This is a photoshop rendering of the proposed look of the Weather Warrior Chase Intercept Vehicle in complete formation.

The vehicle is currently "in the shop" being worked on with new equipment being added.  The photoshop rendering above is still somewhat correct.  However, instead of orange strips, I'm going with dark blue strips and reflectors.  The roof rack was originally going to be custom built, but after a failed attempt at that project, I decided to go with Yakima brand rack and added a Coleman Safari Cargo Roof rack.  To that I will add the weather station, field lights, antennas, etc.   I have abandoned the satellite dish idea, not worth doing.  I still plan on added SUV sized tires and wheel spacers which will likely mean I need to get fender extensions.  I've been looking around for forever, and the only match is lifting some from a 2002 Nissan Frontier 4 door.  But no one, except the dealer carries them, and they want $350 for the set.

Check out the pictures below of the inside and outside of the van from last years upgrades. From time to time I will upgrade the van and try to take pictures as well as add technical and other data. I also will have a gas log to log accuate gas mpg (est. 17 city 22 hwy). At the moment, I've been averaging 18mpg on a city/hwy mix.

Interior Layout as of May 2006

-Sirius Satellite Radio          for endless good music - Garmin GPS GT-20 USB - Icom IC-2720 Dual Band ham radio          for daily contact with other chasers, and          emergency notification to NWS, and local          jurisdictions - Dell 5160 Laptop - Jenko laptop desk mounted to finished plywood          rather than to vehicle floor - 400 watt DC to AC Power Inverter ------------------------------------------------ This is the basic set-up for chasing tornado alley. Each year additional equipment, and better installation will be performed.   Hurricane season set-up is slightly different.

Another look at the front interior	This is one of the extension speakers mounted just above the front seat driver	10 Dialysis boxes of the total 13 that will travel with me to the Plains this year.

Outside the only Change is the addition of the Yakima Roof Rack System.	Inside, the addition of an aluminum rack system for equipment.	2 mtr. Ham radio is already installed, DVD and other equipment to follow.

January 2008, a year after the last update.  Since then I've made following changes and updates to the van.  First, I changed the PVC pipe crossbars to the stock Yakima matal bars.  This was required when I purchased a Kayak rack and the PVC were not strong enough.   To the roof rack I've also recently added a Coleman Safari Cargo basket.  I mounted first to the factory roof rack, but is is a tight squeeze between the Yakima system and so I've moved it up to be mounted on the Yakima rack.  Soon I'll be adding mounting points for the field lights, weather station, and antennas.  Lastly, the exterior will soon be getting the graphic strips like in the photoshop rendering above.  However, to keep it a little more low key, I've gone with solid dark blue strips with 1" reflective blue strip.  Before winter is over, I hope to have the tires upgraded and the fender extensions added (if needed).

Interior wise, it's mostly wiring which isn't seen.  I have revised the lower center board (now a console), which originally was just a mounting point for the Jenko Computer desk.  Now it will be the mounting point for the 2-meter radio chassis, power inverter, battery charger, and other accessories, and a channel at the bottom to hide all the wires.

Here I am (with my trusty sidekick "Twinky") working with the Dremel tool to cut the steel clamp of the newly aquired light bar mount. I wish I could take my dog storm chasing with me.	This is what I was cutting, the metal braket of the light bar, which was designed for a VW (orig.) Beetle.  This cut had to be made to fit the Caravan's slot in the factory roof rail.	This is the light bar in it's final position.  I like the stepped shape, which was because this was originally for a VW (orig.) beetle with the very rounded roof.  Eventually, four field lights will be installed (two 55w, two 100w)
Here you can see the cargo basket and light bar mount installed. Also, the first layer of undercoat has been applied, there will be somewhere between 4 or 5 layers added to keep rust and other road damaging item from the lower portion of the body.  It's starting to look close to the original scheme (see top of page)	Another item installed is the Davis weather station.  Inside the electrical box is a well protected temperature/dew point sensor.  No water gets in there even at 100mph + (as tested with a power washer)	The updated interior shot of just the center upper console.  I've relocated the ham radio a little to the right, added the Sirius Satellite radio to the left, added the Davis Weather station on top the newly installed cloth cover.(wish it came in black for glare/reflection reduction).  Last, I updated the radio to a double-din CD player.

Early February 2008
Ongoing good weather has permitted me to get ahead of schedule on the upgrades for the Caravan.  I thought I would have a very busy April building the van.  Each time the weather is clear and temperatures rise above 55 degrees I'm working on the van.  Inside the van is a wreck with all the loose wires and such.  The outside isn't complete, with such things as wheels and tires to be upgraded, push bar installed, and I'm still debating on whether to build and install hail grill protection for the windows and lights.  I also need to complete the cargo basket modifications to allow for amateur radio antennas, field lights, and some off-road tools (shovel, etc.).  Inside, most everything is mapped out, but the wiring is only about 20% complete.  The front console is complete, but how all that stuff gets powered is far from complete.  And I still don't know if I'm going to use a laptop, or put my mini-tower CPU in there.

Non-Weathervine Vehicles
Robert Gillespie's (WB5KJE)
vehicle 2
vehicle 3
vehicle 4
vehicle 5

DODGE CARAVAN INFORMATION

Gas Mileage
2006 MPG Avg. = 19.75mpg*
Lifetime MPG Avg. = 19.18mpg
*chase season avg.

Spec Data:
1996 Dodge Caravan
Short Wheel Base
Front Wheel Drive
Automatic Transmission
3.0L V6 engine
20 gallon fuel tank
19city / 22 hwy est mpg.
regular fuel

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Later, there will be a more comprehensive equipment list, but for now, I wanted to highlight the DVD player I found at Wal-Mart.  For $100, This DVD Wide Screen (10") was the best deal around.  Of course being from Wal-Mart it was likely made by slaves in India, and I know already that the build quality lacks severely.  But since my budget didn't include the better $300 7" or smaller versions I got it anyway.  I was my birthday gift to myself.