Modified Ford Super Duty F-350 Storm Chaser Gets Put To The Test: Video

September 9, 2020 10:39 am

It takes a special kind of person to be a storm chaser – the folks who drive into the inclement weather that everyone else tries to get away from. But it also takes a special kind of vehicle to drive into things like, say a tornado or hurricane. Something like this heavily modified Ford Super Duty F-350, which is used by a storm chaser name Reed Timmer.

When car fanatic, comedian, and TV star Jay Leno caught up with Timmer to take a closer look at this insane vehicle, it was immediately evident that it’s not the average Ford Super Duty F-350. In fact, the only things that really resemble that model are the interior and its stock Ford 6.7L Power Stroke diesel.

Otherwise, this Ford Super Duty looks like a post-apocalyptic hovercraft of some kind. The pickup rides on an air suspension that drops it on the ground to prevent air from getting underneath, which would cause it to turn into an aircraft of sorts. If that isn’t enough, there are hydraulic-powered spikes that can drive up to eight inches into the ground to hold it firmly in place.

Meanwhile, the body is covered in 16 gauge steel with a polyethylene kevlar composite on the outside, which helps protect Timmer from objects coming at the truck at a swift 150 to 200 miles-per-hour. Overall, the giant Ford weights around 11,000 pounds and cost $750,000 to put together.

Leno obviously wants to put this mad creation to the test, so he simulates a storm using an L-39 Albaross jet that produces wind speeds of up to 1,300 miles-per-hour. The Ford F-350 takes it like a champ, however, even when a bunch of random flying objects are thrown into the mix. However, Timmer does note that if the truck isn’t facing the wind head on, it could potentially roll over.

Regardless, this little demonstration is nothing less than impressive. After all, most would never think that any vehicle could withstand a tornado, let alone sit there unbothered by the whole thing.

We’ll have more cool videos like this to share soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford F-Series news, Ford Super Duty news, F-350 Super Duty news, and ongoing Ford news coverage.

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.