Top 5 Reasons to Avoid Zombie Defense in a Vehicle
“When the zombie outbreak happens, I am going to grab my family, hop in the car, and get the hell out of town.” This flawed logic will only get you killed. Below are the top five reasons why a mobile zombie defense should not include your vehicle.
- Where are you going? Really… where are you going in that car of yours? If you are going to make the mobile defense commitment, you need to have a plan, a back up plan, and a plan for when all of the above fails. You will be stuck in a car and could possibly drive yourself to your grave by ending up in a place that was worse off than where you began.
- Gas will not last forever. Should widespread panic overtake the masses, gas could easily become a very valuable supply, thus making gas stations not the most ideal stopping point. For argument’s sake, suppose you actually do end up with a full tank of gas. That supply will eventually run out, possibly leaving you in the middle of an area that is unfamiliar and flooded with the undead.
- The vehicle structure does not offer the strongest defense standpoint. A vehicle is not as sturdy as a building. The average vehicle will have vulnerable spots and weak areas due to the glass. A large van or bus might offer more security, however, you run a safety risk attempting to find a working bus that you would not have normally had access to. Just as a home, a vehicle presents entry and exit points which you need to consider as you might find yourself in a situation where you are defending against multiple attackers.
- Supplies are limited and generally unavailable. Unless you keep a MZPK in your car or find a vehicle with some magical stash of survival supplies, you might find yourself ill-equipped. Perhaps you are just using your vehicle to get to a stationary defense location and think to yourself “I won’t need any defense supplies because I am heading home.” What about a break-down? What about a road overtaken by the zombie horde? Will you have adequate supplies to survive should you have to ditch the vehicle and go on foot?
- Roadways are not dependable. A large scale zombie attack could shut down the main roadways and interstates quickly and easily. Vehicles left behind now serve as road blocks or obstacles. Bridges could be blocked or destroyed and previously dependable “back roads” and “side roads” could run a greater risk of being overrun by nearby groups of zombies.
Max Brooks documents the mobile defense and use of vehicles in The Zombie Survival Guide in a section entitled “On the run”. While Mr. Brooks mentions some of the above, he also does not condemn the use of a vehicle. Simply getting into a vehicle for mobility is a death sentence. Getting into a vehicle as a part of your well thought and executed zombie plan is ensuring your survival.
Remember, view everything as a tool and consider if and how that tool can be used to secure your safety.
Stay safe. Stay informed. Stay alive.
Comments (42)
Will on 06 Mar 2008 at 12:15 am #
These are excellent points. I suggest an armored vehicle, preferably the type used to transport large sums of money. This will ensure your safety. Granted, there are still some of those issues present, mainly #1, 2, and 4, but it’s still an improvement over your average car, or even an SUV.
saeferth on 06 Mar 2008 at 2:58 pm #
The other thing to think about is that cars are noisy (although not as much as bikes and lorries granted), and require maintenance. Now im no mechanic so if i was in a car when it broke down i’d be screwed, leaving me in a far from ideal area.
I dont plan on going out to much to start with, wait till their numbers start to decrease either through us killing them or starvation. but later on i’d move around either on foot, or by a homemade electric bicycle (theyre capable of around 30MPH and can be charged off the sun, and me peddaling the bike). both these options are reliable, low maintenance, low sound solutions.
jediwannabe1 on 06 Mar 2008 at 7:54 pm #
Whoa. Even an armored car is a bad idea. anay vehicle can get flipped by the right amount of zombies. WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
ZzDeuceX on 06 Mar 2008 at 8:50 pm #
Agreed, and armored cars eat gas like lays potato chips. youll be empty before you can say, “i wonder how long it takes a zombie to break through steel?” and then you’ll have to find the answer to that the hard way. There are better ways of getting around than hoping that your vehicle will take all the punishment the zeds can dish.
Hugh on 07 Mar 2008 at 12:19 am #
Another problem with vehicles is if you have a working one not only are you putting yourself at risk of zeds and crashes but anyone who see’s you may just decide that them getting out of the area is more important than your survival. Also vehicles dis-encourage caution and stealth both of which are musts for surviving the zombie apocalypse.
Ivory Legend on 08 Mar 2008 at 3:49 am #
see, the problem with vehicles during early outbreak is that EVERYONE will have the same idea to get the hell outta dodge. so, the streets are gonna be clogged. even if you have a car, full tank of gas and know where you are goin, you might not get there if the streets are too choaked to get anywhere. i suggest fortifying the home from zombies AND looters as they will be around, then after a long while, if the need to move anywhere quick arises, and you know the terrain then maybe a vehicle will work.
saeferth on 08 Mar 2008 at 1:01 pm #
good point. other reason to stay put is that if everyones leaving the city there’ll be less zeds to worry about (since im on the UKs south coast it’ll be a ghost town here if it sweeps in from france).
