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The world has crumbled. The skyline once admired is now a twisted silhouette of shattered glass and steel. There are no more morning coffee runs, no more commutes, and the 9-to-5 has ground to a halt. It’s survival now—pure chaos, clinging-to-life.
The event—whatever it was—has left cities in ruin and society in tatters. Trust is scarce, supplies are scarcer, and the road ahead is a treacherous gauntlet of obstacles. Your Bug-Out Jeep build sits idle, stashed away under a tarp in the garage like a beacon of hope in this chaotic wasteland. It’s not just a vehicle anymore; it’s your lifeline, your sanctuary, your ticket to freedom.
Your only friend left, with four paws and a wagging tail, is riding shotgun. Together, you’re heading out, leaving behind what little remains of the old world. The path is anything but clear. Power lines hang like spiderwebs across the horizon. Buildings have collapsed into the streets. Trees, debris, and burnt-out vehicles block every intersection. But your Jeep—your Bug Out Jeep build—was made for this.
A Fortress On Wheels
When it comes to building a 4×4 to survive the apocalypse, we’ve been clear on our vision and know there’s no room for compromise. Project Apocalypse Bug Out Jeep isn’t just a rugged off-roader—it’s a fortress on wheels, built to endure the harshest environments and tackle impossible terrain. We’ve already armed our 2018 Jeep JLU Wrangler Sport to the teeth, added internal storage and security, and customizable organization. Now, it is time to upgrade and protect the exterior with some beefy road armor and an exoskeleton package that combines function, protection, and a whole lot of attitude. Let’s walk through the installation of the armor components that ensure this Jeep is ready to outlast doomsday.
Why Armor Matters In A Bug-Out Vehicle
In a world where survival is key, armor upgrades aren’t just for show. Think of the exoskeleton package as the Jeep’s bulletproof vest. These components protect vital areas of the vehicle from obstacles, impacts, and unforeseen dangers. More importantly, they’re essential for traversing off-grid paths littered with rocks, fallen trees, and debris—because you never know what’s around the corner in an apocalyptic scenario.
For everyday use in a normally functioning society, heavy-duty steel fabricated components like the ones we selected offer tremendous benefits. At the very least, the extra protection upgrades guard against parking lot fender benders, runaway grocery carts, and keep expensive OEM parts that are hard to repair or replace unscathed.
Let’s dive into the key products we installed to transform Project Apocalypse Bug Out Jeep into an unstoppable force.
Bug Out Jeep Build Winch And Recovery Gear
A bug-out vehicle must be able to recover itself from sticky situations. In the case of a nightmare apocalypse, just let the imagination run wild—it’s a must-have. Additionally, a winch can be used in dozens of other scenarios as a do-it-all tool. For this build, we installed the WARN ZEON 10-S winch paired with Factor 55’s hawse fairlead. We also plan to further outfit the vehicle with a comprehensive assortment of recovery gear and tools.
Warn ZEON 10-S Winch
The WARN ZEON 10-S winch has a 10,000-pound maximum pulling capacity and features an all-new planetary gear train motor that delivers fast, quiet, and reliable pulling power. This winch package has the ability to be remotely operated with a HUB Wireless Receiver upgrade. Other main components included are 100 feet of 3/8-inch WARN Spydura synthetic rope with a temperature-resistant sleeve on the first layer, a ballistic nylon sliding sleeve, and a polished aluminum hawse fairlead.
Factor 55 Hawse Fairlead
We decided to upgrade to a lightweight Factor 55 1.5-inch hawse fairlead, designed to protect the synthetic rope from damage and reduce wear. It’s a simple yet critical component that ensures your recovery gear lasts. It’s CNC-machined from U.S.-made 6000-series aluminum bar and has a durable MIL-A-8625F Type III Gunmetal Gray hard-anodized finish. The latter has a low friction coefficient, which lessens wear and tear on the winch rope.
Bug Out Jeep Build Bumper And Armor Package
When you think about Jeeps and the apocalypse, nothing says Mad Max: Road Warrior quite like Fab Fours. The company has created a wide variety of U.S.-made products for the Wrangler JL (and many other 4x4s), including a menacing-looking body armor package like nothing else. We chose a trio of products that are ready for both the apocalypse and everyday on- and off-road duty.
Fab Fours Matrix Front Bumper
The Matrix Series Front Bumper, in its full-width variety, is a slim-fitting, extreme-durability steel bumper. With its aggressive design and styling, increased tire clearance and airflow are also accommodated. Key features include an internal winch mount, bull bar, D-ring mounts, integrated sensor holes, and multiple provisions for auxiliary lighting. It offers both protection and utility, which are critical for any bug-out vehicle.
