There are two types of 7 Days to Die player: Those who shuffle back to the trader every day with an overflowing backpack, armed with nothing but a club and three tins of chilli. And those who roar through the apocalyptic wasteland on a throaty motorbike, boot full of loot, shotgun at the ready, leaving every zombie horde in the dust with a satisfied “Vrooom”.
Guess which group survives longer.
In version 2.0, mobility matters more than ever. The world is bigger, traders and loot hotspots are further apart, and many quests only really pay off once you can knock them out without endless slogging on foot. This article shows your path from the first wobbly bicycle to the ultimate dream machine: the gyrocopter.
7 Days to Die vehicles: why mobility keeps you alive
Sure, you can play on foot. But why would you? Vehicles in 2.0 give you several decisive advantages:
- Time-saver: Less walking = more looting = faster progression.
- More storage: Vehicles have their own inventories – worth their weight in gold.
- Safety: In a tight spot, just jump on the bike and leg it – faster than any zombie.
- Exploration: Remote traders, rare POIs and new biomes are far more efficient to reach with wheels.
- Cool factor: Who doesn’t want to ride into the sunset on a minibike during the apocalypse?
Especially in the midgame, vehicles become the hub of your progress. Without them, you waste resources, time and nerves.
7 Days to Die bicycle: your first vehicle (quiet, no fuel)
Your first set of wheels is almost always the bicycle. Sounds modest, but it’s a genuine game-changer. You’ll need:
- Bicycle Chassis (craftable)
- Bicycle Handlebars
- Two Wheels
- Mechanical Parts
- Workbench (and, early on, a Wrench to strip cars)
Unlock: Grease Monkey 1 (Intellect tree) makes crafting much easier.
Tip: Once you unlock the Grease Monkey perk, you can get your bike fairly early. Traders often sell schematics or even finished parts – keep your eyes peeled!
The bicycle is slower, but it’s silent and needs no fuel. Perfect for scouting new areas without drawing half the city like a chugging engine would.
Minibike in 7 Days to Die: early motor upgrade
Once you have an Engine and a Battery, you can think about the minibike. This is where things start to change:
- Faster than the bicycle
- Small inventory for loot
- Needs petrol – get it from cars (dismantle with Wrench, Ratchet or Impact Driver) or barrels
Unlock: Grease Monkey 2.
The minibike is often where you start to feel free. Trader rounds, loot runs and trips into the next biome suddenly become doable without spending three days on the road.
But: Plan for petrol. Without stops at petrol stations or a few cans in your inventory, you can get stranded in the middle of nowhere – and then you’ll be trudging home again on foot.
Motorcycle in 7 Days to Die: fast and sturdy for loot runs
Now we’re talking full apocalyptic roadshow. The motorcycle is faster, tougher and has significantly more storage.
Advantages:
- Top speed – you can even outrun sprinting zombies on Blood Moon (not that it’s a great idea).
- Plenty of boot space for longer loot runs.
- It just looks downright cool.
Petrol management: The motorcycle drinks more petrol than the minibike. Keep levelling Advanced Engineering and Grease Monkey so you can produce petrol yourself (Oil Shale + Chemistry Station = gas cans).
Pro tip: Always keep a small reserve in the vehicle itself – handy if you park it stuffed with loot and forget to bring petrol.
Unlock: Grease Monkey 3.
4x4 truck in 7 Days to Die: maximum storage for big hauls
The dream of every hoarder: the 4x4 truck is a rolling warehouse.
Advantages:
- Huge inventory – perfect for quests that take you far afield.
- Ideal for groups: seats multiple players.
- Tough and fast enough to plough through biomes.
Disadvantages:
- Absolutely guzzles petrol.
- Needs a lot of space to park – cramped bases won’t love it.
- Expensive to build: steel, engines, mechanical and electrical parts by the bucketload.
With the 4x4, you can clear entire POIs and bring everything home in one trip. No more tedious back-and-forth.
Unlock: Grease Monkey 4.