Ivory Legend on 08 Mar 2008 at 4:50 pm #
for the strangest reason, id almost expect it starting in France…just kidding just kidding
ZzDeuceX on 09 Mar 2008 at 9:23 am #
no-no, you may have somthing there! im all for any theory that doesn’t have it starting in the U.S. weve got enough problems to deal with, and oh by the way, zombies? that would suck. even if the chances are way high that it would probably be our fault… but about vehicles: i still stand by my on foot idea. you’ll never be as manuverable as you will be on foot. nothing else is as trustworthy, and if you play it safe and smart, you may never even have to fight a zombie up-close.
jediwannabe1 on 14 Mar 2008 at 10:03 pm #
If you need to get out of a major city, take a trip on foot for a while. take as many shortcuts as you can to get to where you are going and then when the traffic is not packed like a can of sardines, you could (If you decide to be selfish(not recommended)) steal someones car, or if you’re lucky find an unused car, and finish your trip. but hurry up though because once the zeds mass up you’ll be knee deep in shit
PalookaLord on 18 Mar 2008 at 9:08 pm #
Honestly, if you want to travel somehow, and a car it out of the question, use a bike! Not a motorcycle, I mean pump-with-your-own-two-feet BIKE. They’re faster than walking, quiet, and if you run into something you have to climb over, you can probably even bring the bike with you.
Dax on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:37 pm #
Just a heads up, humans could not, under any circumstances, break through steel, much less a foot thick of it that makes up an armored truck. Yes, you could get flipped, and starve to death from being surrounded, but the zombies will never break in. They’ll just get torn up and broken bashing mindlessly at it, but they won’t EVER make it through. While its undead, its still a human, and thus it’ll break before the steel does, regardless of how many there are.
…and according to the manual, a dirt bike is pretty sweet for offroading and juking through zombies. Obviously, the bicycle is still best for versatility and longevity, but apparently a good out the gate option if ya got it.
ZAC Admin on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:25 pm #
“Yes, you could get flipped, and starve to death from being surrounded, but the zombies will never break in. They’ll just get torn up and broken bashing mindlessly at it, but they won’t EVER make it through. “
Unless they find where the glass is and break through that.
saeferth on 20 Mar 2008 at 4:54 pm #
“Unless they find where the glass is and break through that”
dont they have armoured glass? i know police vans over here have a wire mesh over the windscreen.
paz on 20 Mar 2008 at 9:22 pm #
Excellent blog
ZzDeuceX on 22 Mar 2008 at 12:13 pm #
The problem with an armored car is exactly what you stated. Even if they couldn’t break in, you still get to slowly starve to death, and/or go completly insane from the constant moanng if your vehicle is flipped…or you run out of gas! those heavy trucks guzzle gas all day. it would be almost rediculous the amount of times you would have to get out and fuel up. I’d rather just go around the prolem areas, not bull-rush through them. Unless you absolutley have to, i would avoid the armored vehicle, except as a mobile defensive position.
Carlothezombiekiller on 05 Apr 2008 at 2:42 am #
here`s some suggestions:
1.maybe an armored helicopter with somekind of turrets?
2.tank(?)
3.warboat(?)
4.something that has guns or/and turrets and it is armored.
Rakien on 06 May 2008 at 12:05 am #
” “Yes, you could get flipped, and starve to death from being surrounded, but the zombies will never break in. They’ll just get torn up and broken bashing mindlessly at it, but they won’t EVER make it through. “
Unless they find where the glass is and break through that.”
FYI, the glass on an armored car is bullet proof, something like 3 inches thick, so unless the zombies can figure out how to use power tools, your safe.
“1.maybe an armored helicopter with somekind of turrets?”
lol, an armored helicopter would only be needed if zombies began to fly.
just my thoughts on the ideas.
sobewan1 on 13 May 2008 at 12:15 am #
this is what i would do. Say in an enviornment where an outbreak were to occur, and i was
stranded next to any vehicle i want. it would eb an armoured car. i would first, defend
the car, then i would get into it. and even if it did not start, it would be my home.
in any event that i would escape, i would only use that time to store my house with
supplies needed to live. the best bet would be to wait it out. starvation would bring them
down eventually… hopefully.
Alice Program on 13 May 2008 at 2:09 pm #
Sobewan1: If you lived in an armored car there is a chance that you would die im not tring to be mean im just saying that if you were alone there no way to get away from the dead if they see you.
