How can I make a hidden storage bunker.

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by fortunateson, Jan 16, 2009.

  1. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!

    I'm planning to build a retreat on 50 acres.
    After putting in a permanent home I want to build a hidden bunker type storage facility because at first, the home will not be occupied.
    I want to keep supplies safe from thiefs.

    An old fallout shelter type space would be great, but it has to be hidden.

    Anyone can point me to plans?
  2. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

  3. Brokor


    I plan on digging the hole with a backhoe and building the forms, pour the cement, and cover. You can run wire through a pvc pipe, build a door frame, set in some stairs, and then cover the opening with a sheet of plywood covered in rubberized material. Be sure to reinforce the plywood so nobody falls through. Alternatively, you could just buy the steel storm doors for pre-built cement stairs. Then just camo the stair doors. I like to plant bushes, perhaps blueberry in a shady area.

    The buried cargo container is an excellent idea, but be sure you get a deal with shipping included, or at least so that you don't get raked over the coals.
  4. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Might be quicker and use fewer witnesses to buy a "big enough" septic tank.
  5. toemag

    toemag Monkey++

    With the fields decision on the fourth, I'd say the first rule about the hidden storage bunker is not to talk about the hidden storage bunker. Plan to fence it in and grow a hedge all along the length of the fence, with the entrance being in one corner of the hedged fence, then have a hedge on the other side of the driveway so that anyone looking in through the entrance just see's the hedges on both sides. You could also make a berm at the other end and put some targets up for some target practice. Then go for Christmas trees mixed with fruit trees in the rest of the compound. It will also give you some concealment from the air.

    just a few ideas that pooped into my head.

  6. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    I put a bit of thought in this area some time back and came to the conclusion that digging a hole will attract more attention than I want. Hide in plain sight came to mind. Seems to me that a common garden shed could be thrown up without much of a to-do, then modified internally to do whatever storage and protective function you might have in mind. Add armor, weight it down with stores, whatever. Some areas of the country have pole barns which might be usable, one could build a concrete bunker inside fairly easily of whatever size was needed, and (if the barn is big enough) it could be done inside without attracting too much attention.

    Underground shelters have their charms for a number of reasons, but above grade is easier to build and maintain. U/g wants a lot of waterproofing, for one thing, and an access at grade makes us old folks bend over more than we would like. That doesn't even take into account support facilities such as power and water, both of which are easy at grade and a royal PIA u/g. Of course, support isn't a primary concern for simple storage, but seems likely that making it big enough to shelter in makes some sense, at least to me.

    My pair of pennies --
  7. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    I like that Idea, broad day light, plausible denial "what? I like burritos but they don't like me..."[lolol]
  8. Brokor


    Shoot, dunno 'bout ya'll but I'm not living anywhere near other people, that's just trouble waiting to happen. Out of sight = out of mind.
  9. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Put your address into google earth. You can be found. That said, remote locations are good, invisible from the road is better. (But there will be tracks.)
  10. BAT1

    BAT1 Cowboys know no fear

    Have some men dig a hole, let them leave, get some different men to set the tank and cover. Bury a huge septic tank after putting a walkin entry at one end. Cheapest way. I built a masonry BBQ pit that has a nice spot in the ceiling of it.
  11. Akheloce

    Akheloce Monkey++

    Hmm, that doesn't seem to work for me (google)... of course the nearest road is 22 air miles away....

    I agree with the earlier post on hiding things in plain sight... I won't go into specifics, but an awful lot can be hidden in false walls, floors, etc. I looked into hauling a conex out to my place to bury, but the high moisture levels I'd find would be too detrimental to long term storage.
  12. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    22 air miles(wow!)I would say that puts you in a"special" category..[boozingbuddies]
  13. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Try it with lat and long, bet you can see your place if it was there last overflight.
  14. Akheloce

    Akheloce Monkey++

    lol, nope, it's actually not (just built)
  15. Akheloce

    Akheloce Monkey++

    "special" huh, like riding in a short bus :D
  16. Brokor


    I've got to hand it to the Alaskan Survivalists.

    That septic tank idea is flarkin awesome, btw...
  17. poacher

    poacher Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Why not combine the two? If you can swing it why not buy the largest septic tank you can get and then bury it. Next year build a nice large shed or small barn. Put a little bit of the concrete floor just over the septic so that the opening of the septic is at the back or corner of the floor. Then when you build your shed, barn etc you have the opening in the shed which gives it protection from the elements. Cover the opening with a bag of fertilizer or a metal shelving unit so that it can't be seen.

    This way if you build a shed large enough with the septic tank behind the back of the shed you have a living space and underground protection. If the living space burns or collapses you won't have the debris on top of you that might cave the septic in.
    Good thought Ghrit.

    Take care Be safe Poacher.
  18. RightHand


    I know that every area has it's own planning and zoning regulations but around here, a septic tank can't be installed without #1 an engineering study, #2 a zoning permit, #3 a final inspection for function. Sheds also require a permit. Heck, the town even wanted me to get a permit to fill in the swimming pool. Dry wells are now against regs but I'm lucky enough to have one grandfathered in.

    While building an underground storage system may be disguised as just a septic system, the local authorities may have a hand in your plans.
  19. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    :) from my future T-shirt list:
    :_"short bus racing team..."
    Motto"Never race the short bus; ifyou lose its embarassing , if you win you just beat a bunch of slow kids..."[ROFL]
  20. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    "Septic tank? What do you mean? It's a prefab foundation for my shed!"
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