Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[GeoExplorer]

@Slei I'm very much interested in whether you were going to perform another noise level reading using your fancy equipment now that you have the new AD roof installed? My wife and I love the Bronco, but having test driven them are still concerned about the noise level inside the hardtop after having lived with a noisy vehicle for many years. If the AD roof really does cut the noise by even a few db, that would make our decision easier.

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[TheLawnDart]

Armadillo rotopax mounts work perfect! Could easily put the 4 gallon Rotopax on the back under the traction boards if desired.

 

[Pseudoko]

@Slei I'm very much interested in whether you were going to perform another noise level reading using your fancy equipment now that you have the new AD roof installed? My wife and I love the Bronco, but having test driven them are still concerned about the noise level inside the hardtop after having lived with a noisy vehicle for many years. If the AD roof really does cut the noise by even a few db, that would make our decision easier.

somewhere in this thread I did it already based on my road trip to and from Texas for the install. I compared soft top vs armadillo top so I dont have any data for a mic top. It does get quieter at ear level but you hear a lot of road noise from below now instead. I’m not going to rip the Bronco apart to install sound deadened though but it does go down by a few decibels. I just don’t know the numbers off the top of my head. Numbers may look high from my trip but it was pretty windy driving through TX.

 

[Slei]

somewhere in this thread I did it already based on my road trip to and from Texas for the install. I compared soft top vs armadillo top so I dont have any data for a mic top. It does get quieter at early level but you hear a lot of road noise from below now instead. I’m not going to rip the Bronco apart to install sound deadened though but it does go down by a few decibels. I just don’t know the numbers off the top of my head. Numbers may look high from my trip but it was pretty windy driving through TX.

It was supper appreciated as you and others taking measurements is what got me interested in doing a more in depth dive.

First I have done sound dampening tests. This involves playing frequency sweeps and pink noise inside and outside the Bronco when its stationary to see how much both the oem and aftermarket tops dampen sound with most the variables removed. This will give us a real number but doesn't account for the noises caused by the top like wind noise due to leaks in the seals.

I have taken the same weighted measurements you have with a SPL meeter, but I have also recorded the full frequency spectrum while driving so you can see what frequencies are being muted or are not being produced by the top such as wind noise etc.

So far I have all the base measurements from just before replacing the top but I have not had time during the day to run the sound dampening test. (not a great set of noises to play outside for the neighbors at night.) Once I get them all recorded and analyzed Ill post the results probably both on this string and in a separate post.

 

[Ninjak]

@Slei I'm very much interested in whether you were going to perform another noise level reading using your fancy equipment now that you have the new AD roof installed? My wife and I love the Bronco, but having test driven them are still concerned about the noise level inside the hardtop after having lived with a noisy vehicle for many years. If the AD roof really does cut the noise by even a few db, that would make our decision easier.

I also have a DB test in this thread, using my Iphone/Watch, no fancy equipment, but it got it done. I did this test on the highway, and I am running 37's. I came from a soft top, so it is truly more quiet.

As @Pseudoko stated, you hear more road noise now from the tires, and I do hear the low whistle from my light bar.

 

[Pseudoko]

Okay found my post which was #749


noise wise in that extremely windy section on the 10 between Fort Stockton and Junction
Soft Top: 98.6 -104.4 decibels
Armadillo : 96.8 - 98.2 decibels

again this was an area with extreme winds so pretty much as noisy as it could probably get.

 

[GeoExplorer]

Many thanks to @Ninjak and @Pseudoko and others in this thread and others on this topic! All very helpful! Since we haven't purchased a Bronco yet, we still can order one with the hardtop. We've test driven one a couple times, and are still unsure if the hardtop is still too loud for our liking for a road tripping vehicle (I even took my old Radio Shack sound level meter with me once). I found the Armadillo top and love pretty much everything about it, but it adds another $9k to the price of the vehicle. We're just trying to decide if we can live with the OEM hardtop, pay a lot extra for the AD, or look elsewhere. As a science guy, I'm eager to hear what Slei comes up with as a comparison between OEM hardtop and AD hardtop using his methods.

 

[Pseudoko]

Many thanks to @Ninjak and @Pseudoko and others in this thread and others on this topic! All very helpful! Since we haven't purchased a Bronco yet, we still can order one with the hardtop. We've test driven one a couple times, and are still unsure if the hardtop is still too loud for our liking for a road tripping vehicle (I even took my old Radio Shack sound level meter with me once). I found the Armadillo top and love pretty much everything about it, but it adds another $9k to the price of the vehicle. We're just trying to decide if we can live with the OEM hardtop, pay a lot extra for the AD, or look elsewhere. As a science guy, I'm eager to hear what Slei comes up with as a comparison between OEM hardtop and AD hardtop using his methods.

