My mounting of the ARB twin from my suitcase in the cargo area project is underway. Phase one is ADD Rear Window Molle panels to serve as an out of the way mounting surface for the ARB twin. Received the panels today at 6:00 pm mounted by 7:30
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Overall impression on the panels…. they arrived well packed and all the parts were included (phew!). The panels were in good condition, well made and designed to fit nicely in the rear window space. They provide a flat space on the interior and since they bulge in also create a nice big nook to store stuff when the top is on or secure stuff when off.
I selected these based on the well thought out (mostly) design and that I could remove the hard top without removing the panels, not all designs allow for this. Post install these things are rock solid and look great.
Cons: must have had a soft top as the test Bronco for these. There is no gap large enough to route the rear window cable harness and plug into the interior plug holder when the top is off. I don’t want it flopping around so I’ll have to zip tie for now. On the plus side, the washer hose goes through easily. Longer term I’ll have to make two molle holes into one. Seems pretty straight forward but ADD should have seen that issue.
For install, it would have been nice if ADD just threw some left/right stickers on the panels and four bracket parts for each mirror image side. That would have saved me a little confusion, I’m easily confused.
For future top re-install I’m concerned that it will be challenging to line up the ADD bottom bracket holes with the hard top holes and seat the bolts. Three of the hard top bolts are located between the molle panel and hard top side. The two back ones appear manageable, but it’s a very long reach to the front most hole. We’ll see, but I envision it will involve some swearing.
UPDATE: GOOD NEWS! After adjusting the molle brackets post install, I decided to put the hard top back on. As expected after removing the hard top bolts that anchor the molle and dropped the top into place, the brackets shifted and all the bolts would not drop in without binding. After a couple of attempts pushing the brackets while blindly inserting the bolts I had an epihany!
HARD TOP REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE:
1. Remove 3 bottom Bronco bolts holding the molle bracket
2. Lower top over bracket
3. Using a T-handle Allen wrench (if you got one) loosen the single bolt that secures the rear most bracket on the molle
4. Using an appropriately thick Phillips head screwdriver drop into each bolt hole to line up everything. Then insert a loosely tighten the Bronco Bolts. This is much easier if you have aftermarket T-Bolts (see pic)
5. Tighten the loosened Allen bolt on the bracket
6. Standing on a footstool (I didn’t need it but I’m 6’2”, rangy and have long arms) which allows you to reach in higher on the slanted D pillar and insert the bolt with one hand while shifting the molle and its bracket slightly to start the bolt. Getting up higher makes it way easier to reach that front bolt.
7. Tighten all your Bronco bolts
It was actually quick and easy once I arrived on this strategy.
Odd fact: The fact ADD gives you a second laser cut, powder coated logo, 8 nuts, bolts & washers and piece of aluminum to sandwich between logos for you to install just to highlight their logo on the interior and exterior is just silly. I skipped this and “only” have one mandatory hard to see logo.
Next up mounting the ARB (easy) and routing the wiring through the truck (less fun).
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