I might take offense to that but since this is an organization owned truck (being a fire/disaster department), its a project to build up a vehicle that serves a purpose. Project Responder.... Google it
I was testing the video function of my camera itself, then the use of the basic micorsoft video program on our computer. This vehicle is a work in progress for what it says, but this was just testing the video we made.....
That is one of the things we always tell people, check with your local law enforcement and see what is permitted and what is not. It is always up to you to check the facts first.
In Georgia you need a permit for any warning lights regardless of color except for clear I have a Ford Ranger as my spotting vehicle and have clear strobes in tail and head lights and amber dash lights I have the permit for amber and update it yearly with the State Patrol. I am a Storm Spotter and a Ham radio operator as well as an emergency response team member,y Amber lights are non emergency and can only be used as warning lights to signal danger I think it is wise it is know your local laws
i use my strobes i have a min bar a mini phantom an a whelen dash i use them for a lot of reasons. if i come across a car in the ditch ill stop and flip them on.. i know friend of mine gets asked to block roadds by cops after tornados.
I think lights are okay if they are AMBER. I've seen alot of illegal red strobe lights out on the plains. Most chasers with red strobe lights are locals who want to look important.
Completely agree with traprmike: There is no valid reason for a non-official vehicle to need emergency lighting. If conditions are so poor that strobes are necessary to be seen then frankly that vehicle shouldn't be out there in the first place. The purpose of SKYWARN is to observe and identify severe weather phenomena, and then report observations to the NWS. I hold a SKYWARN card and a ham radio license. I am no more an "official" than any other private citizen volunteering in my spare time.
i see a lot of videos of storm chaser vehicles with lights - mostly with a two-rotator mini bar. i figure if they're going to have lights they should have a single 95RPM rotator - not fancy, but visible all around and not blinding in dark storm conditions. (it should have a permanent mount or else it'll just be that much more flying crap to hit people if it's windy)
Yeah-I'm a chaser/Spotter and I do it to realy info to the NWS. I started out with a big visor light and a rear LED lightbar. Now I'm am a little older and wiser (23) and I am goung to get a single beacon to replace the others. THe AMBER lights arent to make you official though, that is a misinterpritaton of many spotters and the public. Its for safety; and too much is dangerous. If spotters continue to use lights excessively, law enforcement will begin to intervene.
@CJanNH I must say that I don't agree with you. Having warning lights doesn't make you "official", it simply makes you smart. If you are a storm spotter, chances are you will run into heavy rain and wind and visibility will be low. By having the lights, it will allow people to see you and not hit you.
I have lights on my chase vehicle and I do not pretend to be some sort of "official". Some people have more than enough lights, but if its legal its their choice and you cant say anything abt it.
I couldn't agree more w/choise of vehicle, and old truck is good. if it gets hailed on or a few scratches from downed branches.. who cares. I use an old '89 Ford. but, I have ZERO lights in it (other then factory lights). you do not need or want emergency lighting on a privitly owned vehicle, think insurance, laws, putting yourself in danger. pm me if you have questions,, I'm a LEO for 20 years. and a SkyWarn spotter, and a ham radio guy..
Even though at this time it looks like a personal vehicle, it is an organization owned truck, that is why it has the lights and by the time its done will have more. While I can respect a persons choice not to have lights, I feel that some type of warning ligts, besides factory, is better than none at all. A lot of the Skywarn guys around here run red lights facing the rear of their vehicle and amber to the front and in other cases amber all the way around.
Out here on a lot of these back country roads, you have to have them for your own safety.
But, traprmike makes a valid point, you need to check into the local and state laws where you are and talk to your insurance agent. It's up to you to comply with the laws.
Not sure the name of it, it is one that Youtube has in their audioswap section. I tried to find its names, but you would have to just go through their audioswap on a video file to find it.
Sorry, but this is not a farm truck. Though you might think it is, I have always preferred to drive trucks as they are more useful. Yes, it might be a 1979 Dodge, but I would rather drive those older Dodges than anything else. They just hold up so much better, IMO.
No promise that it will hold up in the next 5 years during activity. That's the last thing I want to be in during a severe weather event...an older vehicle.
I respect your opinion, having an older vehicle is not a bad thing. The fact that it is made from stronger material and its cheaper to fix, really makes a huge difference. I can carry all the spare parts that I might need and spend less than $150 on them. In a new vehicle, if the computer goes out, thats several hundreds or more and you can;t just go pick it up. This truck gets about the same gas mileage as a new truck and its been proven tough. Don't knock the old ones until you try it.
Just like this truck is now 30 years old, I can assure you that 10 years from now, its will still be going strong, barring accidents. LOL.
I have used several vehicles (4x4 trucks) from the late 40's and early 50's that were very strong and able to handle their daily use and are still in use today. That something to say about an old vehicle that is built right.
