Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[rayofsi]

Hows Armadillo been with updates lately?
On 2/13 Fabian replied that they were getting me a new rear hatch.
The hatch and glass , something is warped, and it never got a good seal. I tried to reseal it from the outside and it did not stop the leaks.. Been getting rainy weather for the past few weeks, and i'm getting puddles into my trunk since.

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[Pseudoko]

Hows Armadillo been with updates lately?
On 2/13 Fabian replied that they were getting me a new rear hatch.
The hatch and glass , something is warped, and it never got a good seal. I tried to reseal it from the outside and it did not stop the leaks.. Been getting rainy weather for the past few weeks, and i'm getting puddles into my trunk since.

Fabian just got back to to Texas after UBB on Monday so he’s probably catching up on emails. You can probably send him an email and he’ll get to it within 24 hrs .

 

[Lucky Nut]

Any 2 door owners get their Armadillo?

I've only seen like three 2 door tops. And all of those seemed almost sponsored. With my MIC starting to show its age, I'm just curious how those are looking.

 

[Pseudoko]

Any 2 door owners get their Armadillo?

I've only seen like three 2 door tops. And all of those seemed almost sponsored. With my MIC starting to show its age, I'm just curious how those are looking.

hung out with the armadillo family out at UBB… all of the tops are in great shape whether it’s a 2 door, 4 door, slant back or square back.

 

[Dtrimpi87]

Hows Armadillo been with updates lately?
On 2/13 Fabian replied that they were getting me a new rear hatch.
The hatch and glass , something is warped, and it never got a good seal. I tried to reseal it from the outside and it did not stop the leaks.. Been getting rainy weather for the past few weeks, and i'm getting puddles into my trunk since.

I got a reply from Fabian on Monday that i was waiting for since before he went to UBB, but no response since then.

 

[broadicustomworks]

I was installing a shelf in the back of my Bronco tonight, and had my wife close me in the back to check some clearances, and I happened to notice quite a bit of daylight coming through the corners where the tailgate and hatch meet the body. Im assuming everyone else's is like this as well and just the way the top was designed. I dont really see a way to seal it off other than maybe stuff some foam in there when i hit the desert. I forsee quite a bit of dust finding its way in those gaps. I guess that would explain where all the water came from in the back when I washed the Bronco over the weekend with the pressure washer.

Now that I have mine installed I noticed the same (thanks to your post).
Surely everyone with one has the same situation.
Is it a widespread leak-point? At the very least looks like a point to have some air noise (have not driven it and no rain yet).
I have some 2" thick adhesive-backed foam I can install but really don't want to because it would not look like it is supposed to be there and honestly might do more harm than good as it soaked up water.

 

[Ninjak]

Now that I have mine installed I noticed the same (thanks to your post).
Surely everyone with one has the same situation.
Is it a widespread leak-point? At the very least looks like a point to have some air noise (have not driven it and no rain yet).
I have some 2" thick adhesive-backed foam I can install but really don't want to because it would not look like it is supposed to be there and honestly might do more harm than good as it soaked up water.

In that post, I do not have that gap. I also have a Slant Back (one of the first!) Maybe something changed? I have zero leaks and zero wind noise. Also, I do not have that adhesive issue. But as I stated earlier, I had one of the first Slant Backs on the E Coast.

 

[Dtrimpi87]

In that post, I do not have that gap. I also have a Slant Back (one of the first!) Maybe something changed? I have zero leaks and zero wind noise. Also, I do not have that adhesive issue. But as I stated earlier, I had one of the first Slant Backs on the E Coast.

Would you be able to grab a couple pictures of your top in those rear corner areas? I'd be curious to see what changed at some point if you don't have those gaps. It'd be much appreciated!

 

[EasternSierra]

Any idea of whether it's safe to run the top through a car wash, at least a brushless one?

 

[rayofsi]

Does anyone know the thread for the random rivnuts in the ceiling of the hardtop? on the sides mainly? Thanks!

also, does anyone else have a issue where all the rubber washers on exterior are cracked?

 

[Ninjak]

Would you be able to grab a couple pictures of your top in those rear corner areas? I'd be curious to see what changed at some point if you don't have those gaps. It'd be much appreciated!

So I took pics, best I could get, and it appears I have a strip of rubber that runs dow past where the top connects, and this covers the gap.

 

[Dtrimpi87]

Does anyone know the thread for the random rivnuts in the ceiling of the hardtop? on the sides mainly? Thanks!

also, does anyone else have a issue where all the rubber washers on exterior are cracked?

Pretty sure they are M8's. I can double check when I get home.

Yes, all my rubber washers are cracked where they are exposed to the sun but under the heads of the bolts they are fine. I bought a box of 50 off Amazon to replace them as needed.

 

[Dtrimpi87]

So I took pics, best I could get, and it appears I have a strip of rubber that runs dow past where the top connects, and this covers the gap.

Thanks! Hard to tell but looks pretty similiar. Strange.

 

[Ninjak]

Thanks! Hard to tell but looks pretty similiar. Strange.

No worries. I have had my RIG through countless washes, my pressure cleaner, and plenty of FL mud. No leaks ever. Also, I could not get a good shot, but looking from inside, I do not have that gap I saw in an earlier pick. It almost looks as if they are missing a piece of rubber.

 

[Chritaka]

The DAP adhesive is what Armadillo is recommending now over the Gorilla adhesive they used to recommend. I bought some but I have not used it yet. From what i've read about it its pretty permanent once it hardens so as long as it's applied right, shouldnt have anymore issues.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092NJH6XL?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

So it was a bit of a PITA removing the old adhesive and backing paper that was on there, even with 3M adhesive remover. I had to peel and scrape, applying the adhesive remover multiple times and there was still a bit of it I could t remove from the sound deadening. I made a giant baseball out of it! After a couple days working on it sporadically, I got both panels cleaned up. I also used a diluted alcohol mix, same as used when cleaning for applying vinyl decals, and some Dawn soap as a final clean-up on both surfaces. The DAP instructions said to apply on both sides, but it would have been way too much of a mess to spray the Armadillo roof panels, without masking it all off, so I just did a really good layer on the sound deadening panels. I waited 6-7 minutes after spraying for the DAP to get tacky, used some small sockets/tap tools as spacers, stuck them on and then used a roller and walked them to ensure solid adhesion. I let them sit overnight before reinstalling. The smell is pretty strong, like epoxy almost, and I still smell it after nearly 1 week. They’re holding strong so far though…

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