Do you think you are ready for tough times? Disasters, riots, maybe even the collapse of society. Good preppers pride themselves on being ready for every situation, but even for the most dedicated among us, there are some things that will literally turn our whole world upside down.
One of those events is an EMP. Caused by cosmic activity, a nuclear warhead detonation, or some sort of specialty generator weapon, an EMP could permanently destroy anything using a circuit board, or anything connected to the power grid itself.
With all electronics out of action, your survival plan is going to change dramatically, and change even more when you find out that your vehicle doesn’t work anymore.
If your daily driver goes down hard, you’ll have to hoof it, but some older vehicles are inherently EMP-resistant or EMP-proof. These are great to have as part of your EMP preparations, so keep reading and I’ll tell you about 10 of them.
Suzuki Samurai / SJ410
One of the best competitors to the Jeep Wrangler that has ever been made, these tiny SUVs weren’t in the American market for very long but are excellent off-road, extremely simple, and surprisingly reliable. The minimal use of electronics throughout is a definite advantage for overall EMP readiness.
The earlier models have a 63 horsepower 4-cylinder engine and don’t handle particularly well on the highway. Later models introduced in the late ’80s feature better gearing for improved on-road speed and an improved dashboard.
I would definitely stick with any of the models made in the ’80s, even though the Samurai stuck around until the mid-90s.
Cargo room and passenger capacity are a major shortcoming for this tiny two-seater, but the use of external storage and cross-country routes should allow you to bug out even in the aftermath of an EMP.
Jeep CJ
You knew, you just knew, that Jeep was going to make an appearance on this list somewhere. I think when it comes to discussions of prepper vehicles, there is a law that Jeep has to be featured at some point.
Jokes aside, and current woes of the brand discounted, the venerable Jeep CJ is essentially a slightly upgraded civilian version of the military crawler that helped GIs win World War II.
With incredible off-road capability and surprising simplicity, a well-maintained Jeep is highly reliable and quite EMP-resistant.
But like all two-door 4x4s, you’ve got precious little room for cargo inside the body, and even less room for people. Your front-seat passenger won’t have it too bad aside from the kidney-rupturing ride, but you’ll have room for just a few packs and little else besides.
As you might have expected, chances are good this will be one of the more expensive options on our list owing to the enduring popularity of Jeeps generally, and the sheer rabidity of the fan base.
Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
A genuine icon among hardcore off-roading disciples, Toyota’s FJ40 Land Cruiser is almost peerless off-road and more durable and reliable than any other similar vehicle we’ve looked at.
It’s also incredibly popular and ubiquitous, with countless numbers being exported to countries around the world.
Incredibly, supplies of the classic early 1980s and pre-’80s FJ40s are drying up rapidly in America, and surviving examples, even in rough non-running shape, command a steep price.
Even so, it could certainly be worth it, especially if you want an EMP-resistant daily driver that you can be enjoying right now.
I’ve seen so many of these 4x4s with hundreds and hundreds of thousands of miles still running smoothly and reliably, so you know you can count on one of these to go the distance.
Ford Bronco
Older Ford Broncos are artifacts from another time, back when American automobiles weren’t synonymous with garbage build quality. Workmanlike, reliable, highly capable off-road, and still surprisingly civilized on-road, first-generation Broncos make a fine ride for preppers concerned about EMPs.
Frankly, there isn’t much to go wrong concerning essential components in the motor, fuel system, and drivetrain. Again, it’s not out of the question that lights and the radio might give up the ghost, but that is a relatively minor concern.
The great thing about older Broncos, if you’re willing to search for one, is that they came in many configurations, including a short-bed pickup truck, open-top convertible, or even a wagon.
Also, bound to please some preppers, are the massive power plants available to these trucks: V6 and V8 engines came factory standard depending on the trim!
There’s lots to like about the Bronco in this capacity, but you probably won’t like the price if you find one in running condition.
Chevy Blazer K5
Compared to the mythically capable and highly regarded SUVs and 4x4s we talked about, Chevy’s Blazer seems bland, almost uninspired. Despite its middling success and recognition, it is nonetheless excellent for our purposes as long as you take the time to track down an early model.
