2012 Ford Explorer that is outfitted for storm chasing

[MesoSafety]

An 11-month conversion of a regular 2012 Ford Explorer XLT AWD into the ultimate storm chasing vehicle. This was an extremely fun build for me. Here are the details... 2012 Ford Explorer XLT 32" Falken Wildpeaks, Liquid Metal Shadow rims, BULL-X Recovery boards, COMET CA-2X4SR, Browning 26.5-30 NMO, Weboost 4G signal booster, antenna Valley Enterprise Ford Explorer brackets ,Haulmaster roof rack, LED ditch lights mounted to the hood, Midland LWX1001, Midland MXT,115 Custom RAM mount cameras, RAM laptop mount exclusive for the Explorer. I can't seem to find an image uploader to upload photos of the vehicle from my computer to here so I am going to leave a link to a video I made showing the vehicle and the modifications off.
VIDEO SHOWING ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT:

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.

Peter

 

[MesoSafety]

Welcome to the Forum.

Peter

Thank you!

 

[jsgoofn]

An 11-month conversion of a regular 2012 Ford Explorer XLT AWD into the ultimate storm chasing vehicle. This was an extremely fun build for me. Here are the details... 2012 Ford Explorer XLT 32" Falken Wildpeaks, Liquid Metal Shadow rims, BULL-X Recovery boards, COMET CA-2X4SR, Browning 26.5-30 NMO, Weboost 4G signal booster, antenna Valley Enterprise Ford Explorer brackets ,Haulmaster roof rack, LED ditch lights mounted to the hood, Midland LWX1001, Midland MXT,115 Custom RAM mount cameras, RAM laptop mount exclusive for the Explorer. I can't seem to find an image uploader to upload photos of the vehicle from my computer to here so I am going to leave a link to a video I made showing the vehicle and the modifications off.
VIDEO SHOWING ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT:

Thank you for this! I was just thinking about getting started in storm chasing and this definitely gives a great overview of the equipment necessary. Without getting into the weeds, how are accessing the internet? I assume the signal booster is what allows you to maintain connectivity. What network are you using? Do you have a YT channel where you share your experiences? Thanks again for sharing your expertise.

 

[MesoSafety]

Thank you for this! I was just thinking about getting started in storm chasing and this definitely gives a great overview of the equipment necessary. Without getting into the weeds, how are accessing the internet? I assume the signal booster is what allows you to maintain connectivity. What network are you using? Do you have a YT channel where you share your experiences? Thanks again for sharing your expertise.

I use my Verizon hotspot for internet connectivity. The signal booster is mainly for maintaining cell service in spotty areas. You can follow my YouTube channel "MesoSafety" where I post videos of my storm chases sometimes, however, I blog regularly about my storm chases and other Emergency Management related stuff on MesoSafety.com. You can also follow my Facebook page "Mike Thornton Photography" on Facebook if you want to follow my chases in real time. I appreciate the comment!

 

[MesoSafety]

I also want to state while this is a storm chasing setup, you don't need all of this to successfully chase. It's all optional. You more so should look into understanding basic meteorology more than anything when getting into chasing.

 

[jsgoofn]

I use my Verizon hotspot for internet connectivity. The signal booster is mainly for maintaining cell service in spotty areas. You can follow my YouTube channel "MesoSafety" where I post videos of my storm chases sometimes, however, I blog regularly about my storm chases and other Emergency Management related stuff on MesoSafety.com. You can also follow my Facebook page "Mike Thornton Photography" on Facebook if you want to follow my chases in real time. I appreciate the comment!

I also want to state while this is a storm chasing setup, you don't need all of this to successfully chase. It's all optional. You more so should look into understanding basic meteorology more than anything when getting into chasing.

I also want to state while this is a storm chasing setup, you don't need all of this to successfully chase. It's all optional. You more so should look into understanding basic meteorology more than anything when getting into chasing.

Thanks for all your contact info! Fortunately, I've got a good, albeit amateur, understanding of meteorology and understanding the different processes of weather. Storms of all kinds have always been of interest to me but I find that I will have some time that I can start moving in the direction of getting out as opposed to "chasing" vicariously through videos.
Thanks again!

 

[MesoSafety]

Thanks for all your contact info! Fortunately, I've got a good, albeit amateur, understanding of meteorology and understanding the different processes of weather. Storms of all kinds have always been of interest to me but I find that I will have some time that I can start moving in the direction of getting out as opposed to "chasing" vicariously through videos.
Thanks again!

Not a problem at all! Good luck on your adventures.

 

[Justinwht]

How does it ride with 4,000 pounds of ballast and hurricane straps?

