Challenger Trailers (C/N)

The Challenger Trailers were a set of trailer RVs that were specially built by Dr. Jack “Doc” Thorne and Eddie Carr of Thorne Mobile Field Systems for Dr. Richard Levine for their expedition to Isla SornaInGen‘s Site B in 1995. Half of the trailers were later destroyed in the field by a pair of Tyrannosaurus defending their territory. After this attack, the damaged remains of the trailers were abandoned.

Specifications

The trailers were actually a pair that were connected by a steel accordion covered in mesh, similar to the dividers in passenger rail-way train cars. The first was meant for the main habitation, while the second was for supplies. Levine was especially adamant about the construct of the trailers; they were to by strongly built, yet also be light in weight  In the end, Thorne decided to construct the trailers from a titanium and honey-carbon composite that was honeycombed for strength and weight efficiency. This construct was also rigorously tested by Thorne using a computer system designed for auto companies to test their vehicles without sacrificing cars and materials in the real world. Thorne had happened across this technology after finding that the auto companies had discarded the use of the programs for unknown reasons.

The trailers ran on Nissan’s lithium-ion electric batteries, powered by photovoltaic solar panels that were held in place by a special vibration dampening system that Eddie Carr had designed himself. The construct of this unique engine system made the trailers virtually silent despite their size. However, Eddie and Thorne were very aware of not wasting battery life when they didn’t need to, even refusing to use the air conditioning system in the tropical heat of Isla Sorna.

Security Systems

Along with the trailer’s intense build, the trailer windows featured an internal mesh wiring, and packed two Lindstradt Air rifles that fired darts loaded with the venom of Conus purpurascens, or as it’s more commonly known, the South Sea Cone shell. The trailers also featured a Internal Ursine Deterrent, or IUD. At the flip of a switch, the system ran 10,000 volts of electricity along the outside of the trailer, deterring even the largest of attacking animals. The trailers also featured a motion sensitive alarm system. If an intruder approached, an alarm sounded in the trailers and, if at night, the trailers exterior floodlights automatically switched on, illuminating the surroundings for the inhabitants inside the trailers.

Trailer One

The first trailer trailer was roughly the size of a bus, and held the feature of being able to expand it’s walls when parked. Designated the “Challenger”, it held the cab, living quarters, and main work space. The cab featured a GPS system and communications array. Of the communication devices, there was a standard radio as well as a satellite phone, which Thorne was able to design to be small like a cellular phone. Beneath the dash, there was a utility box that held a myriad of tools as well as a fifty foot nylon rope. There was also a station that allowed a user to link up with remote frequency inputs, which was utilized on the expedition in 1995 to autotune into the Site B Network that was still operational even after years of neglect.

The laboratory area held only Biology equipment and a a large computer station. Items such as dissecting pans, trays, and microscopes that connected to viewing monitors near the computers were the main composition. There was also biochemistry equipment such as spectrometers and automated sample analyzers. The computer station held any array of  processors, LED monitors, and a television set all built into small tables that slid into the walls and were bolted down. When activated, the monitors had a green glow to them. Along with this equipment came a bookshelf that held books strapped into the shelf by a Velcro strap. The books included were Modeling Adaptive Biological SystemsVertebrate Behavior Dynamics, and Dinosaurs of North America, among others. A part of the Biology area also held enough equipment to perform small amounts of medical tasks, which proved vital in the expedition.

The living quarters featured bunking for four, a shower, lavatory, microwave, refrigerator stocked with plastic wrapped sandwiches milk, and water, a couch, and cabinets that could be used for personal storage. The entire area, like much of the rest of the the trailer, held grey upholstery and carpeting. Along the ceiling edges between the ceiling and the walls, were more cabinet space, which locked from the exterior. The living quarters were located at the back of the first trailer, right before the accordion divider.

Trailer Two

Slightly smaller than the first, the second trailer was mostly storage. Holding more cabinet space, spare tires, and extra lab equipment, the second trailer also held a small electric motorcycle off the back end of it. Although it was connected by the accordion tunnel this was not a permanent arrangement, and the second trailer was capable of being detached from the first for transport.

The second trailer was where the weapons were stored. Along with the Lindstradt firearms, the trailer also stored a few nonlethal weapons such smoke bombs and cholinesterese bombs that caused short term paralysis.

 

Sources: The Lost World, by Michael Crichton pages 83-6., 90, 124-6, 151-7, 161-3, 175, 189, 294, 371, 397-8, 431, 481-8. (First Large Print Ed. Paperback).