Silly question... steel tops?

[4xFord]

Okay, hear me out.

From what I've been reading Ford's body department is knocking it out of the park on Broncos and Rangers and the MIC tops are the bottleneck.

I don't remember the steel tops being that awful or cumbersome on my classic Broncos and I'm wondering if resurrecting a steel (or aluminum) roof option wouldn't help move things along.

Sure they wouldn't be for everyone. Sacrificed roof panel modularity would be offset by the ability to wrap/paint more easily and the ability to scrape off your windows in a cold climate. Hell, throw a sunroof panel or two in there. Even if the idea only appeals to 10% of the market it sounds like a win to me.

Ford engineers are smart people and I'm probably missing something to do with raising the center of gravity or GVWR. Maybe the MIC tops do better in crash tests? Don't know.

The engineering, metal die fabrication and robotics wouldn't happen overnight but I'd like to think they'd consider stamping out a few of their own tops before forking over another $750MM to a vendor that's not meeting expectations.

Sorry for the brain dump. Let me know if I'm missing something obvious, some accepted industry standard or if there's just no interest.

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[Mrpenn46]

Okay, hear me out.

From what I've been reading Ford's body department is knocking it out of the park on Broncos and Rangers and the MIC tops are the bottleneck.

I don't remember the steel tops being that awful or cumbersome on my classic Broncos and I'm wondering if resurrecting a steel (or aluminum) roof option wouldn't help move things along.

Sure they wouldn't be for everyone. Sacrificed roof panel modularity would be offset by the ability to wrap/paint more easily and the ability to scrape off your windows in a cold climate. Hell, throw a sunroof panel or two in there. Even if the idea only appeals to 10% of the market it sounds like a win to me.

Ford engineers are smart people and I'm probably missing something to do with raising the center of gravity or GVWR. Maybe the MIC tops do better in crash tests? Don't know.

The engineering, metal die fabrication and robotics wouldn't happen overnight but I'd like to think they'd consider stamping out a few of their own tops before forking over another $750MM to a vendor that's not meeting expectations.

Sorry for the brain dump. Let me know if missing something obvious, some accepted industry spec or if there's just no interest.

With the existing GVWR constraints I imagine steel would be way too heavy, especially up top. Aluminum might be possible but still pretty heavy.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

Tooling and testing would take a very long time. Additional vendors for glass, seals, hinges, etc. It will not help the current situation.

 

[Mike E]

If given the ability to take a steel or aluminum top….I’m all in. Why not? I think it would look pretty cool with a nice retractable sunroof….after all the 4Runner pulls this off with no problem.

 

[Bronc-Itus]

 

[Toastedtostito]

I could have sworn that the bronco and celebration west had an aluminum top. As in it was a paint match, and looked just like the rest of the vehicle. I'd be down with that 100%

 

[Bronco4lyfe85]

Id buy a Wrangler before I buy a new Bronco with an aluminum or steel top.

 

[4xFord]

Tooling and testing would take a very long time. Additional vendors for glass, seals, hinges, etc. It will not help the current situation.

All good points.

 

[North7]

I could have sworn that the bronco and celebration west had an aluminum top. As in it was a paint match, and looked just like the rest of the vehicle. I'd be down with that 100%

Thatt was the painted modular top, molded plastc composite, available in 2022.

 

[Lainez]

I would be happy with a solid top. Should be able to carry more weight structurally.

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