Gyrocopter in 7 Days to Die: endgame mobility over every obstacle
Now it gets wild. The gyrocopter is the endgame vehicle in 7 Days to Die.
Why?
- You fly over zombies, mountains and water.
- No detours via bridges or roads.
- The quickest way to hit multiple traders.
But:
- Tricky to handle – you’ll need practice.
- Limited storage compared to the truck.
- High crafting cost: engine, lots of Mechanical Parts, and a lot of petrol.
The gyrocopter isn’t meant for everyday chores – think of it as a strategic transport option. Ideal when you need to travel very long distances or quickly change locations on PvP servers.
Unlock: Grease Monkey 5.
Craft vehicles or buy them: trader vs crafting
In 2.0, traders often have better vehicle deals than before. However:
- Early vehicles (bicycle, minibike) are often worth crafting – parts are easy to find.
- Motorcycle and 4x4 are pricey at the trader – crafting is usually cheaper if you gather the resources yourself.
- The gyrocopter is almost always a self-build, as traders rarely offer it.
Tip: Combine both approaches. Buy the parts you’re missing and craft the rest yourself.
Petrol in 7 Days to Die: farm it, craft it, save it
Whether minibike or gyrocopter – without petrol you’re going nowhere. Sources in 2.0:
- Dismantle cars (best method; also yields Engines/Batteries)
- Oil barrels (garages, petrol stations, construction sites)
- Mine Oil Shale (desert) and refine it at the Chemistry Station
- Trader quest rewards
If you drive a lot, a dedicated petrol production pays off. A trip to the desert with an Auger or Pickaxe will stock you up for weeks in no time.
Vehicle mods in 7 Days to Die: the best upgrades
Vehicles aren’t just transport – with the right mods you make them even more useful:
- Vehicle Fuel Saver Mod: Reduces petrol consumption – a must for 4x4 and gyro.
- Vehicle Supercharger Mod: More speed and acceleration.
- Vehicle Reserve Fuel Tank Mod: Larger tank capacity for longer trips.
Note: Expanded storage via mod isn’t available in vanilla; that’s something certain modlets or servers/modpacks may provide.
Blood Moon strategies with vehicles: escape and tactics
Yes, you can drive during the horde – but it’s a double-edged sword.
- Getaway vehicles: Park a motorcycle with a full tank ready in case the base falls.
- Zombie bowling: With enough speed you can mow down groups – fun, but it costs vehicle durability.
- Loot-mobile: Park the 4x4 truck right at loot spots so you can bail out quickly.
Caution: Blood Moon zombies are faster – don’t charge around aimlessly or you’ll end up in a dead end and become tin food.
Multiplayer vehicles in 7 Days to Die: teamplay tips
In solo play you’re king of your vehicle. In multiplayer, it’s different:
- Coordinate who uses which vehicle – one 4x4 as a team van and motorcycles for scouts is a solid combo.
- Share petrol stocks sensibly.
- On a dedicated 7 Days to Die server you can park vehicles persistently without fear of them despawning.
Progression guide: from zero to gyrocopter
Here’s a realistic order for an average player:
- Day 1–5: Loot, unlock the Grease Monkey perk, build a bicycle.
- Day 6–14: Build a minibike, stock up on petrol.
- Day 15–30: Build a motorcycle, unlock more traders.
- Day 31–60: Craft the 4x4 truck, start big loot runs.
- Later: Gyrocopter as a luxury transport for long-distance travel.
Of course, it depends on your loot luck and perks – but the core principle stands: mobility = progress.
Conclusion: vehicles in 7 Days to Die 2.0 are a survival strategy
In 7 Days to Die 2.0, vehicles are more than convenience. They’re time-savers, safety, storage, and a level-up for your playstyle. Whether you’re cruising quietly through the woods on a bicycle or soaring over zombie hordes in a gyrocopter – each new vehicle is a milestone in your fight to survive.
Plan smartly, keep an eye on resources and invest in mobility early, and everything gets easier – not just for quests and loot runs, but for survival in this ruthless world. And as a bonus, on your 7D2D server you can reach your friends faster when they need help.
