Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[Ninjak]

its all us normal people that paid full price and not sponsored complaining. Have any sponsored vehicles complained?

I am not sponsored, nor have I had any problems. My top has been on two vehicles, My Badlands, which it was originally ordered for, and now my Raptor. I guess I'm one of the OG's now. My top has been on for 2+ years. Wow, time flies. Anyone who talked to me at SuperCell received my honest opinion on the top and could take a look for themselves.

Not sure what's going on with some of these top batches, and I agree, for the price, it sucks to have issues. It is an issue that has been addressed, so like any product, there can be issues and resolutions.

I still say this is the best top on the market. Issues aside, it will outlast your RIG. If you plan on keeping your Bronco and enjoy using it, it is an investment well worth the price.

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[rayofsi]

I am not sponsored, nor have I had any problems. My top has been on two vehicles, My Badlands, which it was originally ordered for, and now my Raptor. I guess I'm one of the OG's now. My top has been on for 2+ years. Wow, time flies. Anyone who talked to me at SuperCell received my honest opinion on the top and could take a look for themselves.

Not sure what's going on with some of these top batches, and I agree, for the price, it sucks to have issues. It is an issue that has been addressed, so like any product, there can be issues and resolutions.

I still say this is the best top on the market. Issues aside, it will outlast your RIG. If you plan on keeping your Bronco and enjoy using it, it is an investment well worth the price.

i'm sure the initial batches received a lot of attention. something definitely went wrong with my batch. took 6+ months from cutting to shipping.
this top shipped 11/2025
so it should definitely have any fixes already

 

[Chritaka]

My understanding was that it only effected people in the end of one batch and then they implemented a fix so new units would not have the issues.

As for Texas Chritaka I think was from down in Texas and had the same issues, so maybe they can give update on how its holding up.

Yes I’m in Texas and my panels have started to fall again in the heat, even after applying the spray DAP Weldwood Landau. It took a lot of time to get the old adhesive off, prep, and spray these again. It’s only gotten to the low 90’s so far, for just a couple days, but the DAP is not holding up. The top gets really hot to the touch in the sun and the glue softens pretty bad and the panels sag. So I’m now looking for something else that’s high temp. resistant that may work…

My top was order 298, installed Feb. 2025, so I’m not sure I’d consider it an early batch. We are paying a lot for the sound deadening, and this is a big disappointment for me…

 

[Dtrimpi87]

Yes I’m in Texas and my panels have started to fall again in the heat, even after applying the spray DAP Weldwood Landau. It took a lot of time to get the old adhesive off, prep, and spray these again. It’s only gotten to the low 90’s so far, for just a couple days, but the DAP is not holding up. The top gets really hot to the touch in the sun and the glue softens pretty bad and the panels sag. So I’m now looking for something else that’s high temp. resistant that may work…

My top was order 298, installed Feb. 2025, so I’m not sure I’d consider it an early batch. We are paying a lot for the sound deadening, and this is a big disappointment for me…

Thats a bummer. You put a lot of work into prepping those panels. Need to put a temp gun to the panels and see what temps were actually dealing with to maybe try and find a different adhesive.

I think the panels would benefit from some extra support. My thought was if they would have attached studs to the inside of the roof panels so the large insulation panels could be supported with large washers and a recessed nut (perhaps 1 towards each corner and one in the middle). I would think it would help support the foam when the glue does soften in the heat.

I've debated trying something like that myself if I end up having further issues. The idea of drilling through my panels though makes me nervous. Something like an Elevator bolt down through the panel and the foam with a large black washer to support the foam.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/bolts/elevator-bolts-2~/?s=flat+bolt

 

[Chritaka]

Yes I’m in Texas and my panels have started to fall again in the heat, even after applying the spray DAP Weldwood Landau. It took a lot of time to get the old adhesive off, prep, and spray these again. It’s only gotten to the low 90’s so far, for just a couple days, but the DAP is not holding up. The top gets really hot to the touch in the sun and the glue softens pretty bad and the panels sag. So I’m now looking for something else that’s high temp. resistant that may work…

My top was order 298, installed Feb. 2025, so I’m not sure I’d consider it an early batch. We are paying a lot for the sound deadening, and this is a big disappointment for me…

Update: I reached out to Fabian Friday and he responded this morning. He mentioned it’s likely caused by insufficient pressure during manufacturing, preventing the adhesive from fully bonding to the foam. It’s been hard to track before the liner is installed. However, he is going to send me out new panels, which should hopefully resolve the issue. He will update me with an ETA soon.

