Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[Ninjak]

Just so you know: you can transfer the top. I took my top off of Jessabelle(Badlands) and moved it to Ashoka (Raptor). Not hard as I installed the top myself the first time. I will say man was it sealed on to the Badlands. Also, make sure you take your guide screws from the old to the new.

On Jessabelle

On Ashoka

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[TheLawnDart]

Here’s a link to my build page with a 1 year review of the top!

 

[rayofsi]

Wife and I just made the trip from North Texas down to Armadillo on Friday the 17th.
I had her take a quick photo since she's home with the Bronco now. A trip to Bellville and two round trips to Hillsboro worth of dirt on it, so don't judge.

We ordered on 5/29. Installed 10/17.
Went from factory soft top to Team Slack. Noise reduction was immense, I am loving it.

Really has me wondering how their order queue system works...
ordered 4/17 (squaretop) and the last update i had was 9/25 for assembly and quality check.

sucks that they are not even doing things according to when things are ordered anymore.

 

[Emwun Garand]

Really has me wondering how their order queue system works...
ordered 4/17 (squaretop) and the last update i had was 9/25 for assembly and quality check.

sucks that they are not even doing things according to when things are ordered anymore.

Well, square top is not slant top, so I assume there is a difference in manufacturing process. In addition, we did not order very many additional options like molle panels, windows, or such. Also went with black. Custom colors might take more time too if you went that route.

 

[rayofsi]

Well, square top is not slant top, so I assume there is a difference in manufacturing process. In addition, we did not order very many additional options like molle panels, windows, or such. Also went with black. Custom colors might take more time too if you went that route.

i had no additional options, and went with standard black. i'm 1.5 weeks away from the 7 months since ordered mark.

 

[Emwun Garand]

Have you emailed them to ask what the issue is? Whenever I email them, they usually respond within 24 hours.

 

[rayofsi]

Have you emailed them to ask what the issue is? Whenever I email them, they usually respond within 24 hours.

have not heard back. last communication was 2 weeks+ ago... that i should be shipping in 2 weeks. I really do hope they update the wait time on their website. I do not believe anyone has gotten theirs in 16 weeks or less, unless they were sponsored ....

before i ordered, they confirmed they were closer to 16 weeks on new orders (12-16 week listed). my order was in cutting since may 13.. this puts me at 177 days since they started the batch. 25.25 weeks so far...
hence my question on how their queue works.
they've made no indication that there are any delays..
they've made no indication that there were any issues.
I believe its fair to say, if they are pushing 25 weeks on new orders, they should indicate that to all new customers. 3-4 month lead time and 6+ months actual, is huge.... pushing back paid in full orders for dealer orders is pretty screwed up... in any kind of business.

yes this is a long rant, i've made plans for my old hard top that have been screwed due to the unannounced delays, which seem more like plain deceit to all new customers.

 

[CDub from the OC]

Just so you know: you can transfer the top. I took my top off of Jessabelle(Badlands) and moved it to Ashoka (Raptor). Not hard as I installed the top myself the first time. I will say man was it sealed on to the Badlands. Also, make sure you take your guide screws from the old to the new.

On Jessabelle

On Ashoka

Bro, you are so tempting me to give my new BDL/SAS to my wife and get a Braptor. Damm you!

HAHA!

 

[Pseudoko]

have not heard back. last communication was 2 weeks+ ago... that i should be shipping in 2 weeks. I really do hope they update the wait time on their website. I do not believe anyone has gotten theirs in 16 weeks or less, unless they were sponsored ....

before i ordered, they confirmed they were closer to 16 weeks on new orders (12-16 week listed). my order was in cutting since may 13.. this puts me at 177 days since they started the batch. 25.25 weeks so far...
hence my question on how their queue works.
they've made no indication that there are any delays..
they've made no indication that there were any issues.
I believe its fair to say, if they are pushing 25 weeks on new orders, they should indicate that to all new customers. 3-4 month lead time and 6+ months actual, is huge.... pushing back paid in full orders for dealer orders is pretty screwed up... in any kind of business.

yes this is a long rant, i've made plans for my old hard top that have been screwed due to the unannounced delays, which seem more like plain deceit to all new customers.

I think it’s 16 weeks from when they start fabricating your batch. I know some of them are currently at Sema. I can message Fabian tomorrow and see if I can help get a status update. Just private message me your order number.

 

[rayofsi]

I think it’s 16 weeks from when they start fabricating your batch. I know some of them are currently at Sema. I can message Fabian tomorrow and see if I can help get a status update. Just private message me your order number.

177 days since batch started, 202 days since order placed.

 

[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.

 

[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.

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