Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[BroncoBill44]

Anyone else see this? Seems that they are planning to no longer do any of the pre-assembly and the install will now take 2 days to complete. I have not verified anything with Fabian yet just saw the new vid drop.

It says this though:

If you purchased your hardtop in the sand-blasted finish, got it painted, and are now ready for assembly, then this is the video for you! Here is our full assembly guide from start to finish!

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[Slei]

Good catch. Did not expand the description of the video and see that just watched the video and figured I would post it to the group. Also on a positive side note its the best video of the details I have seen on how its constructed.

 

[Chritaka]

Quick status update for tracking, officially in powder as of yesterday:

 

[Chritaka]

It says this though:

If you purchased your hardtop in the sand-blasted finish, got it painted, and are now ready for assembly, then this is the video for you! Here is our full assembly guide from start to finish!

Glad you read the description and caught this. I didn’t see the video on their site, then went to their YT channel as it wasn’t clear where this vid came from. I saw the description just after you posted this! I was about to get a bit upset…

Also note this on their site, under each top’s page, which correlates to the vid:

 

[B22-2023]

Glad you read the description and caught this. I didn’t see the video on their site, then went to their YT channel as it wasn’t clear where this vid came from. I saw the description just after you posted this! I was about to get a bit upset…

Also note this on their site, under each top’s page, which correlates to the vid:

I went into their shop today for a visit I pre-arranged via Fabian. Sam took me through the entire facility and explained their process. Been through 100s of places like this and I was very impressed. Very clean, well organized and productive shop. Very busy too, I saw a lot of tops in process. They clearly are working efficiencies in to production as they do each of these early batches, as he explained to me, and I could see it in the product. They have a lot of work in progress at different stages so I could see the hard top at every step along the way after it came out of laser cutting of the panels. The place is well-lit, parts well organized and there seems to be regular attention to QC.

The finished product is a lot sturdier than I expected for 150 lbs - nice gauge aluminum, plenty of support bracing, excellent welds, consistency from top to top coming off the line.

I had been skeptical of the sound deadening for $1500 - but it is good marine qualify decking material, pre-cut for every large and small odd-shaped flat surface. I was first leaning towards doing a sound-mat and headliner on my own, but no to the materials, labor and added weight versus having it done their way.

Can‘t use a roof rack that relies upon the OEM front and side mounting points - so now I have a NIB JCR roof to sell - but their way looks stronger given the beefiness of the roof and allows for more product options that aren’t Bronco-specific ($).

I’ll order a square-back later in the year after they push out a few more batches, have them install it.

 

[Ruby Redbird]

Can someone who had the OEM MIC top talk about loudness at rural highway speeds? I added a bunch of foam seals to my MIC top according to some of the threads here and while that quieted down the top, the wind noise at 80-85MPH coming from the windows was almost as loud as the MIC top noise pre-foam. I like the idea of getting this top to quiet down long distance rides but maybe I’m asking too much with the frameless window design.

 

[TheLawnDart]

Mounted some tools to the interior MOLLE shelf with some harbor freight tool mounts! Worked out great and fits nice and snug under the Raptor brace. Here’s a Thread with all the details if you need it!

 

[B22-2023]

Mounted some tools to the interior MOLLE shelf with some harbor freight tool mounts! Worked out great and fits nice and snug under the Raptor brace. Here’s a Thread with all the details if you need it!

I was working up my shopping cart yesterday, I included the Molle panels - plus here’s a question to you or other Armadillo buyers - what about roof rack? I’m not familiar with their mounting system. What are the typical ways to mount a couple cross rails up there, or is it better just to buy their setup since they’ve figured it out?

 

[SierraBronco]

I was working up my shopping cart yesterday, I included the Molle panels - plus here’s a question to you or other Armadillo buyers - what about roof rack? I’m not familiar with their mounting system. What are the typical ways to mount a couple cross rails up there, or is it better just to buy their setup since they’ve figured it out?

Personally I’m not a fan of slapping a bunch if weight on top of the roof. 16 year old me thought it was awesome on my 1973 suburban, but it would not be conducive to the wheeling we do now.

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

Quick status update for tracking, officially in powder as of yesterday:

Lucky you!!!!!!!!!!!! I ordered mine about 2 weeks ago. When was your order placed or order#? That is great how they keep the customer informed of the process....did that come by email or by logging into your account? Thanks

 

[Ninjak]

Lucky you!!!!!!!!!!!! I ordered mine about 2 weeks ago. When was your order placed or order#? That is great how they keep the customer informed of the process....did that come by email or by logging into your account? Thanks

You will receive these in an email when everything starts going.

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

I was working up my shopping cart yesterday, I included the Molle panels - plus here’s a question to you or other Armadillo buyers - what about roof rack? I’m not familiar with their mounting system. What are the typical ways to mount a couple cross rails up there, or is it better just to buy their setup since they’ve figured it out?

Personally, I bought theirs. The L-Trac rails will give you options to attach darn near anything to that top.

 

[mangelo]

I was working up my shopping cart yesterday, I included the Molle panels - plus here’s a question to you or other Armadillo buyers - what about roof rack? I’m not familiar with their mounting system. What are the typical ways to mount a couple cross rails up there, or is it better just to buy their setup since they’ve figured it out?

I'm all about the Gobi Rack Armadillo collab featured at Sema:

- VERY strong beefy rack
- Decades long track record for off road roof racks
- Mounts to the body, not the roof
- features ladders to ease in loading gear up top etc
- more mounting points for pull out shades + other accessories like shower water
- comes with a light bar
- BIGGEST FEATURE: ability to put a side opening tent on the back of vehicle leaving roof panels open for full convertible experience even with a roof top tent on!

Paul at Gobi is sending me the install kit details, I'll make sure that here.

 

[Chritaka]

I'm all about the Gobi Rack Armadillo collab featured at Sema:

- VERY strong beefy rack
- Decades long track record for off road roof racks
- Mounts to the body, not the roof
- features ladders to ease in loading gear up top etc
- more mounting points for pull out shades + other accessories like shower water
- comes with a light bar
- BIGGEST FEATURE: ability to put a side opening tent on the back of vehicle leaving roof panels open for full convertible experience even with a roof top tent on!

Paul at Gobi is sending me the install kit details, I'll make sure that here.

Yes pls update with what you find out. I like the GOBI, but worried about fitting in the garage with my lift. Their Trailrax setup is slightly shorter, but looks well integrated with the L-tracks.

 

[B22-2023]

Yes pls update with what you find out. I like the GOBI, but worried about fitting in the garage with my lift. Their Trailrax setup is slightly shorter, but looks well integrated with the L-tracks.

The Gobi does bypass roof mount issues, that’s for sure. Too much for me though, putting long light items up that don’t fit inside. I’ll either get theirs, or as a rear-oriented option from Rhino like this.

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