We didn’t think it would ever happen to us, but it did. After a six-week vacation last summer we came home to something for which we never had planned—a flood in our home. An RO water line had ruptured and covered the floor inside our home with 2-inches of water. Through the able assistance of our insurance company and contractors, we were able to get the damage repaired, but the duration of these repairs took two months. Where did we end up living during these repairs to our home? In our truck camper. It had all of the comforts of home—a warm bed, an air conditioner, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a dinette table. Our camper really saved our bacon.
We were fortunate that the damage was limited and that we had a place where we could lay our head at night. Not everyone is so fortunate, however. The damage could have been much worse and we didn’t have to pay for our accommodations (our camper was paid off and we were able to stay on our property). Disaster can strike any one of us at any time in the form of fires, floods, earthquakes, chemical leaks from railroad derailments, tornadoes, riots, and hurricanes. We all need to be prepared for what may come because the government might not be there to help when you need it. Depending on the disaster or emergency, it may take days, weeks, or months before help from city, state, and federal agencies can arrive. Hopefully, when trouble happens we’ll be able to shelter in place in our homes, but we all need to have a way to bug out or get out of town, too, if we are forced out.
Countless articles and videos have been published on the best bug out vehicle. We’ve even published a few here at Truck Camper Adventure. We believe the 4×4 truck camper is the best bug-out RV on the planet. Not only can you live comfortably in a truck camper, but you can also get far off the beaten path in one, away from others who may be seeking similar surroundings. Today’s truck camper has everything you need to live comfortably off-grid, including a roof, a bed, a kitchen, a refrigerator, a place to eat, and in most cases, a bathroom. Couple all of these amenities with a limitless source of power from solar power, food, and a way to harvest fresh water, and you truly have a way to sustain yourself for several days, weeks, and if needed, months at a time—but only if you’re ready.
Truck Camper Readiness
What things should you do to get your truck camper ready? First, your truck should be fueled-up and your camper mounted. Fuel is needed to get out of harm’s way, the more the better. If you have an extra fuel tank in your truck or fuel canisters, fill them up too and keep them rotated. Second, fill-up your camper’s fresh water holding tank and stock up on drinking water if you have the space. Third, have a two-week supply of food at a minimum in your rig. Canned goods are convenient, but also heavy, which is why we recommend hauling a few bags of rice and beans and fishing tackle. Fourth, make sure you have the essentials and other items that you need to live like prescribed medicines, electrolytes, and vitamins. Lastly, ensure you have an adequate amount of clothing, hats, and blankets for all climates and seasons. Sure you can keep your camper stocked seasonally with the right clothing, but it’s easy to forget to do this, which is why we keep both warm weather and cold weather clothing in our camper at all times.
Bug Out Essentials
Your truck camper already provides many essentials needed to survive, including shelter and a place to sleep, but you’ll need a few other items as well some of which we’ve already touched on. Though not an exhaustive list, it provides the absolute essentials needed to get by in an emergency. For additional emergency preparedness items, click here.
1. Water
Safe drinking water is critical. You can only live three days without it. Your supply of drinking water will go fast without a way to replenish it. Sources of potable water include Flying J’s, rest stops, city, county, and state parks, churches, ranger stations, campgrounds, and RV parks. Natural sources, such as lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, can be used too, but will probably need some kind of filtration beforehand to be safe. When shopping for a water filtration system for your camper, make sure it can filter water at the .2 micron level. A basic charcoal filter like those sold at Walmart and Camping World aren’t good enough to filter out harmful bacteria, parasites, chemicals, cysts, and diseases. In addition, make sure you have a portable 12 volt pump and strainer on-hand to pump water from fresh water sources like reservoirs, lakes, and rivers. If you have the room, carry a container or two to collect rainwater run-off from the roof of your camper. The rain gutters on the roof of your camper can collect a surprising amount of water. Every little bit helps.
An inline filtration system consisting of two or three canisters filtering all of the water coming into your camper is one way to do it. But another, much easier option is to filter your drinking water only. This can be done either through a filtration canister mounted underneath your kitchen sink or by using a portable gravity fed system. We have a Doulton GSS2 Gravity Filtration System that we use in our camper, but other systems like those made by Berkey are excellent too. If you can’t find one of these another great option is to get something portable like the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. The LifeStraw filters up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water and removes a minimum 99.9999 percent of waterborne bacteria, 99.9 percent of waterborne protozoan parasites, and filters up to .2 microns, which is what you want.
