What are Storm Chaser vehicles made out of?

Answer 1

here's been somewhat of a debate within the storm chasing community about which type of vehicle best lends itself toward storm chasing; the four wheel drive sport utility, or a minivan. When people begin to get really serious about storm chasing, they start taking a hard look at what type of vehicle they're driving. Often, they go for more payload, creature comforts, and hazardous driving capability. In my last two seasons out in the field, I've witnessed more chasers driving minivans and sport utility vehicles, than the traditional car. Is there an 'ideal' vehicle for the serious storm chaser?

I've been storm chasing with practically every type of vehicle, ranging from motorcycles in my stupid teenage years, a Volkswagen Super Beetle (real fun in high wind), a Ford Bronco 4WD, pickup trucks, the family car, and finally, a Dodge Caravan. The reason I went to the minivan was because it had the room to carry up to seven people with luggage and gear, and because I liked the ride. For the research on this story, I and one of my frequent storm chasing partners went to a local automobile dealer and test drove the newest offerings from the big three auto makers.

Sports Utility Vehicles

First, stepping into a brand new vehicle is an experience all its own. The seats, the smell, the control layout, the view, it's all new and strange. We spent several minutes sitting in the cockpit of each, getting familiar with the vehicle. The first impression, especially in one model, was that the cockpit felt tight and close. The front windshield felt small and constricted My storm chasing partner complained that he felt he was looking out a porthole. The tight cabin also gave some concern toward proper mounting of radios and camera gear. While not impossible, it would be a daunting task to try to cram several radios and other storm chasing goodies into the front of the truck. After reflection, I would probably devise some sort of quick release system for the electronics, so they could be taken easily into a motel room for an overnight stay, which would be less attractive to thieves. On the plus side, the controls were logically laid out and within easy reach. One S/U model tested had fully adjustable seats with inflatable bladders for fine tuning lumbar support, which we both liked a lot.

The rest of the interior was straightforward, with ample room for gear stowage, and comfortable seats for passengers. One model featured separate heating and a/c controls for rear passengers, along with a radio supplied with dual headphone jacks, which would be great for those long road trips.

On the Road

All of the sport utility vehicles tested offered similar ride characteristics. They could best be described as having a firm and somewhat rough ride. We had only driven two miles when we decided that the choppy ride could equate to some pretty stiff and sore muscles at the end of a long storm chasing day. My passenger complained that he'd have a sore neck at day's end from straining forward to look at the sky. That aside, the noise level inside the truck was quite tolerable, with the most sound coming from the tires. A different tread pattern and softer compound could make a reduction in the overall noise level, adding to storm chasing comfort. Electronic on-dash switching from two wheel drive to four wheel drive was very convenient. Gone are the days when you had to get out of the truck and lock in the hubs. All vehicles tested were sure footed in four wheel drive mode with a solid feel at the controls. Braking tests were a bit unnerving, especially while cornering on slick surfaces. Once traction was lost, the S/U's wanted to go their own way, with a slight tendency to swap ends.

Answer 2

Most storm chaser vehicles are ordinary cars and SUVs, made mostly of steel.