Fitting & Care

Please take the time to read and understand the correct installation and care instructions for your Rhinohide Armor® panels and watch the video below.

 

CAUTION

  • Failure to correctly install Rhinohide Armor® with Armor Lock® as per the Manufacturer instructions could result in serious damage to the Rhinohide panels and/or vehicle and/or serious injury to others.
  • Failure to comply with the correct installation instructions will void the Rhinohide Armor® warranty.
  • If not correctly installed as per Manufacturer’s instructions, external forces/objects may cause the Rhinohide Armor® panels to detach from the vehicle during use. You must pay particular attention to the minimum clearances required on the leading edges of the doors and wait for 24hrs for the pressure sensitive 3M adhesive on the bases on initial install before driving with the panels on the vehicle.
  • ALL Rhinohide Armor Lock® fasteners must be engaged before any use on or off road.
  • Please note Rhinohide Armor® system is rated for speeds up to 120 km/hr and ambient temperatures between -35C and +40C. Rhinohide Armor® panels should be removed for on-road use when temperatures are above 40C. 

INSTALLATION

The following is a brief overview of installation and care, and the full installation manual should read prior to installation. The full installation manual is included in the box and can also be downloaded in the customer care section of our website.

PREPARATION (Important - Only apply Rhinohide to a clean vehicle)

Before the initial installation of Rhinohide Armor® on your vehicle, it is important to make sure the vehicle is clean of dirt and debris. We recommend wiping the vehicle surface with isopropyl alcohol to ensure the proper adhesion of the Armor Lock® base plates.

Any dirt, mud, snow or other environmental contaminants on your vehicle may affect the panel hold force to the vehicle and may also cause scratching to the vehicle’s surface. Your vehicle must be free of this debris before initial installation. 

We recommend that Rhinohide Armor® is installed on your vehicle prior to any off-road use.

LEADING EDGE CLEARANCES (Important - install Rhinohide Armor® correctly on your vehicle)

Rhinohide Armor® has been carefully engineered to fit the vehicle and enable operation of all doors whilst in place on the vehicle.

It is very important to ensure the leading edge of each Rhinohide Armor® panel has sufficient clearance on the leading edge of the door panel that it is being attached to. This will ensure Rhinohide Armor® does not interfere with the normal operation of the doors. A chart of clearances required for specific vehicle types can be found in the Instruction Manual.

Failure to allow correct leading edge margin may result in the Rhinohide Armor® panel leading edge rubbing against the vehicle when the doors are opened. Please ensure that you follow the test-fit procedure and align the leading edge correctly. Once the backing plates are installed, they cannot be re-used/moved on the vehicle, and you will need to replace them to ensure correct fitment.

CARE & SAFETY DURING USE

EXTENDED JOURNEYS - REGULAR INSPECTION AND CLEANING

Inspect your Rhinohide Armor Lock® attachments regularly during use to ensure that they are still in the locked position.

If you are using Rhinohide Armor® on an extended journey it is imperative that you inspect the panels DAILY to ensure dirt, mud or large debris has not become trapped on the internal surface of the panels.

Your Rhinohide Armor® kit comes with a microfibre cloth to help brush any debris from the panel if encountered. The microfibre should be used to wipe any excess dirt, mud or large debris off your paintwork and panels before reattaching the Rhinohide Armor® panels.

REMOVAL OF EXCESS MUD/DIRT/SNOW BUILD UP (Important - Remove excess mud/snow from Rhinohide panels)

Mud, dirt and snow may collect and build up over time on the Rhinohide Armor® surface. If this is the case, please ensure excess mud, snow and dirt is regularly removed from the Rhinohide Armor® panels.

Excess build up of mud/snow/dirt will add to the weight of the Rhinohide Armor® panels, and excess mud build up may increase the risk of a snag point for branches and other objects.

Simply brush off any build up by hand or use a shovel edge if needed to dislodge excessive mud or snow build up on the panels before continuing your journey.

Tip - Cleaning the Rhinohide Armor® panels on the vehicle is a lot easier than off the vehicle. Simply spray down with a normal pressure hose and wash with your usual car cleaning detergent. Rinse when done and leave panels to dry in a shady area. NB: Citrus based cleaners CANNOT be used on the Rhinohide Armor® product.

REMOVAL

The Rhinohide Armor® system is unique in its ability to be easily installed and removed from the vehicle.

To take the panels off your vehicle, leaving the bases on the vehicle, simply use the Rhinohide security key to unlock each of the Armor Lock® fasteners, starting at the bottom of the panel first.

In order to completely remove Rhinohide Armor Lock® bases from your vehicle, please watch the following video:

PACKING AND STORING

Rhinohide Armor® comes complete in a convenient and bespoke storage bag. Although Rhinohide Armor® can be left on your vehicle at all times, there may be times when you need to store it away. If so, it should be stored in a cool dry environment in the Rhinohide bag with no heavy objects placed on the bag.

Before packing the Rhinohide Armor® panels into the bag, it is a good idea to make sure the panels are free of mud/dirt and debris.

It is best to pack panels external (plastic) side down in the bag. Start with the largest door panels and then pack in order of size down to the smallest panels. This will ensure a safe and compact fit within the bag.