Well, Chris, I'd say you win, hands down. Not only are you good to go, off road, but your ride can graze for fuel, he's an extra set of ears at camp, and if worse comes to worst, you've got meat on the hoof (sorry, I couldn't resist) <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


Troy

My usualy vehicle is a hunk of junk that looks like it has been a few wars.

The back up is my best vehicle. It runs on almost anything, can go any where, and can even handle near vertical surfaces. My feet.

My 1988 S10 4x4 would regularly hit almost 30mpg with a cap on the back and my tools. Whya year is yours and it is auto or manual, 4 door ro 2 door. The older Blazers had the gas tank behind the rear axle and the newer 4 door it moved to infront of the rear axle like the trucks. It looks like from the frame drawings that you many be able to put an older rear tank under the rear of the front tank blazer ( a guy on s10 extremists forum did it with his truck and I had planned to do it with mine). You will need to look at getting the external rear mount if you don't have it already (can't just bolt it on if you don't there is a brace inside the body it bolts to). I woulod say don't put in a rear tank unless you do add the external tire for crash protection though I still see a lot of vehicles with the rear tank and they pass gov tests I'd much rather have an extra layer behind it.

2004 Honda CR-V. 4WD but fairly good MPG (4-cylinder). Room for 5 w/ good storage but small enough to navigate traffic, sidewalks, etc. Good traction and decent ground clearance--at least compared to a car. While it's more reliable most 4WDs, it's not nearly as rugged or easy to repair yourself, so it's a toss-up. But it's a good compromise for a citydweller (Chicago), and it's great to not have to dig out parking spaces in the winter.

Get some jerry cans.

300 miles on a tank is OK. You have to pass emissions testing so radical changes to your powertrain are likely to be expensive (heck, they're not cheap anyway). Without knowing your specifcs it's hard to say, but it is possible that you could gain some economy with a re-programing of your engine computer (or replacement) but there are still mechanical limits to what that can accomplish (valve size, lift, duration, & timing, compression ratio, internal efficiency of things - like mains - etc etc etc).

With really careful driving you might be able to squeeze another 100 miles out of a tank - being in overdrive but below 45 mph is a place to start if you're on the level. A dashboard vacuum gauge can help if you know how to interpret it in various load conditions. But in a bugout situation I'm betting that driving demands are going to kick one's fuel milage severely in the opposite direction - and even a short term in 4wd will suck some serious fuel.

By far the cheapest thing to do is add capacity. Safest way GENERALLY is to add a fuel tank (if there are any aftermarket ones for your S-10 Blazer). Cheapest way is what's already been suggested - jerry cans. It takes discipline to keep them fueled with stabilizer added (and you still should empty/refill often - ideally monthly, especially if, like here, fuel blend varies with the season).

[rant] Unlike many other countries, no one here sells a good little 4wd with a small 4 cyl diesel (The Liberty 2.8L is a maybe, I guess). And now too many companies have replaced good little 4 cyl gasoline chuggers with multi-valve high rpm engines that truly suck at motoring along whilst sipping fuel. Ironic, since the tech now really would allow far superior small truck engines compared to the older carburated non-EEC engines. Everyone wants to blast down the highway instead... that takes HP and rpm (and fuel). Some of the same small trucks sold here are available elsewhere with neat little diesels; I've used them, and they are more suitable for this sort of thing. Moving to bigger vehicles like I drive, I SERIOUSLY object to the price premium I have to pay for a diesel engine - I simply cannot justify the cost difference; I will never recoup the savings in fuel. [rant]

Assuming that changing vehicles is not an option, planning and prep and practice (all of which CAN be entertaining if you wish) will be more important than your range. I'm oversimplifying, but we have always planned 3 stages (the intermediate stage depends on bridges, so maybe it's 4 stages). Vehicles, AT bikes (or canoes), and on foot (or snowshoe). In answer to another question, all the ATV's I've ever owned or used will run without problem far longer than I care to stay astride one, in the worst conditions imaginable. But I'm not equipping my family of 6 with ATVs - I no longer own even one as of last month.

Tom

If worse comes to worst, when the roads are screwed, most people will forget an obvious alternate "road" - the railroad! I'm not talking about driving on the rail part or over the railroad ties (good way to shake yourself to death!), but rather in the right of way alongside the tracks. For those with trucks or SUVs it might be a good way to get across town or even out of town. You might have to actually straddle the rails at some point in order to drive across a bridge, though. Be warned that as soon as everybody sees you do it, you will have lots of followers!

My $.02 worth.

I recommend you maximize your escape options. An SUV with four wheel drive will give you the most options. Some extra gas cans is a good idea! Have a PSK for your vehicle. If you have to abandon the vehicle then have your BOB with you. The best bet seems to be to head for an area with water that can be purified for drinking. A good water filtration system would be good as well as water purification tablets.

The most likely scenario is like after a hurricane disaster in Florida. You may have to look out for yourself at first. Over time support services will be available. You will have to either shelter in place or evacuate to a government designated shelter. Your food and medical supplies will run out over time and you will be forced by circumstances to seek out a shelter. As time goes on life should get back to some kind of normalcy.

If you are expecting an EOWAWKI then you will need to learn primitive survival skills. Don’t expect to live a long healthy life. With no medical resources any small problems can turn into a life-threatening event. As time goes on all technology devices will become useless. Batteries and ammo will run out. You will be down to Stone Age survival.

I have and 89, s-10 blazer, automatic, 4x4, 4.3 liter it gets at best 17 mpg. How do you get 30 mpg? <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

My 77 "burbkin" suburban. It is pumpkin orange with simulated wood paneling. It utilizes the old tried and true differential mechanical 4wd system. I rebuilt the 406 cu. in motor and added an edelbrock dominator intake and custom header exhaust. It weighs over three tons with just a driver and 35 gallons of gas in it. It will climb hills like a mountain goat, and skin logs off the hitch all day long. I can pack a 9 day elk camp in it, complete with wall tent and all the fixings, and still have room for three passengers. It looks like crud, but it does the job every year, regardless of the weather conditions. I've driven it down both escape routes at 60+ mph with no problems, except almost annhilating a porcupine once.

I can pack a full ton of stuff in it. People tend to get out of the way of me when I drive to/from work when I am back home.

After being here in Baghdad, the only thing I might add to the rig is a turret! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The auto will be the biggest hinderance to your MPG. I regularly see up to 5mpg difference between auto and manual s10's when people list their mpg on the different s10 forums. Mine was a 4banger too which helped out as well with no AC or cruise or anything else fancy, pretty much the only option was 4x4. A lot of people say 4x4 hurts milage but looking again at the listings on the various s10 forums I can see little difference between the milage of a 4x4 and 2wd.