2. Hypothermia
While staying hydrated is critically important, staying warm is even more important because developing hypothermia can take your life much sooner. Hypothermia can happen when a person is exposed to very cold temperatures. When this happends, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature. A body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it’s happening and won’t be able to do anything about it. While hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water. Employing your truck camper’s furnace and a zero-degree sleeping blanket are excellent ways to defeat this threat.
3. Self Defense
Self defense is important, you never know when you’re going to need to protect yourself. Being on the road or camping out in a bug out location (see below) can put you in harm’s way including from animals like bears, cougars, and moose. A crossbow or hardware is an excellent way to defend yourself and keep food on the table. Some have an aversion to packing heat and that’s okay. A canister of mace or bear spray can be an excellent deterrent against humans and bears, but is limited in range so keep this in mind. The same applies to hand-held weapons like knives and machetes. Heat is an excellent way to defend yourself and your loved ones too. If you decide to go this route rather than mace or bear spray, keep one handy in your truck and camper along with plenty of cartridges, but be mindful of conceal carry laws and permits. Some states are very strict.
4. Solar Power
We’ve written exhaustively about solar power and the numerous benefits it provides for your truck camper. What more can we say but to get it. Yes, a generator is nice to have, but it’s dependent on fuel to run. What if the fuel runs out or can’t be transported? This is one reason why we’re such strong advocates of solar power. Yes, solar power is quiet and doesn’t emit harmful fumes, which are important considerations for boondocking, but it’s also a limitless source of power to keep your food cold and run critical electronics like radios (see below) and CPAP machines. The best way to get solar power quick is to outfit your truck camper with a portable solar power system like this 100-watt portable panel made by Renogy. A larger, roof-top system is obviously better—our truck camper has 800 watts on the roof—but if you need something in a hurry, this is the best way to do it. Oh, and solar power is a great way to cook too by using the rays of the sun directly. We have a solar oven in standby just in case we need it.
5. Communication
Communication is another essential for survival. With over 6,000 satellites, Starlink has been a game-changer for off-grid Internet connectivity. However, most of us still rely on our cell phones for communication. It’s a terrific way to stay in touch and get help, but your cellular system is dependent on the electrical grid and a system of backup generators with a limited amount of fuel. What if your network or nearby towers go down? What if your bug out destination is beyond cell phone range and you need help? It’s best to have a backup means of communication on-hand like Starlink, a shortwave radio, or a portable hand-held satellite communicator like the Garmin InReach just in case you need it. Getting a HAM radio license has never been easier. Now you can take the test online, and better yet, you no longer need to know Morse Code, though everyone should know a few Morse Code basics like SOS (… – – – …) for flashing light and radio.
Where to Bug Out?
Most who are bugging out will relocate to a either a hotel or motel. But finding a vacancy in a mass evacuation will be difficult. On the other hand having a stealthy, nimble truck camper eliminates this problem, which is why honing your boondocking skills is so important. This is something that we stress and teach at our annual truck camper rally. The best place to bug out is a piece of property that you already own located far from large cities and other “targets of interest.” This is the best way to ensure safety and solitude from others. If you don’t have a piece of property, other options exist like deer camps for hunters, property owned by friends or family, lake or river cabins for fishermen, and, of course, public land (national forests, wildlife refuges, Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Land Management property). Boondocking on public land, however, can be a hit or miss affair. Avoiding crowds is what you should strive for, which is why having a truck camper is so great, but this isn’t always possible because others have truck campers and overland vehicles too like Jeeps. If possible, camp with family and friends, the more the better. Strength is in numbers.
Interested in buying a piece of property somewhere in the United States? We recommend getting a copy of Joel Skousen’s excellent Strategic Relocation. Unlike other books and guides, which focus on things like resorts, schools, and golf courses, Skousen’s book provides relocation recommendations based upon vitals like military target areas, proclivity for national disasters, weather, pollution, terrain, laws and politics, and population densities. The book is wonderfully illustrated with color maps by state showing terrain, public and private land use, and military target areas and regional maps outlining the best general retreat areas. An excellent resource regardless of your politics.
Final Thoughts
This article was written to help you prepare NOT to instill fear. Being prepared physically, emotionally, and spiritually is the smart thing to do. Those who are prepared have greater confidence in and less fear about the future. If you live in your truck camper full-time, then you already have a head start on bugging out and may need only a few small things. For those with homes, hopefully you’ve been able to modify your truck camper to use off-grid and have been able boondock in it. Practice makes perfect. There’s no better way to become proficient at living off-grid in your truck and camper than actually doing it. Today’s truck camper helps you do that without having to rely on government help and staying in hotels.
Interested in this topic and want to learn more? Mello Mike will be discussing this topic in depth at the 2025 Truck Camper Adventure Quartzsite Rally. Click here to get a ticket.
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