customizing an ATV for tactical or bugout use

[ISC]

I know I'll never have a tank, or even an armored car. Those would be useless for most things I could ever imagine doing, as much as I'd love to own one. I can think of some advantages to having a ride to the fight for obvious reasons. I understand that several different types of side by side ATVs are used by special ops types all over the world.

The side by side has obvious advantages for a team, but I want to talk about the less expensive standard quad. I wonder what sorts of things you'd want to change to one to make it more suitable for a Ranger type of insertion vehicle.

I'd start with a 500cc 4wd Quad with reverse and PTO. Then, I'd modify it by:

1) Blackout and IR lights
2) increased alternator and battery output
3) 12V and 120V inverter power outlets
4) Solar charging panels
5) High efficiency silencing muffler that can be easily bypassed
6) snorkel
7) weatherproof electronics enclosure
8) GPS, radio,
9) gun and cargo racks
10) detachable fuel drop tanks
11) detachable winch/hitch with front and rear receivers
12) foot rests for passenger
13) Tie downs

The goal would be to have a vehicle that could be lifted into the bed of a small truck by two people easily and unloaded by one.

Are any those ideas too far fetched? What would be a good thing to add?

[Herr Walther]

Re: customizing an ATV for tactical or bugout use

A very large fuel tank.

[ISC]

Re: customizing an ATV for tactical or bugout use

I was thinking a large tank, but also drop tanks that could be used by switching a valve, then removed to be carried while foraging for fuel.

If they were attached the right way they could also act as a flotation device for fording a river. I'd want water cans secured the same way.

[RT]

Re: customizing an ATV for tactical or bugout use

I was thinking a large tank, but also drop tanks that could be used by switching a valve, then removed to be carried while foraging for fuel.

If they were attached the right way they could also act as a flotation device for fording a river. I'd want water cans secured the same way.

I like the idea of the auxiliary tanks, and realistically, you will have time I the field to just transfer fuel.

I like everything on your list, except as I look at small tactical vehicles, I want to be able to carry two fully equipped men and all mission related load out on one vehicle. The obvious problem then is that vehicle is too large for the bed of a common pickup, therefore must be street legal, and therefor can't go down the road tarped over and looking like a civilian cargo payload.

So there is a use for those ATVs, but it might be more limited than you think. Personally, in your area, I would be looking at those amphibious things like LAWCOP has.

For an ATV setup though, I would say you pretty much have it pegged.

[ISC]

Re: customizing an ATV for tactical or bugout use

I specifically want to have a detachable auxiliary tank because I want the flexibility to be able to stash the ATV and forage for a radius from it to find more fuel and/or a better vehicle.

I figure that if I decided that I wanted to make an off road cross country trip, having a small ATV to scout around in would be very helpful, especially in heavily wooded areas. Also, if you had a vehicle breakdown, the ATV would be a huge assistance getting parts.

[RT]

Re: customizing an ATV for tactical or bugout use

I specifically want to have a detachable auxiliary tank because I want the flexibility to be able to stash the ATV and forage for a radius from it to find more fuel and/or a better vehicle.

I figure that if I decided that I wanted to make an off road cross country trip, having a small ATV to scout around in would be very helpful, especially in heavily wooded areas. Also, if you had a vehicle breakdown, the ATV would be a huge assistance getting parts.

A lot of farmers do it that way, especially as they get older and farms seem more remote. One of the coolest survival retreat patrol/utility vehicles I ever saw was a 1980s Subaru 4wd station wagon with the doors removed and top entirely cut off, so it was like a big sled. Body flex with the top removed gets a bit too crazy for highway use, but kind of decent for dirt roads as long as you keep the speed down. Scary stealthy In the Texas desert because the body ended up lower to the ground than the tumbleweed.

[paintballmagnet]

Re: customizing an ATV for tactical or bugout use

A ATV specific is probably the most useful thing to have. With torsion suspension they will actually flex with ATV size loads yet allow several hundred pounds load rating, this depending on whether you go single or double axle. With a you can actually carry enough ammo, gear, food and water to have a chance surviving bugging out, yet they don't slow you down too much and you can always drop if need be.

[LAWCOP]

Re: customizing an ATV for tactical or bugout use

FIT in the back of a pickup.
Back up against a hill and drive it on
unbelievably rugged
run over things other have to go around

PUT DEEP WATER BETWEEN YOU AND ANYONE TRYING TO FOLLOW

Carry 1000 pounds of gear
with tracks go through snow that would stop anyone not on snowshoes... but carry a lot more farther and faster

MAke a retreat to that island in the middle of the lake no one can carry a boat to.

http://argoatv.com/