10 Vehicles That Can Handle An EMP Attack

If you’re serious about emergency preparedness, one topic that should be on your radar is EMP-proof vehicles. An EMP, or electromagnetic pulse, can disrupt or even destroy electronic devices, leaving modern cars inoperable. Imagine cruising down the road when suddenly every electronic device in your car goes kaput—no more radio, no more navigation, and worst of all, no more engine.

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While a true “EMP-proof” vehicle might be a myth, understanding which ones are more resilient can be a game-changer in your preparedness plan. Here’s a breakdown of the different categories of vehicles known for their EMP resilience.

1. Pre-1985 Toyota Hilux 4×4

These are tough little trucks. If you can find a 4×4 with the solid front axle and a carbureted 22R motor, you have a good starting point.

I have run one of these since the 1980s and the worse I treat it, the better it runs. They are tough little trucks.

2. Sand Rail or Dune Buggy

The simpler the motor the better, but with larger motors, long wheel travel and skid braking, they will go faster than I want to go, that is for sure. Top a hundred mph off-road in one of these and it will either age you or make you younger. If you like to tinker and weld, they can be a great hobby. Hey, if they are good enough for the SEALs …

They are short on carrying capacity, but can sometimes fit in small planes when disassembled. Depending on where you live, a simple model of any of these may be a must-have or you might keep one or more at a retreat or in a Toy Hauler trailer. There are even some diesel models out there.

3. CUCV

CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle) on the surplus market. They are basically a military diesel pickup or Blazer.

They started being manufactured in the 1970s and are not armored, but some models do have some BOV-friendly features like a diesel power plant, blackout switch (to kill all lights), 4 wheel drive, dual 12v/24v voltage, Detroit lockers, dual alternators, Dana axles, brush bars, tow hooks, and pintle hitches. And some are topped with shelters or ambulance beds.

You have to research each model though. Not all are 4×4’s and so on.

4. Pre-1980’s American-made Trucks and SUVs

Ford, Chevy, Dodge, these older US-made trucks are very common and are great candidates for a low profile bug out vehicles that double as daily drivers. I do not believe that any other vehicle on this list has the volume of accessories and options available to customize it.

5. Deuce and a Half Variants

There are many variants of these iconic 6×6 vehicles. Some are even bobbed to 4×4’s. They are not so great for keeping a low profile, but they are the go-to choice for many preppers looking for a vehicle with plenty of cargo space and can be had to start at under $10K.

There are even some shops that will fix them up for you if you are not particularly mechanically inclined. Plan B Supply can hook you up with a Deuce and a half that is all decked out for the apocalypse for less than $40K, which is a tenth the price of a Knight, UniCat or the like, a whole lot less than an Earth Roamer and way more likely to still run after a HEMP.

6. Older Mercedes Benz Unimog (Diesel with Mechanical Fuel Injection)

Think of these as the European answer to the Deuce and a half. They were first manufactured just after WWII and were sold as the Freightliner Unimog in the US. They are popular as off-road expedition vehicles and even off-road endurance events.

They are very reliable and you may find them hauling supplies in jungles, running the Dakar Rally, fighting fires, or plowing snow in the North. They come in medium and heavy series.

Large diesel rigs like Unimogs and Deuce and a half’s are sometimes outfitted with marine diesel appliances and solar power and can even be fitted with a wind generator.

7. Sail Boats and Older Vessels With EMP-resistant Diesel Power Plants

If your bugout plan involves blue water, it likely involves a boat or sailboat. Space is limited on boats and must be carefully planned out, but many vessels have miniature versions of all the comforts of home.

There have been many self-reliant adaptations of boats and sailboats. They usually have one or more sails, a diesel power plant, and appliances that run off diesel, use solar and sometimes wind as backup power sources.

A heavy-duty desalinator and a backup desalinator are critical to make this option work.

8. Canoes, Kayaks, Sailboats, Pack Rafts and Other Small Watercraft

Maybe your bugout plan does not involve a blue water voyage, but it does involve running a stretch of river, lake, or crossing a body of water. Man has used boats to solve these types of problems since prehistoric times.

A couple recently rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, but I would not recommend it and I am sure they would not either.

But if your route involves crossing a smaller body of water, a small watercraft may be an important part of your plan.

9. Draft Horses & Wagon, Horses or Pack Animals

After a severe HEMP, they may make a comeback. As some of our troops were surprised to learn in Afghanistan, there is just no substitute for horses and pack animals in certain terrain.

My county has a mounted search and rescue team that is very effective in certain regions. Mules are an important part of maintaining many of our nation’s wilderness trails to this day and American mountain men would not have been able to travel the Western US trapping without horses and mules.

I have been grateful for them on trips that I have used them and it is plain to see why they figured so prominently into life until the advent of the automobile and how they will again if we lose are large electrical transformers due to EMP or any other reason.

10. Motoped or Bicycle with Trailer

Motoped is on my shopping list. You do not have to be a prepper to appreciate not having to deal with the Department of Motor Vehicles and being able to park in the bike rack.

Motopeds and bicycles are quiet and can be carried on the outside or on top of your rig as backup transport. If the motor is small enough or it doesn’t go faster than a certain speed motopeds are not classified as motorcycles in many states, but this varies by jurisdiction so check your local laws.

Other noteworthy options are:

• Older Toyota Landcruiser
• Pre-1980’s International Scout
• Pre-1980’s Jeep, Cherokee & Cherokee Chief
• Pre- 1980’s Land Rover
• Volkswagen Bug and Bus
• Motor Cycle, ATV, UTV or Snowmobile

In truth, there are many vehicles that would serve the function of bug out vehicles admirably, but in the end, your choice will likely be determined largely by availability, opportunity, and economics. Whatever your financial situation may be, automobiles are generally a lousy investment. Invest in function as opposed to form when it comes to rolling stock, including bug-out vehicles.

Similar to the prepper who is all guns and no groceries, every so often, I see someone who owns a car that is worth more than their home or someone who has invested a substantial portion of their net worth in a vehicle while living in an apartment. This never fails to cause me to pause to consider it.

Find a vehicle that will get you from point A to point B and make sure you have your food storage and other survival priorities in place.

If you get too far out of balance in any one area of preparedness, your plan is flawed.