Early game 1 square vehicles - ampersand55/cddamisc GitHub Wiki

Intro

Acquiring a vehicle is one of the first things you should do in Cataclysm: Dark days ahead. It lets you explore the map safely as its faster than zombies and it provides storage space for when you are scavenging.

These vehicles are all 1 square and neither require high mechanics skill or advanced materials or tools like welding. As these vehicles are only 1 square, they can be used as shopping carts and be [g]rabbed and pulled into buildings. They are generally to heavy to pulled along on offroad tiles though.

It's in my opinion generally better to pull along a small vehicle to use as storage to put your items in instead of using a backpack. It provides more storage, doesn't cost encumbrance and provides a means of escaping if you feel like you are about to get overwhelmed.

Wheelbarrow with pedals

Easy to make if you find a wheelbarrow. It's smaller, faster and has more storage than a bicycle.

Requirements

Skills

  • none

Tools

Components

Resulting vehicle

[handle]
light wheel mount
box (later industrial trash can)
foot pedals
8" wheelbarrow wheel

Just install a foot crank on the wheelbarrow. As of the current build you can steer it even if the light wheel mount isn't steerable.

Switch the box with an industrial trash can when you can.

Switch 8" the wheelbarrow wheel for a unicycle wheel for slightly better road performance, but worse offroad performance.

Unicycle trashcan from front-side of a bike

Easy to make if you find a somewhat intact bike. Faster than a regular bicycle.

Requirements

Skills

  • Fabrication (1)

Tools

Components

Resulting vehicle

    [extra light frame]
    -light wheel mount (steerable)
    -industrial trash can
    -foot pedals
    -27" unicycle wheel

You need to find any vehicle, such as a bike or motorcycle, with an intact light wheel mount (steerable) mounted on an intact frame.

The starting vehicle should have these parts:

    [any type of frame]
    -light wheel mount (steerable)

You'll also need one intact 27" wheel and one foot crank, but it doesn't have to be from the same bike.

Smash the middle part of the bike and it should separate in two. You only need the front part of the bike. You can make a homewrecker to smash the bike.

First remove the wheel, then reinstall it as a 27" unicycle wheel. Then install a wooden aisle or a collapsible wooden isle on the same tile.

Wooden unicycle trashcan from scratch

When you just can't find a decent base vehicle for the other methods. Requires a 27" bicycle wheel or a wheelbarrow wheel.

Requirements

Skills

  • Fabrication (1) (4 for Wooden wheel mount)
  • Mechanics (2)

Tools

Components

Resulting vehicle

    [wooden frame]
    -wooden wheel mount (steerable)
    -wooden aisle (100L)
    -foot pedals
    -27" unicycle wheel

Replace the wooden aisle for an industrial trash can if/when you can for more storage.

Motorized unicycle trashcan

This is a great vehicle you use all the way to the end game. It can be attached on a bike rack on your mobile base.

Requirements

Skills

  • Fabrication (1) (4 for Wooden wheel mount)
  • Mechanics (2)

Tools

Components

Resulting vehicle:

    [any type of frame]
    -wooden wheel mount (steerable)
    -controls
    -industrial trash can
    -0.05L engine
    -10L vehicle tank
    -27" unicycle wheel

For the base vehicle, you need to find any vehicle with intact controls mounted on an intact frame that does not have an intact security system. Smash all tiles next to the tile with controls so that only the tile we want remains. A homewrecker is good for smashing.

The starting vehicle should have a tile with these parts and no intact security system:

    [any type of frame]
    -controls

You can get a larger engine, but then you'll need electrical power to start it. For that you need a battery with charges, and preferable also an alternator to recharge the battery as you're driving. With a 1.6L I4 you can go 3 tiles/turn offroad.

Resulting vehicle:

    [frame]
    -car battery
    -wooden wheel mount (steerable)
    -controls
    -industrial trash can
    -1.6 L I4 engine
    -60L vehicle tank
    -27" unicycle wheel

Upgrades to consider

Upgrades you might want to consider for all vehicles:

Upgrades you might want to consider for vehicles with batteries:

  • dashboard for controlling electronics
  • headlights or flood light for seeing at night
  • stereo for mood bonus
  • battery charger
  • recharging station
  • tool battery mount
  • storage battery
  • solar panel

Upgrades you might want to consider when you have welding:

How to get items

Scavenging

Item How to get
Foot crank (aka pedals) Disassemble an ergometer (exercise bike)
0.05 L engine Disassemble a lawn mower or jackhammer
Other small engines Remove it from another small vehicle
industrial trash can Remove from a rolling trash can you can find in front of residential houses.
plastic jerrycan (10 L) Deconstruct broken generator or recipe from 4 gallon gugs
steel jerrycan (20 L) Disassemble a large fire extinguisher or remove tank from vehicles
metal tank (60 L) Disassemble standing tank, wood stove or heavy machinery or remove tank from vehicle

Recipes

Homewrecker

Skills

  • None

Tools

  • None

Components

Get long strings by [e]xamining windows and [t]ear down the curtains.

Wooden wheel mount

Skills

  • fabrication (4)
  • mechanics (2)

Tools

Components

  • nail (12)
  • 2 planks
  • 1 steel wire OR 1 medium steel wire OR 1 high steel wire OR 1 hardened steel wire OR 1 tempered steel wire
Light wooden frame

Skills

  • none

Components

Wooden frame

Skills

  • fabrication (1)

Tools

Components

Foldable wooden frame

Skills

  • fabrication (2)

Tools

Components

Last checked for experimental build 2024-11-20

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