Ive been interested in this for some time. There are some great websites out there with good information. Ive always heard that older vehicles that arent computer based are the best for a bug-out vehicle. 4wd of course. I keep a small bag in my truck with lighters, food, water, an emergency blanket and some other things. One of those just in case things. If anyone is looking for good books on the subject you need to read a book called Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse by James Wesley Rawles. Its a fiction book that reads almost like a manual on bugging out. One of my favorite books of all time is called One Second After by William R. Forstchen. It really opens your eyes and makes you think. I highly recommend this one.
daniel is right on this. both of those books are great, i own both of them. they really open your eyes and make you think about stuff.
"One Second After" is more of a story and some of the stuff probably wouldnt happen as the author writes it.
"Patriots" is an in depth look at scenarios you could be faced with as well as things you need to think about storing away. it's put into a novel format so it isnt so dry and is actually entertaining.
with a full out collapse of society, where reconstruction is going to be years away, the population is going to start falling off quickly. especially if it were to happen this time of year. you'd have a lot of people that just arent prepared and would die of starvation and exposure.
people that take heart medicine, cholesterol medicine, diabetes supplies, etc., they depend on a functioning society in order to get those meds. they're days are numbered based on their current supply.
also, simple things like appendicitis are suddenly going to become life threatening again. even with a surgeon, if you dont have a sterile environment to do the surgery, your chances of surviving are slim.
you want to have as low a signature as possible and be WAY off the beaten path. yeah, owning animals would be great, but that's gonna give another group of people a reason to come kill you. you cant keep a heard of cattle or chickens or hogs quiet enough that no one knows you have them. the best way to survive would be planting almost all of your food, having food already stored up and being able to can food for the cold months. and like will said, you need a large group of friends and guns/ammo to defend yourself.