Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[Pseudoko]

Hey y’all, has any one that’s already received their top had severe issues with the liner not adhering? I got mine 2 weeks ago. Got installed last week. Day of getting it picked up one of the top panels insulation peeled off. Upon seeing that, I found many more coming off. Some are still on there sinus though. I think the ones directly impacted from the sun are taking the brunt of the heat. I emailed the crew and they said it’s a known issue but some folks had it resolved with Gorilla glue spray adhesive. I tried Loctite 300 with one small panel that peeled off but I took it back to my shop and they used Permatex CTV which is rated up to 400 degrees. They applied the adhesive Monday this week and then it sat out. I picked it up Tuesday and had it since then. Drove it to work today and it sat outside. I went to get in it about 3pm and the big backseat panel has fallen off again.
Anybody else had this severe of an issue?? I live in Midwest GA so summer heat ain’t no joke. We’re going to apply some more Permatex again tomorrow and let it cure longer to see if that bonds it better but if it doesn’t I was thinking of emailing the guys at Armadillo and asking if they could send me some new foam panels to try and see if maybe some of the ones I have just have factory issues. I’ve attached a few photos just for folks to see.
This is my only real issue. This thing is a dream come true add-on otherwise.

Gorilla Glue Ultimate Spray Adhesive. I had some of the smaller pieces start to come off when it was hot and I was parked outside. That bonded much better. I was the one who I guess experimented and came up with the solution. After tests I informed Fabian of the results before he told others.

I was going to use 3M spray 90 adhesive initially but the Gorilla Ultimate Spray Adhesive specifically says it works with Foam and Metals. Also working to the website the service temperature is up to 180 degrees.

https://gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-contact-adhesive-ultimate/

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[Mjolnir]

Are you going to ignore the "crews" suggestion of Gorilla glue?

The Loctite 300 and Gorilla glue adhesive are virtually the same thing. The Loctite actually has a slightly higher heat rating than the Gorilla Glue so it should theoretically work better.

Gorilla Glue Ultimate Spray Adhesive. I had some of the smaller pieces start to come off when it was hot and I was parked outside. That bonded much better. I was the one who I guess experimented and came up with the solution. After tests I informed Fabian of the results before he told others.

I was going to use 3M spray 90 adhesive initially but the Gorilla Ultimate Spray Adhesive specifically says it works with Foam and Metals. Also working to the website the service temperature is up to 180 degrees.

https://gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-contact-adhesive-ultimate/

thank you for responding man. Direct feedback from you helps on it.
Did you ever have any of the large panels fall off initially? And has it been baking outside some days since you applied that?

 

[Pseudoko]

The Loctite 300 and Gorilla glue adhesive are virtually the same thing. The Loctite actually has a slightly higher heat rating than the Gorilla Glue so it should theoretically work better.

thank you for responding man. Direct feedback from you helps on it.
Did you ever have any of the large panels fall off initially? And has it been baking outside some days since you applied that?

none of the larger panels have fallen off for me. Just 2-3 of the skinnier ones that has less surface area. I live in so cal so it’s been getting in the range of upper 90s and the ones I had used the gorilla glue on feels like it’s bonded as well as can be for an adhesive.

 

[Mjolnir]

none of the larger panels have fallen off for me. Just 2-3 of the skinnier ones that has less surface area. I live in so cal so it’s been getting in the range of upper 90s and the ones I had used the gorilla glue on feels like it’s bonded as well as can be for an adhesive.

Gotcha. Maybe I’m just the unlucky one did you put more than one coat on or just one go for the small pieces? I feel like these larger ones are gonna need a few layers.

 

[Pseudoko]

Gotcha. Maybe I’m just the unlucky one did you put more than one coat on or just one go for the small pieces? I feel like these larger ones are gonna need a few layers.

just be mindful of the directions, application temps and cure times. It sets relatively quick but for the large panels I would suggest removing them to lie on the floor so you and a bunch of buddies don’t have to sit there holding it up for 20 minutes for a workout. You just need one solid pass for the adhesive since it’s a spray. Theres no point in doing multiple coats. Also I used masking tape along the edges of the panel so I wouldn’t get overspray on the sides.

During the bond time… just like the loctite 300 you tried, when possible I’d try to park in the garage or in the shade.

i am not sure how to clean the backside of your headliner since you have other product on there. But the reason I used a spray product initially over anything from a tube was because of what the oem adhesive kind of looked like from Armadillos supplier.

 

[Mjolnir]

just be mindful of the directions, application temps and cure times. It sets relatively quick but for the large panels I would suggest removing them to lie on the floor so you and a bunch of buddies don’t have to sit there holding it up for 20 minutes for a workout. You just need one solid pass for the adhesive since it’s a spray. Theres no point in doing multiple coats. Also I used masking tape along the edges of the panel so I wouldn’t get overspray on the sides.

During the bond time… just like the loctite 300 you tried, when possible I’d try to park in the garage or in the shade.

i am not sure how to clean the backside of your headliner since you have other product on there. But the reason I used a spray product initially over anything from a tube was because of what the oem adhesive kind of looked like from Armadillos supplier.

I’ll give it a try and report back. Thanks for the pointers

 

[rayofsi]

wow no bueno if the panels are falling off.. hopefully they are going to apply something more durable going foward.

 

[Ninjak]

Swan asked me about my panels when we were on the trails last weekend, he had the issue as well. He mentioned that they had changed vendors for the glue.