Out of curiosity, I decided to measure the decibels in driving a 2010 matrix vs the Bronco on my route to/from work. I’d say 70% residential street and 30% freeway here in Southern California.

yesterday going home the Bronco ranges between 91.6 and 94.8

coming to work this morning in the matrix I got lows of 89.4 and high of 92.6.

considering one is a commuter hatchback, a 2 decibel difference between the 2 isn’t bad at all.

 

[brocosaurus]

What device did you use? This has all been so interesting to me because my watch never goes over 73 in my wildtrak and for comparison our rav4 is 68. If i could get my wildtrak to rav4 levels I would be stoked. As far as cars go I would consider the rav4 very loud. My family has a BMW X SUV and it’s 62~64 at highway speeds. I can’t imagine 90s unless the top was off but to be fair my watch is not very scientific method

 

[Pseudoko]

What device did you use? This has all been so interesting to me because my watch never goes over 73 in my wildtrak and for comparison our rav4 is 68. If i could get my wildtrak to rav4 levels I would be stoked. As far as cars go I would consider the rav4 very loud. My family has a BMW X SUV and it’s 62~64 at highway speeds. I can’t imagine 90s unless the top was off but to be fair my watch is not very scientific method

um something off Amazon. Nothing expensive. Slei will get better measurements since he has better equipment but for the purposes of metrics of product A vs B, I can at least see the difference between the 2.

Link to the Decibel Meter I used:
https://a.co/d/9NPbdTz

 

[Pseudoko]

Oh one other note… slei told me to measure using C (or Z) setting so that’s the numbers based on C readings on the meter. If I switch to A mode, the number drops by approximately 17-18 which may be more in line with your watch readings.

 

[Dtrimpi87]

Had a couple of issues with the foam attachment but only on the two back panels and the thin trim so far. One fell off while we were installing and of course fell face down on the street and now is packed with dirt and will be a pain to clean. Otherwise the install went really well the fit and finish of everything else as perfect.
If anyone is going to do this on a OEM hardtop conversion instead of the soft top hit me up there are a few things the video does not show you will need to be aware of.

Could you elaborate on the things to be aware of when swapping an OEM hardtop to the Armadillo hardtop? I just placed my order last week so I have quite the wait, but would be nice to know what to look out for from someone who has also swapped out a OEM hardtop. Ill be swapping out my shadow black painted hardtop on my '24. Thanks for the info!

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

Had a couple of issues with the foam attachment but only on the two back panels and the thin trim so far. One fell off while we were installing and of course fell face down on the street and now is packed with dirt and will be a pain to clean. Otherwise the install went really well the fit and finish of everything else as perfect.
If anyone is going to do this on a OEM hardtop conversion instead of the soft top hit me up there are a few things the video does not show you will need to be aware of.

Slei,
I am also going from an OEM hardtop to the Armadillo. I have a 2 door. My Armadillo top is enroute to my home right now.
Yes....could you elaborate on what you discovered in this conversion?
What makes it "worse" for me....Armadillo does NOT have a video on how to install the 2 door model....saying it is similar to the 4 door. I am sure it is, but there are differences too. I want my install to go smooth (a video would sure help) ....I hate issues and have less patience now being 69, and I will have neighbors helping with the lifting, I do not want to impose on them because of snafus.
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT-ADD:
Did you relocate your GPS-Satelite antenna? Does Armadillo tell you how to do it?
THANKS again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EasternSierra]

Ordered mine yesterday. Solid gullwings, rear molle, white paint for coolness in summer. Looking forward to it sitting on my Badlands!

 

[CMillBronco]

Slei,
I am also going from an OEM hardtop to the Armadillo. I have a 2 door. My Armadillo top is enroute to my home right now.
Yes....could you elaborate on what you discovered in this conversion?
What makes it "worse" for me....Armadillo does NOT have a video on how to install the 2 door model....saying it is similar to the 4 door. I am sure it is, but there are differences too. I want my install to go smooth (a video would sure help) ....I hate issues and have less patience now being 69, and I will have neighbors helping with the lifting, I do not want to impose on them because of snafus.
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT-ADD:
Did you relocate your GPS-Satelite antenna? Does Armadillo tell you how to do it?
THANKS again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome finally going to see a 2 dr!

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