Recommended Chaser Equipment List

[Bill Tabor]

Bob, good list. I carry most of those as well. Depending on where you chase as someone mentioned I also agree with a chain saw. Handy in areas like TN, KY, MS, MO, etc where tornado downs trees and prevents you from traveling down the road. Come along or wench particularly be helpful on mud roads, with trees to wench to. Insect repellant is important. I can remember times I got out to shoot some photos and just being covered up in mosquitos!!!

Forgive me if I'm repeating anything that anyone else already mentioned, but I went through this thread a little faster than I might have.

come-along or winch, flares (keep them in freezer-size Ziplocs), tire chains (for getting out of mud), axe (you never know when you might come across someone trapped in debris and in need of urgent medical help), pipe wrench (for turning off gas lines), wire cutters, 12v plug-in spotlight, flashlight, tp, water, non-perishable food, hygrometer, blankets and pillows, window cleaner and paper towels, a bag of quarters for toll booths, tire pressure gauge, spare fuses, hand cleaner, trash bags, insect repellant

You will find every one of those items, as well as pretty much everything else listed by everyone else, in my little sports coupe while I chase.

Don't forget to install new windshield wipers, and get new tires if you don't have some really good rubber already!

 

[Bill Tabor]

Has anyone mentioned a towel yet? Besides being a great reference to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, there were several times this year where I ended up sopping wet and wishing for a towel. Now I keep one in my trunk. However, for accessibility, it might be better just to keep it in the back.

"Always know where one's towel is..."

I always keep at least 1 towel and rain gear as well. It is good to have jackets and coats as well. There have been times during Spring in Nebraska I start out with a warm day wearing shorts but later when the storm and cold front hits it may drop into the 30's or 40's - particularly early season.

 

[Bill Tabor]

Good additions and suggestions everyone!

 

[Drew Terril]

Good list guys. I would also recommend carrying extra fluids (oil, transmission fluid, coolant, etc.). This is a good thing to do just for general day to day stuff too. Know how to check all your fluids and how to add more if needed.

Along with the flares, star clusters (I think they're called parachute rocket flares or something in the civilian world) are good if you get lost and are stranded. At the very least it will draw attention that can get you the help you need. They can be seen from the air or ground for miles. If you have a truck and have somewhere to mount it, a hard mount winch is also a good thing to have. Not only for pulling debris from the road, but for pulling other chasers out of the ditch if they get stuck.

 

[Keith Hosman]

Something else I do not recall seeing mentioned, spare electrical fuses for your cars electrical system and for any electronics (2-way radio, inverter etc.) mounted in your chase vehicle.

Also might not hurt to carry spare lamps/bulbs for brake/turn signals etc. also a roll of electrical tape, roll of thick poly sheeting and duct tape (can be used to cover up blown out window if you run through large hail core)

 

[Keith Hosman]

Good list guys. I would also recommend carrying extra fluids (oil, transmission fluid, coolant, etc.). This is a good thing to do just for general day to day stuff too. Know how to check all your fluids and how to add more if needed.

Along with the flares, star clusters (I think they're called parachute rocket flares or something in the civilian world) are good if you get lost and are stranded. At the very least it will draw attention that can get you the help you need. They can be seen from the air or ground for miles. If you have a truck and have somewhere to mount it, a hard mount winch is also a good thing to have. Not only for pulling debris from the road, but for pulling other chasers out of the ditch if they get stuck.

Something we carry in our EMA truck are electrical LED emergency road markers

http://www.edisastersystems.com/sto...VT-hKaE5GhBhtqTf9h9C4P1h48D6h0gZm-hoCfvXw_wcB

 

[Derek S Baker]

It seems that some of the more experienced chasers have their ham radio certification & radio in their vehicle. I know there are chasers, such as Daniel Shaw, who are great about regularly calling in spotter reports to NWS via ham radio, but how helpful/necessary is having a ham radio for communication between chasers?

p.s. Would it be a good idea to bring along an extra-powerful flashlight for assisting with search & rescue, repairs, etc.?

