Best armor for accidents?

Hello all,

I have a 2016 Tacoma SR and was in the market for some bumper/rear-bumber guards. I've done a bit of research, and apparently it seems that these things may actually worsen the damage to the truck... I also realized that a lot of these bumper guards that are sold really are "just for looks".

Don't get me wrong, my truck WILL be just for looks (4-Cylinder w/ 2WD... I won't be going off-roading any time soon). But when it comes to the armor I buy, I want to ensure it protects my truck (I drive out to the city for work, and the traffic as you can imagine is quite hectic, and accidents are frequent). Are there any models you guys recommend? I read that the bumper guards that replace the stock bumper tend to be the most effective.

Thanks!

 

" Armoring" your vehicle against accidents is a double edged sword.

the Armor you choose could actually do more damage to you or your own vehicle, while also causing more damage to the other vehicle involved.

this damage can also be projected into you, remember, your vehicle is designed to protect you by sacrificing it's self it is designed to bend around you. anything you do to " strengthen" could reduce the effect of this and cause you and your occupants more damage.

Brush guards will be pushed back into the hood and or fender in a minor bender, where it may have just been bumper cover repair

Plate bumper will take the hit but transfer the energy into the frame, either laterally and twisting the frame sideways or rolling the frame upward, also causing the struck object to possibly get pushed under and truck to ride up over depending on direction and speed struck. Will front air bags deploy correct ? the sensors are mounted to the body next to radiator, will they operate effectively or soon enough ?

Sliders welded/bolted to frame result in a direct side impact to chassis/frame instead of to the energy absorbing body structure ( will the side air bags deploy correctly ? the sensors are in the doors )

I'm not against it, just some things to consider before doing it

 

Nicely done.

 

Front/Rear 50 cal robot controlled. Or never leave the driveway.

Shit happens.

 

I inspect wrecked vehicles every day as an adjuster. what this guy just said is spot on. Although, side airbags shouldn't really be affected. It's the jolt that triggers them, not the actual impact. They'll deploy the curtain/seat bags even w/ sliders.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/plate-bumpers-after-impact-with-pics.379600/

 

I've armored my 2wd 4cyl not for physical damage, but for my own health. I'm considered 'medically' fragile. The vehicle needs to take the hit - not I. That said, the ARB has 'crush' cans, and is airbag compliant. The rear Fab-fours, well... it's just a honkin' big piece of metal that hopefully the average passenger car will waste itself on.. if the frame gets bent, so be it.

I consider the armor far superior protection, than the stock truck bumpers - which don't need to meet NTSA passenger vehicle crash standards. Combine with generally shitty drivers on the road in this area, and there's plenty reason to be paranoid.

 

Beautiful truck bro ^

And thanks for the input guys. Seems I gotta do a bit more research. I've been lurking the forum a lot, and I have so many things I wanna do to my truck

 

Don't wreck it is number #1. Armor or stock, you get in an accident you have to live with it, your fault or not. Rolling it and having 700 lbs of armor ain't gonna help... Or your gas mileage.

Armor ain't gonna save you, neither is the 40 cal in the box.

Armor is for off-roading after you spend $3000+ on suspension upgrades.

 

Gotta disagree!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/plate-bumpers-after-impact-with-pics.379600/page-3#post-10556815

That thread has numerous examples of superior protection from plate bumpers!

 

Often, "Don't wreck it is number #1" is out of your hands, and in the hands of numpties with whom you have no control over in terms of kamikazi behavior on the roads.. I think that boarshead will back that one up, being an RCMP detachment personnel.

700 lbs of armor is a slight exaggeration. Front bumper weighs in around the 110 lb mark without winch. I have no use for a winch, being pure road-based. If it comes to that, it's a call for a wrecker to tow it to it's final destination - it's toast, it's done. The rear bumper weighs in around 70 lbs.

Overall, fuel economy has seen only a slight impact, pun intended.

40 cal, i assume you are referring to a concealed carry or similar. I think that boarshead can only carry while on duty, being Canada and all. In which case, he's not on duty in the truck.

$3000.00 on suspension upgrades? Nope. For my truck version, a $400.00 lift-level kit, and new Bilsteins all way around (it needed new shocks anyway) worth another $500.00 or so, fit the bill just fine. That's Canadian $.

Not everyone off-roads.. at least intentionally. I've already explained the why of armoring up for the street in my case.

Accident free since '99. Traffic conditions have worsened to the point, that i felt my luck wasn't about to hold out much longer - in my case, i've seen a noted improvement in behavior with lessened tail-gating and front bumper-cutters in congested traffic, post-install.

Works for me.

Post-edit: it may just be perception/wishful-thinking - but the additional weight seems to have also made for improved traction in winter conditions, this year - I am not carrying my usual 300 lbs of sandbags in the back of the truck for traction control.

 

This is a good question.
I believe the right bumpers can help in a accident.
The best though may be (and I don't agree in the laws) wearing your seat belt.
After that (still don't agree) a helmet.

 

I have been looking into armoring my front bumper as well, and having a hard time figuring out the best of the options. I am solely looking to protect the vehicle as I spent 19 years waiting to get the one I have! Living in an area with the highest elk population (last I heard anyway) in the nation, I want something that will save my ride, while I appreciate the 'looks' factor and off road protection (only valuable to me a few months out of the year), protecting from an elk/deer hit has value pretty much year round. No, I do not want my frame bent, also don't want the front end demolished.

 

For deer/elk get a deer whistle also.

 

Effectiveness of armor for street protection demonstrated. Low-speed rear-ended, on highway on May 5th, 2016 - roughly a month after my last post on this thread. I thought i'd post up my own experience justifying the use of street armor.

In this incident, my damage consisted of a rear tail-gate being wrinkled by the Chevrolet Equinox Cross-over squishing it's hood up against it. Tacoma, $1000.00 damage, Chevrolet Equinox, $8000.00 damage. If it was a lower vehicle, it would have been $0 damage.

This scenario was precisely for what i armored-up for, on the street.

 

I think that your idea that the armor is going to somehow lessen the impact of a wreck to your body is incorrect. Probably much the opposite.

 

All i will say is, i got out of my vehicle annoyed, not sore from whip-lash.

 

Well ya in that particular instance. But at higher speeds that armor is going to translate more energy into the cab since you are protecting designed crumple zones.