I’ll say I’ve always had great customer service. Fabian has always been pretty responsive and with solid solutions (unless you catch him out of town for an event, but he promptly responds when he’s back).

I’ll update how things go when I get the new panels.

 

[Slei]

Update: I reached out to Fabian Friday and he responded this morning. He mentioned it’s likely caused by insufficient pressure during manufacturing, preventing the adhesive from fully bonding to the foam. It’s been hard to track before the liner is installed. However, he is going to send me out new panels, which should hopefully resolve the issue. He will update me with an ETA soon.

I’ll say I’ve always had great customer service. Fabian has always been pretty responsive and with solid solutions (unless you catch him out of town for an event, but he promptly responds when he’s back).

I’ll update how things go when I get the new panels.

Left the the bronco in the sun all day but was not a hot day, and the previously reglued panels have started coming off. At least this time it didnt happen while I was driving.

This was from the first time when I applied gorilla glue per Fabians instruction. After spending a few frustrating hours striping the old glue off a single panel today to prep it for a DAP reattempt, I think Im done playing with them and its time to follow suit and reach out to Fabian as well.

 

[Pseudoko]

Left the the bronco in the sun all day but was not a hot day, and the previously reglued panels have started coming off. At least this time it didnt happen while I was driving.

This was from the first time when I applied gorilla glue per Fabians instruction. After spending a few frustrating hours striping the old glue off a single panel today to prep it for a DAP reattempt, I think Im done playing with them and its time to follow suit and reach out to Fabian as well.

my overhead panels are still holding with the gorilla glue even from days in the sun when it’s hot. Hope the DAP works out. The panels are pretty thick so I’m curious if switching to a thinner lighter panel would be the solution for this. Heat loosens the adhesive and gravity eventually wins.

 

[87 BAJA]

I'm wondering if everyone that is having liner issues has a textured to the top finish or is it gloss smooth that allows for full contact/adhesion vs. With a rough finish or texture, it does not allow for full adhesion contact.

 

[Slei]

I'm wondering if everyone that is having liner issues has a textured to the top finish or is it gloss smooth that allows for full contact/adhesion vs. With a rough finish or texture, it does not allow for full adhesion contact.

Back when I had my first panels fall off I spoke to Fabian about options and he convinced me not to use options like 3M 77 or a polyclorpoline adhesive stating the Gorilla glue would work over the existing glue. I trust that Fabian believed it would work. I gave it a shot and for several months it was fine. I hope Pseudoko and others who its still working for that they have continued success.

To your question the surface is fairly smooth once you strip old adhesive off. The issue is light glue layer and a substrate paper fiber material on the foam makes true flat adhesion imposable if you apply the G-glue or DAP spray products over it as I did the first time.

On my larger panels prior to putting the liner in Armadillo used some kind of glue stick or roller glue first. It looks like this was the initial failure point. It is also infinitely harder to remove from the top. Curious if anyone else has this or if they have a good method for removing it. I will probably try a stripe removal wheel next and post if it works.

 

[Pseudoko]

Back when I had my first panels fall off I spoke to Fabian about options and he convinced me not to use options like 3M 77 or a polyclorpoline adhesive stating the Gorilla glue would work over the existing glue. I trust that Fabian believed it would work. I gave it a shot and for several months it was fine. I hope Pseudoko and others who its still working for that they have continued success.

