AKA Cardboard dominator

Dominator 1 was modified from a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe that was used during the 2008 storm chasing season and debuted in the 2009 chase season. The modifications included adding bulletproof sheet metal and transparent Lexan armor to protect against flying debris near tornadoes, and an external roll cage and racing-style safety harnesses in case of a vehicle roll.[3] Dominator 1 is not designed to intercept (due mainly to a lack of an anchoring system as employed on the TIV 2) but is able to get as close as "humanly possible" to tornadoes. In 2009, a tornado in Aurora, Nebraska unexpectedly strengthened right over Dominator 1 and blew out the driver's window, when its exterior Lexan window failed to roll up. Reed Timmer and one of his passengers suffered lacerations to the face from flying glass.[4]

(Dom 1 deployed)

During the Off-Season in 2009, Dominator 1 was upgraded by strengthening bulletproof and LINE-X sheet metal and Lexan Windows. Further upgrades added mid-season include a vertically-scanning radar intended to profile the winds at different heights within a tornado, as well as compressed-air launchers intended to launch wireless parachute probes to gather and transmit data on tornadoes to a chase. At the end of the 2010 Season, Dominator 1 was sliding while intercepting a mile wide EF4 tornado in Wadena, Minnesota nearly ending in a disaster.[5] Early in the 2011 storm season, Dominator 1 suffered various mechanical issues; such as the Four Wheel Drive not working, the Lexan on the drivers side not fully closing, the braking system, borderline total brake failure and hydraulic system failed before the Super Outbreak, but were later fixed.

In 2018, Dominator 1 was left in the parking lot of Tornado Safe, an Oklahoma City company that built storm shelters. In 2022, after many years of sitting, Timmer was able to get Dominator 1 running and was able to drive it to a new storage location. Dominator 1 had suffered damage sustained from sitting such as faded Lexan windows, Timmer losing the keys and other various repairs needed.[6] Dominator 1 was put into service for a limited amount of storm chasing during the 2023 season.[7]