New Tactical Tacoma H7

Are half the people reading this realizing the purpose of this truck is to be up-armored protection for personnel in the middle-east, not a recreational offroader?

They have different needs from you, people. And looks is barely on the list at all.

 

You forget this is TW.


But I agree itll be a Bad ass rig for them

 

That thing is awesome. Looks, eh, but like said above, the guys that are using this, arent crawling the local food court and could give less than a crap about what it looks like. I like it.

 

Just about anything, IMO. Look at the way that thing is mounted and you can tell that it has a tremendous amount of leverage against the frame that it is (hopefully) mounted to. The first thing they try to hit/push with that is likely to mangle the frame. Not to mention look at how vulnerable the winch is.

That is exactly my point. This doesn't appear functional at all. It has mall crawler written all over it. I've been in/around many armored vehicles, military and civilian, and there is almost nothing in this picture (other than the fact that it is a Tacoma) that looks like an armored vehicle I would trust my life to.

 

^^Thats just it though, its NOT supposed to be a fully armored combat vehicle. They're looking for it to be light enough for air lift and dispatch via helicopter, and agile enough to avoid being caught in shitty situations with the ability to push some obstacles out of they way. They're not looking to plow through walls and take on RPGs...

 

Its functional. If they bend the frame pitting someone then our taco is weaker than a crown vic. 15mph is nothing with that bumper IMO. Cool guys like quick and maneuverable vehicles that are reliable. Taco is it. the armor is most likely going to be removed for less weight. Anything they receive that does not meet the mission specs will ultimately be altered or changed either before or mid mission.

Unless its an MRAP, APC, or tank, i would not trust my life to any armor vehicle. It may be built for PPS, dignitary's and such. Who knows...And who said it will definitely go to Asscrackistan? My buddy did pps in iraq. rode around in an up-armored land cruiser. He hated it. they took most of the crap out when they didn't have some whiny person complaining about "no armor".

Just look at it this way, you know how there is different ways to configure the taco for off-roading? there are different scenarios in which different configurations of armor are good and bad.

 

I'm sure it also has to do with opsec. The cia and the special forces that will be using that truck need to be sort of the down low if you know what I mean? They choose vehicles that kind of blend in. I'm sure there are trucks there that have brush guards. Probably not too many with DO or Relentless bumpers there. From far away that Tacoma looks like a local truck and that is exactly what they are after. I'm sure there is even armor on the backs of the seats to protect the occupants if things go wrong. Go get'em boys!

 

Tanks are becoming a thing of the past. Air strikes are much more common, so special forces just need something that can move quickly with some firepower. I'm sure the truck the OP shared is perfect for special forces, while that hunk of armored crap would be an RPG magnet.

This is a regular, every day truck in Zambia...



Here is an Army vehicle in Syria...

 

I think for it's purpose that it'll look good.

 

Yeah guys, speaking from experience that Tacoma is perfect for any work in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan. You have to keep in mind a few things. When sourcing parts, most military operations cannot place an order of 100 bumpers with any of our sponsors and have a 3 month lead time. They need the gear now. They also need things that the dealership can acquire. All our winches when I've worked oversea's have been on the front bumper. That vehicle isn't meant to be a full on FAV (Fully Armored Vehicle), it's meant to still have some maneuverability, be light and fast and blend in as much as possible with the local populace.

As far as IR goes for NODS, I have no idea. Same with strobes. We usually just used velcro/100mph tape and attached strobes that way.

What you don't understand unless you've ever been in one of those countries is the crap vehicles we are given to run operations with. They are literally purchased down at the bazaar and we have to make due. This is a huge step forward from that.

I've ridden/used the old suburbans/land cruisers/BMW's/GMV's/MRAP/Bear Cats and I always loved the Hilux's. This is the perfect melding of SOF's love for Hilux's and the reliability we get from new vehicles in the states.

If I get more info on it that's okay to post, I'll put it up.

 

Did Cornbred get a new truck??

I am sure there are a couple of people here that know what I am talking about....

G

 

Saw this today at the Rick Hendricks while I was having my Speedo cable replaced. Front and rear windows are plexiglass, the passenger side of the dashboard has been cutout to accommidate a 13" toughbook. Center console has been modified to hold 4 M-4 Carbines, rear bench seat was changed to bucket seats. One of the salesman told me that the front bumper was incorporated into the frame. Toe hooks on the front and the rear were stout to say the least and looked like the rear leaf pack was either a Dakar or All-Pro. Rails in the bed were integreated into the frame for more support and the bed rings looked strong. Overall looked pretty good, but didn't see what else there was inside or under the hood. Took some picks and posted them in the Live thread here http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/38939-tw-live-9747.html

 

Nice man. Thanks for the update. Sorry you're still in Fayetteville, left that place in 07 and never looked back.

 

Don't mind it been here 12yrs and not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

Very interesting and definitely original

 

1. Costs. Flying Hilux's over stateside and then back won't happen. Titanium armor, I've never even seen outfitted on any tier 1 vehicles. I can't imagine what this cost would be.

2. The gun mounts are used. We used 240 mounts on ATV's and Hilux's all the time. It's no different than the gun mounts we used on the GMV's that had open backs.

Now most SF teams use modified MRAPs but the Hilux is still used daily as well.

All I'm saying is this truck is a huge step forward compared to what is available on the local market over there. One of my truck purchases still had brain matter in the seats and bullet holes in the windshield, but we needed a new truck. Unless you've ever been where an SF Firebase is (not a conventional one), then you have no idea how remote some of those locations are and the availability of good vehicles or any replacement parts.

SF is like any other unit, they have budget constraints as well. It's not a "order anything you guys need" type of situation. Never has been. We always made due with what we had. Sort of the rednecks of the SOF community. My first tour in Afghanistan we wratchet strapped armor to the back bed rails of a GMV so we had some type of armor.

I'd have loved to see one of these come off a Chinook.

 

You in 3rd? I was in 1st Batt, C co. 333. Which now I think would be 3133. Well enjoy the rest of your time there.

 

I think it's perfecto for it's use.

It's meant to scoot around, not combat. They have tanks, badass jets, CUCVs, oshkosh's, and hmmwv (sp?) for all that stuff.

I also think it need some Bilstein 5100s since they offer more droop than OME 886 and nitrocharger struts