RSI Smart Cap

Same. Its a quick and easy install and worth, as I am sure most would agree. Makes for some nice tie down points as well. There are tons of brands that make them, only have experience with Total Chaos and they are high quality.

 

So I sent an email again asking about the new latches.

Here's the response:

Thank you for reaching out to us, we appreciate your interest in our products.

We are currently in the development of a new locking/latching mechanism that will have the ability to be opened from inside the cap, as well as address the freezing issues that some customers in colder climates have experienced.

These Dual Release Latches have not been made available as yet. We are expecting communication on a launch date soon.

I do suggest that you also sign up for our email subscriber list – Join the Tribe https://www.na.rsismartcap.com/join-the-tribe, as we’ll be sending out any product releases and updates to that list.

Thank you for your patience and please let us know if there is anything else we can assist with.

For reference here's the email they sent after I put in the warranty claim like they asked for in Aug of 2021 to get on the list for the new latches. This email was from Aug 2022......

Thanks for your email, and your interest in our products. The Dual Release Latches (which will also address freezing) have not been introduced yet but will be later this year. I, unfortunately, do not have a solid date for their release or the cost for them as yet.

If you would kindly confirm your shipping info is still good to use, and if not, I will get your new shipping info added to the notification list and reach back out as soon as all the finer details have been communicated to us.

 

I just picked up my SmartCap from @OffroadAlliance.com in MA last week (great company), which I ordered immediately after purchasing one of the few remaining 2023 Off Road Tacomas back at the end of January this year. Setup was straightforward, as was mounting it, and the fit and finish of the thing is top notch.

I just drove through a pretty massive rain storm today for an hour at 70mpg and did get a handful of drops that worked their way in from the positive air pressure vent, but that is not too surprising from what I've read and the volume was minor. No leaks anywhere from the cab itself, otherwise, but I am going to need to go back and add a bead of silicone under the front bed rail since it seems some water worked its way along that into the bed, despite having sealed the gaps in the front corners well with expandable weather stripper.

That all aside, since @chuam was asking about the new latches, I thought I'd attach a few pictures of them, since it seems the updated design was shipped on the new cap I just received. I can confirm that even after someone locks you inside, the red dual release latches allow you to open the gullwing doors from the inside while the latches remain locked from the outside. It is a pretty slick design, as shown below:

 

Smartcap looks great! Let us know if you need anything else!

 

Got my SmartCap today, definitely loving it so far!

 

Hey Everyone,

Does anyone here have or have had the Load Bars outfitted on their Smartcap. If so, is there any reason to favor Smartcap load bars over Front Runner brand or vice versa? I'm going to use it to tie down an SUP.

Thank You

 

The Smart Cap load bars are slightly narrower, they work better for roof top tents that use a clamping method mounting. Specifically like yakima, James baroud, ikamper. Otherwise they are very similar, we tend to sell a lot more Front runner due to better supply and more options on bar widths

 

Thanks for your response. Is there a limit to the width of the Front runner bars that may obstruct the Smartcap gullwing doors?

thanks again

 

Rsi with rhino rack vortex

 

Very nice. I may eventually add a roof rack to my cab.

 

Nice. I also have a tray... But it is on the cap.

 

welp, got er up top on the load bars. Seems solid.

 

Inventory update, There are only a handful of 5ft sports left and the next batch won't be available until Sept. So if you have been waiting now is the time.

https://mikescustomtoys.com/products/evo-sport-2007-2021-toyota-tundra?variant=42872842420436

 

that looks really good! about to do the ICON RTX leaf springs on my 2021 TRD Pro with a smart cap. the TRD Pro has a lift block in the rear, so i'd like to get rid of that. i see you went with stage 1 on your RTX springs. are you happy with that decision? i'm in between going with stage 1 vs 2. i usually drive around with the smart cap and an empty bed, but i'll load the bed down with camping gear once or twice a month.

 

are the new latches worth the cost to upgrade? i might sleep inside the bed once or so a year, but was more interested in getting rid of the latch covers as they are a bit annoying to deal with on a daily basis.

 

Thanks! I ran Stage 1 originally for about 2 years as this was mostly my daily driver. I actually converted to Stage 3 (this photo) when I added the SmartCap. Perhaps a bit overkill at this point but I will be adding bumpers/skids and going digital nomad in the not too distant future.

 

Got my cap delivered yesterday. Installed it ASAP. I'm quite impressed with it and with the quality. If I were to have one complaint, I would say the weather guards on the latches are upside down. They currently open from the top on the side panels. I would've made them open from the bottom. Just seems like there's less of a chance water would get in if they were to open that way but that's a very nitpicky thing lol.

 

=====18 May update

Ok so a bit frustrated. While kudos to Offroad for staying in the loop, and for RSI having prompt comms, still the screen doesn't fit. RSI assured me they checked the screen against my cap model # / QR code, but there is still a mis-alignment of about 1/4 inch.

At the factory and prior to completion, perhaps the holes are close enough. But on a fully installed cap and with the silver bolt caps as delivered by RSI (on the cap itself), which have an inset that gradually narrows (meaning the bolt has to be directly below the center of the cap and cannot be angled) there is no way to make these fit. One either risks forcing it and immediately bending the screen metal, bending the bolts, or bending the metal frame attached to the cap. None of these options are advisable. Further, if it doesn't fit in the garage, how will it hold up in 4x4?

Perhaps it works using the M6 spacer in the directions (link below), but I wouldn't know, as 3 attempts have never included those.

I now have two screens and already returned one, all with the same issue. Taco forums refer to users having to bend the screens which is ridiculous. I bought the screen at the same time I bought the cap, thinking that I could protect the equipment inside. Now what?

Anyone else having the same issue?


https://www.rsismartcap.com/uploads/SmartCap®-Security-Screen-Installation-Guide.pdf

 

The rear door shouldn't flex or otherwise come out of alignment between unpacking and installation. Even being on the truck for awhile shouldn't create an issue. How far off are the holes? Can you install the 4 center bolts and then see how much the screen is misaligned at the ends? Not ideal, but if you opened up the mounting holes in the screen would it align?
Ultimately you may need to send some photos to RSI showing the measurements from center to center of the rivnuts on your back panel so they can understand the root cause.

I get 310mm (12.2") CtC on the bottom row and 270mm (10.6") CtC on the top row.

 

Thanks for your reply. The issue is not the horizontal, but the vertical from top to bottom. If I secure the top, then the holes across the bottom are 1/2 in off or vice versa. Cannot alternate either other one from top to bottom. I sent pics before to RSI, awaiting word.

As too flex, the cap is installed with no flex. However, if I have to over muscle the security screen, this can cause flex across the back panel, or at least the attachments mounted to the back panel (mine has a from the factory piece of hardware). The technical explanation and stress limits are beyond me, but I've seen where the metal dimples or ripples, paint flakes off, etc., especially after a lot of dirt roads. Simple prefer a proper fitting screen.