Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[mangelo]

This^^^.
db are a great way to measure audio systems or a specific job based risk but kind of suck for perceived volume. Depending on the frequency you may not even hear what is being picked up by a meter. Also as you say most apps are on non calibrated devices.

Unfortunately most of the time watches and phones are A weighted, not calibrated, and as such are not good at measuring perceived noise levels. C or better yet Z rated meter will give you a better idea of what the noise damping of the top is but only the peak noise level and that may not be the noise you are most aware of.

I have all the equipment to make environmental db measurements. If people were interested we could go deeper and do a full analysis to confirm the claims, showing what frequencies the top actually cuts down, and making some high quality balanced recordings of the sound.

Only issue is my top is not due till later this year, so unless someone local who is getting a top in the near future wants to partner up on it It will be 3 or 4 months till I can do so.

@sleidel Glad to offer up my 2021 4 door Badsquatch V6 soft top for audio testing if it helps, I'm in SF. Gratitude for having the knowledge, the gear and kindness to test for the benefit of the community!

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[Pseudoko]

When I do my road trip to Texas for the install I can buy a decibel reader off Amazon but that won’t be until after I get my install scheduled.

 

[Slei]

Did a quick test of the mounting for sound level and audio today. (Sorry for the blurred windows realized after the fact the neighbor kids were in the shot.) Makes me wonder if I should do the same for Exhaust systems?

@Pseudoko make sure to set it for C weight (or Z/Flat if you buy an expensive one) and set it to slow if your going to hand hold it. Looking forward to what you find out.

@mangelo Thanks Ill message you. @El Diablo also offered to let me do before and after install measurements.

 

[Pseudoko]

Did a quick test of the mounting for sound level and audio today. (Sorry for the blurred windows realized after the fact the neighbor kids were in the shot.) Makes me wonder if I should do the same for Exhaust systems?

@Pseudoko make sure to set it for C weight (or Z/Flat if you buy an expensive one) and set it to slow if your going to hand hold it. Looking forward to what you find out.

@mangelo Thanks Ill message you. @El Diablo also offered to let me do before and after install measurements.

wasn’t going to buy anything expensive since I’d only probably only use it for this study. But figure a road trip across the country to get the top installed will give you guys some info of the before and after.

 

[Slei]

wasn’t going to buy anything expensive since I’d only probably only use it for this study. But figure a road trip across the country to get the top installed will give you guys some info of the before and after.

No worries, Anything over $25 should have A/C weighted. Meters all default to A so if you get one you have to set it to C. If its cheeper its likely to only have A and probably only marginal better than an app on your Phone. Still its all Data and welcome.

 

[TheLawnDart]

Finally got around to installing the XM antenna/ GPS on the top! Write up on how to do it is below.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/sirius-xm-armadillo-install.107397/

Next up is the RotoPax and Tractions board MOLLE mounts. Already have some good progress on those!

 

[SierraBronco]

Just finished a 500 mile trip with the new top. Thought I’d share a couple observations

Before leaving I adjusted the latches for the removable section a turn each to snug things down a tad. And…it caused some whistling on the interstate. Goddangit. Fiddled with them more to try fixing it and couldn’t eliminate the whistle, so I’ll probably just back them all off and start fresh. Gave it a wash and the water seemed to drain perfectly right over the middle of the driver door when you open it. Refreshing! No big deal though. Should’ve dried it off anyway. So really-no complaints

 

[TheLawnDart]

First attempt at mounting the RotoPax boards and 4 gallon tank. Still have a bit of tweaking to do but it fits!

 

[SierraBronco]

Molle panels came in handy when we bumped it off a rock on The Drop. We didn’t get the panels to strap stuff to the outside of the top, we got them as they look better aaaaaaaand are likely much cheaper to replace than the gullwings. A little bit of added protection.

The locks did freeze on us when we washed it at the end of the day. Might need to look into locking actuators to lock/unlock them with the doors.

Also as best I could tell there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable flexing of the top when two-wheeling.

 

[Splint3r]

Might need to look into locking actuators to lock/unlock them with the doors.

@SierraBronco, love living vicariously through your reports. Sounds like an opportunity for a great factory option... How would you execute on that idea?

 

[Ninjak]

Well I did some wheeling this weekend......Nothing as cool as @SierraBronco, but our own little S.FL flavor. Those guys have rocks, we have mud

The top was a hit. Doing some climbs and hitting those roots did not bother it at all. Now, I will see how she cleans up.

 

[SierraBronco]

@SierraBronco, love living vicariously through your reports. Sounds like an opportunity for a great factory option... How would you execute on that idea?

Actuators aren’t anything special-they just move back and forth. Mounting and packaging will take a little consideration but as a concept I’m thinking it would just be as simple as drilling a hole in the gullwing for the actuator rod. Gotta figure out where to put everything though

 

[Pseudoko]

@SierraBronco, love living vicariously through your reports. Sounds like an opportunity for a great factory option... How would you execute on that idea?

hate squeezes like that get some UHMH cut to size to attach to your Molle panels next time haha jk. Itching to get my top soon.

 

[SierraBronco]

hate squeezes like that get some UHMH cut to size to attach to your Molle panels next time haha jk. Itching to get my top soon.

Now we’re talkin

 

[Chritaka]

I’ve had 2 more emails with an update of still in “Welding and Blending” since my last update, so not much progress. I sent an email to Fabian on Tuesday and got his reply yesterday :

“Hey Chris,

Doing our best to keep things moving along with our minimal staff. You should be moving to powdercoat in the next few weeks. I will check with the team on where we are with production and will have your order updated soon.

Thank you,
Fabian”

Still no update from Fabian or status change emails. I reached out to Fabian again… I’ve been patient, but we’re a couple months past the max delivery estimate he gave me in July.

Meanwhile I’m getting notices that Turn has stock ready to ship…

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