Any vehicle's carrying capacity is vastly improved with a roofrack. My first 240 Volvo wagon had one, it's successor did not. I was griefstricken at the loss until I scrounged another unit. You toss a tarp over the load and have an additional shelter component. Any post disaster area is going to be a nightmare for wheeled vehicles. Acquire a wheelbarrow body, seatbelt webbing and some cordage. You can drag and manhandle a decent load with this rig.

I deleted posts that addresed the political fingerpointing. ETS is to promote people being prepared. It is not to promote or demote either Michael Moore or George W. The quoted letter contained more hot air and debri missiles than Katrina and violated forum standards. It should have been quoted in the campfire with a disclaimer and caveat as to the language and content. Nothing personal people, I'm just doing my ( hopefully) impartial katydyn ceramic filter gig.

"Water water everywhere... not a drop to drink" lamented the Ancient Mariner.

I looked into the tires awhile ago...some problems with them is that they were designed for a heavy suspension....not just a beefed up suspension but one that is designed for it. When I wanted to put them on my minivan they said not to bother. The ride would be horrendous and the van is not designed for them so handling and safety would be affected. Since they were more expensive tires than the ones I needed (and they were pretty expensive to begin with) and since the guy was trying to talk me OUT of them I figured it was good advice to avoid them. Only my .02 c worth...check them out first.

I looked into those once (funny we had made the mistake of owning a minivan also at the time) and there was one place in the whole city that could install them and you had to have the pressure monitor also since you couldn't tell if they were flat any other way.

I have been checking into them. One salesman did say they'll ride rougher than a 'normal' tire. I'm thinking since this will be my emergency vehicle, I don't care what it rides like as long as it rides! In this case, I'll take tough over comfort. Maybe I should just look into something with tracks! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, they have to say that. I know for a fact you can tell when run flats have a puncture without a sensor. Because I have run flats, and the $150 sensors are gone from three of the tires due to one inexperienced droid at the place I got my last set. Crushed the sensors removing the tires. The car starts to pull toward the side with the flat tire. Once you feel that, just get a guage and check. Easy.

Instead of buying run flats why not use slime.

http://www.slime.com/

Here is the required warning,

WARNING: For high speed application (over 65 mph) use only as a repair - may cause excessive vibration when installed in front tires - to ensure safety, have treated tire inspected by qualified tire professional as soon as possible after puncture occurs. Slime will not seal sidewall punctures and should not be used with faulty valves or damaged rims.

I haven't used this in a car or truck tire, but i have used it for many other applications and it works great.

I could not agree less. While it is all very well and good for us to sit here and day, sure, I understand that all that weight on the roof raises my COG, and effects my handling characteristics, it doen't effect the fact that you can lay over your average SUV in a 35 MPH emergency lane changes manuever if you put 400# on the roof. Too much, you say?

Rack: 100#; spare tire 55#, 20g cas in cans: 150#, HiLift jack: 35#; chains, shovel, axe, come-along etc? ?#?.

Also, re. tires: I put 10 ply Michelins on one of my Range Rovers. Dumbest thing I ever did. Raised it by 1" -- good. Handled like a brick, and rode like a tank -- not good. When I took them off 30,000 miles later, they had tread seperations in 3 of the 4.

I remember years ago there was a product similer to that on the market and it would really mess up tires, I forget exactly how, but I wouldn't use it on car/truck/motorcycle tires. Bike, lawnmower tires, or something like that, yea sure, but I wouldn't trust it for much more.