New in the USA: RLD Design

I can’t help you besides saying check out Craigslist or the 3rd gen for sale forums. I’m “patiently” waiting for mine to get here, lucky enough to get a v3. I Ordered the 20th of November and still waiting, haven’t heard anything at all actually haha so hope all is well

 

Yikes. Seems like waiting that long is the norm these days unfortunately. Going to be worth it tho!

 

I read every post in the thread, and the input received and shared here is HUGE.
Thanks to everyone!

I'm a Buy Once/Cry Once type.
However, this is a CON, and a no sale.
I've been to the understanding, this canopy is/was Stainless Steel.
If claimed Stainless, and magnets attach, it's not 304 or higher grade marine.
Given the magnets attach, that means rust will happen.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
If magnets attach, that's a deal killer for me.
Is there an option for full Stainless Steel build?
I really like the canopy and design, and was sold up-to this point.

 

Sorry, just because a magnet attaches to the canopy DOES NOT mean it will rust. Here are a few articles that explains why some stainless steals are magnetic and some are not:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-dont-magnets-work-on/

https://www.meadmetals.com/blog/why-is-stainless-steel-not-magnetic

 

I don't need Google for an education on the grades of Stainless, thanks.

 

Sounds like a little Google time would have helped

 

Hi everyone. Based on @GladiatorNOT's post on stainless steels, I did a bit of research and reached out to RDL to ask them what grades of stainless steel they use. First to RDL: they told me they use Type 409 and Type 1.4003. Following are two links explaining these stainless steels. The first link concerns 409. TLDR: 409 "Contains the lowest chromium content of all stainless steels and is also the least expensive. Originally designed for muffler stock and also used for exterior parts in non-critical corrosive environments." Not sure, but given this info, I'd assume RDL uses 409 for the doors. The second link concerns 1.4003. TLDR: 1.4003 "...offers the benefits of more highly alloyed stainless steels such as strength, corrosion and abrasion resistance, durability and low maintenance." Again not sure, but I'd assume 1.4003 is being used for the body of the canopy/cap. I sent RLD an email asking them to verify where these two types of stainless steel are being used. Once I hear back, I'll update this post.
https://www.spiusa.com/stainlesssteel_overview.php
https://www.aalco.co.uk/datasheets/Stainless-Steel-14003-3CR12-Sheet-and-Plate_96.ashx

 

This picture is of a deep gouge and scratch on the rear door. I never treated it or touched it up. 11 months later the bare steel showed no signs of rust. If that happened to the body of the truck it would have started to show some signs off rust right away, especially when this was during last winter. So not sure why anyone would be worried about these rusting especially since they are completely painted. Never heard of someone never purchasing a car or truck because they believe they will rust. And these are made of some kind of stainless steel where 11 months later the bare steel isn’t rusting. Nothing to worry about in my book. I would be more worried if I purchased a RSI SmartCap with all the added gaskets they have because of the separate pieces that have to be put together. Already reports from people who have leaks from power washing them. And gaskets will deteriorate in time. Plus they look weird because they stop short and don’t match the end of the tailgate. Quite happy with my RLD and would purchase one again over a SmartCap. And by the way, the newest SmartCap is made of stainless steel.

 

Here is an update for anyone wondering, hope this is okay to post as I don't see why it wouldn't be. I ordered in NOV so anyone wanting an update within the same timeframe, here ya go. This is from Tom over at Adventure Mobile.

"I hate to say it but we have had some pretty dramatic delays on this container, I’m very sorry. The congestion at the ports has not cleared up as everyone expected it to, and in some cases it’s even gotten worse. I am still waiting for an explanation, but this container got stuck at port for several weeks because the carriers were refusing all shipments from South Africa. Current ETA here is end of April - you can keep an eye on the container here, while it makes its way around the world:

Next step is trans-ship in China (meaning the containers will all be unloaded from the boat, sorted, and put on new boats before heading East across the Pacific. Please stick with us - we are doing the best we can with things. Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do about this part of the process."

 

I ordered mine (paint-to-match) at the end of September, 2020 and from what I can tell it just arrived at port in Seattle a day or two ago. Tom at Adventure Mobile provided me with the ship tracking info so I could watch its progress. It’s unfortunate that it’s taken this long but silver lining is that the weather will be breaking soon here in Ohio and it’ll be my spring project.

 

Anyone have any updates ? Been going through all the pages and reading up. Maybe they have a long bed in stock for a 3rd gen

 

Nope. I have 3 on order and won't see them until late April. Next shipment another 90 days. I have one short bed available on that shipment. Sorry otherwise I would have hooked you up.

 

Has anyone added insulation / carpeting to the inside of their RLD canopy? I am hoping to avoid condensation and increase insulation. I spend a lot of time in the high deserts of California and want to make sure the adhesive doesn't melt off in the sun.

My canopy arrives in a few weeks and I'm stoked.

 

Alright guys, just found this thread and I'm pretty interested in grabbing one of these.

For those that have a RLD canopy, what is the biggest advantage over a regular camper shell?

 

These canopies are the shit. All doors open fully unlike most canopies so you can grab stuff out no matter where you pack it. It’s made of steel so magnetic lights stick to it pretty well which is what I use when I go camping. You don’t have to worry about scratching or gouging it because it’s not fiberglass and it won’t affect it. I will say that the canopy is awesome but all the additions they sell are pretty much garbage. The roof rack crossbars are no good the drawers are flimsy the rack that holds the lion boxes inside is essentially a 300 dollar piece of angle iron and the hardware is absolute garbage I have broken almost every bolt that thing came with. But the fit is incredible. The gaskets are great the top is strong as shit and regularly holds up to a beating. But my two cents is to avoid any extras that they sell

 

Forgot to mention tho for roof racks I just ordered extruded aluminum crossbars from tnuts.com for like 40 bucks. They work way better than the crossbars that I bought with the rack, which I had to remove bc they were not very functional

 

Part number or name? I'm looking at tnuts.com and find a bunch of neat items for woodwork jigs, but no extruded aluminum. I have the RSI cap but need to make up a rack.

 

Sorry t nutz with a “z” not t nuts.