Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[EasternSierra]

Forgot to mention that I found a local shop in the Sacramento area that's agreed to receive the top shipment and install the top. That'll be on a time-and-materials basis since it's their first time.

Just waiting for Armadillo now; haven't heard anything for over three weeks since it went to powdercoat. Elapsed time since my order date is now 17 weeks.

Order is squareback 4-door, white.

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[rayofsi]

got my update.. recap
Ordered 4/17 they said they are closer to 16 weeks on 12-16 week listed lead time
batch started 5/13.
on 10/17 they said it would be shipping in about 2 weeks.
11/6, they replied saying it should ship out next week (11/10-11/14) but could also be 11/17-11/21
not sure why they are... so slow... as this has been in final assembly stage since 9/25... Powder coat started 9/4.

All this while we get sent emails like the attached.
I don't like the feeling of being mislead along the way. I follow up because I'm trying to get things planned out. Skipped out on some family gatherings because of anticipated delivery times earlier in the year already.

 

[Splint3r]

At this point, if the MOD MIC top on the bronco was not failing so predictably (my second is showing cracks in less than a year), I would not be interested in this top. I still like the Armadillo top design - other than the water pouring into the cab/ on your head as you exit part others have noted. Yet, it is both not surprising and at the same time disappointing that Armadillo is using the same business model as a year ago with the same results. See here. I was really hoping they would be better.

They do not appear to have "scaled up" as several fans here claimed they would and they have no incentive to do so. Why? Because Armadillo (and their parent/host company) can make money with no risk: people keep ordering these tops and paying their money in advance.

Why is that important, you may ask. Nice folks like @rayofsi and all those before have become unwitting, but not unwilling bankers to and investors In Armadillo. A privilege for which they may only receive the product they ordered and will not get other compensation for the time value of their investment (currently at over 7 months for our friend Ray). To expand on this look up what a 6mo CD would have paid over that time = minimum opportunity cost. Armadillo et al. have transferred 100% of the risk to their customers since they have cash in hand before the the first sheet of aluminum is ordered.

It is a pretty cool trick if you can make it work. However, when the music stops, those without a top may find themselves out of luck or having to pay more to get what they were promised. Expanding lead times are likely not due to the style of top or increasing demand but from issues with production; possibly material availability and probably labor...

 

[NC_Pinz]

At this point, if the MOD top on the bronco was not failing so predictably (my second is showing cracks in less than a year), I would not be interested in this top. I still like the Armadillo top design - other than the water pouring into the cab/ on your head as you exit part others have noted. Yet, it is both not surprising and at the same time disappointing that Armadillo is using the same business model as a year ago with the same results. See here. I was really hoping they would be better.

They do not appear to have "scaled up" as several fans here claimed they would and they have no incentive to do so. Why? Because Armadillo (and their parent/host company) can make money with no risk: people keep ordering these tops and paying their money in advance.

Why is that important, you may ask. Nice folks like @rayofsi and all those before have become unwitting, but not unwilling bankers to and investors In Armadillo. A privilege for which they may only receive the product they ordered and will not get other compensation for the time value of their investment (currently at over 7 months for our friend Ray). To expand on this look up what a 6mo CD would have paid over that time = minimum opportunity cost. Armadillo et al. have transferred 100% of the risk to their customers since they have cash in hand before the the first sheet of aluminum is ordered.

It is a pretty cool trick if you can make it work. However, when the music stops, those without a top may find themselves out of luck or having to pay more to get what they were promised. Expanding lead times are likely not due to the style of top or increasing demand but from issues with production; possibly material availability and probably labor...

Just to be clear...don't you mean MIC top? The MOD tops are painted and so far I've heard nothing negative about them.

 

[rayofsi]

finally shipped yesterday(7 months after ordering) and arriving next week.

 

[EasternSierra]

Forgot to mention that I found a local shop in the Sacramento area that's agreed to receive the top shipment and install the top. That'll be on a time-and-materials basis since it's their first time.

Just waiting for Armadillo now; haven't heard anything for over three weeks since it went to powdercoat. Elapsed time since my order date is now 17 weeks.

Order is squareback 4-door, white.

Got an update on the 17th - my top is going to assembly and quality check.