By the time we get finished with this project, it will be just as good as a new truck. Soon we will be pulling out the engine and doing a complete rebuild on it and basically a ground up restoration on the truck it self. Check out our website for details and updates, and if you can, make a small donation to help with this and our other emergency vehicle projects.
No, not a police officer. I am an emergency response worker that is involved in Skywarn (storm spotting), emergency communications (via amateur radio), search/rescue and other similar activities: ie. Fire fighting, CERT, etc.
Study up on weather, weather safety, vehicle safety, traffic safety. You do not need to be a licensed ham radio operator but it does greatly help. You can put lights on your vehicle but please check with state/city laws first.
The LED light in the windshield is a 911EP LS12 bar. It contains two red and two white LED sections. When the project is completed, it will also contain a complete LED lightbar to be located on the roof.
If you are interested and can help, please consider donating a few bucks to go towards the project. You can using the Google Checkout Button to the right.
ARES stands for Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Its a program that has been around since the 1930's
The trucks purpose. Well its a projected. The truck was donated to us. We are in the process of rebuilding and modifying the vehicle to make it into a supervisors/mobile command unit. It will also be setup to tow a mobile command unit trailer that will be left at disaster operations.
It will also serve function in the SkyWarn storm spotter program. The idea was from a similar project.
Another skyporn wannabe cop. HamSexy... Google it.
ozarkmac 5 days ago
I might take offense to that but since this is an organization owned truck (being a fire/disaster department), its a project to build up a vehicle that serves a purpose. Project Responder.... Google it
kcares 4 days ago
Sooooo what exactly was this video a test of?
greenrefrigerator 9 months ago
I was testing the video function of my camera itself, then the use of the basic micorsoft video program on our computer. This vehicle is a work in progress for what it says, but this was just testing the video we made.....
kcares 9 months ago
That is one of the things we always tell people, check with your local law enforcement and see what is permitted and what is not. It is always up to you to check the facts first.
kcares 1 year ago
In Georgia you need a permit for any warning lights regardless of color except for clear I have a Ford Ranger as my spotting vehicle and have clear strobes in tail and head lights and amber dash lights I have the permit for amber and update it yearly with the State Patrol. I am a Storm Spotter and a Ham radio operator as well as an emergency response team member,y Amber lights are non emergency and can only be used as warning lights to signal danger I think it is wise it is know your local laws
Austinh182006 1 year ago
i have a 81 F100 and we had hail a cuple of days ago and i didnt get a dent
ilovemoney888 1 year ago
i use my strobes i have a min bar a mini phantom an a whelen dash i use them for a lot of reasons. if i come across a car in the ditch ill stop and flip them on.. i know friend of mine gets asked to block roadds by cops after tornados.
IowaStormspotter 2 years ago
I think lights are okay if they are AMBER. I've seen alot of illegal red strobe lights out on the plains. Most chasers with red strobe lights are locals who want to look important.
StormSense 2 years ago
Completely agree with traprmike: There is no valid reason for a non-official vehicle to need emergency lighting. If conditions are so poor that strobes are necessary to be seen then frankly that vehicle shouldn't be out there in the first place. The purpose of SKYWARN is to observe and identify severe weather phenomena, and then report observations to the NWS. I hold a SKYWARN card and a ham radio license. I am no more an "official" than any other private citizen volunteering in my spare time.
CJanNH 2 years ago
i see a lot of videos of storm chaser vehicles with lights - mostly with a two-rotator mini bar. i figure if they're going to have lights they should have a single 95RPM rotator - not fancy, but visible all around and not blinding in dark storm conditions. (it should have a permanent mount or else it'll just be that much more flying crap to hit people if it's windy)
nerdlydood 2 years ago
Yeah-I'm a chaser/Spotter and I do it to realy info to the NWS. I started out with a big visor light and a rear LED lightbar. Now I'm am a little older and wiser (23) and I am goung to get a single beacon to replace the others. THe AMBER lights arent to make you official though, that is a misinterpritaton of many spotters and the public. Its for safety; and too much is dangerous. If spotters continue to use lights excessively, law enforcement will begin to intervene.
bigskyskywarn 2 years ago
@CJanNH I must say that I don't agree with you. Having warning lights doesn't make you "official", it simply makes you smart. If you are a storm spotter, chances are you will run into heavy rain and wind and visibility will be low. By having the lights, it will allow people to see you and not hit you.