To your question the surface is fairly smooth once you strip old adhesive off. The issue is light glue layer and a substrate paper fiber material on the foam makes true flat adhesion imposable if you apply the G-glue or DAP spray products over it as I did the first time.

On my larger panels prior to putting the liner in Armadillo used some kind of glue stick or roller glue first. It looks like this was the initial failure point. It is also infinitely harder to remove from the top. Curious if anyone else has this or if they have a good method for removing it. I will probably try a stripe removal wheel next and post if it works.

for me… it’s worked so far with the gorilla spray adhesive. I know in time I’ll probably have to reapply. But in terms of removing the glue I’m not sure… you can look up if glue gone is safe to use on a powder coat finish.

 

[Slei]

for me… it’s worked so far with the gorilla spray adhesive. I know in time I’ll probably have to reapply. But in terms of removing the glue I’m not sure… you can look up if glue gone is safe to use on a powder coat finish.

Heres hoping it keeps working for you.

For what its worth goo gone softens it a little but not much. 3m adhesive remover works a little better but still not great. Ultimately lots of plastic scraper, an eraser wheel, and elbow grease and it all came off with no damage to the powder coat. The main issue now is getting it off the foam. I can rub it off using a plastic burnisher/scrapper without damaging the foam but a single panel will take hours. I have an old spare panel and will have to test the solvents to see if they help and all and if it will damage the foam or not.

 

[rayofsi]

funny thing is, i've had no real hot or warm days here since the install, we had 1 day in the 80's
have 2 of the longer thinner foam pieces dropping . getting worried when i get warmer days
my bronco is garaged monday to friday during the daytime as well.
sits in the sun in late afternoons and nights, and weekends.

 

[mangelo]

Thank you EVERYONE for sharing. My front panel came off this winter, strange as Nor Cal not particularly hot compared to rest of country, did some desert travel last year, but nothing crazy hot.

@Slei looks like @Chritaka used 3M adhesive remover and tho a PITA, said it worked to remove old adhesive from both top and panel, so guess I'll go with that.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/armadillo-designs-aluminum-hardtop.79639/post-2772128

To the group, wondering if scuffing cured powder coat lightly
to create texture for adhesion is key since sadly can still fall off after repair? Per research, maybe use 3M Scotch-Brite General Purpose Hand Pad (Maroon, #7447) medium grade (roughly 320-400 grit equivalent), apparently scuffs without cutting through?

I reached out to Fabian, he shared link to DP, but before I saw today that even after repair panels can still come off. Definitely want a future proof repair before moving forward!

Gratitude to the group and despite this issue, still agree, best top option out there, it's incredible. Hopefully we can solve this for benefit of others.

 

[Dtrimpi87]

Thank you EVERYONE for sharing. My front panel came off this winter, strange as Nor Cal not particularly hot compared to rest of country, did some desert travel last year, but nothing crazy hot.

@Slei looks like @Chritaka used 3M adhesive remover and tho a PITA, said it worked to remove old adhesive from both top and panel, so guess I'll go with that.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/armadillo-designs-aluminum-hardtop.79639/post-2772128

To the group, wondering if scuffing cured powder coat lightly
to create texture for adhesion is key since sadly can still fall off after repair? Per research, maybe use 3M Scotch-Brite General Purpose Hand Pad (Maroon, #7447) medium grade (roughly 320-400 grit equivalent), apparently scuffs without cutting through?

I reached out to Fabian, he shared link to DP, but before I saw today that even after repair panels can still come off. Definitely want a future proof repair before moving forward!

Gratitude to the group and despite this issue, still agree, best top option out there, it's incredible. Hopefully we can solve this for benefit of others.

I would definitely scuff the powder coat for better adhesion and I will be doing that when my panel gets worse and I make the fix. Hopefully we can all find a fix.

 

[rayofsi]

whats the best glue to fix half hanging sound proof panels? i have a long thin strip behind my rear seats. wide but skinny, half of it is hanging off, other half is still fully stuck on. it'll fall down every day even after pressing it back up.

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