Jack R. Jester
EF2
Last year I started this thread:
And sort of made myself look a bit reckless.
![20200913_163537.jpg 20200913_163537.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37847-3ccc8c0b362787e40ff103910f95dddb.jpg)
Everyone told me I should rent a car or something, and that my 25 year old 340k original enigne/transmission Suburban would not make it through the whole trip.
Well despite Armageddon, I did actually go chasing, driving a total of 2500 miles in a little under a week all through Tornado Alley. Of course, I am a total Amature, so I saw basically nothing in terms of actual tornadoes.
![20200913_163506.jpg 20200913_163506.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37848-584a09520c78687969a6ca62c54e1486.jpg)
Anyways, the Suburban did really well on the highway. While maintaining 80-90 mph it still got 16mpg, and it was super comfy to sleep in.
My only major problem was that I blew the rear transmission seal on my way home. This issue was preventable, since I already knew it was leaking. It was no big deal though, since I was able to coast into a parking lot, walk to an autoparts store and replace it in less then an hour.
It was an overall great truck, but I sold it last month to buy parts for my two other pieces of crap.
![20201007_155332.jpg 20201007_155332.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37850-4d87595b76bd16187315e3897d0141ac.jpg)
Now it is not like I'm going to take my '51 Studebaker Storm Chasing, (However Awesome That Would Be!!!) so I need a new vehicle for 2021.
![20201011_104416.jpg 20201011_104416.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37849-448d8e9fc1260e07f69ed470cdae71f2.jpg)
_____________________________________
NOW TO THE POINT OF THIS THREAD.
For Storm Season 2021, I need to build an actual chase vehicle, and do it properly this time.
![20201008_120503.jpg 20201008_120503.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37851-0caf586e0da6535870fe7b3d03ee827e.jpg)
Though Ol' Yeller (My 1974 GMC C1500) is a good daily driver, it would be quite an undertaking to make it reliable enough to chase in.
![00z0z_2bJBKkgRZxK_0ak07K_600x450.jpg 00z0z_2bJBKkgRZxK_0ak07K_600x450.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37853-bea2fce44f14f486f34ef5a9a5ec6f5e.jpg)
I'm looking at buying another GMT400 Suburban, one with less miles, and more features then my '95.
I am planning on spending $2-3000 on a truck with 4wd, working A/C, and a Vortec 350 instead of the old TBI 350 my '95 had.
Anyways, this year will be different due to the fact that I now have a chase partner in the form of a younger causin who is also into meteorology.
A High School Amateur's Storm Chase Vehicle
If you do reupholster, get cloth of some sort. Leather/vinyl = swamp ass in the plains in summer.
stormtrack.org
![20200913_163537.jpg 20200913_163537.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37847-3ccc8c0b362787e40ff103910f95dddb.jpg)
Everyone told me I should rent a car or something, and that my 25 year old 340k original enigne/transmission Suburban would not make it through the whole trip.
Well despite Armageddon, I did actually go chasing, driving a total of 2500 miles in a little under a week all through Tornado Alley. Of course, I am a total Amature, so I saw basically nothing in terms of actual tornadoes.
![20200913_163506.jpg 20200913_163506.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37848-584a09520c78687969a6ca62c54e1486.jpg)
Anyways, the Suburban did really well on the highway. While maintaining 80-90 mph it still got 16mpg, and it was super comfy to sleep in.
My only major problem was that I blew the rear transmission seal on my way home. This issue was preventable, since I already knew it was leaking. It was no big deal though, since I was able to coast into a parking lot, walk to an autoparts store and replace it in less then an hour.
It was an overall great truck, but I sold it last month to buy parts for my two other pieces of crap.
![20201007_155332.jpg 20201007_155332.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37850-4d87595b76bd16187315e3897d0141ac.jpg)
Now it is not like I'm going to take my '51 Studebaker Storm Chasing, (However Awesome That Would Be!!!) so I need a new vehicle for 2021.
![20201011_104416.jpg 20201011_104416.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37849-448d8e9fc1260e07f69ed470cdae71f2.jpg)
_____________________________________
NOW TO THE POINT OF THIS THREAD.
For Storm Season 2021, I need to build an actual chase vehicle, and do it properly this time.
![20201008_120503.jpg 20201008_120503.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37851-0caf586e0da6535870fe7b3d03ee827e.jpg)
Though Ol' Yeller (My 1974 GMC C1500) is a good daily driver, it would be quite an undertaking to make it reliable enough to chase in.
![00z0z_2bJBKkgRZxK_0ak07K_600x450.jpg 00z0z_2bJBKkgRZxK_0ak07K_600x450.jpg](https://stormtrack.org/data/attachments/37/37853-bea2fce44f14f486f34ef5a9a5ec6f5e.jpg)
I'm looking at buying another GMT400 Suburban, one with less miles, and more features then my '95.
I am planning on spending $2-3000 on a truck with 4wd, working A/C, and a Vortec 350 instead of the old TBI 350 my '95 had.
Anyways, this year will be different due to the fact that I now have a chase partner in the form of a younger causin who is also into meteorology.