Mercedes Unimog
These hulking articulated frame trucks lack the grace and panache that the Mercedes brand is usually associated with, but they are deservedly worshiped by off-roaders because of their durability and unstoppable capability.
There have been countless Unimog variants made over the decades, and there’s no shortage of them out there if you’re willing to find one and, potentially, have it imported.
Models made before 1980 are the choice for EMP readiness because that is about the time they started to get loaded down with advanced electronics – electronics that are highly prone to being burned out when the big one pops off!
If you plan on going cross-country or taking an off-road route to your bug-out location, the Unimog might be the very best choice there is: uniquely, these trucks have articulated frames and high ground clearance that lets them crawl right over even the most rugged terrain and obstacles that would stop other 4x4s cold.
But, if you’re going to commit to the Unimog it is going to be as a specialist vehicle: they are too huge and too fuel-inefficient to be used as a daily driver by most folks.
Volkswagen Beetle
Now that I’ve upset every “war rig” advocate reading this article, let me make a case for why the Volkswagen Beetle is actually an inspired choice for an EMP-readiness vehicle.
Aside from being absolutely ubiquitous, reliable, and efficient, 1970s and earlier Beetles have a complete lack of electronics that will knock the car out of action in the aftermath of an EMP.
Sure, the radio might be out, but you can live without that, especially if you have your own that was kept in a Faraday cage. You are keeping a radio in a Faraday cage, aren’t you?
You can get parts for vintage Beetles absolutely everywhere, literally all around the globe, and the small size and agility of these cars mean they are perfect for squeezing between other knocked-out vehicles on the road.
If you want to up your prepper cred a little bit, you might consider converting one into a dune buggy for excellent off-road capability.
Ford F-100
If there was ever a pickup truck that screamed American, it has to be the Classic Ford F-100.
Simple, extremely easy to maintain, and using minimal electronics across all generations prior to the early 1980s, the F-100 can be a perfect EMP readiness vehicle if you’re going to be moving cargo around.
F-100s come in many different configurations, some with longer beds and some with shorter, and plenty of other options besides depending on the year of production.
There are tons of these trucks still out there, many of them ready to run and many that can be made to run if you have a little bit of automotive skill and elbow grease.
Chevy C and K Series Trucks
Another great pickup truck option for EMP preparedness, the Chevy C and K class trucks are two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive respectively, and were first introduced in the 1960s…
My choice, of course, for a dedicated bug-out vehicle or EMP-ready daily driver would be four-wheel drive. There’ll be plenty of obstacles to hop over and opportunities to go off-road, trust me.
But no matter whether you get the two-wheel or four-wheel drive version, these trucks are brutally simple, reliable, and capable.
Parts are still available pretty much everywhere, and by the standards of later 20th-century automobiles, the pre-1972 models are basically devoid of advanced electronics that could prove vulnerable to an EMP.
Nissan 720
The Nissan 720 is a small, efficient, and practical pickup truck that looks like a clown car compared to the modern road monsters produced by the company and other truck manufacturers today.
Nonetheless, it can serve ably as a bug-out or general-purpose vehicle post-EMP…
Like the Ford and Chevy trucks we discussed earlier, these are amazingly simple vehicles. They are very easy to service and there are few components that are notably EMP-vulnerable.
But like some of the smaller options elsewhere on our list, passenger space is at a decided premium and even the bed can fill up quickly if you are hauling gear for your group or family.
Nonetheless, this is one of my favorite options but it comes with a catch: presently, they are enjoying resurgence among collectors and enthusiasts, meaning the ones you do find for sale will likely be expensive compared to similar model year trucks.
They are capable off-road, generally reliable, and have plenty of power thanks to a standard 6-cylinder and optional 8-cylinder engine. Unlike the jittery Suzuki and the borderline primitive Jeep CJ, the Blazer handles just fine on the highway, even at speed.
Best of all, passenger comfort is a step above most competitors and you’ll enjoy ample cargo room in the back. A great choice for an EMP-resistant vehicle, even if it is a boring one by other metrics!
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