RLD Designs Canopy

Installed an RLD Designs Canopy over the weekend (with load bars / roof rack). Liking the look & love being able to lock tools / gear in the back.

Only one change I'd like to make (thus far): Somehow connect the locks (all 6 of them) to the vehicle electronic locks vs. having to use a key.

 

IMO that's got to be the best looking canopy/cover yet. Hope you get the locks figured out. Theres a lot of smart people on here. If there's a need, somebody'll @MESO it.

See what I did there?

 

That's a good looking cap and truck, the only dislike I see is the cap rack is higher than the truck rack. If you haul something long it's gonna teeter on the front of the shell.

 

Just add a spacer between the cab rack and the load. Problem solved. The 2 racks are going to move separately from each other so tie-downs should only be used on the cap rack. It is a nice looking set-up. Wonder how much the cap & rack weighs?

 

This looks [to me] just like the RSI SmartCap. What's the difference?

 

I did that intentionally - so my iKamper Skycamp2 can overhang the cab + cab roof rack by a few inches, instead of hanging beyond the back end of the bed.

 

weight is ~190 lbs (canopy ~165 lbs, load bars + rack ~25 lbs)

 

How many inches of clearance between the cab rack and skycamp 2.0 do you have? My racks sit even and the skycamp rests on the last two bars. My concern is when I go wheeling.

 

There's about 2" height difference between the cab rack and the canopy rack. When I install the tent, there will be slightly more because I need to install cross bars to which the tent will fasten.

 

I agree with you! RLD really did a great job with V2!

 

I would suggest popping your rear hatch and removing the decorative black covers over the screws on the hinges and see if they’ve rusted through…. I blew the cover off of this design flaw which had brass bolts and stainless steel screws which ate right through them and rusted apart within two months time of getting mine in the mild climate of California. Now they’ve gone completely silent After assuring me they were sending me a new rear door which is useless now for it popped off kicking me on my ass in a parking lot. It looks purty…. but it’s the all stainless steel cab that isn’t. I’m a new member who will be revealing my anger, frustration, and disgust in a post forthcoming.

 

love my RLD Canopy. Only issue I've ever had was the locks freezing shut. A little warm water and it was fine.

 

Best looking

 

Electronic locks are definitely doable, but it’ll take some work. I’d run a new fused circuit with a relay. Then I’d get the tailgate lock kit, if your truck isn’t equipped. Use that as the signal. Then you’ll just have to come up with your own actuators and do a little wiring. I’m sure there is some power lock actuator that’s compatible with the simple locking mechanism of a top.
Someone else may have a better method, but that’s what I’d do myself.

 

Update on this thread ...

• First: still loving the cap. It works as advertised - generally dust and water-proof, strong, and still love the ability to open the back and side panels completely.
• Second: I've hit my first real issue with the cap: One of the struts for the back panel went to full extension and now won't compress. Makes it hard to close that panel ... AND, it applied enough pressure that it broke the hinge closest to the strut. I've reached out to RLD USA, and directly to RLD ... and have not gotten the customer service support I would expect (RLD USA essentially pointed me to RLD in South Africa, and, though I've sent multiple emails, I have yet to get a response. Sending another now ... Sigh.

 

And you won’t get one….Your best bet is
https://www.thencc.gov.za/…. Because I said and pointed out earlier everybody who has one of these should pop off every decorative black cap throughout the entire unit and check for rust because in less than two months mine rusted and broke off the back hinge of the door. As I finally figured out, The only person and only number you get for RLDUSA is Adventuremobile out of Washington state that is the only person whose name and address is anywhere but he takes no responsibility and believes he isn’t worthy of any responsibility of warranty and instead directs you to a nonexistent South African Dutch Kefirs in superior race of manufactures that will never get back to you. I’m still Debating the suing of Adventuremobile for I believe he is responsible as the only contact in the US, Hell I even have the CEO promising a new door to be on the next shipment and telling Adventuremobile to take care of my every need before and when it gets here for installation and he will do nothing as he claims it’s not in his contract. So I would tell you you are S out of luck and be every bit confident in that this will also be your outcome. If we get enough of us to sue that is our only route…. Cause I’m not sure I’m all that confident in the NCC either finding this business still in business or doing anything about the ripping of people off in a nonexistent warranty Period. What a shame as is the way this world is going… there is no honorability anymore.

 

What ever happened with your issue?

 

what size tires are those??

 

what size are those tires??

 

these are 285/75/17