I have had ZERO issues, and I live in Miami where it is 11:15 AM and already 86 degrees and the humidity is 88 and climbing.....So maybe the new glue vendor is not up to snuff...

 

[Mjolnir]

Swan asked me about my panels when we were on the trails last weekend, he had the issue as well. He mentioned that they had changed vendors for the glue.

I have had ZERO issues, and I live in Miami where it is 11:15 AM and already 86 degrees and the humidity is 88 and climbing.....So maybe the new glue vendor is not up to snuff...

Maybe so. Once I get these panels redone I’ll give a status report on how it’s holding up in the southern summer heat.
other than that, glad to finally be on the Armadillo team

 

[rayofsi]

can anyone with the top, take some pics of how the high mount stop light is mounted and what kind of connections? Thanks!

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

Hey y’all, has any one that’s already received their top had severe issues with the liner not adhering? I got mine 2 weeks ago. Got installed last week. Day of getting it picked up one of the top panels insulation peeled off. Upon seeing that, I found many more coming off. Some are still on there sinus though. I think the ones directly impacted from the sun are taking the brunt of the heat. I emailed the crew and they said it’s a known issue but some folks had it resolved with Gorilla glue spray adhesive. I tried Loctite 300 with one small panel that peeled off but I took it back to my shop and they used Permatex CTV which is rated up to 400 degrees. They applied the adhesive Monday this week and then it sat out. I picked it up Tuesday and had it since then. Drove it to work today and it sat outside. I went to get in it about 3pm and the big backseat panel has fallen off again.
Anybody else had this severe of an issue?? I live in Midwest GA so summer heat ain’t no joke. We’re going to apply some more Permatex again tomorrow and let it cure longer to see if that bonds it better but if it doesn’t I was thinking of emailing the guys at Armadillo and asking if they could send me some new foam panels to try and see if maybe some of the ones I have just have factory issues. I’ve attached a few photos just for folks to see.
This is my only real issue. This thing is a dream come true add-on otherwise.

Well that is disappointing. A "known issue" and they have no fix for it? My top should ship next week (hopefully) and this has been a concern of mine....knowing it is 100 degrees there and in an even hotter truck. My guess, after adhesion....it needs to "set" but can't do that in high temps. Paying $8K for this top, it should arrive perfect with zero issues.

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

Everyone with the adhesion issue, please notify the Armadillo Team so that they resolve this issue.
Thank you.

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

I got the shipping confirmation today. I ordered mine in December so almost exactly 6mo. Now just need to figure out the exact day it will arrive so I know what to take off and get it installed.

TIMELINE:
Web site says 12 weeks.
Ordered 3-20-25 (had web page ordering snafu too)
Messed up molle order (corrected)
Has been in final production since 5-24-25 ...4 weeks ago.
Still not completed at about 14 weeks and I suspect 1 week for shipping.

Not a complaint, more of a report.
I am sure I will love this top when it arrives and I get it installed.
Armadillo is a growing and expanding company but they need to be careful about over promising on delivery, pay attention to details/special orders and they need to watch their quality control. They are now starting to take international orders....I would suggest they get caught up first. I am sure they hope for the day where they will have ready made tops ready for purchase and shipping.

 

[Pseudoko]

I know most don’t have time to read the topic thoroughly. But to recap.

1. Armadillo’s supplier for the headliner switched glue vendors already after they were made aware of the issues.

2. If a panel happens to fall off, Gorilla Ultimate Spray Adhesive was the solution for a fix in case.

So they have already made changes once they were made aware of the issues. And a solution in case a panel comes loose has already been made.

No matter what, warm surfaces can potentially cause adhesives to lose their bond. So at some point in time you may need to reapply a panel. These panels are about 3/4” thick (without actually measuring) so there is some weight to them. The Small panels take me no more than 15 minutes to reapply and about 10 minutes of it is holding it in place while the glue starts bonding. I’ve reapplied 2 panels in total.

I’ll take this top over any of the oem ford tops. That being said any aftermarket hard top is not a necessity so this should be looked at as an upgrade (yes a pricey one). I was a batch 2 order and I’ve had mine installed since early March. 0 complaints from my end.

 

[DUSTYcazOREGON]

I know most don’t have time to read the topic thoroughly. But to recap.

1. Armadillo’s supplier for the headliner switched glue vendors already after they were made aware of the issues.

2. If a panel happens to fall off, Gorilla Ultimate Spray Adhesive was the solution for a fix in case.

So they have already made changes once they were made aware of the issues. And a solution in case a panel comes loose has already been made.

No matter what, warm surfaces can potentially cause adhesives to lose their bond. So at some point in time you may need to reapply a panel. These panels are about 3/4” thick (without actually measuring) so there is some weight to them. The Small panels take me no more than 15 minutes to reapply and about 10 minutes of it is holding it in place while the glue starts bonding. I’ve reapplied 2 panels in total.

I’ll take this top over any of the oem ford tops. That being said any aftermarket hard top is not a necessity so this should be looked at as an upgrade (yes a pricey one). I was a batch 2 order and I’ve had mine installed since early March. 0 complaints from my end.

I agree with all of that, except on the glue change.
" He mentioned that they had changed vendors for the glue."
It did not say that they changed vendors after the issue was found or if they had changed the glue vendor earlier and this is the cause of the problem. It could be read either way.
All that said, I look forward to getting my top, I just want zero issues with it. For $8K it should be perfect and I should not need to fix anything.

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