Jump LinksStorm Chasers TV Series: This May Sound A Bit CrazyTIV 1: What Comes After Its MissionWe all know that tornadoes are one of the most extreme weather conditions that a human can face. In extreme circumstances, some tornadoes can send vehicles flying, rip houses to shreds, and cause significant damage to anything in its path. Although it may seem like a terrible idea to be in the middle of the storm when it rolls by, that didn't apply to filmmaker Sean Casey and his crew. The TIV 1 is Sean's answer to extreme weather. It's a heavily modified FordF-450 truck that's built to withstand some of the harshest and most extreme weather conditions while carrying the camera and entire crew. The story of TIV 1 is both intriguing and exciting, as it demonstrates the true capability of pickup trucks when pushed to the absolute limit. The TIV: Built To Chase After The Storm Flickr The acronym TIV simply stands for Tornado Intercept Vehicle, a vehicle that was designed by Sean Casey to take both him and his crew straight into the middle of the storm. The vehicle is designed to carry the IMAX camera and the film crew to a distance that's very close to actually within the storm. The idea of the first TIV came in 2002 when Sean sketched out the design of TIV 1 and began working on the idea that summer. The first tornado interceptor took Sean eight months to finish. While no exact cost of the vehicle has been released, it's estimated to be over $80,000 at the time. Storm Chasers TV Series: This May Sound A Bit Crazy Being the driving force behind the idea of TIV 1, Storm Chaser is a reality TV series that follows several teams as they chase after storms and tornadoes within the United States. The program was a huge success due to the real-life drama during the chase as well as the portrayal of the sheer force of a tornado. While the idea of chasing after a raging whirlwind may sound like a crazy idea, the idea actually came from one of the books that director Sean Casey had read during one of his shootings. The book about storm chasing and the idea of an extended road trip in the Midwest fascinated Sean, which ultimately led to the Storm Chasers series and the IMAX film Force of Nature in 2004. TIV 1: First Tornado Car That Was Based On Ford's Super Duty Flickr Being a storm chaser vehicle that lives its life in the tornado alley, the TIV 1 must be strong enough to withstand the sheer might of the violent winds. To battle mother nature, director Sean has fitted some of the most insane modifications ever to be added to any road-going vehicle. TIV 1 started its life as a 1997 Ford F-450 Super Duty truck, which was stripped down until only its engine and transmission and drivetrain remained. The body was replaced with an armored steel shell with 1/8 to 1/4 inch steel plates welded to a two-inch square steel tubing frame. The windows are made of bulletproof glass to stop any debris that comes flying towards the vehicle. There are also four hydraulic claws added to the side that drop and clamp onto the ground during an intercept run.The powertrain stays relatively untouched, powered by a 7.3L V8 turbo-diesel from Ford that produces a maximum horsepower output of 215 hp. Even with a total weight of 15,000 lbs after modification, the TIV 1 can achieve a top speed of 80 mph. While the top speed performance wasn't the most impressive spec of the TIV 1, thanks to its massive 60-gallon fuel tank, this storm-chasing truck has a range of 500 miles, which can be handy when you're in the middle of a storm, and any nearby gas stations might be rendered unusable. The Successor Of The First Stormchaser Vehicle: TIV 2 tiv-2-exterior-1Using the experience of what was learned from TIV 1, the second tornado interceptor was introduced in 2008 and named TIV 2. The newly introduced TIV 2 improved some weaknesses on TIV 1 including low ground clearance, lack of four-wheel drive and low top speed. Being based on a Dodge 3500 chassis, which has a 6.7L turbo-diesel engine, the TIV 2 now has a higher top speed of 100 mph. The hydraulic claws were replaced by two stabilizing spears that pierce through the ground to help anchor the vehicle in place during a storm. Based on a new chassis from Dodge, the TIV 2 now has a third axle, which gives it six-wheel drive capability.TIV 2 debuted in the second season of Storm Chases in 2008, in which it was underperforming and plagued with technical issues such as a broken axle. The issue with TIV 2 forced Sean to return to the original TIV 1 to continue the chase. While TIV 2 had a difficult start, it received several modifications during its maintenance that reduced its weight down to 14,000 lbs. The armor was also converted from steel to aluminum, and it also saw multiple crucial areas being reinforced with composite armor. TIV 2 would eventually go on being active till today, when it's still being used by Storm of Passion in their operation. TIV 1: What Comes After Its Mission DeviantArt While TIV 2 is the perfect successor to the original storm interceptor, the story of TIV 1 didn't end after its decommission. The vehicle was placed as a prize in a scavenger hunt by Sean Casey. It was later found by a storm-chaser called Robert Clayton who still currently owns TIV 1. We are now seeing Robert conducting renovation to TIV 1 and updating the status of the vehicle through his personal social media account. Super Duty In 2026: The Workhorse At Your Disposal 2026 Ford F-450 Super Duty - front 3/4 angle Fast-forward to 2026, and the Super Duty nameplate is still popular on the market due to its variation in cab and bed options. The F-450 series is the biggest and most capable model within the Super Duty lineup, having the highest towing and payload capacity. The F-450 in 2026 also comes with a turbo-diesel V8 underneath its hood just like the original TIV 1. The 6.7L Power Stroke V8 is paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission and provides 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, which really shows its strength when you demand some heavy towing.The F-450 Super Duty in 2026 comes with five different trims for the crew cab configuration and two trims for the regular cab. The variety of choice allows the customer to be able to pick the specification they need. The base XL trim comes in at $62,330 for the regular cab and $67,925 for the crew cab configuration. While the base XL trim already offers the best capabilities from the Super Duty series. If you wish to add some luxury elements to your daily workhorse, the top-spec platinum is the only trim that can be optioned with the Platinum Plus Package, which comes with smoked truffle interior to elevate your everyday user experience in the Super Duty cab.Source: Ford, Live Storm Chasers, Storm of Passion
