Chase vehicle

Chase vehicle setup

Your vehicle is your mobile weather station. Here is how experienced chasers set them up — with real product names.

The essentials

Mounted phone or tablet for radar.
Ham radio.
CB or GMRS radio.
Weather radio.
External antenna array.
Power distribution.
Storage for gear.
First aid kit.
Cameras and mounts.
Water and snacks.

The dash mount

RAM Mounts X-Grip

Phone mount. Suction to windshield.

Kupton universal mount

Cheap phone mount.

Peak Design car mount

Higher-end. Magnetic snap.

iPad mount

For chasers using tablets.

Laptop desk (Rampro AutoExec)

Front passenger side.

Cup-holder based mounts

Alternative if no windshield space.

The radar app tablet

Tablet ($200-$400) dedicated to RadarScope Pro.
Cellular tablet + data plan.
Larger screen means better situational awareness.
GRLevel3 on Windows tablet is the pro-tier setup.
External bluetooth GPS antenna if internal is weak.
Sun-readable screen essential.
Battery bank if cigarette lighter is used for other devices.

The ham radio install

Yaesu FT-857D

Popular chaser mobile radio. HF+VHF+UHF.

Icom IC-2730

Dual-band mobile. Reliable.

Kenwood TM-D710A

APRS built-in.

Baofeng UV-5R

Cheap handheld backup.

Diamond NR770 antenna

Popular dual-band chase antenna.

Larsen 2/70

Alternative dual-band.

External antenna mount

NMO through rooftop or mag mount.

The power system

Multiple 12V cigarette lighter outlets or add via mod.
Powered USB hub for phones and tablets.
300-500 W inverter for 110V devices.
Deep-cycle secondary battery for extended stationary work.
Solar panel on roof for extended stationary (rare).
Emergency jump starter (NOCO Boost).
Portable battery bank ($100-200).

The cellular setup

Primary carrier

T-Mobile / Verizon / AT&T for rural coverage.

Secondary carrier

Different network for redundancy.

Cell booster

weBoost Drive Reach ($400) — dramatic rural improvement.

MiFi hotspot

Backup for tablet if phone tethers unstable.

Data plan

Unlimited essential.

Camera and recording

Dashcam with parking mode (Vantrue N4, Blackvue DR970).
Dedicated video camera on window mount.
GoPro on suction mount.
Rear-facing camera on suction cup.
Handheld camera for shooting from vehicle.
Audio recorder for chase logs.

The storage system

Roof rack for larger gear.
Cargo box for weather-sensitive gear.
Molle-style organizer behind seats.
Sam splint and med kit accessible.
Camera bag holder.
Water bottle holder.
Snack storage.
Trash containment (real problem after 3 days).

Fuel range extensions

Additional 5-gallon fuel can(s) in bed / rear.
RotopaX for structured mounting.
Ensure secured for accident.
Ventilation for gasoline vapors.
Never store inside cabin.

The weather kit

Handheld weather station (Kestrel).
Barometer app on phone.
Thermometer.
Hygrometer.
Rain gauge if you want to measure.
Anemometer for wind checks.
Compass.
GPS.
Physical map book.

The safety layer

First aid kit (trauma-grade).
Fire extinguisher.
Recovery gear (tow strap, jumper cables).
Emergency blankets.
Water.
Emergency food (calorie bars).
Battery-powered CO detector (if generator).
Reflective triangle / road flares.
Whistle.
Hard hat.

The clean setup

Nothing loose that can become projectile.
Cables organized and wire-tied.
Antennas below vehicle height for garages.
Removable mounts for daily driving.
Insurance documented all modifications.
Registration up to date.
Emergency contact card in glove compartment.
Bill of sale for any expensive additions.

For non-chase daily use

Removable phone / tablet mount.
Ham radio can stay installed.
Antenna removable.
Camera mounts removable.
Keep chase-specific gear in a bin, not permanently installed.