Well as we start a new chase year it would not be right if I did not have a new chase vehicle, we do it every year so why would this one be different?
I have learned a ton of lessons over time on how to set this up, The Saturn was just too small… The Bravada too Gas Hungry so my hope is the Mazda Tribute will be just right!
I picked this up in Falls City, it took some hail and the owner was desperate to get rid of it… 107k miles.
First mission was new tires, had some new but uber crappy Korean tires on it, off they went and some new Uniroyal Liberator AT were put on. This Tribute is FWD so good tires is a MUST… Yea no AWD this time but I have been getting 25MPG so far so its all good.
I had quite a few close calls with Deer last year so I decided a brush guard was in order, $160 on ebay brand new was a no brainer. They don’t make them for a Tribute so I got the one for the Ford Escape since they are basically the same vehicle. technically it’s a perfect fit but the Escape must have a larger “face” so it sits a little out. I am still happy with the results.
On the roof I am going for stealth mode this time, the big antennas got me in too much trouble. I want to thank Jesse Risley for his help as always with my antenna needs the left back is a 3db cell phone antenna for my amp. The back right is my 2M antenna for the ham radio. The Front Left is a roof mounted USB GPS Puck…. I am REALLY excited about that bad boy!
Ok lets get inside!
Starting on the left right next to the door is a Burry Blackberry Mount for a 9630 Tour (Sprint) these devices are made exactly for your phone and charge the battery and provide a hookup for a real external antenna. (You can see the antenna on the window on the passenger side next to the “Oh Shit” bar) One thing really important to me while chasing, almost as much as the storms, is good music. I listen to either Pandora (Preferred) or Slacker on the Blackberry. This in turn drains the battery on a cell phone like no other so having it on the charger ALL THE TIME is a MUST. The Burry mount does this for me while the stereo picks up the Bluetooth from the Blackberry. There are no cords that attach to the phone itself, you just click it in and out.
Working the way up to the rear-view mirror you will see my TomTom one, I like this just for a overview of getting to my target area and how long it will take… or to get home. Oklahoma and Kansas Toll tags to make that process fast. Below there is my Filmtools camera mount and a generic Panisonic cam I use on the dash. Below there is a Logitech Orbit AF cam I use for streaming. In the Stereo hole is a Dual Bluetooth Enabled stereo and my Yaesu 2800m 2m HAM radio.
On the Visor is a Midland weather radio. Laptop mount is a RAM mount for a Escape again (fit the Tribute perfectly) Laptop is a Dell e6400 with a back lit keyboard. The laptop fit is GREAT in this thing you can get it at a perfect level and still see out the side view mirror.
Now for the stuff you can’t see…
I am REALLY excited for the way this worked out. In the wasted space in the center console I have my cradlepoint 350 velcroed to the top, the power comes from inside of the dash and the only thing you can see is my Sprint aircard.
The wire coming off of it is going to my Cyfire 819 amp that is in the glove compartment. I chose to put this in there so I can easily access it if I want to take it to another vehicle. There is a toggle switch in the center console that powers the amp and the cradlepoint. I can switch stuff around if need be for example use the amp with my Blackberry, or use the amp on a different aircard in my laptop. I really like the way that worked out.
Here is the glove compartment, there is a 3 way cig lighter thingy that powers the TomTom & Burry cell phone bracket too.
Under the passenger seat is all the power. A 6ga hot all the way from the battery and a distribution block. Inverter is 1000 watt Xpower. It’s mounted at an angle so you can still see everything yet a person in the back seat will not kick the power button all the time.
Is the inverter overkill? Hell Yea! But it’s the one thing that ALWAYS worked in the Bravada…. No lack of power in my truck!
Well that’s about it, see you on the plains! If you have any questions give me a shout at scott@endlessweather.com