 

[Derek S Baker]

Tons of great suggestions folks...almost literally! I'm going to have to switch to chasing in a moving van to carry all this stuff! LOL! Well, at least I'd have room in the back for a portable generator to power everything!

 

[Drew Terril]

Derek,

As far as car to car comms are concerned, it's convenient if everyone in a convoy has a ham, but for that purpose, a set of 2 way radios will suffice. It might actually be easier to use store bought 2 ways unless everyone has dual band radios. I could see that get annoying very quickly trying to switch freqs between what the convoy is on and whatever freq the local SKYWARN happens to be on. That's just speculation on my part though, as the only time I've ever convoyed with anyone, it was just me and one other and we had each other's cellular number. Aside from that, I've never had to deal with communicating with other chasers while on a chase.

As far as the flashlight goes, I would consider that to be a necessary part of any survival kit that you would keep in a car anyway. There are certain items that I would always keep in my car even if I weren't a chaser, and flashlight most certainly falls into that category.

Hope that helps!

 

[Ben Holcomb]

I love having my ham radio in my car for either communication with other chasers or just the built in weather radio alert feature of the Kenwood D710A I have. It's also helpful to have in case of failed comms, although these days that is becoming quite rare. I can only think of 1 or 2 times recently where I had no data and had to actually call, and can't think of any time since 2013 where we've had to call something in by the radio.

 

[chad albee]

I have a few spare parts (belt, fuses, other electrical repair stuff), tow straps, tools, mini air compressor, tire plugs, spare bulbs, hand held police radio, davis vantage pro 2, davis weather wizard 3 (my back up system), camera and mount, first aid kit, chainsaw, delorome maps, mobile wifi hot spot, lap top, led flashers, lightbar, duct tape, safety wire, shovel, cb radio, color tv, pa/siren, wx worx (just got it but not online yet), 2005 chevy Tahoe, 400 watt inverter with surge protector strip. Luckily the largest hail I've been in so far with this truck is a little larger than golf ball. My second to last truck wasn't so lucky.

 

[Bill Tabor]

I definitely agree with adding fuses to the list. Guess I left that off. I've had a time or two when the fuse that powers the inverter which powers everything else goes out, and suddenly no radar, map, gps, dashcam power, etc! Might want to carry an extra inverter also. I've had those go out on chases as well.

 

[Peter Potvin]

Emergency lights / Lightbars - I don't really believe in it, but some chasers / spotters fully
believe in the need for all the lights so others can avoid them when driving in low visibility
conditions. Also fog lights, etc. This is a debate in the chaser community.

Isn't it illegal in some areas to use these unless you're part of an Emergency Services team? I know in Ontario, Canada you are prohibited from using emergency light bars and lights unless you're part of a government department or emergency management/response organization (police and fire departments, Highway Maintenance, Ministry of Transportation, St. John Ambulance, etc.) and are responding to an incident or are on the scene of an incident. Same as radar detectors - they are banned in most of Canada, and you can't have one in your possession or else you could be punished either financially (with a fine) or criminally (with jail time or a prison sentence).

 

[Brad Dormer]

Isn't it illegal in some areas to use these unless you're part of an Emergency Services team? I know in Ontario, Canada you are prohibited from using emergency light bars and lights unless you're part of a government department or emergency management/response organization (police and fire departments, Highway Maintenance, Ministry of Transportation, St. John Ambulance, etc.) and are responding to an incident or are on the scene of an incident. Same as radar detectors - they are banned in most of Canada, and you can't have one in your possession or else you could be punished either financially (with a fine) or criminally (with jail time or a prison sentence).

Depends on the state I'm pretty sure. Some allow them while others don't, however I believe most allow amber lights.

 

[Patrick Cartwright Jr]

Looking for suggestions on a good tablet to use for the chase, to run radar and spotter network. Will run internet from a hotspot. Thanks in advance.