Transportation to Safety comparing cars, trucks, vans, SUV’s and various RV’s

When one thinks of a mode of transportation you immediately think of your daily driver the trusty automobile that transports you without fail to and from your job, running errand and getting you home safely again whether an older compact or a sport and expensive foreign luxury brand.

Are these conveyances a practical means to get you to safety when Mother Nature arrives ripping the roof on your home, or buries you in 3 feet of wet snow or when a homegrown terrorist decides to create fear and panic by setting of a dirty bomb contaminating dozens of blocks in your home town?

I will discuss nearly every private mode of transportation, its promising features and its drawbacks too.

compact-carAutomobiles – By the age of 16 nearly every kid in America has their license and some lucky ones have a car or are using their parent’s car when it’s available. But move up to becoming an adult with responsibilities such as a job, a home and a family.

The family vehicle or vehicles is usually limited by ones income, quality of this vehicle may vary greatly as well as the limitations in miles per gallon gotten when driving in the city and on the highway, space in the inside and in your storage area alike.

How is this information relevant?

One needn’t be a rocket scientist to realize that should negative situations arise where you and your loved ones face danger from natural or manmade disaster means getting to a safe location may just save your life and that of your family.

If you have a family chances are the family vehicle is capable of transporting yourself, your wife and children to your daily tasks like work, school and after school activities.

But in a disaster just how much can you rely on this mode of transportation?

The four defining factors to consider are:

  • The weight carrying capacity
  • The miles per gallon
  • The fuel tank capacity in determining driving distance
  • the physical and mechanical condition of that vehicle

Positives:

  • Capable of handling the family, the family pet, suitcases and food and water to last being gone from your home for at least 3 days and as long as a week.
  • The vehicle has a 15 – 20 gallon fuel capacity and gets 20-25 miles per gallon allowing at least safe driving distance of 350 miles.

Negatives:

  • Too small to accommodate the entire family
  • Minimal added storage capacity
  • Mechanically unsound for any lengthy trips

These variables can make the family car not a reliable means of escape during a disaster.

transportation-to-safety-minivanMinivans – Here was a version of transportation that was truly ingenious with more than adequate hauling capacity for the entire family including the family pets, pack suitcases and food and water.

Positives:

  • Hauling capacity
  • Comfort for all passengers
  • Miles per gallon usually decent

Negatives:

  • Low fuel tank capacity limiting driving ranges
  • Sometimes poor fuel economy
  • Reserve power to move along at highway speeds

 

transportation-to-safety-vanVans – The old stable of nearly every commercial business and some family transports the economy cargo van.

Positives:

  • Size creates large cargo capacity
  • Powerful engine and hauling capacity when equipped with a hitch
  • Fold down seating creates beds for children and added storage when needed
  • Conversion to a camper van is easy, inexpensive and can suit all your transportation needs

Negatives:

  • Large size usually equates to poor fuel economy seeing 14 mpg in town and maybe 18 on the highway
  • Some seating capacity is lacking
  • Expense of filling the newer than 2006 models where tank capacities exceed 30 gallons can be a deterrent

While great for business for daily family uses is not such a great choice.

transportation-to-safety-truckPickup Trucks – Here again is a common site which unlike full size vans have transitioned into use by today’s family’s

Positives:

  • Large cargo capacity in rear truck bed
  • Powerful engine and hauling capacity when equipped with a hitch

Negatives:

  • Large size usually equates to poor fuel economy seeing 14 mpg in town and maybe 18 on the highway
  • Seating capacity is usually lacking
  • Expense of filling the newer than 2006 models where tank capacities exceed 30 gallons can be a deterrent

transportation-to-safety-suvSUV’s – Now this was originally meant to replace all terrain vehicles and combine sport and utility transportation many of those sold today lack the ability to do much off road excursions.

Positives:

  • Comfortable transportation
  • Size creates large seating and cargo capacity
  • Fold down seating creates beds for children and added storage when needed
  • Powerful engine and hauling capacity when equipped with a hitch

Negatives:

  • Sizes vary usually equating size to fuel economy from 20 mpg to well into the 30 mpg range
  • Not off road capable or limited

transportation-to-safety-camper-vanClass B motor homes – The smallest of the recreational vehicle class usually not much larger than a large capacity van

Positives:

  • Fully featured for long term travel with amenities such as a refrigerator, microwave, bathroom facilities, fresh water tank, beds and storage
  • Very comfortable to drive and ride
  • It can be a home on wheels avoiding hotel expenses when traveling

Negatives:

  • Size, weight and engine capacity equate to poor fuel economy 7-15 mpg
  • Fuel capacities limited making driving ranges usually shorter than 300 miles
  • Expensive to purchase and maintain
  • Limited passenger seating

transportation-to-safety-rvClass C motor homes – This is the medium size recreational vehicle from 18 feet with a cab over bed to up to 36 feet luxury class with extraordinary price tags to match.

Positives:

  • Fully featured for long term travel with amenities such as a refrigerator, microwave, bathroom facilities, fresh water tank, beds and storage
  • Very comfortable to drive and ride
  • It can be a home on wheels avoiding hotel expenses when traveling
  • Capable of comfortably providing sleeping quarters for 4-6 people

Negatives:

  • Size, weight and engine capacity equate to poor fuel economy 7-10 mpg
  • Fuel capacities make driving ranges usually shorter than 500 miles
  • Expensive to purchase and maintain
  • Limited passenger seating while on highway not advisable that persons be moving about the cabin

transportation-to-safety-mobile-homeClass A motor homes – This is the largest of the recreational vehicles. Many types from motor coaches to buses with either gas or diesel fuel engines. They range from 28 feet to ultra luxurious models 45 feet long with costs exceeding a million dollars.

Positives:

  • Fully featured for long term travel with amenities such as a refrigerator, microwave, bathroom facilities, fresh water tank, beds and storage
  • Very comfortable to drive and ride
  • It can be a home on wheels avoiding hotel expenses when traveling
  • Capable of comfortably providing sleeping quarters for 4-10 people

Negatives:

  • Size, weight and engine capacity equate to poor fuel economy 7-10 mpg
  • Fuel capacities make driving ranges usually shorter than 500 miles with diesel models capable of 1,000+ ranges
  • Expensive to purchase and maintain
  • Limited passenger seating while on highway not advisable that persons be moving about the cabin

Whatever mode of transportation you own you should know its limitations, storage capacities, driving distance capabilities, fuel capacity and mechanical comndition whether or not its road worthy.

 

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