Anyone experienced with adding soft Kevlar to the cab?

Ok there sheepdog.
https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend

 

I don't see how a 2 yr old crime report has any merit to the current situation..Please enlightening me as I don't see that 2yr old crime trend following into 21, 22 etc.

 

OP’s lack of punctuation and rambling style of writing reminds me very much of the domestic terrorist/mass casualty event people. The style is eerily similar and now I’m really hoping he is in fact just a troll and not a sick crazy person planning something sinister.

 

Looks like a significant upswing in violent crime too me just going off your link from 2yrs ago..currently it must be completely off the chart..

 

Frankly, if you REALLY want to armor a truck, buy something like a 3/4 or one ton truck and forget about a Taco. Even if you upgraded the springs, the rest of the suspension/frame/body is too weak to handle the weight you'd really need to add to up armor it.

I have several windshields that are true armored glass [up to .50 cal, regular .308 will just pock it a bit] ], you have no idea how much weight you will add to truly up-armor.

Bring money, lots and lots and lots of money................

 

So I guy has some cold snacks and starts to slide in grammar and punctuation and the crazy conspiracy trolls come out of the wood works..Really you think some wack job like you mentioned would spend time on a Toyota forum..? That's rich..tell me another my friend..lol..

 

Stuffing some Kevlar in a door won’t stop shit. If someone really wants to shoot you the majority of your vitals are exposed behind a thin layer of glass. If someone really wants to shoot you they will use a rifle and your Kevlar won’t matter anyway. If you are truly afraid of being shot where you live then move somewhere else.

 

OP, Most of these users will just berate you and make fun of you for asking a question. The thread replies are normally always pretty ridiculous, just like all of the others when they are brought up. I highly suggest going to some other sites where you will get a legitimate answer, and not some Reddit style BS followed up by some kind of ban or police visit from some 'concerned' neckbeard.

With that said, there are plenty of ways to add armor to any vehicle, but just like everything aftermarket, it's going to add a lot of weight, and your truck (AND your wallet) needs to be prepared for that. If you are some crazy dude that wants a fully armored vehicle, you really need to sell yours and purchase one that's already customized from a reputable company such as ArmorMax. If you really want a Tacoma, Inkas and AlpineCo sell them. AlpineCo is in VA and Inkas is in Canada. Otherwise, you can do a few of these things yourself if you have a little bit of knowledge and skill. Before you even think about DIY'ing, ask yourself if it's worth your life if you mess any of this up. You first need to look at what your personal requirements are, and then check the legalities in your state. Some unfree states are not too friendly about civilian ownership of anything fun. There are so many situations where a vehicle like this is nice to have, but you really should be focusing on other things. Here's a couple thoughts below for you to stew on.

Basic thoughts:
-Take Defensive and Offensive Driving courses. These are the most critical for you. Otherwise, you are just a dingus in an expensive truck that doesn't know how to drive.
-Add Kevlar sheeting with fillers to the inside of the cab, including firewall, floor (especially the floor!) door panels, and rear of the cab. Its installation can be treated like sound deadener and really does a great job of muffling road noise. If you layer and cut them correctly, you can get upto about IIIA protection. I am not sharing any kind of proprietary material fillers or installation instructions. Use Google.
-Install armor plates behind or in your seat/headrest or even behind/in the rear seat(s)
-Some people I converse with carry concealed vests or plate carriers. This isn't really a great option if you aren't wearing it.
-Lastly, if you are comfortable carrying a firearm, train yourself. Standing your ground in a vehicle is really a last resort and there are plenty of classes for that as well.


Advanced thoughts-----this requires serious beefing up of the entire vehicle and is not DIY recommended.
-AR500 or better steel plating in the cab/doors
-Armored Window Installation
-Truck components, including tougher axles, gear ratio changes, springs, steering components, and others affected by curb weight.


Some of us understand that you may not be able to (or want to) move away from your home.
Feel free to PM if you have any questions.

 

Appreciate the write up and advice.." Flenlips".. I'm aware of the reasons that a personal armored vehicle cost as much as a vacation home and the doubling of the curb weight and the ridiculous amount of time and labor involved.. it would be much cheaper just to pick up a older 10 to 20 yr old retired armored vehicle that was taken out of service due to it not blending in or just too out dated for the foreign dignitary, senator etc..
I'm not going for a B7 level vehicle, just common small arm pistol calibers that a typical road rage or car jacker may use..The glass alone is super heavy and cost as much as a new vehicle.. The thought was to just lightly armor a vehicle to buy time to escape or engage the threat..and yes using a Tacoma as a host vehicle is less then ideal..that said using kevlar panels thru out the cab wouldn't cause that much of a weight issue I believe..
Sure the trolls on here will troll..they completely freaked out when I inquired about adding a trailer hitch to a 2.7L model as Toyota refuses to do so although it has a 3,500 lb tow rating here in the states but a 2,500 kg tow rating elsewhere, only a 80lb torque difference from the 3.5L V6 that has a 6,500 lb rating that using the same frame, transmission suspension,brakes, rear end etc..as if I'm going to tow 10,000 lbs thru icey mountains, when my intentions was to tow a lightweight trailer.. perhaps it was, is just the normal hazing that new members get here.. Not concerned about a knock on the door or getting on some list because some concerned office guy feels some kinda way..as I have credentials in my line of work and play on the same team.. Cheers..