Now if I had a vehicle it would be a bus like the one from Resident Evil 3 but have the same concepts as the Ghost from The Land of the Dead. Which is some thing that I am building. Have also built a car called PETMNSTR If you want to see pictures of the car check out my myspace page. This Is you will you will Find me Under Lover Boy My Picture is the Grim Reaper.
Lethyes on 19 May 2008 at 8:04 am #
the boat is always the best bet, find yourself a large enough boat able to travel to a deserted island plant some crops domesticate some animals. maybe take some people with you to help.
Alice Program on 21 May 2008 at 1:30 pm #
Lethyes: that would not be wise becuase if a person was wounded by a zombie he might not tell you . And when you do find out it may be to late . then what your trap on a really large boat with mindless zombies. with no weapon but a metal pipe or so.
Man on The Run on 01 Jun 2008 at 5:44 pm #
like Alice Program said you could use a bus such as on Resident Evil 3.I suggest using one outfitting it with 2 150 gallon oil drums or tanks on the inside as you would have quite a bit of fuel in those things to keep going and the space would still be quite large.Also put on the windows on the inside a chain link fence along the sides. On the roof any form of thick metals would work one for support and the other protection Aluminum is great choice, but it wouldn’t be esy to find in large sheets that are thick put this on the top then make a small barrier about 3 ft high of thin aluminum around the sides of the top to make it safer to stand the mount automatic weapons to the top for mobile or stationary defense.
Around the out side of the bus if at all possible put bullet proof tank armor.Though it is inlikely to find this you could place about a quarter inches of solid cast iron around the bus. Leaving holes for the windows and gunports.
Yes this would be an extremely heavy bus but the up side is that it would take anti-tank weapons to destroy this bus. Also it could be used as a mobile fort or even a base when it runs out of fuel.
name the downs.
weight
size
low speed
ups
low speed =’s less roleovers
weight nature still has a kick remmeber tornadoes huricanes etc
size =’s good shelter
Alice Program on 02 Jun 2008 at 1:37 pm #
Man on the Run you are right that much i did not think of though it does help to have some one with other good ideas yet in The resident evil 3 they had a tanker felt with desil fuel that might be better or if it where any other way the I would have a motorcycle with a turret on the front but it might way it downlike in planet torror at the begining
ZombieSlayer on 04 Jun 2008 at 12:49 pm #
Stay at home and stay on foot. Your best zombie defense is silence and being clandestine in every way possible.
Even on a bicycle (yes, still the best option for longevity, running silent and getting past blockades, etc) your chances of survival apart from simply running for your life are slim to none. All of your best defensive tactics can’t be performed on a bicycle, car or whatever (or at least severely less effective). You can’t ride and expect to shoot anything with a firearm (should you be fortunate enough to still have bullets after Z-day), you can’t use a bow and arrow, you can’t effectively use a sword or machete… you’ll still have to go by foot to be effective.
As for cars, use what you can until you run out of gas and then plan on ditching the vehicle for something more effective (or at least that still has gas!). If you have bikes, keep them with you! Tie them to the roof or throw them in the back of a truck, whatever, but keep them!
Buses are deathtraps! If you get in a bus, expect that you may not ever leave it! One, buses are full of strangers and unfortunately (maybe this is a little xenophobic…) strangers are your worst enemy in this type of disaster (1. What if they’ve been bitten, 2. Unpredictability is a bitch, 3. Can you really trust them?, etc). A zombie is predictable but a stranger might shoot you because they don’t know if you’re a zed-head. Aside from strangers, buses and large trucks are fuel hogs requiring as much as 10 times or more fuel than other cars. You also have to understand that unless you are pulling said bus straight out of the lot or away from the fuel pump, it doesn’t have a full tank. Also, many buses use alternative and not easy to acquire fuel sources. Avoid the deathtrap that is a bus, more than likely you’ll be coming across either a mobile coffin or a roving zombie cage.
I would recommend a good pair of running shoes and maybe a little preparation by taking some jogs or at least long walks before Z-day.
Stay alert. Stay alive.
Brainiac on 16 Jun 2008 at 9:53 am #
Even though a vehicle can run out of gas, it is desirable above a building.
I suggest using it to drive of to less populated areas, and, if your vehicle is big enough, you could live in it for weeks, after which you use your remaining supplies to raid the nearest town or approach living humans and trade (anything) for it, and once again, you move on.
Natural_Oddity on 04 Jul 2008 at 2:35 am #
A blimp or hot air balloon would be desirable it is quiet and can store many items and you could scout cities and small towns from above for raids (this is a post zombie survival group) and would be ok if you wanted to pick up survivors and with enough changes you could make a giant hot air balloon for mass movals or evacuation a problem would be fuel but you could reset for zombie proof fort and start the process all over again
Kasper on 11 Jul 2008 at 2:33 am #
In an extended siege, you might have to scout for supplies.
