2 Door Hardtop Replacement Options?

[Arokcrwlr]

Armadillo does not yet make a 2 door option.

If I had to replace my hardtop outside of warranty, I'd go for the Bestop softop instead.

https://armadillo.design/two-door-bronco-hardtop/

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[Kevin Scarbel]

The one obvious shortcoming if a soft top is people with knives seeking 5-finger discounts.
The Bestop soft top on my CJ-2A was great. But the first time I rode in a new CJ-7 with a hard top, I was in shock at, and jealous of, the quietness (and the 304 V-8).

 

[JL8jeff]

There seem to be quite a few 2 door hardtops on FB Marketplace so depending on where you live, you can find them from $500-3000 but most seem to be in the 1200-1500 range and some even include the front panels.

 

[Lucky Nut]

Update: As expected, dealership and Ford gave me the runaround. Long story short, Ford saying even if they cover some of the replacement, it would only be a percentage. And I'm just not willing to cover even 30% of a new, possibly defective, $7k hard top.

At the end of the day, while I don't think it unreasonable to expect a hard top to last more than a few years, it was my fault for letting the 3yr warranty lapse.

So off to find the solution. I emailed Armadillo a few days ago and they say they are starting production of the 2 door tops as we speak. Lead time of about 16 weeks from time of order. That's a strong possibility. I also spoke with the guy who does the Line-X here locally. I'm going to take it out to him for an estimate once this cold snap passes through. He ballparked it around $1500-2000. That would be less painful on the wallet. Just need to hear his confidence level in putting a good seal on the defective gap.

I've read as much as the search function gave me but if anyone with Line-X experience wants to chime in I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

[mpeugeot]

yes, I believe the warranty is three years, but you’re just outside the warranty and a lot of companies would take care of something so obvious for the sake of goodwill.

3 years or 36k miles. They refused to look at the crack in my roof at roughly 8 months and 38k miles. Dealer told me too bad, so sad.

So whichever happens first - 36k miles or 3 years.

 

[BigBlue4]

Dude you live in TN. You could install a $ 1800 soft top full time. It’s a four season top from bestop. The best thing I ever did was ditch my hard top

What’s the road noise like in that? The road noise, ability to retain heat, and install/ remove time are my main concerns with a soft top

 

[Mdsuits]

What’s the road noise like in that? The road noise, ability to retain heat, and install/ remove time are my main concerns with a soft top

The bestop is significantly noisier than the mic hardtop….I personally always go back to my hardtop for winter….

 

[BroncocnorB]

What’s the road noise like in that? The road noise, ability to retain heat, and install/ remove time are my main concerns with a soft top

Is it noisier than the hardtop? Yes. But it’s not an environment where you can’t have a conversation, listen to music, make a phone call. With the twill, it’ll hold AC or heat very well. Is not as secure as a hardtop, and that’s the only real drawback.

 

[FreddyG]

19 months in on my second, soon to be 3rd hardtop. Owners now coming off warranty need to get together and sue Ford/Webasto, pretty inevitable that a class action is bound to pop up here soon over the MIC hardtops, flagrant engineered obsolescence.

Boils my blood to think about how they had a big fat R&D budget to design the hardtops on the new Bronco, could’ve spent it designing the tightest, most solid, best insulated, premium feeling hardtop that would’ve put jeep to shame. But instead they decided to not to do that, they chose to spend all of this R&D money to design an absolute garbage hardtop with a biodegradable core that would fail every 3-5 years so you’re forced to buy a $10k replacement if you want a roof on your car.

Adding insult to injury, Webasto was nominated for a design/manufacturing award for their Bronco MIC hardtop. Congratulations on finding a new innovative way to fuck over consumers for profit, here’s an award, this is the kind of shamelessly greedy corporate behaviour we love to see, keep it up!

This is the kind of shit Americans should actually get outraged about…

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

19 months in on my second, soon to be 3rd hardtop. Owners now coming off warranty need to get together and sue Ford/Webasto, pretty inevitable that a class action is bound to pop up here soon over the MIC hardtops, flagrant engineered obsolescence.

Boils my blood to think about how they had a big fat R&D budget to design the hardtops on the new Bronco, could’ve spent it designing the tightest, most solid, best insulated, premium feeling hardtop that would’ve put jeep to shame. But instead they decided to not to do that, they chose to spend all of this R&D money to design an absolute garbage hardtop with a biodegradable core that would fail every 3-5 years so you’re forced to buy a $10k replacement if you want a roof on your car.

Adding insult to injury, Webasto was nominated for a design/manufacturing award for their Bronco MIC hardtop. Congratulations on finding a new innovative way to fuck over consumers for profit, here’s an award, this is the kind of shamelessly greedy corporate behaviour we love to see, keep it up!