I have lights on my chase vehicle and I do not pretend to be some sort of "official". Some people have more than enough lights, but if its legal its their choice and you cant say anything abt it.
tealc08 2 years ago
I couldn't agree more w/choise of vehicle, and old truck is good. if it gets hailed on or a few scratches from downed branches.. who cares. I use an old '89 Ford. but, I have ZERO lights in it (other then factory lights). you do not need or want emergency lighting on a privitly owned vehicle, think insurance, laws, putting yourself in danger. pm me if you have questions,, I'm a LEO for 20 years. and a SkyWarn spotter, and a ham radio guy..
traprmike 2 years ago
Even though at this time it looks like a personal vehicle, it is an organization owned truck, that is why it has the lights and by the time its done will have more. While I can respect a persons choice not to have lights, I feel that some type of warning ligts, besides factory, is better than none at all. A lot of the Skywarn guys around here run red lights facing the rear of their vehicle and amber to the front and in other cases amber all the way around.
kcares 2 years ago
Out here on a lot of these back country roads, you have to have them for your own safety.
But, traprmike makes a valid point, you need to check into the local and state laws where you are and talk to your insurance agent. It's up to you to comply with the laws.
kcares 2 years ago
That's so HAMSexxxxy
marcotor949 2 years ago
Not sure the name of it, it is one that Youtube has in their audioswap section. I tried to find its names, but you would have to just go through their audioswap on a video file to find it.
kcares 2 years ago
hahahaahahahahahahahahahaahahahhaha
you storm chase in a farm truck you should put that on worlds biggest redneck heres your sign!
superman8580 2 years ago
Sorry, but this is not a farm truck. Though you might think it is, I have always preferred to drive trucks as they are more useful. Yes, it might be a 1979 Dodge, but I would rather drive those older Dodges than anything else. They just hold up so much better, IMO.
kcares 2 years ago
No promise that it will hold up in the next 5 years during activity. That's the last thing I want to be in during a severe weather event...an older vehicle.
twjr80 2 years ago
I respect your opinion, having an older vehicle is not a bad thing. The fact that it is made from stronger material and its cheaper to fix, really makes a huge difference. I can carry all the spare parts that I might need and spend less than $150 on them. In a new vehicle, if the computer goes out, thats several hundreds or more and you can;t just go pick it up. This truck gets about the same gas mileage as a new truck and its been proven tough. Don't knock the old ones until you try it.
kcares 2 years ago
Just like this truck is now 30 years old, I can assure you that 10 years from now, its will still be going strong, barring accidents. LOL.
I have used several vehicles (4x4 trucks) from the late 40's and early 50's that were very strong and able to handle their daily use and are still in use today. That something to say about an old vehicle that is built right.
kcares 2 years ago
not knocking older vehicles. My daily driver is a 1985 Chevy truck. But, I wouldn't take it out in dangerous emergencies.
twjr80 2 years ago
By the time we get finished with this project, it will be just as good as a new truck. Soon we will be pulling out the engine and doing a complete rebuild on it and basically a ground up restoration on the truck it self. Check out our website for details and updates, and if you can, make a small donation to help with this and our other emergency vehicle projects.
kcares 2 years ago
Wow! Are you a real cop?
chazfensk 2 years ago
No, not a police officer. I am an emergency response worker that is involved in Skywarn (storm spotting), emergency communications (via amateur radio), search/rescue and other similar activities: ie. Fire fighting, CERT, etc.
kcares 2 years ago
Comment removed
chazfensk 2 years ago
Cool! How do I get in to doing stuff like that, chasing storms etc? Do I have to have a ham license in order to put flashing lights on my car?
chazfensk 2 years ago
Study up on weather, weather safety, vehicle safety, traffic safety. You do not need to be a licensed ham radio operator but it does greatly help. You can put lights on your vehicle but please check with state/city laws first.
twjr80 2 years ago
Nice.. I got a whelen 17 flash pattern light in my car...
IowaStormspotter 2 years ago
The LED light in the windshield is a 911EP LS12 bar. It contains two red and two white LED sections. When the project is completed, it will also contain a complete LED lightbar to be located on the roof.
If you are interested and can help, please consider donating a few bucks to go towards the project. You can using the Google Checkout Button to the right.
kcares 2 years ago
Comment removed
chazfensk 2 years ago
I can't wait to take my Camaro out to the field when I get with Skyward offically. :) It will be packing a 150shot of Nitrous.
vfIskullangel 2 years ago
That just might help you get away from those tornado's that you sneak up on.
kcares 2 years ago
ARES stands for Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Its a program that has been around since the 1930's
The trucks purpose. Well its a projected. The truck was donated to us. We are in the process of rebuilding and modifying the vehicle to make it into a supervisors/mobile command unit. It will also be setup to tow a mobile command unit trailer that will be left at disaster operations.
It will also serve function in the SkyWarn storm spotter program. The idea was from a similar project.
kcares 2 years ago
ARES
Amateur Radio Emergency System?
Truck's purpose?
robertgift 2 years ago