 

[Lucky Nut]

At this point, if the MOD MIC top on the bronco was not failing so predictably (my second is showing cracks in less than a year), I would not be interested in this top. I still like the Armadillo top design - other than the water pouring into the cab/ on your head as you exit part others have noted. Yet, it is both not surprising and at the same time disappointing that Armadillo is using the same business model as a year ago with the same results. See here. I was really hoping they would be better.

They do not appear to have "scaled up" as several fans here claimed they would and they have no incentive to do so. Why? Because Armadillo (and their parent/host company) can make money with no risk: people keep ordering these tops and paying their money in advance.

Why is that important, you may ask. Nice folks like @rayofsi and all those before have become unwitting, but not unwilling bankers to and investors In Armadillo. A privilege for which they may only receive the product they ordered and will not get other compensation for the time value of their investment (currently at over 7 months for our friend Ray). To expand on this look up what a 6mo CD would have paid over that time = minimum opportunity cost. Armadillo et al. have transferred 100% of the risk to their customers since they have cash in hand before the the first sheet of aluminum is ordered.

It is a pretty cool trick if you can make it work. However, when the music stops, those without a top may find themselves out of luck or having to pay more to get what they were promised. Expanding lead times are likely not due to the style of top or increasing demand but from issues with production; possibly material availability and probably labor...

 

[Dtrimpi87]

Got an update on the 17th - my top is going to assembly and quality check.

Same here! Hopefully not too much longer now.

 

[rayofsi]

Same here! Hopefully not too much longer now.

wishing you guys good luck!, from final assembly to shipping was 2 months for me... But i have the odd feeling that they were trying to fulfill dealer orders and pushing everyone back.. No evidence, just pure speculation. I'm about 6 months from batch start to shipping, 7 months since ordering.

 

[Dtrimpi87]

wishing you guys good luck!, from final assembly to shipping was 2 months for me... But i have the odd feeling that they were trying to fulfill dealer orders and pushing everyone back.. No evidence, just pure speculation. I'm about 6 months from batch start to shipping, 7 months since ordering.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was another decent wait to get through this step. My powder coating stage was just shy of 2 months, but I did get some custom work done. Original order date was July 3rd and got the stage 1 email July 29 so approaching the 4 month mark since my top was started which I guess isn't bad.

Share some photos when you get your top next week!

 

[rayofsi]

How do you guys deal with this rubber seal? Everytime I open this happens. .

Pretty happy with the hard top. Asides from all the rain that falls in when I open the door lol

One negative. The 70% tint in the rear. I see everything inside the car. The heater element makes it more work to tint. Sitting comfortably at 9% VLT in the back now.

 

[mangelo]

@rayofsi the rubber seal back window is an easy fix, simply hold down hatch back as you close swing gate until swing gate is fully closed, then release. I stand a specific way every time I close back, but the solution works!

NICE looking rig, the top looks sick on your Bronco!!!

mangelope

How do you guys deal with this rubber seal? Everytime I open this happens. .

Pretty happy with the hard top. Asides from all the rain that falls in when I open the door lol

One negative. The 70% tint in the rear. I see everything inside the car. The heater element makes it more work to tint. Sitting comfortably at 9% VLT in the back now.

 

[rayofsi]

@rayofsi the rubber seal back window is an easy fix, simply hold down hatch back as you close swing gate until swing gate is fully closed, then release. I stand a specific way every time I close back, but the solution works!

NICE looking rig, the top looks sick on your Bronco!!!

mangelope

lol i have to stand on the hinge side, close it partially, then come back to latch side to close it..
can't be ideal.

 

[Ninjak]

It will not do that over time. Once the top breaks in, it will not do that. My top did this when I first installed it, then it went away once the rubber started to give more. Now it lies down, and it closes without any issue.

 

[mangelo]

lol i have to stand on the hinge side, close it partially, then come back to latch side to close it..
can't be ideal.

@rayofsi I thought the same too!

To close while standing on latch side, simply make sure tailgate is open enough, hold window down flush with left hand (keep pressure), close tailgate with your right hand/arm standing far enough away that tailgate goes under your arm. Boom!

Give that a try

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