 

[MesoSafety]

How does it ride with 4,000 pounds of ballast and hurricane straps?

The vehicle drives just like normal the only difference is that instead of getting 25 miles per gallon I am now getting 17mpgs-19mpgs. That's really the only downside to this build, however it's way better than the 10 mile per gallon I was getting with my old vehicle.

 

[Chickensandwich]

An 11-month conversion of a regular 2012 Ford Explorer XLT AWD into the ultimate storm chasing vehicle. This was an extremely fun build for me. Here are the details... 2012 Ford Explorer XLT 32" Falken Wildpeaks, Liquid Metal Shadow rims, BULL-X Recovery boards, COMET CA-2X4SR, Browning 26.5-30 NMO, Weboost 4G signal booster, antenna Valley Enterprise Ford Explorer brackets ,Haulmaster roof rack, LED ditch lights mounted to the hood, Midland LWX1001, Midland MXT,115 Custom RAM mount cameras, RAM laptop mount exclusive for the Explorer. I can't seem to find an image uploader to upload photos of the vehicle from my computer to here so I am going to leave a link to a video I made showing the vehicle and the modifications off.
VIDEO SHOWING ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT:

Those rims help you storm chase?? J/k. I wanted to get in to the same thing. I didn’t watch the whole video yet, but did you get a standard Explorer or a PIU?

 

[MesoSafety]

Those rims help you storm chase?? J/k. I wanted to get in to the same thing. I didn’t watch the whole video yet, but did you get a standard Explorer or a PIU?

Civilian.

 

[MesoSafety]

I have successfully chased 5 tornadoes in this vehicle in 2021! Check out my most recent blog if you're interested in reading more about what this vehicle does! Tornado fest in NW Texas

 

[Justinwht]

COMET CA-2X4SR, Browning 26.5-30 NMO,

I'd suggest getting the Comet spring insert for two reasons - reduces antenna sway and metal fatigue.

Back In the mid-70s I had more antennas on my crewcab truck than a Russian gunboat (I was told) for low-band, VHF, and UHF systems.

The Larsen and Decibel Antennas VHF base loaded whips without springs had significant sway compared to the Antenna Specialist spring antenna. Driving slowly on bumpy terrain, the Larsen and dB had as much as -6 dB fade when the whip whipped around, and the ASP spring was stable

One of my Larsen whips broke at the base from metal fatigue. The OEM 18" VHF whips last about a year.

The NMO mount - a Motorola shop told me it stood for New MOtorola mount (early '70s) - was much better than the 3/8" hole collet mounts that could rip out.

 

[Chickensandwich]

An 11-month conversion of a regular 2012 Ford Explorer XLT AWD into the ultimate storm chasing vehicle. This was an extremely fun build for me. Here are the details... 2012 Ford Explorer XLT 32" Falken Wildpeaks, Liquid Metal Shadow rims, BULL-X Recovery boards, COMET CA-2X4SR, Browning 26.5-30 NMO, Weboost 4G signal booster, antenna Valley Enterprise Ford Explorer brackets ,Haulmaster roof rack, LED ditch lights mounted to the hood, Midland LWX1001, Midland MXT,115 Custom RAM mount cameras, RAM laptop mount exclusive for the Explorer. I can't seem to find an image uploader to upload photos of the vehicle from my computer to here so I am going to leave a link to a video I made showing the vehicle and the modifications off.
VIDEO SHOWING ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT:

I like it. I didn’t read all of the articles, I’m curious why you didn’t go with a police Explorer. Wiring things up would have been easier and cleaner and given you so many options for installations.

 

[MesoSafety]

I like it. I didn’t read all of the articles, I’m curious why you didn’t go with a police Explorer. Wiring things up would have been easier and cleaner and given you so many options for installations.

I didn't purchase a police explorer because I wanted a civilian model that had leather seats, terrain management, heated seats, and SYNC 2. I also didn't want a vehicle with high idle hours.

 

[ecoboost_xsport]

awesome build!!!

 

[Chickensandwich]

I didn't purchase a police explorer because I wanted a civilian model that had leather seats, terrain management, heated seats, and SYNC 2. I also didn't want a vehicle with high idle hours.

Sync is a big deal, I’ll give you that. Everything else, I can do without.

 

[joney]

I didn't purchase a police explorer because I wanted a civilian model that had leather seats, terrain management, heated seats, and SYNC 2. I also didn't want a vehicle with high idle hours.

Nice setup. With all the electronics and antennas , do you use some sort of a Faraday cage, seeing as lightning is a possibility?

 

[Mbrooks420]

The car would be the faraday cage.