Zombies! What are you going to do when...

Takeda Shingen · 05-02-10, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Me, I prefer an armored roadwarrior type vehicle like Task Force envisions. Even stationary you're only vulnerable if you have to leave it. You can carry more weaponry, more loot, more people, more everything, and if zombies get in your way you just run them down and squish them.

I agree that any type of vehicle would provide superior protection, speed and even killing power to the horse. After all, zombies are rotten and squishy; you can just run them over and they'll splatter. Still, the real problem is fuel. There won't be that many people remaining, so supply will not be a problem, but what can be done when there is no power to operate the gasoline pumps? You can have 10,000 gallons of fuel right underneath you, but in any post-apocalypic scenario the power grid required to operate the pumps will only run for a few days after the event. After that, no more electricity, no more refrigeration and no more gasoline.

The argument could be made that one could stockpile fuel right as the event hits, but I am not so certain. I would imagine that the first 72 hours of any zombie apocalypse would be a veritable orgy of chomping and blood. Any and all of us survivors would, naturally, have to flee from the population centers during that time, and we likely not be able to return before the power was out.

August · 05-02-10, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

You can have 10,000 gallons of fuel right underneath you, but in any post-apocalypic scenario the power grid required to operate the pumps will only run for a few days after the event. After that, no more electricity, no more refrigeration and no more gasoline.

I've been thinking about that problem and here's what I've come up with so far:

A trapdoor in the bottom of the road warrior. Position the vehicle over the filler hatches to the underground gas tanks at a gas station. Open the hatch cover and run a siphon hose down into the tank. Using a manual pump siphon the gas up into an on board reservoir in the vehicle.

The only thing I haven't figured is how to get the proper octane mix.

Oberon · 05-02-10, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I've been thinking about that problem and here's what I've come up with so far:

A trapdoor in the bottom of the road warrior. Position the vehicle over the filler hatches to the underground gas tanks at a gas station. Open the hatch cover and run a siphon hose down into the tank. Using a manual pump siphon the gas up into an on board reservoir in the vehicle.

The only thing I haven't figured is how to get the proper octane mix.

Damn, you can tell you're an ex-Para, I want you on my team

That's a great idea. Snag is what happens when the gas stations run dry, presuming other people have a similar idea and writing off a number of gas stations due to fires, which of course will burn out of control once started (another hazard), but it's certainly a good short to medium term solution.

Schroeder · 05-02-10, 12:12 PM

Actually you can salvage all the fuel out of every car you find. That should keep your vehicle running for some time.
The only tricky part is that you are outside of your vehicle while doing that. So a guard or two would be in order.

Takeda Shingen · 05-02-10, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Damn, you can tell you're an ex-Para, I want you on my team

That's a great idea. Snag is what happens when the gas stations run dry, presuming other people have a similar idea and writing off a number of gas stations due to fires, which of course will burn out of control once started (another hazard), but it's certainly a good short to medium term solution.

I agree. August's idea is very good. Okay, scratch the horse for me.

I don't think that fuel supply will be a problem. There are multitudes of gas stations, and most of the world's population will be either dead or infected. Also, the number of people with August's MacGyver-esque instincts will be miniscule, so there are just not going to be that many road warriors out there. That type of gasoline supply would last though any of our natural lives.

Fr8monkey · 05-02-10, 01:45 PM

Problem is the additives in gasoline break down in a year or so. After that it turns into a gummy mess.

Task Force · 05-02-10, 01:48 PM

Hmm couldnt we use diesel ran truck, acouple of mods and you could use vegtable oil...

August · 05-02-10, 01:51 PM

OMG don't get rid of the horse!

While, depending on several factors, there may be an ample gas supply it will eventually run out or become contaminated. The way I figure it, surviving the zombie virus will be easy enough, basically fort up until they eat up their available food supply and die off, maybe wait a few months after that to let the corpses decompose then all you have to worry about are the savages.

It's because of that and the loss of modern conveniences that will make surviving in the long term the real challenge. In that horses and other low tech things will be vital.

Oberon · 05-02-10, 02:33 PM

Yeah, definitely keep the horse, it's a long term investment.

In the short term you have to prepare for the long term.
I think there would be more 'road warrior'-esque gangs than you'd think, and eventually they would move over to horses too, and eventually back down to swords and bows until communities have re-established themselves enough to start getting things working again.
Winter is also going to be a big factor. I'd say the first few winters post-event will be a fair bit colder than usual because of all the smoke and dust in the atmosphere from the fires burning out of control. Particularly in things like oil refineries and the like.

Which brings me to another question...

What would happen to the nuclear power stations?

Raptor1 · 05-02-10, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Yeah, definitely keep the horse, it's a long term investment.

In the short term you have to prepare for the long term.
I think there would be more 'road warrior'-esque gangs than you'd think, and eventually they would move over to horses too, and eventually back down to swords and bows until communities have re-established themselves enough to start getting things working again.
Winter is also going to be a big factor. I'd say the first few winters post-event will be a fair bit colder than usual because of all the smoke and dust in the atmosphere from the fires burning out of control. Particularly in things like oil refineries and the like.

Which brings me to another question...

What would happen to the nuclear power stations?

Scram down and hope nobody tries to mess with the stuff inside?

05-02-10, 12:12 PM	#4
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Actually you can salvage all the fuel out of every car you find. That should keep your vehicle running for some time. The only tricky part is that you are outside of your vehicle while doing that. So a guard or two would be in order. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

05-02-10, 01:45 PM	#6
Fr8monkey Captain Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 518 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Problem is the additives in gasoline break down in a year or so. After that it turns into a gummy mess. __________________ NASA's budget in 2011... $19 billion. Result: Hi-resolution images from 127 million miles away. AT&T's budget in 2011... $20 billion. Result: Still can't get any signal from my bathroom.

05-02-10, 01:48 PM	#7
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Hmm couldnt we use diesel ran truck, acouple of mods and you could use vegtable oil... __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

05-02-10, 01:51 PM	#8
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,226 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	OMG don't get rid of the horse! While, depending on several factors, there may be an ample gas supply it will eventually run out or become contaminated. The way I figure it, surviving the zombie virus will be easy enough, basically fort up until they eat up their available food supply and die off, maybe wait a few months after that to let the corpses decompose then all you have to worry about are the savages. It's because of that and the loss of modern conveniences that will make surviving in the long term the real challenge. In that horses and other low tech things will be vital. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

05-02-10, 02:33 PM	#9
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Yeah, definitely keep the horse, it's a long term investment. In the short term you have to prepare for the long term. I think there would be more 'road warrior'-esque gangs than you'd think, and eventually they would move over to horses too, and eventually back down to swords and bows until communities have re-established themselves enough to start getting things working again. Winter is also going to be a big factor. I'd say the first few winters post-event will be a fair bit colder than usual because of all the smoke and dust in the atmosphere from the fires burning out of control. Particularly in things like oil refineries and the like. Which brings me to another question... What would happen to the nuclear power stations?