looking Forward
No one wants to think about the end of the world. But the only way we’re going to survive it is if we’re ready for anything. That means having a bunker to hole up in or an apocalypse convoy ready to go as soon as the shit hits the fan and things go pear-shaped. That means tricking out your apocalypse ride so it’s ready for anything, from deep puddles to hordes of the walking dead.
The goal here is to be ready for anything. We can watch the Doomsday Clock creep closer and closer to midnight, but when it comes down to it, we have no idea how the world ends. It could be a nuke. It could be aliens. It could be zombies. It could be a global pandemic more dangerous than COVID-19, or a comet to rival the one that destroyed the dinosaurs.
Whatever the case, we need to be ready for it if we hope to have any chance of survival. Don’t let the end of the world catch you with your pants down.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
Leave a Reply