 

You aren’t addressing any of the valid points being brought up by dissenters and just replying to the insults. You need thicker skin for sure. Haters are going to hate. If you aren’t trolling, ignore them like you’re ignoring legitimate flaws in your logic when people are politely pointing out without being rude to you.
If you have the money to throw at armoring your undelivered truck, why not spend a fraction more and do what an early poster suggested by getting a door or two from a junk yard and doing some testing?
Rather than epoxying 7 layers of Kevlar (or what ever method you land on) to the inside of every door, lining all your windows with magic film and then hoping it saves your life or gives you time to engage, you could know if this entire endeavor even worth your time.
If the film doesn’t do anything for the windows what is Kevlar in the doors going to do? You’re going to duck down behind your diy panels like in the movies?
You have said this isn’t going to be a daily driver. That this is a project and that it’s a stop-gap until something newer and more expensive comes out.
Why are you so keen on flushing money down the toilet without a proof of concept?

I’m sorry you experienced the loss of a loved one to gun violence in a car, but stop living in fear. That experience doesn’t make the probability of needing an armored car any higher.
There are many more practical ways to protect your family from situations that are infinitely more likely to occur.

 

AR550 is where it's at. You can go thinner than AR500 and still have better protection and less weight.

 

Wow. Just wow. And to think all the time i spent time as an leo in texas and the whole time my car wasnt even bullet proofed! If youre doing all this because youre scared of gun violence and road rage and/or your family previously experienced this, i would say a) for road rage dont drive like an asshole and dont engage. Road rage escalates when one moron loses their shit and the other moron equally loses their shit and engages them ..... dont do that. B) instead of investing your money in a kevlar spaceblanket for your non daily driver 22 tacoma, maybe invest in some therapy to address your unreasonable fears about baghdad breaking out in anytown, usa. Shit happens. Youre more likely to be killed by your wife/husband for life insurance money while theyre cheating on you with bob the plumber and they want you out of the picture. Dateline is some real shit.

 

Trolls are active today..lol..What would the great need to test if water was wet? If a flashlight works at night it works at day too..Does the TV still work if I go to the bathroom to take a piss..Get over it..This place seems to be infected with has been rejected Prius trolls..go bootleg some bed decals or badazzle your pride in joy with more useless decorations..lol..

 

Its Intresting seeing so many expert's that claim this and that but have zero life experiences with actual criminals or probably even held a side arm much less actually shot a requal..I bet you think pink mist is a soft drink right..For the record several Leo departments run with Kevlar door panels and Philly actually has the panels glued to the outside of the front doors with scraps of Lexan on the inside window areas..anyone that's from Philly can confirm that..

 

So go do it already.
You obviously know more than anybody here so quit wasting your time.

Good luck and Hoppy Easter!

 

Have you ever seen those Is it Totaled or not threads. Tacomas usually eat it in a traffic accident. Any one in a larger and heavier vehicle could shut down your fortified and armored Tacoma real quick. It wouldn't even need to be a BOF heavy duty truck or a Suburban or a Excursion. Could be something like a Crosstour, or a Traverse, maybe even a Ridgeline.

 

Car jacking by thugs with small caliber handguns is a thing, but most, who actually want a vehicle, just wait until you're about to enter the vehicle, not yank you at an intersection.

Wanting to kidnap or assassinate you is another scenario. That would be planned, and armoring won't help. Block you in, shoot out your tires, and wait.

And if you really live in a place that horrid, moving would be a lot cheaper than the vehicle prep and the medical bills you'll have from constant anxiety. As you drift down the road to agoraphobia. And then you'll want fortify your house.

 

Wait ...what? Philly pd is resorting to some diy arts and crafts on sides of the patrol units now? Damn their website doesnt say anything about that lol and scraps of lexan?? Wtf is "scraps of lexan" going to do lmao 1 inch thick of lexan wont even stop 9mm . Yes some police interceptors have ballistic doors as an option. Very rarely do depts spend the money on them. Large majority of anytown usa pd is buying the cheapest most basic mass produced squad car they can get spending a bunch on lights and graphics and teaching you to take cover behind the engine block in a fire fight . This is entertaining the hell out of me.

 

no, no, no, the movies taught me that ALL cars are bulletproof. unless you're up against the hero. then you're blowing up if there's a spark 3 miles away. especially if he turns and walks away.