Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[Splint3r]

It has gotten a little quiet on this thread over the holiday. @Ninjak #176 hopefully got a top today. @SierraBronco and @BroncoBill44 got theirs before even though their order numbers were later. Nice install pics @BroncoBill44! @crabsquatch may be complete and @Pseudoko is heading to powdercoat then 3-4 more weeks of final processing/crating. @Chritaka is at the end of the line with order #298 without any progress notifications and is the last point of information unless someone with a later number rings in. Anyone take advantage of the year end discount?

Can we piece together enough data points to get an idea of throughput capability or did these few get processed out of order?

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[Pseudoko]

It has gotten a little quiet on this thread over the holiday. @Ninjak #176 hopefully got a top today. @SierraBronco and @BroncoBill44 got theirs before even though their order numbers were later. Nice install pics @BroncoBill44! @crabsquatch may be complete and @Pseudoko is heading to powdercoat then 3-4 more weeks of final processing/crating. @Chritaka is at the end of the line with order #298 without any progress notifications and is the last point of information unless someone with a later number rings in. Anyone take advantage of the year end discount?

Can we piece together enough data points to get an idea of throughput capability or did these few get processed out of order?

yup I got that email a few days ago. Because of the holidays I’d pad that for few additional weeks since nothing is going to happen until after new years most likely. Bad part is I am going to king of the hammers so probably won’t be driving to TX until mid February for install if that’s the case.

 

[Chritaka]

It has gotten a little quiet on this thread over the holiday. @Ninjak #176 hopefully got a top today. @SierraBronco and @BroncoBill44 got theirs before even though their order numbers were later. Nice install pics @BroncoBill44! @crabsquatch may be complete and @Pseudoko is heading to powdercoat then 3-4 more weeks of final processing/crating. @Chritaka is at the end of the line with order #298 without any progress notifications and is the last point of information unless someone with a later number rings in. Anyone take advantage of the year end discount?

Can we piece together enough data points to get an idea of throughput capability or did these few get processed out of order?

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”

 

[USMCAg]

Before I left for a deployment I dropped off my Bronco with Armadillo Designs so they could make Instagram Videos with it. But mostly so they could test out their Aluminum hard top! Well I’m finally back from my deployment and got some pictures of their mock-up on my Raptor! There were a few spots they have to adjust because of the brace the raptor has on the roof. Other than that it fits and looks great! Obviously there isn’t a window on the back, but I was able to play with one on the shop floor and it was much bigger than it looks in their pictures (so to speak). The interior sound deadening was a 1/2 inch hard foam material that seems like it’ll be good at sound deadening, but won’t hold any Velcro patches. While touring around their shop in Bellville, TX I was blown away with how much they have going on. Seems like they are going to have some super cool stuff coming to the market soon and I’m really looking forward to seeing their finished top in just a few months! If anyone has questions drop them here and I can probably answer them, I’m not sure they if they are on this forum or not. (I’m not paid or endorsed by them, just a fan of their hard top)

Welcome home brother and Bellville is also close so I may have to drop in and take a look. Much obliged for you standing the line.

 

[Ninjak]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell. Fedex has my top, but nobody can tell me where it's at. I received an update from the tracker saying it was in Hollywood FL, (20 mins up the road btw) then nothing. It did not arrive yesterday as the tracker said, and now there is a message saying (cosigner is closed for the holiday) FedEx cannot get in touch with anyone, and they cannot find the driver.

So yeah, here I am. I have no idea if it will pop up, when, or where. So I am guessing I will not know anything until next year. It may be dramatic, but next year is next week, so I'll say next week.

 

[Pseudoko]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell. Fedex has my top, but nobody can tell me where it's at. I received an update from the tracker saying it was in Hollywood FL, (20 mins up the road btw) then nothing. It did not arrive yesterday as the tracker said, and now there is a message saying (cosigner is closed for the holiday) FedEx cannot get in touch with anyone, and they cannot find the driver.

So yeah, here I am. I have no idea if it will pop up, when, or where. So I am guessing I will not know anything until next year. It may be dramatic, but next year is next week, so I'll say next week.

yeah I hate fedex. They’re so unreliable. The fact that they cannot track their own packages is horrible. Hope it arrives soon bud.

 

[EasternSierra]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell. Fedex has my top, but nobody can tell me where it's at. I received an update from the tracker saying it was in Hollywood FL, (20 mins up the road btw) then nothing. It did not arrive yesterday as the tracker said, and now there is a message saying (cosigner is closed for the holiday) FedEx cannot get in touch with anyone, and they cannot find the driver.

So yeah, here I am. I have no idea if it will pop up, when, or where. So I am guessing I will not know anything until next year. It may be dramatic, but next year is next week, so I'll say next week.

I've had a few times where Fedex shipments headed off in the wrong direction after getting fairly close to their destination. The situation should resolve in a couple of days but it sure is frustrating in the meantime.

 

[Splint3r]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell.

That is the worst. Your patience has been tested for so long, that it might be wearing thin now is completely understandable. A few more days and things should become clearer.