Supposedly a pick-up or a similar, relatively light, spacious vehicle might enable you to bring a lot of resources from raided locations, allowing you to carry out fewer raids. Some metal mesh to cover the windows, of course. This works best if you have some close-able garage, so you can seal in the vehicle upon return, and take out any zombies clinging to it in manageable numbers. This works best in inner city or rural areas, where the clogged roads won’t be as big of a problem as outside of the cities. In rural areas, an off-roader might literally take you off the road, useful if you lose your first fortress. In the absence of an enclosed garage, parking the vehicle around the back so you can reach it from an upper-story window or roof, and then fencing it in just in case. Use this to change fortress if the first one falls.
Needless to say, these are all backups, hopefully your fortification will outlast the zombies
Bennie Escobar on 04 Aug 2008 at 5:48 pm #
Blimps probably would only be good for evacuation, and even then, it would probably be good only right at the onset of the zombie breakout. Sure fuel is an issue, but as the epidemic spreads, in the case of a balloon or an airship, is’s not the zombies you have to worry about, but the less-than-freindly survivors on the ground. They aren’t really armored and can’t exactly move fast. A group of hostile marauders could take it down if they were determined to. Your best bet is, if you have access to said balloon or airship, is to leave it behind or use it as a last resort, simply as a means of getting to a safer location if your place is indefensible or lost completely.
Dr Who on 22 Oct 2008 at 10:04 pm #
Have you ever made a 20 mile hump? I have with s full pack, and I’ll tell you, the last thing you will be ready for at the end if a good fight. And that is if you’re in excellent shape. Your best bet for getting out of the city and suburbs intact is a motorcycle. You have speed, mobility, low fuel useage, and you can move it a bit if you have too. There are few places that will be inaccessable to you and those that are, you probably don’t want to be there anyways. Those areas will leave you too open to surprise attacks. Once out of the city and resulting traffic, slow down, find a truck and supplies. Get you bike into the back of the truck if you can, if not ditch the bike. Don’t get attached to any vehicles. It may suck to be on foot again, but keep moving away from the cities, even if you have to hoof it again. NEVER double back looking for a way to cross a river or something. Remember a barrier to you, is a bigger barrier to them.
Rain on 14 Nov 2008 at 9:27 am #
A helicopter? Do any of you even know how to fly one? They’re NOT easy to fly, and trying to figure it out with no training will get you killed, quick. You also speak of other aircraft such as hot air baloons, these too are not easy to fly, or land, without training. Get training on any sort of aircraft before the ‘zompocalypse’ or dont even concider it an option.
Military bases have small APCs and other tracked vehicles, and other useful transports. And these armored, tracked vehicles are surprisingly easy to drive. I would reccomend a striker armored transport or the best option, a Hemmit. A Hemmit isn’t the most fuel effecient thing ever but you would be able to knock cars out of the way or drive over them. Its also large enough and heavy enough that short of 2000 zombies pushing on it, it wouldnt flip. With a top speed of 80mph and an 80 gallon deisel fuel tank, this beast would last awhile.
A hemmit has other useful features like extra storage capacity, armored cab and glass, and a hydraulic crane on the back.
Include a little trip to a military base in such a crisis, especially one very near the outbreak. It’s risky because you’re moving into enemy territory, but a base wouldn’t mobilize its troops fast enough to make a stand, or even get many weapons out of armories, if any. So you will have a military base with tremendous ammounts of weapons and gear oriented for war.
Find your nearest military post, maybe take a trip there and visit an on post museum, but find out where it is. When the crap hits the fan, you will be glad you did.
GonzoTheBurner on 01 Jan 2009 at 5:40 am #
I hear alot of far fetched ideas of balloons and armored cars and military vehicles and what not. Now this is supposed to be about avoiding vehicle travel on Z-Day. Well all you super fit joggers with tons of ammo and essentials won’t make mile 3, especially if you are trying to navigate and fight of the undead. I was in the military, infantry, I know. No one can deny the fact that a vehicle will get you there faster. It will also save you needed calories and a tired body.
There are risks of being stranded in the zombie masses, no matter how well you are prepared. And this talk of running out of gas is a mute point. You get as far as you can, if anything slows you down, ditch it.
Now for speed, I think Dax has it right with the dirt bike. It can go over rough terrain, is relatively fuel efficient and can weave thru gridlock traffic and stopped cars.
