Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[archerscreek]

We had water get inside ours too after a heavy rain. Only ours leaked inside the cabin right as we moved the vehicle. Also had some small leaking at all four of the locks on the side gull window locks.

Opened and closed the gull windows and locked them down and those leaks stopped.
As for the cabin leak, we found that if you open the swing gate, water will pour out onto the ground, and won't get everywhere in the cabin upon movement.

Still not very thrilled about the idea of water pooling inside the frame of the top, but what can I do about it. She's currently not garaged, and the driveway is about a 25* incline, so I think it's just getting trapped on something in there. Opening the gate drains it and no issues once that's done.

I priced a 2 door Armadillo painted top with rear windows and it was $8000! $8000?!? For a top that leaks? No thanks. 30 years ago I paid a few hundred dollars for a truck topper that had windows and it never leaked. As Vince Lombardi said, “WTH is going on out there?” This aftermarket area needs competition BAD!

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[rayofsi]

I priced a 2 door Armadillo painted top with rear windows and it was $8000! $8000?!? For a top that leaks? No thanks. 30 years ago I paid a few hundred dollars for a truck topper that had windows and it never leaked. As Vince Lombardi said, “WTH is going on out there?” This aftermarket area needs competition BAD!

definitely, truck bed cabs are so much cheaper!

 

[EasternSierra]

Not yet, but coming next week. I brought my Bronco in at the end of the day. They're installing the top and a few other things too, plus they're closed for 4 days over the Christmas weekend. I may not have it back before Monday.

Unfortunately, I forgot to get a photo of the top. It looks great!

Well, this is a body shop and they suddenly got really busy over the holidays. I wonder why.....



Actually, they're also installing heated headlights, hood struts, and a rear drop-down shelf. I just found out this morning that the last two have to be modified to be compatible with the top, so now they're doing that.

I expect to have my Bronco back tomorrow. Photos will follow!

 

[Ninjak]

I priced a 2 door Armadillo painted top with rear windows and it was $8000! $8000?!? For a top that leaks? No thanks. 30 years ago I paid a few hundred dollars for a truck topper that had windows and it never leaked. As Vince Lombardi said, “WTH is going on out there?” This aftermarket area needs competition BAD!

Well prices have gone up as with everything else. I agree with that, but the top leaks?? Hmm, I would say no to that. As the 1st person to receive their top on the SE coast, hell, the East coast, My top has been on TWO vehicles and not one leak, sag, or issue.

Maybe something happened with these last builds, but that sounds more like a QC issue, and that can be rectified. The design of the top is solid.

 

[Pseudoko]

I had a leak in mine but it’s different from what you had. It was a quick easy fix that Fabian shared with me. On the top panels it just involved making a couple of cuts on the gasket to prevent water from pooling. No more leaks even with the heavy rain California got recently.

 

[SierraBronco]

I had a leak in mine but it’s different from what you had. It was a quick easy fix that Fabian shared with me. On the top panels it just involved making a couple of cuts on the gasket to prevent water from pooling. No more leaks even with the heavy rain California got recently.

Mine recently did the same. Holy shit that was a lot of water

 

[Pseudoko]

Mine recently did the same. Holy shit that was a lot of water

lol yeah I told Fabian it looked like I peed myself since the water landed in my lap all good though . The fix for this type of leak worked so still super happy with this top.

 

[rayofsi]

lol yeah I told Fabian it looked like I peed myself since the water landed in my lap all good though . The fix for this type of leak worked so still super happy with this top.

i wonder if the fix is something that everyone should do, or is this something that only affects some tops.

 

[deep-bronco]

Well, this is a body shop and they suddenly got really busy over the holidays. I wonder why.....



Actually, they're also installing heated headlights, hood struts, and a rear drop-down shelf. I just found out this morning that the last two have to be modified to be compatible with the top, so now they're doing that.

I expect to have my Bronco back tomorrow. Photos will follow!

Look forward to seeing the post-install photos! Do you mind sharing the contact of the shop that's doing the install for you? If you had a good experience with this shop, I will DM you for more details. Appreciate the help!

 

[Dtrimpi87]

lol yeah I told Fabian it looked like I peed myself since the water landed in my lap all good though . The fix for this type of leak worked so still super happy with this top.

Can you share more info on this leak issue? Maybe some pictures of the cuts you made and where the water was pooling?

 

[Pseudoko]

Can you share more info on this leak issue? Maybe some pictures of the cuts you made and where the water was pooling?

here’s the link from Fabian:

 

[EasternSierra]

Look forward to seeing the post-install photos! Do you mind sharing the contact of the shop that's doing the install for you? If you had a good experience with this shop, I will DM you for more details. Appreciate the help!

I took a few quick shots on the way home. The dingy appearance is from the shadows of tree branches. The color of the top really is like Oxford White.

The shop is:

Auernig Auto Body
1780 PFE Road
Roseville, CA 95747
916-783-0280

The problem I found was in finding a shop that would do the work and that would accept delivery of the top at their shop. Stellar Built in Sacramento is a great shop, but they don't accept delivery of customer-ordered parts, period. Other shops didn't want to try this install.

This was the first time Auernig did this install, so it was on a time-and-materials basis which they don't usually do. There is no guarantee they would do it again.

IMPORTANT: If you have the Mountains2Metal rear drop down rack and/or the Lobo overhead rack, they are NOT compatible with the Armadillo top. Auernig modified the shelves at extra cost to accomodate them, but keep that in mind.

 

[deep-bronco]

I took a few quick shots on the way home. The dingy appearance is from the shadows of tree branches. The color of the top really is like Oxford White.


The shop is:

Auernig Auto Body
1780 PFE Road
Roseville, CA 95747
916-783-0280

The problem I found was in finding a shop that would do the work and that would accept delivery of the top at their shop. Stellar Built in Sacramento is a great shop, but they don't accept delivery of customer parts, period. Other shops didn't want to try this install.

This was the first time Auernig did this install, so it was on a time-and-materials basis which they don't usually do. There is no guarantee they would do it again.

IMPORTANT: If you have the Mountains2Metal rear drop down rack and/or the Lobo overhead rack, they are NOT compatible with the Armadillo top. Auernig modified the shelves at extra cost to accomodate them, but keep that in mind.

Dang! That looks amazing! Thanks for sharing the details of the shop. I will get in touch with them when it's time for my hardtop. Please do share how yours does through the rainy patch going on right now. Happy wheeling!

 

[Dtrimpi87]

here’s the link from Fabian:

Thank you for sharing! Good info to have.

 

[popo_patty]

I took a few quick shots on the way home. The dingy appearance is from the shadows of tree branches. The color of the top really is like Oxford White.

The shop is:

Auernig Auto Body
1780 PFE Road
Roseville, CA 95747
916-783-0280

The problem I found was in finding a shop that would do the work and that would accept delivery of the top at their shop. Stellar Built in Sacramento is a great shop, but they don't accept delivery of customer parts, period. Other shops didn't want to try this install.

This was the first time Auernig did this install, so it was on a time-and-materials basis which they don't usually do. There is no guarantee they would do it again.

IMPORTANT: If you have the Mountains2Metal rear drop down rack and/or the Lobo overhead rack, they are NOT compatible with the Armadillo top. Auernig modified the shelves at extra cost to accomodate them, but keep that in mind.

hey you’re local! I’ll keep an eye out for ya

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