Really bad experience with Alpha Foxtrot Design (Molle panel)

[besamel]

I bought a Molle panel from this company a couple of months ago (T4R INTERIOR STORAGE - DRIVERS SIDE – Alpha foxtrot designs). On paper, it looked great, and the price was right too. The panel came without instructions and its mounting was different than the other designs (for which there are plenty of videos around).

In the period of a month, I logged about 15 calls, emails and text messages. I only got one call back to tell me that they were going to make a video with instructions (which was never sent). To make sure, I sent them alternate email addresses, phone numbers, etc.

I got tired of waiting. I mean, how many times can you ask for help from a company? This is literally the first time I can remember that a company has ben so unresponsive (but they were very quick to ship, as soon as I made the payment online).

I finally improvised and mounted the panel. It's not rocket science but the mounting bracket wasn't 100% right; also, this requires to remove the mesh mounting dongle in the back of the car, which I didn't want to do since I saw many people broke them when they tried that. I managed, twisting here and there and forcing one of the mounting brackets. I can't recommend this panel; I think it makes much more sense to use that raiser block that the other companies are using, so you don't have to remove that mounting clip.

Anyway, I wanted to post this to warn folks. And who knows, maybe the owner reads these posts.

 

[mrblah]

this is why i stick with tried and true companies...no sense in re-inventing the wheel.

 

[besamel]

this is why i stick with tried and true companies...no sense in re-inventing the wheel.

I never new that this wasn't one of those....there were plenty of posts related to prior purchases

 

[mrblah]

I never new that this wasn't one of those....there were plenty of posts related to prior purchases

wasn't calling you out or anything...just FYI..

Alot of companies only exist because of the "overland" craze or IG, and sell products that are pretty much copies of each other with no after purchase support.

 

[DallasTRDPro]

I guess I got lucky because he returned all texts and phone calls. The price was right. Shipping was two days. And the best part is being able to easily mount quikfists.

 

[osugsxr]

it can happen with any of these companies now a days. Majority of them just will just slap their name on a product and not worry about it. A sale is a sale, they probably have little to no input on quality or design.

 

[GearJunkie88]

I bought a Molle panel from this company a couple of months ago (T4R INTERIOR STORAGE - DRIVERS SIDE – Alpha foxtrot designs). On paper, it looked great, and the price was right too. The panel came without instructions and its mounting was different than the other designs (for which there are plenty of videos around).

In the period of a month, I logged about 15 calls, emails and text messages. I only got one call back to tell me that they were going to make a video with instructions (which was never sent). To make sure, I sent them alternate email addresses, phone numbers, etc.

I got tired of waiting. I mean, how many times can you ask for help from a company? This is literally the first time I can remember that a company has ben so unresponsive (but they were very quick to ship, as soon as I made the payment online).

I finally improvised and mounted the panel. It's not rocket science but the mounting bracket wasn't 100% right; also, this requires to remove the mesh mounting dongle in the back of the car, which I didn't want to do since I saw many people broke them when they tried that. I managed, twisting here and there and forcing one of the mounting brackets. I can't recommend this panel; I think it makes much more sense to use that raiser block that the other companies are using, so you don't have to remove that mounting clip.

Anyway, I wanted to post this to warn folks. And who knows, maybe the owner reads these posts.

“Mesh mounting dongle”??? Are you referring to the cargo envelope hook that’s located at the rear of the cargo area? If so, I think all rear window molle panels mount to that location... meaning you have to remove it. My Victory 4x4 molle panel had a little hole in it that allowed me to snap the mesh mounting dongle in it so it could be used. I shopped around at a lot of different brands and it looked like other brands mounted to that spot, but victory was the only one that found a way to reuse the little hook doodad. If it makes you feel better, the victory molle panel came with instructions and a video, but I still struggled to make it fit properly. It was like it was manufactured just a bit off-size and requires a lot of finagling to get it to fit snugly.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[besamel]

“Mesh mounting dongle”??? Are you referring to the cargo envelope hook that’s located at the rear of the cargo area? If so, I think all rear window molle panels mount to that location... meaning you have to remove it. My Victory 4x4 molle panel had a little hole in it that allowed me to snap the mesh mounting dongle in it so it could be used. I shopped around at a lot of different brands and it looked like other brands mounted to that spot, but victory was the only one that found a way to reuse the little hook doodad. If it makes you feel better, the victory molle panel came with instructions and a video, but I still struggled to make it fit properly. It was like it was manufactured just a bit off-size and requires a lot of finagling to get it to fit snugly.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes, that cargo hook. Looking at youtube videos, I saw that other brands only required to remove the screw and the riser cylinder would mount on top of that. This Alpha-panel required to remove that hook, which often breaks because it has those tabs that snap when you press in.

 

[mrblah]

“Mesh mounting dongle”??? Are you referring to the cargo envelope hook that’s located at the rear of the cargo area? If so, I think all rear window molle panels mount to that location... meaning you have to remove it. My Victory 4x4 molle panel had a little hole in it that allowed me to snap the mesh mounting dongle in it so it could be used. I shopped around at a lot of different brands and it looked like other brands mounted to that spot, but victory was the only one that found a way to reuse the little hook doodad. If it makes you feel better, the victory molle panel came with instructions and a video, but I still struggled to make it fit properly. It was like it was manufactured just a bit off-size and requires a lot of finagling to get it to fit snugly.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

us ol timers call em "thing-a-mi-bob-ers".

 

[Blue109]

That sucks. So far, the few times Ive contacted AF, they have gotten back to me pretty quick.

 

[DallasTRDPro]

Yes, that cargo hook. Looking at youtube videos, I saw that other brands only required to remove the screw and the riser cylinder would mount on top of that. This Alpha-panel required to remove that hook, which often breaks because it has those tabs that snap when you press in.

I'm pretty sure all but Victory remove that hook. The brackets he uses were not the easiest things to install, but once its installed its solid and works well. He told me the reason his brackets were like that is to cut down on costs which met your criteria. If you got them installed, grab some quick fists and mount your stuff. Thats what I liked about mine is the ease of quick fist install.