Things That Every Bug-Out Vehicle Needs

October 13, 2021

Things That Every Bug-Out Vehicle Needs

Everyone needs a bug-out vehicle so they can protect themselves and those they love in case of emergency. A proper bug-out vehicle can literally save the lives of anyone in it if the proper preparation and care are taken when setting it up. You can never be sure what situation might cause the need for such a vehicle, so it’s best to plan for a variety of problems. Use this guide as a basic checklist of the things that every bug-out vehicle needs.

Medical Kit

Any injury can be extremely problematic if you ignore it or don’t treat it promptly, which is why a medical kit’s so important for a bug-out vehicle. A good medical kit will have a tourniquet in addition to other standard medical items.

Emergency Kit

An emergency kit contains extremely useful tools and items for any emergency that might develop. For example, flares are a common part of emergency kits for light and to help rescuers see your position easily. You should also look for kits with fire extinguishers and other emergency prevention tools.

Tool Kit

You never know when you might need a tool for a problem, and a tool kit will cover your every need. From repairs to breaking things in your way to getting unstuck, a tool kit is absolutely necessary for your survival. You’ll want a heavy-duty tool kit with a variety of tools, but don’t go overboard, or you won’t have space for other important things.

Common Vehicle Repairs

Any vehicle is susceptible to damages and will eventually have breakdowns and need repairs. You should have parts at the ready for the most common repairs that a vehicle might need. Things like tire patches and fuse replacements can easily save your car from unfortunate circumstances. Even if your car is capable, it’s better to have the stuff rather than be stuck in a dangerous place.

Fuel

Any vehicle that runs on gas can eventually run out of fuel. Even if your vehicle is extremely fuel-efficient, having extra gas will save you when making those long treks without refill stations. Getting extra fuel cans and a long-distance fuel tank can spare you from some pretty bad times.

Food and Refrigeration

Food is really important for survival, which is why you should find food storage for your vehicle before things turn bad. You can either store non-perishable food or install some kind of refrigeration unit in your bug-out vehicle. A fridge means you can store things you pick up or hunt along the trip.

Shelter

Although bug-out vehicles have equipment for every situation, it isn’t always the best decision to sleep in them. In those times when sleeping in your vehicle isn’t an option, you should invest in a shelter. Packing a tent with all the accompanying bedding is a good idea for your bug-out vehicle.

Hydration

Just like food, water is extremely important yet hard to come by in disaster situations. Packing plenty of water for the trip plus ways to create more water, such as filters or survival devices, will save your life. Thirst is one of the biggest threats you’ll face in a disaster.

Chargers

Although they won’t be useful in every kind of emergency, phones and other electronic devices can be very helpful for contacting others and surviving. Bring a charger that can power your devices from the car, and you won’t run into electricity problems for a while. A charged phone means you can contact others with reception even after a few days pass and other people’s devices no longer have a charge.

Navigation

It’s easy to lose your way when you’re in a stressful situation and forced to navigate areas that you aren’t familiar with. This can be very dangerous if you’re struggling to get to a safe place in your vehicle. Bringing several means of navigation can help you stay safe; both digital and manual methods are useful. Although most smartphones have GPS, bringing a satellite GPS can be the better option in case reception isn’t working in the area. For manual navigation, bring a compass and maps of any area you’re traversing.

Lighting

One thing that can always help you during an emergency is lighting, which is useful both at night and when exploring any dark place. Investing in a few flashlights that you can manually charge will help you greatly if you do anything in the dark. You can also put lighting modifications on your vehicle so you can light up the surrounding area, though there are legal limits on this, depending on your state.

PPE

If you think that personal protective equipment (PPE) is only useful in industrial jobs, you should know that it’s actually very helpful in your bug-out vehicle. A lot of the things you do after a huge event are dangerous for the body, as you may need to work with industrial tools and handle heavy materials in subpar conditions. Wearing protection will only help you avoid injuries from these things.

Communication Devices

If other people are traveling in your vehicle with you, try getting communication methods that don’t rely on cell service. High-quality walkie-talkies are very useful for contacting those you care about when things are dangerous. You can also install a radio receiver into your car for better communication with the world at large.

