If you're reading this, you know things are getting scary out there. Rumors of wars, a declining economy, and social unrest have already taken their tolls and show no sign of slowing. With hours and hours of survival, worst-case preparedness, and plenty of real-life prepping under our belts, we took it upon ourselves to arm you with the knowledge you need.

Because most households can afford a $20,000 car, we chose that price to pick the very boldest and most rugged vehicles to encapsulate you, your family, and your MRE's. We know most of you can't afford a radiation-proof Model X, house-powering Ford Lightning, or an eight-wheeled Patria XA-360 AMV. These are cars you need to be able to buy now, not just special-order for three years from now.

To make it on this list is no small feat. These are cars often chosen by armored vehicle companies for being reliable, powerful, and capable. Realistically there are three most likely scenarios you will need your car for. One, evacuation or mass exodus requiring three days of fuel, food, and water. Two, social unrest or riots that result in theft, break-ins, and the need to relocate. Three, war or disaster which is most likely to include fire and shortages in densely populated areas. The resulting cars need storage space, all-wheel-drive, and ramming power to start. Now, this is what you need to make like a Boy Scout and Be Prepared.

10 Cadillac Escalade

2012-Cadillac-Escalade-Platinum-front-view-in-motion
Cadillac

A 2000 - 2012 Escalade will currently run you under 20k. For as little as 5k you can get a 150k mile lifted Escalade in the early 2000s that will still run for as long as you need. The wealthy that owned these often paid their mechanics dividends to maintain and modify their cars, so not only will you get a lifted or liftable heavy vehicle, but you won't be left wanting in the cabin.

2008 Lifted escelade
abetter.bid

Folding down just the third row opens up to double-sized bed space, and the 6.2-liter V8 makes 402 horsepower, enough to take its 5,694 lbs butt zero to "zombie-smashing" in just 6.5 seconds! The range is 405 miles in the city with the 31-gallon tank, and even with eight passengers and their supplies (250 lbs each), you can still add another 400 miles in range with an auxiliary gas tank before reaching the load limit.

9 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

via trucktrend.com

No, not the Gladiator (too new and expensive). The 2005 to 2010 is in the 20k range and gets you a four-door Wrangler with a 3.8 L V6 but enough room in the bay for a V8 Hemi if you're feeling ambitious. The original 202 horsepower gets it up to 60 in under 10 seconds, but that's not the point. The Wranglers are the highest and most commonly lifted vehicles you can get for under 200 Benjamins.

The height advantage means you can crawl over bad roads or leave the streets altogether while Hyundais are left to the flames or aliens. A platform made for customizing allows you to easily loot parts off other cars or prepare the improvements ahead of time at little cost or effort. The front bumper, unlike most cars, is designed to repeatedly take the full force of the car as you may have seen in videos where one's Jeep sits undamaged and some poor, little sedan lays nearby in mangles.

Related: How To Decide Between 2021 Ford Bronco Sasquatch And Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

8 Chevrolet Express AWD

2010 Chevy express van zombie overland
youtube.com

Van life, bay-bee! The Express is cheaper than the Mercedes Sprinter and friends because it doesn't have a tall roof or fancy features. It is, however, more reliable. The V6 is surprisingly capable, able to tow 4,500 lbs. The V8 options expand that number up to 10,000 pounds! People do use these as simple DIY vans as often if not more than Sprinters. Bikers and skiers love them for camping and taking their palls to the slopes.

2010 Chevrolet Express Van
youtube.com

So, it tows like a truck and has 4WD like a truck, it can even be lifted like a truck... why doesn't everyone own one? Frankly, we don't know. It might be the insecurity of owning a van. They are missing out because besides being able to save your whole Mormon neighborhood, you can also load up the roof to 2,000 lbs with tents, solar panels, and battle-axes. Frankly, it's hard to pick a truck over one of these, especially if you hope to stay in the car for more precarious situations.

Related: These Camper Vans Are Perfect For Overlanding Expeditions

7 H2 Hummer

Hummer-H2
Via: Mecum Auctions

If nothing else, you automatically get the title of general when you roll up to the survival camp in this. The 2009 H2 gets 393 horsepower with a V8 and has a nine-speed automatic. It's built like a Jeep with modes like 4-high, 4-high lock, and 4-low lock, letting you lock out the rear differential to bust out of tough situations and crawl up and down the steepest of hills.

Hummer-H2
via mecum

The H2 might not be as reliable but the GM platform permits for lots of domestic repairs any time you find an abandoned Tahoe. The windows don't allow for as much visibility but that's a good thing! There's less glass space to get broken, and more metal plating to protect you.