 

[Splint3r]

So it looks like orders 176 @Ninjak to 187 @crabsquatch were ready within days of each other. Based on posts in this thread that was December 10-18. Now @Pseudoko #256 has movement and is expecting completion in the unkowable future but perhaps as early as late January/ early February...maybe. Can we press you, @Pseudoko for the completion data when you get it? Thanks in advance.

As of now, not enough data points to extrapolate some kind of production capability. Also, no understanding of where the end of the line is after the incentive sales. In all appearances, they are operating under the model of using new pre-orders to finance current production. It would sure be easier if @TheLawnDart could get some sort of capacity/capability and order volume information from Armadillo HQ.

Edit: I thought @mangelo was tracking this stuff..

 

[Fordified1]

Well Update: I am in delivery hell. Fedex has my top, but nobody can tell me where it's at. I received an update from the tracker saying it was in Hollywood FL, (20 mins up the road btw) then nothing. It did not arrive yesterday as the tracker said, and now there is a message saying (cosigner is closed for the holiday) FedEx cannot get in touch with anyone, and they cannot find the driver.

So yeah, here I am. I have no idea if it will pop up, when, or where. So I am guessing I will not know anything until next year. It may be dramatic, but next year is next week, so I'll say next week.

FEDEX is horrible. I always ask for UPS when possible. I’ve had deliveries from FedEx that were multiple boxes for the same order part to my house and part to same address but different street. And a couple where they couldn’t find my address and shipment was delayed for days…. what? There’s a huge rock with my address carved into it and lit. Not to mention the clear address on my mailbox. Then there’s the lazy drivers who instead of coming in my obviously circular big wide driveway leave stuff out by the road. Luckily we don’t have many package thieves out here.
Good luck and happy new year!

 

[mangelo]

So it looks like orders 176 @Ninjak to 187 @crabsquatch were ready within days of each other. Based on posts in this thread that was December 10-18. Now @Pseudoko #256 has movement and is expecting completion in the unkowable future but perhaps as early as late January/ early February...maybe. Can we press you, @Pseudoko for the completion data when you get it? Thanks in advance.

As of now, not enough data points to extrapolate some kind of production capability. Also, no understanding of where the end of the line is after the incentive sales. In all appearances, they are operating under the model of using new pre-orders to finance current production. It would sure be easier if @TheLawnDart could get some sort of capacity/capability and order volume information from Armadillo HQ.

Edit: I thought @mangelo was tracking this stuff..

Thank you @Splint3r for diving in and wrangling data! I shared my initial findings w Fabian and then afterwards unfilled orders on this thread were filled, so felt like that was progress. With my work schedule and family responsibilities right now, following along when I can but currently have limited bandwidth. It'll be 2025 before I can be more active. Gratitude to @Splint3r and EVERYONE contributing to this thread, hoping @Ninjak FEDEX drama resolves and everyone gets their tops soon Wishing you all a happy new year!

 

[Ninjak]

Thanks all. Well on the other side of things, it looks like it want to rain, also this gives me some time to get a few things before the install, as I thought I had 247 loctite and such, but I do not. Also I can grab some horses.

It also gives me some time to wrangle the help together. So, a few more days, (hopefully). I waited this long. What's a couple more days?

 

[Pseudoko]

So it looks like orders 176 @Ninjak to 187 @crabsquatch were ready within days of each other. Based on posts in this thread that was December 10-18. Now @Pseudoko #256 has movement and is expecting completion in the unkowable future but perhaps as early as late January/ early February...maybe. Can we press you, @Pseudoko for the completion data when you get it? Thanks in advance.

As of now, not enough data points to extrapolate some kind of production capability. Also, no understanding of where the end of the line is after the incentive sales. In all appearances, they are operating under the model of using new pre-orders to finance current production. It would sure be easier if @TheLawnDart could get some sort of capacity/capability and order volume information from Armadillo HQ.

Edit: I thought @mangelo was tracking this stuff..

sure I got the powder coat email on 12/23 in case you wanted that info for tracking. Again two holidays in back to back weeks so I’d guess that would impact that process by a week. I’ll let you know when I get the next production update but here’s a screenshot of the email I received:

 

[Slei]

Not sure if this helps but those keeping track, I have been in contact with Fabian about new orders. I decided to risk it and pulled the trigger. They intend to start the next batch between Christmas and New years (so around now) and the last order to make it in the batch was #515. He is estimating 14-16 weeks for the next batch to be completed so some time in April if things go to plan.
What was ordered:
Four Door Bronco Square Back Hardtop
4DR-Square-ST-BL
Hope this helps.

 

[Splint3r]

...last order to make it in the batch was #515. He is estimating 14-16 weeks for the next batch to be completed so some time in April if things go to plan.
What was ordered:
Four Door Bronco Square Back Hardtop
4DR-Square-ST-BL
Hope this helps.

Great information @Slei, especially for those under #515. Here is an interesting question: does that mean the next "batch" is on hold until April or are they producing continuously? In other words. If you ordered inside #515 you might get a top by April or thereabouts. If you order today in the next "batch", would you not get a top until August to September? Or, is there an in between "batch" break point for their production phases to overlap?

Side note: in manufacturing things rarely "go to plan" unless you are a very detail oriented, sophisticated, energetic, and lucky planner. (weighted in reverse order of listing)

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