Defensive Items

Although we hope you never need them, defensive equipment or tools can be very helpful during a crisis. A major disaster, like a wildfire, can cause massive migrations from animals that may get violent in their fear. Just having a weapon nearby can prevent a lot of trouble; in many cases, you won’t even need to use it. A pocketknife is useful as a tool for personal defense and overall survival.

Storage

Storing all these items in one vehicle isn’t realistic for most standard vehicles; you’ll need modifications that add storage or help you efficiently use all the space you have. You can always get a large aluminum storage trunk or even a customized sliding truck bed designed for overlanding for a pickup truck or van, or install extra storage under your seats to maximize space in your vehicle.

These are things that every bug-out vehicle needs, but this list doesn’t include everything that may be helpful for you. This is just a basic list of the things that you should get for your vehicle; there are plenty of other items that may help in times of emergency.

Organization Mods for Your Pickup Truck

October 13, 2021

By Extendobed

Organization Mods for Your Pickup Truck

Pickup trucks are great for carrying all sorts of huge loads, more than most other vehicles are capable of carrying. But anyone who really uses their pickup truck knows that you always need more space. The easiest way you can get that extra space is with organization mods for your pickup truck. These mods help you utilize your truck’s space efficiently so you can store more items.

Toolbox

One small change you can add to your vehicle is a toolbox. Although pickup trucks can store a lot of things, leaving items loose takes up more space. A toolbox is perfect for storing any tools you regularly bring with you. That way, you know where they are at all times, and you don’t waste as much space.

Slide-Out Bed

Another modification that can be very useful for lugging around heavy loads is a slide-out bed. These modifications install on the floor of your truck bed and are capable of carrying thousands of pounds while making storage and loading more efficient and safer.

Truck Bed Storage Organizer

Similar to slide-out beds, a truck storage organizer installs directly on the truck bed or on a slide-out bed. These sliding mods contain a variety of storage solutions, including drawers and shelves, that make storing your items much easier.

Under Seat Storage

Another storage solution many people don’t consider is utilizing the space under the seats of the truck. Although the space is a bit limited, you can find many storage solutions and modifications that let you reorganize your truck and use the space under your seats as good storage.

These are just some basic ideas for organizational mods for your pickup truck. You can invest heavily in increasing your storage capacity and optimization with custom truck bed organizers or install additional storage on the sides of your truck bed. It all depends on what you want for your truck.

Ways To Improve Service Technician Efficiency

October 05, 2021

By Extendobed

Ways To Improve Service Technician Efficiency

Service technicians must have the proper skills and training due to the technical demands of their job. However, a truly successful service technician also works as efficiently as possible. That’s how they maximize the profits for their company. That’s why properly investing in your service technicians is the best thing you can do to increase your profits. Here’s a guide on some ways to improve service technician efficiency.

Effective Communication

The first thing that a company should improve is their communications with their service technicians. The method of dispatching your technicians shouldn’t confuse or slow them down. Any issues they face should be responded to quickly, and communication between the technicians on a job and on the reporting site should be quick.

Better Equipment

The equipment you arm your technicians with must enable them to do their jobs more efficiently. When they have the proper tools and equipment, they’ll accomplish their jobs faster while also being safe. If they work only for speed, they can injure themselves and cost the company even money. Investing in proper equipment will raise efficiency and safety.

Proper Organization

Make a concerted effort to organize all your workstations and vehicles. so that all the space you have will be used effectively. You can achieve this by using storage organizers, which will help you maximize your space (especially in vehicles.) A good truck bed sliding tray uses all the space your vehicles offer while simultaneously promoting safe loading and unloading practices.

Training

Proper training for your technicians is a great way to increase their efficiency. Training will help them learn all the new technology and techniques that keep people safe while increasing effectiveness. It also keeps all your technicians on the same page, lowering confusion and increasing collaboration and communication. Although training can be a bit of an upfront cost, it’ll quickly pay for itself.

Standardized Upfitting

Once a design has been used and found to be ideal, upfitting all the vehicles in your fleet similarly provides maximum personnel flexibility because anyone can be assigned to any vehicle and maintain their same efficiency by not wasting time looking for stuff on the truck or van.

These are the best ways to improve service technician efficiency and increase the safety of your workers. Using these methods will help you elevate your business to a whole new level.

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