T2K survival..RV style

[mikeo80]

I was sitting here at my computer, reading some of the posts, enjoying an adult beverage...And I had a thought. (Oh, no! )

Somehow, the movie Independance Day came to mind. Specifically the part where Captain Hiller (Will Smith) meets Russell Casse (Randy Quaid) as Russell is part of a caravan of RV's and other camping types escaping from the devistation of Los Angeles.

So...my thought ran...is this a viable tactic

In favor:

1) Mobility. Yes, RV's have a horrifying MPG rating. But you CAN move. A full tank of gas would get something like Russell's RV about 350-400 miles.

2) Comforts. You can sleep in a bed, have a roof over your head, cook something on the internal stove, have about 50 gallons of water, whatever food is stored on board. You can even use the internal toilet.

Against:

1) Reserve stocks. RV's have a good bit of internal room. Nothing like our houses, though. I would think that after a week to ten days, you are empty.

2) Mobility. Once you are out of gas, you are DONE. No movement.

I am interested to see what you think.

My $0.02

Mike

[Medic]

Take an 8-ton (metric) delivery truck and convert it to an RV. You'll have much more room and if you choose wisely (let's say, Mercedes-Benz Actros or Unimog), you'll have (at least some) off-road mobility as well. With a bigger vehicle, more room for stores and relatively smaller mile per gallon ratio.

Edit: And if you want true mobility, no matter the weather, build the RV on Ural or Zil and you can guarantee, it will start even in -35 degrees centigrade - if not, build a fire underneath the engine and try again in fifteen minutes.

[weswood]

Don't forget that most decent sized RVs have an onboard generator.

As far as fuel, it's like any other vehicle. Convert it to alchohol or biodiesel.

[pmulcahy11b]

As far as T2K vs Independence Day -- in Independence Day. the apocalypse is severe, but it has just happened. Not everything is wrecked or worn out, and people are still civilized and patriotic (at the end, for the entire planet).

In T2K, the apocalypse has been going on for nearly five years. Almost everything that still works is being quickly overworked. Civilization has given way to mere survival in most cases. Patriotism is given to whoever allows you to take care loved ones.

Your RV is a luxury now, because it still works. Therefore, it's a target for criminals, or may be taken by your new government because it's something that works. Most civilian vehicles are not built for such abuse, and most other RVs haven't survived to this point. You need to be heavily armed to keep your RV, and to take spares from other people who have them. (How many campaigns have you been in where the players have become marauders out of necessity)

Such a large caravan of RVs will not happen in T2K.

[stormlion1]

Spare parts are a issue, as a rolling caravan moves in time they will begin to break down and parts for RV's may share some compatibility with other vehicles that compatibility will not be a 100%. I give it something like a few months before they begin to break down and scrounging fails to find fresh parts. Even tires will be a issue given time. On a lighter note, you can always pull the engines and lighten the load and have cattle or horses pull them and replace the tires with something more durable.

[mikeo80]

Paul and StormLion1 are both correct. Paul is right because he reminded me of the time frame involved, Stormlion because IF RV caravan is going, parts do become an issue. That will teach me to post while indulging in an adult beverage.

How about this The caravan starts during/right after TDM That fits more into the Independance Day scenario, the govts have not absconded with anything left over, parts are still available, gas is somewhat available (power for gas pumps comes to mind), criminals are still reeling from TDM as much as anyone. There, that might cover it

My $0.02

Mike

[raketenjagdpanzer]

You'd basically be stuck with backroads (which isn't necessarily a bad thing given the social breakdown, but fraught with it's own hazards as well) given that most/all cars on the highways would be dead, stuck in the lanes, due to EMP.

[stormlion1]

If you have a working RV the main roads will be a good source of parts and most especially tires. Your going to want to load up on tires and tire patch kits. Which of course adds weight which reduces mileage. Which will already be reduced due to running on back roads and dirt roads as there the ones most likely be to clear. The best bet is to act like a Gypsy Caravan. Moving short distances and setting up shop for a time and then moving on scrounging as you go. One thing I will say though your standard RV isn't bulletproof so anyone takes a pot shot at it is going to leave holes.

[Tegyrius]

I think the real value of an RV chassis may not be in a conventional one with living quarters, but in one that serves as a specialized facility on wheels. A mobile dental clinic*, health clinic, veterinary clinic**, workshop/machine shop, soil testing laboratory***, or so forth is going to provide much greater functionality than a few cases of portable equipment. With proper staffing, it also becomes a serious resource that can be used to barter with survivor communities. In this scenario, the PCs can either be part of the primary specialist team, "convoy" security and scouts, or other support specialists.

If you want to stretch the concept, you also could build a convoy around a mobile command post, which serves as both team comm/ops center and a link back to a higher echelon to which the PCs presumably report.

Going a little farther afield, I've always thought a racing team's support trailer would be interesting as a base vehicle (particularly in a Merc: 2000 setting). With one of the bigger 53' semi-trailers, you get living quarters and a workshop area and tools. Fueling that prime mover is gonna suck, though.

- C.

* After three years of unchecked tooth decay, how much would you pay for anesthesia and professional removal

** May sound useless, but consider its value in a livestock-dependent agricultural community.

*** Likewise a potentially priceless resource for re-establishing agriculture after several years of nuclear and chemical warfare, population movement, and uncontrolled industrial waste releases.

[Cdnwolf]

Two good books that deal with moving across the country after an apocalypse are "The Stand" by Stephen King (get the extended version) and "The Last Canadian" by William Heine.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2775873-the-last-canadian

[rcaf_777]

Here are some examples that I found

[Apache6]

Travel trailers are much more 'economical'

Gentlemen: In real life I bought a travel trailer rather then an RV, since there is less to break on a trailer then an RV. I already had a truck, that can pull a trailer, as most military vehciles could.

All the advantages with in my opinion less of the costs/logistics. The "West Side Boys" group I posted had their Headman equipped with a trailer as a 'luxury' and status symbol.

[Apache6]

T2K RVs

I think some of these might be seen

[Apache6]

More PA RVs

3 More

[Cdnwolf]

Come off of it... no one thought of this classic (Stripes with Bill Murray)

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=bENF08EyIck&feature=player_embedded