Best hypothetical vehicle would be a rigid airship IMO
Otherwise, I'd go for a bucket truck.
My favorite non-automobile (but practical and realistic) idea to would probably be going for the SEPTA Regional Rail lines. As long as there is power to the pantographs, you got transportation. When there isn't, you have the good ol' diesel generators. Nothing says "move outta da fuckin' way" like a Silverliner IV bearing down. Limited as to where you can go (by way of intact track), but they are reliable as balls. Cages over the windows, and you have gunports pretty much wherever you need them. Can require as little as one man to operate a train of say, three cars (though you'd be pretty daft to operate solo in an urban setting). On the other hand, if the entire network managed to remain intact, you'd have efficient, rapid, easily defendable, and heavy transport across much of SE pennsylvania. Make use of the SEPTA maint vehicles with necessary equipment to make use of the rails and you have an excellent highway.
Hope I don't go on a terrorist watch list for talking about mass transit systems in post-apocalyptia >.<
EDIT: My point about the SEPTA railway-capable maint vehicles was mainly going on about bucket tuck ones, as bucket trucks would help serve many many purposes (Banner holders, crows nests for keeping an eye out for zombies with binocs during the day, can be used as a post for a radio operator, many more uses for sticking something or someone high up into the air)
Otherwise, I'd go for a bucket truck.
My favorite non-automobile (but practical and realistic) idea to would probably be going for the SEPTA Regional Rail lines. As long as there is power to the pantographs, you got transportation. When there isn't, you have the good ol' diesel generators. Nothing says "move outta da fuckin' way" like a Silverliner IV bearing down. Limited as to where you can go (by way of intact track), but they are reliable as balls. Cages over the windows, and you have gunports pretty much wherever you need them. Can require as little as one man to operate a train of say, three cars (though you'd be pretty daft to operate solo in an urban setting). On the other hand, if the entire network managed to remain intact, you'd have efficient, rapid, easily defendable, and heavy transport across much of SE pennsylvania. Make use of the SEPTA maint vehicles with necessary equipment to make use of the rails and you have an excellent highway.
Hope I don't go on a terrorist watch list for talking about mass transit systems in post-apocalyptia >.<
EDIT: My point about the SEPTA railway-capable maint vehicles was mainly going on about bucket tuck ones, as bucket trucks would help serve many many purposes (Banner holders, crows nests for keeping an eye out for zombies with binocs during the day, can be used as a post for a radio operator, many more uses for sticking something or someone high up into the air)