Recommend me a car escape tool. What are the options?

[hemiarch]

Looks cool and the demo video suggests it can break the glass, but then what? I cut from the glass breakage to the seat belt cutting . . . completely skipping the glass cutting that seems necessary to get from break to escape. Am I missing something?

Mine arrived yesterday. Smaller than expected but as you say “looks cool”. I’m keeping it but put it in the door of my wife’s model x.
feels appropriate for that but less so for the truck. Waiting to be able to order that BRB posted by @CT_AZ_4x4 for the truck.
I like the Ajax but it seems like you’d HAVE to have gloves on to use it.

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[DoberManPin-Sure]

Mine arrived yesterday. Smaller than expected but as you say “looks cool”. I’m keeping it but put it in the door of my wife’s model x.
feels appropriate for that but less so for the truck. Waiting to be able to order that BRB posted by @CT_AZ_4x4 for the truck.
I like the Ajax but it seems like you’d HAVE to have gloves on to use it.

Ajax definitely looks like a finger-eater. In an emergency situation I don't also want to be digging for a glove, so I'm either going to pass on it or say "life over limb" and take a chance that you'd be my ER doc to stitch up my digits post-escape. LOL.

I'm intrigued by the BRB, too.

 

[hemiarch]

So far it looks like the best choice

 

[hemiarch]

Ajax definitely looks like a finger-eater. In an emergency situation I don't also want to be digging for a glove, so I'm either going to pass on it or say "life over limb" and take a chance that you'd be my ER doc to stitch up my digits post-escape. LOL.

I'm intrigued by the BRB, too.

All it would really need is a handle cover for that saw and it would be perfect

 

[DoberManPin-Sure]

All it would really need is a handle cover for that saw and it would be perfect

Could probably rig up a Velcro-released saw cover pretty easily. Hammer a hole > remove Velcro-saw cover > cut glass > escape > order replacement CB . . . done!

 

[Pops]

I looked up the cost of the driver side window, all I see quoted is $240 for the part (sans installation). Laminated windows are a huge concern for me and my family, both the CT and Model Y have all laminated windows.

I wouldn't mind biting the bullet and testing in on my CT if I found a tool that is small enough to secure safely and be used by a women/child. Remember everyone might be slightly incapacitated immediately after an accident. The tool needs to be extremely easy to use if possible. That demo of the BRB looks promising, a 10yo girl was shown using it at the end of the video.

 

[DoberManPin-Sure]

Comparison table compliments of ChatGPT Pro:

Feature / Tool LIFELINE Stealth Gen 4 Glas-Master B.R.B. (Breaching/Rescue Bar) ELECOGO CyberBreaker Ajax Extrication Tomahawk Primary Use Personal, multi-function rescue Professional full-window removal Compact breaching tool Personal seatbelt cutter + breaker Multi-purpose extrication tomahawk Laminated Glass Handling Yes—engineered for it Yes—rapid removal Yes—designed for laminated glass Yes—hard-tip one-strike Yes—hardened point + laminated glass saw Operation Type Manual (blade, pry, breaker tip) Manual saw blade + punch Manual pry or cut with serrated edge Manual hammer-strike + cutter Manual multi-tool with saw, pry, spike Portability Very compact, carry-friendly Larger handheld (~1 kg / 2.2 lb) Compact, EDC-friendly Lightweight (~278 g / 9.8 oz) Heavier (~3.38 lb) rescuers’ tool Multi-functionality Breaker, cutter, pry, seatbelts Glass removal only Breach, pry, cut Breaker + cutter integrated 10 tools in one: pry, saw, cutter, wrench, more Materials & Durability DLC-coated 440C steel Graphite-coated blade, steel punch 420 HC steel with protective coating Tungsten-titanium tip, alloy, aluminum handle Hardened steel head, multi-tool arms Real-World Validation Military/bomb squad tested Trusted by first responders Praised by Cybertruck owners Claims via listing; no third-party tests Common in rescue kits (1st-responder proven) Price (USD) $180–$229 (estimated) $182.50–$225 $99.99 $29–$59 retail-dependent $164.99–$208 depending on vendor; ~$175 typical (thefirestore.com, ajaxrescuetools.com, nafeco.com)

 

[DoberManPin-Sure]

I just pulled the trigger on the Ajax Extraction Tomahawk. It just seemed the most trusted by 1st responders and was one of the few with video substantiation of its key features. I'll report back.

 

[donnymcdoodles]

The 10 year old girl had the benefit of leverage and body position... I suspect there is a reason why there are no videos of someone cutting the windshield from INSIDE the car. They probably couldn't. That is why it is being marketed as an EXTRACTION tool, not an ESCAPE tool.

Besides, isn't the cybertruck's armored glass like 4x harder than standard windshield glass? It is literally twice as thick and is engineered to be harder on the inside than the outside. I’m not trying to be Debbie-Downer here, but It seems like cutting out a cybertruck window is a job that only powertools can solve.

 

[donnymcdoodles]

I would think maybe if you can smash the side windows enough, you can probably just kick the top out and basically "fold" it down:

Like this guy at 9:27:

Note: I assume you would need to penetrate BOTH layers of hardened glass, so a simple tungsten tipped hammer might give you more difficulty.

Keep in mind, in most accidents, your window is probably already smashed... so one less thing

 

[hemiarch]

unintentionally timely given this thread
https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/forum/threads/lawsuit-over-cybertruck-handles.48967/

Just mounted my brb escape tool today. Thank you again @CT_AZ_4x4 for the recommendation.

I used a strong magnet meant for holding knives I got on amazon:
CUCINO Magnetic Knife Holder for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ7LHW6N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Mounted it to the side of my center console fridge thingy.
I also put some mechanics gloves in the door pocket.

I admit to having put a pathologically large amount of thought into this and it’s probably excessively paranoid but I’d rather not find out if it is or not.

The beastly part of it remains hidden and does not come close to touching the seat this way.
It’s pretty firmly on there with the magnet but can be easily removed by my wife.
Even if it came off in a high energy accident though it’s mostly between the seat and center console so protected from flying upwards by the seat cushion bolster and the “ear” of the safe.

 

[CT_AZ_4x4]

unintentionally timely given this thread
https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/forum/threads/lawsuit-over-cybertruck-handles.48967/

Just mounted my brb escape tool today. Thank you again @CT_AZ_4x4 for the recommendation.

I used a strong magnet meant for holding knives I got on amazon:
CUCINO Magnetic Knife Holder for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ7LHW6N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Mounted it to the side of my center console fridge thingy.

I admit to having put a pathologically large amount of thought into this and it’s probably excessively paranoid but I’d rather not find out if it is or not.

View attachment 107714

The beastly part of it remains hidden and does not come close to touching the seat this way.
It’s pretty firmly on there but can be easily removed by my wife.
Even if it came off Ina high energy accident though it’s mostly between the seat and center console so protected from flying upwards by the seat cushion bolster and the “ear” of the safe.

View attachment 107715

Superb placement Hemiarch! Nicely done!

 

[hemiarch]

Superb placement Hemiarch! Nicely done!

Thank you

 

[hemiarch]

So…while I did recently install the above tool. Wanted to post this other option I came across in case it’s of interest to anyone
https://www.rjmachine.com/store/tuf-8-tool

 

[Pops]

B.R.B. – Breaching/Rescue Bar back in stock finally.
https://colonelblades.com/product/brb/

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