Related: Here's What Arnold Schwarzenegger Drives

6 Subaru Outback 2.5i or 2.5 XT

Subaru outback xt
subaruoutback.org

This one won't be breaking down cement barriers, but the added horsepower (170) makes this flat-four Subaru the fastest of the Outback lineup, and that matters because the Outback, despite normally being slow, has 8.7" of ground clearance and legendary AWD born from rally history that will let you fly over rough terrain and snow, even in an unmodified base model. As you may know, people love to lift these!

subaru outback
reddit.com

This being a cheaper car, you can get your family moving for a lot less, and with as much trunk space as an SUV. With just two, the folded-down seats leave more than enough space to sleep inside. A manual option is available. Being that they rival Volvo in safety, this is the best small car option you can take, especially in case of snowy weather. We know from experience that it's the last car that will ever get stuck in a blizzard.

Related: Here Are 10 Reasons Why Subaru Owners Love Their Cars So Much

5 Toyota FJ Cruiser

The Toyota Fj Cruiser 2006- 2014
Via: YouTube

The FJ is like the reliable version of the Hummer and a modernized version of the legendary Land Cruisers. You'd be hard-pressed to find a clean title one for under $20,000 points, but that's the sign that it's worth it! From 2006-2014 Toyota offered American's this V6-powered off-road machine that got 260 strong horses - as much as the V6 Tundra at the time.

Grey-Toyota_FJ_Cruiser
Via: Reddit

The FJ comes with a gnarly roof rack ready to be loaded, and having only two rows of seats allows you to have more space and less weight. Having no B-pillar for the rear doors, the actual B-pillar is a massive support beam that is overly strong in case of rollovers or being hit from the side. Like the H2 Hummer, the FJ has less window space to get broken, and even requires three wipers for the narrow windshield.

4 Honda Africa Twin (Set of 2...Quadruplets?)

Two riders racing 2022 Honda Africa Twin models in dirt
via Ultimate Motorcycling

Let me propose to you having a set of adventure bikes that can cruise through the freeways full of abandoned cars as well as cut through the untrailed wilderness. The Honda Africa Twin is made for comfortable street riding and capable off-roading, and you can find one for under 10k, though not much less. In fact, the originals from 1988 go for around $8,000 in good condition, a sure sign that this is one bike that will never fail you!

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin
Via powersports.honda.com

The 1,100 cc bike has options like cargo containers, a light bar with extra LEDs, a 12V socket, and even heated grips! It has options for protective add-ons like handlebar protectors, an engine cover, wind deflectors. You can go 280 miles on one tank and get 50 miles per gallon. There's a more discrete black version avaiable that looks pretty cool. The newer ones come with GPS if that's something you'd need in the end of times? Most likely?

Related: Check Out The 2021 Honda Africa Twin Ultimate Overland Motorcycle Build

3 Toyota RAV4 V6

2012 Toyota RAV4 V6
toyota.com

Toyota started out trying to make the RAV4 to be a good city car but got sidetracked and ended up with an off-road-ready mid-sized SUV that even came with locking differentials! The 2008 to 2012 RAV4 offered a 3.5L V6 option which meant a nice 269 horsepower! In a car that only weighs 3,600 lbs, that's saying something!

Lifted rav4
instagram.com

The little ball is discrete and won't get broken into or stolen anytime soon. It comes with a hatch-mounted spare tire to show how serious it is, and roof rails are standard. Of course, you also get the good ol' Toyota badge of reliability to protect you in the great unknown.

2 Ford F-150

Ford-F-150-6
Via thecarconnection.com

One thing is for sure... you will never be without spare parts. The F-series truck is the second most sold vehicle of all time next only to the Carola. The "2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2-liter V8 Flex-fuel Super Cab" got 411 horsepower, though finding one under 20k might be a stretch.

Lifted 2011 F-150 Ford non raptor
dealeraccelerate.com

They do normally come with more than 250 horses, enough to comfortably get up to ramming speed in one block. With an open-bed truck you unleash a lot of possibilities these other cars don't offer; camping space, tons of supplies, and towing. The F-150 beats out the Ram and Silverado by being both more capable and more repairable.

1 Mercedes-Benz Unimog

Military mercedfes unimog
Via Pinterest

I'm sure some Unimog owners will try to tell you their rig is worth upwards of 100 grand, but the fact is that you can get a well-running Unimog for well under 20k. With the ridiculously tall German farm truck, you get a cabin-on frame with a bed that can literally be changed with hand tools (though you need a way to lift it, I suppose). The frame itself can flex up to 25% for maximum articulation, making it far better than a Jeep at off-roading.

Mercedes Unimog climb off-road trail
Via Mat Watson Cars on YouTube

Once you summit the learning curve of the seven different levers you control (just for the transmission and drive modes) then you have an enviable diesel machine that can carry a football team, hold a camper box, or even mount a turret gun.