Rank 3 of 5 · 1 to 3 months
Wrangler
Riding farther out
A Wrangler handles the long stretch and the fast exit. You'll store food for months, keep the essentials running when the grid is down, talk to your people without cell service, and be packed to leave in 15 minutes.
Who it's for
Preppers with two weeks covered who want depth: months of food, power for essentials, and a plan for leaving fast.
Start with
A 30-day food storage plan and a written household comms plan.
Goals
- Store 1 to 3 months of food in cool, dry, dark conditions.
- Keep lights, phones, a radio, and key appliances running without the grid.
- Stay in touch with your household when cell networks fail.
- Be ready to leave home in 15 minutes with a bag for each person.
- Keep copies of key documents both on paper and offsite.
Checklist
Skills and gear milestones
Work through these at your own pace. Print the page and tick them off as you go.
Gear
- Bulk staples (rice, beans, oats) in sealed, pest-proof containers
- A portable power station or generator, with fuel stored safely
- Carbon monoxide alarms on every sleeping level
- A NOAA weather radio and two-way radios for the household
- A bug-out bag for each person, plus a vehicle kit
- Paper maps of your area and your evacuation routes
Skills
- Run a generator safely: outdoors, away from windows and doors
- Get a GMRS license or study for an amateur (ham) radio license
- Navigate to your rally point with a paper map and compass
- Follow tested USDA guidance for any home-canned food
Plans
- Write a comms plan: channels, check-in times, and an out-of-area contact
- Run a timed bug-out drill and fix what slowed you down
- Pick two rally points: one nearby and one out of town
Recommended lists
The Wrangler shelves
Coming soon: shelf being stocked
Long-Term Food Storage List
Staples, containers, and a rotation log for 1 to 3 months.
Coming soon: shelf being stocked
Backup Power List
Keeping lights, phones, and radios going without the grid.
Coming soon: shelf being stocked
Off-Grid Comms List
Radios and a household plan for when cell service drops.
Coming soon: shelf being stocked
Bug-Out Bag List
One bag per person, built to leave in 15 minutes.
Role add-ons: coming soon
Role gear sized for the Wrangler rank (Ramrod (Leader), Sawbones (Medic), Cookie (Cook), Lookout (Comms), Scout (Navigation & Security), Fixer (Tools & Repair)) is in the works. No picks or prices yet.
Next rank
Up next: Trail Boss (Several months). Several months of advanced readiness, and leading your family or group through it: real comms, a security plan, and bigger water and power.
Ride on to Trail Boss