And I’m surprised no one mentioned one of the best vehicles for zombie cruisin’ ever. It’s extremely common, practicaly armored and can handle rough terrain as well as piles of slackjaws. It’s the poor man’s tank- the dump truck. Think about it. It’s not hard to picture this as the must have transport for Z-day and the days that follow.
Other than the obvious benifits, a dump truck would be easy to locate and since they are commercial vehicles, they would most likely have keys on the premises where they are parked (for those who don’t know how to steal vehicles). There are even automatic transmissions in quite a few of them for those who are shift shy.
Now a class A commercial drivers licsense is required and recommended to drive these babies. There’s no substitute for experience, and there’s no better way to learn than to jump in the driver’s seat and do it.
Now I would only recommend this if it is essential to travel long distances and gather supplies and definitely not for urban areas(if preventable. Better for long streaches of country road. Now you will also have to make a few modifications for prolonged service. Relocate the battery box and wiring as well as larger fuel tanks and lines from the undercarriage (by the doors) to either the passenger side of the cab or in the bed. Flopping zombies can easily dislodge these.
Second choice would be a garbage truck. Third would be a bus ( of the most common vehicles) These vehicles are usually diesil and fuel can be scrounged fairly easy- because most heavy duty deisels have exposed fuel tanks.
Also the dump truck is a better rescue vehicle that can hold many people and an aluminum ladder to reach roof tops- for rescue or escape.
Now these two vehicles are noisey and require a little experience before hand to operate tacticaly but are the best. I am not opposed to the bicycle idea either.
Sharpshooter on 06 Jan 2009 at 6:09 pm #
hmm the best thing would be to get a school bus… that way if you had to you could hook up the sliding doors to a tank of compressed air and take of the rubber seals and but like sharp scraps of metal on it so if a zombie tried to hitch a ride with you you could just slam that door shut
BIGBULLDOG on 01 Apr 2009 at 1:56 am #
I agree that stealth is key, but for me to leave a semi-rural area to a complete rural area(my hometown which is 3 hrs. away) wouldn’t be a big deal. I have already mapped out other possible routes to take not to mention if need be I know many places i could go off-road if need be. Luckily I also have mechanical knowledge and know plenty about firearms and other weapons. Yes I may be an “extreme redneck” but all my vehicles are 4×4 and i make sure they’re equipped for whatever i may have to deal with on a shtf scenario.
Sharpshooter on 13 Apr 2009 at 4:54 pm #
I just got a “new truck” (bought it at a used car lot for work) its a ford F150 longbed. so i think im gunna be alright if i have to go offroading. just got new tires for it along with Rhino Lining for the back. So any thoughts of giving it more protection? Nothing obvious though.
2ID on 22 May 2009 at 7:46 am #
removible skid plate, one that can be broken down into different pieces and placed on out side of vehicle(like bumper). just a thought.
FreddeX on 05 Jun 2009 at 2:36 pm #
Now while i agree with some of the points i do think i will use a vechicle, why? Simple, if you got a zombie horde on your back (either rage zombies (which i think is more likely) or undead) then how long do you think you can RUN from them? The regular people like you and me can´t run for hours, heck most of us can´t even run for thirty minutes or even ten. And after you are out of breath then what?
You are tired so you can forget about close combat, addrenaline is pumping throught your veins so your aim is shit and you can´t escape them. Now if you are driving a car or riding a bike then you don´t got that problem. Even if you are just going 30 km/h you still outrun them since they got human limitations when it comes to speed so there is no need to go 200 km/h like some guys think they need to.
Sure the fuel would run out after a while but if you raid a couple of gas stations or take some from abandoned vechiles then you should make it for a couple of days or maybe even weeks (depending on what type of car you got, SUVs are not recomended) and that should be enouch to get to a human stronghold. See ya on the road lads :D
Hayley on 24 Jun 2009 at 10:34 pm #
i prefree (or however u spell it)
a custom bus equip for the unthinkable
im un the process of designing one myself
not building yet designing yes
where there is easy acess to the gas tank without getting
out of the car and a cage around the vehicle for
breakdowns im 14 i need some type of closer
im the type of person who freaks ver everything
im 14 and a nerves wreck about everything and it sucks
yea i need therapy i might even need to be in a mental hospital
but for now this is how i am believeing this crap!
Ronin666 on 07 Jul 2009 at 2:32 am #
I’ll go with any of the 500 to 600cc off road bikes, preferably the “Paris to Dakar” type with the huge fuel tanks. My Yamaha XTZ660 got over 400klm to a tank full,with a top box and panniers it could carry a HEAP of stuff, with the stock exhaust it was fairly quiet.
The only thing a bike doesn’t provide is somewhere safe-ish to sleep at night.