Tank-Like Tripod

The TIV is essentially a large, mobile, armored tripod for an IMAX camera. Its purpose is to allow filmmakers to record footage from very close to -- or even inside of -- a tornado.

The Future of the TIV
The current Tornado Intercept Vehicle is really a prototype, and it has undergone a number of modifications since its first season in the field. A second vehicle, the TIV-2, will include additional features like steel panels that drop down when the vehicle is in the path of a tornado. These panels will keep air from getting under the vehicle and reduce the likelihood of becoming airborne.

The TIV was originally a Ford F450 pickup truck. Its transformation into the TIV took three months of 7-day-a-week work. After stripping it down to its engine and chassis, Casey created a new frame and body out of steel, which uses:

  • 1/4" steel plate floors
  • A skeleton of 1/4" steel tubing and I-beams
  • 1/8" steel plates welded to the skeleton


Photo courtesy George Kourounis
The TIV uses a Ford F-450’s dashboard, steering and transmission.

Tires need to be accessible, yet protected from debris, so a hinged 1/8" steel flap covers each wheel well. Each of the four doors features a double layer of 1/8" steel plate. When closed, the doors lock into place with heavy steel bolts.

The TIV's side windows are 1/2" Lexan resin, a very strong plastic. For better visibility, its windshield is a scratch-resistant tempered glass and Lexan laminate.


Photo courtesy George Kourounis
The TIV’s side windows.

Since the TIV's purpose is to provide a safe spot for filming, it has a special military-style turret to house the IMAX camera. The turret spins 360° on 3" steel bearings, allowing the crew to shoot footage in any direction. The TIV also has two hatches for smaller format cameras.


Photo courtesy Matt Crowther
The completed TIV with rotating turret.

Including its skeleton and frame, the TIV weighs almost 14,000 pounds. In spite of all this weight, it can reach up to 90 mph.

In the next section, we will look at the equipment inside the TIV.

Why Not Just Use a Tank?
A lot of work went into building the TIV, and a significant number of repairs have gone into keeping it running. So why not just use a tank?

A primary reason is that tanks generally travel at much slower speeds than the TIV. Tornadoes can develop and dissipate within a few minutes, so speed is important to tornado chasers. Since the TIV is built around a pickup truck's engine and steering, no special training is required to drive it.