Mobile Lab (Film Universe)
| Mobile Lab | |
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| Appearances | |
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Fleetwood RV Mobile Field Systems |
| Production | 1997 |
| Designer | Eddie Carr |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body | Southwind Storm 34S |
The Mobile Lab was a Fleetwood RV that was heavily customised by Mobile Field Systems for use as a mobile research laboratory and living space by John Hammond's Expedition Team to Isla Sorna in 1997.
It's stay on the island was short lived however as it was destroyed on the first night by the Buck and Doe Tyrannosaurs who were defending their territory after the team brought their baby back to the Trailers.
History
Layout and Design
RV
Trailer
Production Notes
Pre-Production
Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment asked Fleetwood to create a custom RV destined to have an encounter with dinosaurs. "We provided completed vehicles for Spielberg's special effects crew to customize in ways only he and his team could imagine," said Dick Parks, senior vice president of Fleetwood RV. "We started with our exclusive Power Platform© I-beam chassis, because strength and durability were the two top requirements of the project."
But any similarities to a conventional motor home end with the chassis. Fleetwood's design team set out to create what will likely become the most famous 60 feet of recreational vehicle ever to appear on the silver screen. The company included its patented hydraulic EZGlideTM system, which expands the walls of the vehicle on demand. It added eight-foot ceilings, super-reinforced siding and removable sections to allow camera crews to access the perfect angle. Forty-two-inch military tires were added for an all-terrain look.
"We had to engineer the back section of the vehicle from the ground up," said Steve Pierce, senior product coordinator for Fleetwood. "...it's a totally new concept in motor home design."
Pierce said despite the custom-engineered look of the Lost World mobile laboratory, many of the features that will impress moviegoers are actually available in some RVs today. For example, the slide-out walls have been in trailers for a decade and on motor homes for nearly four years.
But are "off-road" motor homes in America's future? According to Pierce, some of the "futuristic" amenities of the vehicle -- higher ceilings, computer centers, alternate frame designs and global satellite positioning systems -- are all realistic additions to the next generation of RVs. "It was intriguing to see an RV with fat, knobby tires, a jacked-up suspension and a tough, invincible look," said Pierce. "Who knows what ideas will come from this project?"
— Fleetwood Website
Production
Given the dynamic part the Mobile Lab had to play in the film, a number of different vehicles were built. 2 Complete vehicles were built for the film, only one of which was drivable, and an additional four trailers and one partial front end.
| Production Designation | Name | Drivable | Exterior | Interior | Wild Walls | Notes |
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| Mobile Lab and Rear Trailer |  |
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After Production wrapped, this Mobile Lab was handed back to Fleetwood who after a brief refurbishment, toured it around the US in promotion of the film. It would later be sold off a number of times and greatly deteriorated until finding its way into the hands of vehicle collector Franck Galiègue. | ||
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| T-Rex Trailer | |
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After Production wrapped, this Mobile Lab remained on the Backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood, where it could be viewed from Studio Backlot Tour amongst other Jurassic Park props and vehicles. | ||
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| FX Trailer | |
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This trailer was designed to be used in practical FX shots and as a backup for Trailers B and D. To promote the film, this trailer was put on display at Universal Studios Florida alongside the Wild Front End. | ||
| Gimbal/Vertical Trailer | |
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| Cliff Trailer | |
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| ILM Trailer | |
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A miniature Trailer was constructed by ILM for use in VFX shots. | |||
| Wild Front End | |
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A Wild portion of the front end of the Mobile Lab was constructed to be used for the cliff shots filmed on the side of Universal Studios Building 506. To promote the film, it was put on display at Universal Studios Florida alongside the FX Trailer. |
Post-Production
Legacy
Themeparks
After the film's release, the 'C' RV and 'D' Trailer were put on display at the Worker Village Set where they could be seen from the Studio Backlot Tour. They would later be moved into a newly built Jurassic Park section featuring other vehicles and props from the films. In 2015 the trailer was updated with a new night time show featuring screens in the windows that would project Jurassic Park workers being attacked by Dilophosaurs.
Jurassic Park RV Restoration
In 2014 the 'A' RV and 'B' Trailer went up for auction on eBay and was purchased by Frank Galiègue, a French movie car enthusiast. They had been sat out in the desert in California for many years and had degraded significantly. Along with fellow fans he began restoring the aged vehicle back to it's film ready state. The restoration was heavily documented on the web show Jurassic Park RV Restoration. As of January 2018, the RV is still undergoing refurbishment.
