Survival Resources Found in Your Car or Truck

If you are lost in the back country or looking for resources after TEOTWAWKI, an automobile can be a gold mine of survival items.  Every year I see stories of people who get lost and die after leaving their vehicles.  This year two adults and several children were stuck in Nevada, and by staying with their jeep and using their resources were able to survive.

If you are lost and there is a search being conducted to find you, a vehicle is easier to spot from a plane or road.  It provides shelter from the wind and rain.  Lying under it can shelter you from the sun.

How you use the vehicle depends on whether you are lost and awaiting rescue or are you building a camp after TEOTWAWKI.  Now I am not saying it is OK to loot after TEOTWAWKI, but an abandoned car maybe the difference between life and death.

Some ideas on how to use a vehicle for survival.

  • The battery can be used to start a fire or reused for other purposes.  Don’t forget the BIC lighter.
  • Wiring has many uses from making a snare to tying bush together to improve your shelter.
  • Tires can be burned or used to make sandals
  • The oil drained from the crankcase can be used to make a signal fire.
  • Gasoline can be used to start a fire.  Even if you vehicle has ran out of gas, you may find a small amount in the fuel lines.
  • The interior of the car contains foam rubber in the seats that can be used to insulate clothes or start fires.
  • The material from the headliners in some vehicles can be used to improvise clothing, hats, or to repair gear.
  • By searching the car, you may find food, tools, scrap paper, an old water bottle, or other items that can be of use to you.
  • If the vehicle is old enough to have real hubcaps, you can use them to boil water or cook with.
  • The top of the side windows can be use to sharpen your knives.  See the link to Improvised Knife Sharpeners.
  • You may be able to improvise a knife or a frog gig from parts of the car.
  • The mirrors can be use to signal a plane.
  • Take the seats out to sit in the shade and stay out of hot desert sand.
  • You can wire up the battery to a headlight to use as a signaling device at night.
  • Many cars have some magnesium parts that can be shaved and used as fire starters.
See also  7 common misconceptions about wilderness survival

The above is only a partial list; in a real situation, you would find more survival uses as the situation develops.  Now I understand that you would be reluctant to damage your own vehicle when lost, but it is better than losing your life.  The vehicle can be replaced.

Howard

 

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4 thoughts on “Survival Resources Found in Your Car or Truck”

    1. Parts of the steering column in a newer impala has magnesium. Whe that car burned the only part that couldbot be put out was the column. It burned for hours the fire chief said it was magnesium because the way the water reacted to it.

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