BulletProofing 2nd Gen. Tacoma

Perhaps the username is an indication of comments the OP is making to other drivers in Houston, necessitating the need for armor. All makes sense.

 

It ain't even Friday lol

 

So, I'm not sure if anybody has offered some actual help, but I'll offer a solution. I have no idea why people are poo-pooing this. It's a simple enough solution that doesn't cost very much.

You can line the body panels with layers of UHMWPE fabric like this stuff here. You could also use Kevlar fabric in the same way. Stuff is cheap.

Think about applying it in the same way that you would apply sound deadening material like Kilmat.

 

Trade the Tacoma for a Buffalo.......




FWIW, the bullet proofing depends on many factors. But, in the end, you will need to add hundreds of pounds to the Tacoma. Then replace the suspension, engine, drivetrain....... fuel efficiency will plummet into the single digits.

If really a concern, get a kevlar vest and stay off the Interstates, commute on the 2ndary roads.

 

Up-armoring a Tacoma for driving around the US sounds seriously paranoid. Doing it as a DIY project sounds nuts.

The research institute where I started my career does a *lot* of government contracting, and after I left many years ago they started a vehicles group. When I drive past their production site there are always a bunch of 70-series Land Cruisers, 200-series Land Cruisers, and once in a while a Hilux in the lot. They've produced a video showing (some of) the armor being installed.

 

Steel is the wrong answer for something like this. You can buy kevlar by the yard, be sure and get kevlar sheara to cut it. Layers behind the seats, or in seat covers, line the doors. You're not stopping 308 or bigger, you're worried about pistol calibers, kevlar should be fine

 

I mean at first glance it does seem ridiculous to try to make a bullet proof taco. There are very expensive cars with those options and they not a simple thing to build.. for full on war zone grenade and AK protection. Which is of course where TW goes.

In the what if realm, a light protection of the doors against pistol hits it’s not as impractical as I first thought.. assuming you don’t mind some gaps. (don’t get me wrong, doing this still seems out there). The fabric is interesting. There is also 1/4” high strength UHMWPE 24x48” sheets from mcmaster for like $165 and it would be light at around 12 lbs. Seems very plausible to panel all doors and rear.

Or you could try to keep a low profile and avoid the worst areas when possible.

edit: and use your GD blinker!

 

That's why I brought it up. The sheets won't do as well as the same thickness of fabric per pound of material. Most Kevlar trauma plate products are laminated woven fabrics. This would be super easy to do by tracing panels and cutting sheets to fit.

There would very likely be some gaps in protection, but I imagine the goal is to slow momentum of the rounds enough so that they don't just blow through the door and then through you. There might be a market for people doing this to the back seat area of their vehicles to protect their children.

 

You're more likely to die from many other factors first.
You should address the more likely situations first.
Or just stay home, but even then you could fall and die.

 

The order of that list is very interesting. I'd say it supports the theory that even a little protection would be better than nothing.

It still won't prevent you from choking to death on your chicken nugget while you're driving.

 

The 1in 315 is overall odds of dying from getting shot, not getting shot while driving.
1 in 491 will die while in a vehicle but this is not limited to being shot in your vehicle or choking on a chicken nugget while in your vehicle.

You are much more likely to die in a car crash 1 in 108 so wearing a helmet while driving will probably be hold more value in regards to protecting you from dying.

Lol

 

Again, this sort of depends on where you are and what you're doing. Your odds change as your location changes. Plus even though you and I wouldn't do it, that doesn't mean it isn't valuable to somebody in an area like South Africa or Mexico.

 

Buy a used bulletproof Tacoma from the Taliban. They're driving Humvees now.

 

Oh, I thought we were talking about America

 

Who knows. I was viewing it as an engineering problem rather than a social one. I still think you could do it on the cheap.

 

OOOOhhhh now do covid

 

according to 2020 data it would be 3 or 4. Obesity related heart disease and cancer beat out ‘rona.

 

On September 1st TX will allow anyone over 21 to open carry without a licence to carry or any formal gun training, except for convicted felons but like they care and no one will ask them anyways if they are. The wild west is back. Gang wars are happening during the day and shootouts at freakin intersections, I witnessed one myself.
Weekly in Houston news there has been someone killed almost every week on road rage incidents heck maybe gang and drug related as well.
Be safe out there brothers

 

Yeah guys I'm not a troll, just a guy trying to survive with my sweet Tacoma. I wasn't looking to bulletproof it 100% with run flats and all the armor to stop IEDs and crap. Just handgun rounds. There is definitely a market for this, and the Kevlar in the door panels is a good idea. Also I would like to point out I never talk trash on the road (or flip people off) because I have personally witnessed people get shot while driving. Not to mention in previous posts about me being next to two different cars exchanging gun fire. If the two cars were behind me and shooting at the car in front of them they could have hit me. Hench the seats with protection. Not everyone is a marksman at 70mph. BTW thanks to those that offered real suggestions.

 

Here in St. Louis we just drive around wearing armored vests. It also keeps us from getting shot when we’re just strolling down the streets.