This is the kind of shit Americans should actually get outraged about…

I agree. My top has some slight snake skin (very mild). I 303 Protectant mine every time I wash it. SO far so good. Warranty up in July but my concern is...long term I think these MICs will all fail. I am of the mindset I will NOT replace this MIC with another MIC even if Ford gave me one. Yes, I see a class action in the future too....but it should not be an extended lifetime warranty and replacement of another failing MIC...but a choice a new MIC or something like a $5K cash credit to replace it of the owner's choosing. The lawyers will get rich and we will probably get $100.00

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

The Armadillo top… I received mine last month. I Patiently waited for all the development and tweaks. Totally amazed by the quality inside and out. Mine is a 4 door but you will not be disappointed with the craftsmanship and quality. Solid. Beyond belief.

Looks great and I think this may be my #1 choice for a replacement top down the road.
Questions if you don't mind:
1. How was it shipped?
2. Easy to install?
3. Appears no rear wiper (that's fine) but do you plug off the old fluid hose? Is there a brake light to deal with?
4. I think I will go with no side windows. I assume it comes with glass in the rear?
5. I assume it comes with a seal that the door windows go up in to...basically, installed it's ready to go, nothing else to do?
6. It sounds like the OEM rack will still attach to this top. Correct? I have the Rigid OEM light bar on mine now with rack mounts. So I assume if this top will take the OEM rack, the light bar will still attach. Comments?
7. Could you give all of us some more photos at your convenience? Door window seal areas, all sides, top, latches on the inside, head liner, etc?
Thanks in advance for some information. This top is spendy (and worth it), juts need to know a few things and I can also ask them....but heh...you have one!
Photos of my Bronco for reference.

 

[BroncoBill44]

@DUSTYcazOREGON

Looks great and I think this may be my #1 choice for a replacement top down the road.
Questions if you don't mind:
1. How was it shipped? Look at my post on FB here and I have a video: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AMnBgL9Qg/
2. Easy to install? Very easy. Worst part was having to get a couple other people to help lift it. Its heavy. But amazing.
3. Appears no rear wiper (that's fine) but do you plug off the old fluid hose? Is there a brake light to deal with? No rear wiper, but it has a 3rd break light and defroster. I dont miss the wiper. No need for it. My fluid hose connects into the dummy port on my bronco under the roll bar on the driver side.
4. I think I will go with no side windows. I assume it comes with glass in the rear? Rear glass, yes it's the only choice. It comes will no windows in the gull wings, but you have the option to add windows. One or both.
5. I assume it comes with a seal that the door windows go up in to...basically, installed it's ready to go, nothing else to do? Correct, it's all set and ready to go. Actually arrives completely in tact and you have nothing to install other than placing the top on your bronco. Break light wire and defroster harness. All very simple.
6. It sounds like the OEM rack will still attach to this top. Correct? I have the Rigid OEM light bar on mine now with rack mounts. So I assume if this top will take the OEM rack, the light bar will still attach. Comments? The light bar still attaches to your accessory mount on the bronco. In regard to the RACKs, some will still work but you'd have to inquire.
7. Could you give all of us some more photos at your convenience? Door window seal areas, all sides, top, latches on the inside, head liner, etc? Sure Will get some added soon.
Thanks in advance for some information. This top is spendy (and worth it), juts need to know a few things and I can also ask them....but heh...you have one![/QUOTE]

 

[Sandcruiser]

@DUSTYcazOREGON
That is one pretty rig. I wish they still had orange as option. Was the graphic OEM or did you add it? If so, where did you get the graphic?

 

[BroncoBill44]

DUSTYcazOREGON

Here are some photos of the seals and latches. Im not very good at this but hopefully this is what you were looking for. If you have other requests, let me know and Ill do my best lol.

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

@DUSTYcazOREGON

Looks great and I think this may be my #1 choice for a replacement top down the road.
Questions if you don't mind:
1. How was it shipped? Look at my post on FB here and I have a video: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AMnBgL9Qg/
2. Easy to install? Very easy. Worst part was having to get a couple other people to help lift it. Its heavy. But amazing.
3. Appears no rear wiper (that's fine) but do you plug off the old fluid hose? Is there a brake light to deal with? No rear wiper, but it has a 3rd break light and defroster. I dont miss the wiper. No need for it. My fluid hose connects into the dummy port on my bronco under the roll bar on the driver side.
4. I think I will go with no side windows. I assume it comes with glass in the rear? Rear glass, yes it's the only choice. It comes will no windows in the gull wings, but you have the option to add windows. One or both.
5. I assume it comes with a seal that the door windows go up in to...basically, installed it's ready to go, nothing else to do? Correct, it's all set and ready to go. Actually arrives completely in tact and you have nothing to install other than placing the top on your bronco. Break light wire and defroster harness. All very simple.
6. It sounds like the OEM rack will still attach to this top. Correct? I have the Rigid OEM light bar on mine now with rack mounts. So I assume if this top will take the OEM rack, the light bar will still attach. Comments? The light bar still attaches to your accessory mount on the bronco. In regard to the RACKs, some will still work but you'd have to inquire.
7. Could you give all of us some more photos at your convenience? Door window seal areas, all sides, top, latches on the inside, head liner, etc? Sure Will get some added soon.
Thanks in advance for some information. This top is spendy (and worth it), juts need to know a few things and I can also ask them....but heh...you have one!

[/QUOTE]
Heh Man...thanks for all of that and I will check out your link. THANKS again!

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