The four photos above show some of the Fab Fours Matrix bumper install. After removing the stock front bumper we mounted the winch on the Matrix bumper's winch plate and then routed the power cables to the battery. We then spooled the synthetic rope onto the winch drum, attached the hook, and mounted the Factor 55 fairlead to the new bumper. Finally, we aligned the bumper on the vehicle and then secured it in place with the provided hardware.
In our case, the larger body of the WARN ZEON 10-S winch was just slightly too large for the Fab Fours Matrix front bumper’s built-in accommodations. We opened it up just a little with a laser torch, cleaned up the lines with an abrasive cut-off wheel, and touched up the raw metal with some STEEL-IT protective coating.
In these four photos you can see how just a little bit of choice masking and cutting of the front bumper made enough room for the WARN ZEON 10-S winch.
Fab Fours Premium Rear Bumper
In the back, we installed a Fab Fours Premium Rear Bumper. This unit offers similar protection as the Matrix front bumper, with reinforced corners and integrated tow points. In a world gone mad, being able to tow or be towed could be a lifesaver.
Fab Fours Tube Rock Sliders
Rock sliders are a critical upgrade for protecting the Jeep’s undercarriage and rocker panels from damage. These Fab Fours Tube Rock Sliders bolt directly to the frame and can handle the full weight of the vehicle if needed. Pro tip: When installing rock sliders, make sure they’re level and tight to the frame. These aren’t just for looks—they’re designed to take a beating.
These four photos show the transition from stock to the completed installation of the Fab Fours Tube Rock Sliders.
Garvin Adventure Full Rack
For the Jeep’s exterior cab protection, we started with Garvin Industries and the tried-and-true Garvin Adventure Full Rack. This modular cargo system serves as a dual-purpose exoskeleton. It’s perfect for carrying survival essentials like fuel cans, water, camping gear, and storage boxes. It’ll even accommodate longer items like kayaks, rafts, and fishing gear—items that would quickly consume the vehicle’s limited cargo capacity. Additionally, it guards the four corners of the Jeep cab with heavy-duty steel tubes.
The rack bolts directly to the Jeep’s frame and A-pillar, and there are multiple padded points of contact. This configuration presents a sturdy foundation for mounting additional gear while keeping it secure on bumpy terrain. Because of its sturdy construction and rugged mounting, the rack is rated for carrying up to 300 pounds in motion and a 600-pound static weight.
These four photos offer a look at the Garvin Adventure Rack components and mounting system. The rack is highly engineered and easily installed. Installation highlights include removing any factory roof components and the plastic A-pillar covers. The rack brackets are positioned along the frame and the provided tools and hardware are used to secure the rack.
Garvin JL Adventure Rack Ladder
Adding the Garvin Adventure Rack Ladder makes accessing rooftop gear much easier—a crucial feature when you’re in a hurry to bug out. Garvin offers the ladder rack in both driver-side and passenger-side orientations. The Rack Ladder is manufactured from 1-inch-diameter steel tubing and bolts directly to the JL Adventure Rack. It fits both two-door and four-door JLs with Garvin’s Adventure Rack or Half Rack installed. We installed a ladder on each side of our JL.
Trail Rack And Rotopax Can Mount
The Garvin Trail Rack is another cargo-expansion bonus we implemented, offering extra storage capacity at the rear. It’s ideal for carrying items that you don’t want inside the Jeep but still need to easily access. To add even more capacity and utilize interior space efficiently, we installed a very cool Garvin Rotopax Can Mount that affixes to the Jeep’s interior roll bar. It securely holds a Rotopax two-gallon water container. It’s worth noting that Rotopax containers come in various sizes and styles to carry things like water, fuel, tools, or food.
You can run out of storage options very quickly with a Jeep Wrangler, so anything you can do to curb that is an essential move. Your survival might just depend on it.
Putting The Bug Out Jeep Build All Together
Thanks go out to the hard-working folks at 4 Wheel Performance in Wichita Falls, Texas, for working with us on the installation. Everything, including the slight bumper modification, went in with zero hassle.
With the armor and exoskeleton package installed, Project Apocalypse Bug Out Jeep is now more prepared than ever. The combination of Garvin’s cargo solutions, Fab Fours’ armor, and WARN’s recovery gear transforms this Jeep into the ultimate survival machine.
Every piece serves a purpose—from carrying extra supplies to protecting the vehicle’s vital areas. In an apocalypse, preparedness is the name of the game. With these upgrades, our Jeep can handle anything from treacherous trails to off-grid survival.
A Bug-Out Jeep That’s Ready For Anything
The Project Apocalypse Bug Out Jeep build is no longer just a concept; it’s a reality. The addition of off-road armor and an exoskeleton package ensures that this vehicle can withstand the toughest conditions and emerge unscathed. In a survival scenario, having the right gear can mean the difference between life and death—and this Jeep is ready to face whatever the end of the world throws its way.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue building the ultimate bug-out adventure vehicle! Click here to access the previous six Project Apocalypse Bug Out Jeep installments of the build.
