New in the USA: RLD Design

Or you can build a platform rack for under $400, just took my RTT off for the winter. This thing is solid, built from extrusion and bought Prinsu 1/2” mounting feet to keep it low profile.

 

Not Sure if its a long bed or not but does the longbed version have "3" mounting holes for the rack? I have a up top Bravo rack and am curious if it will work with the feet that are provided by Uptop. Or if I will have to buy the Prinsu feet. With Uptop it has the mounting feet but two holes for each foot. Im not familiar with how Prinsu design is

 

I have a short bed so not sure. I installed tracks so I’d have the flexibility of having the platform rack or my Thule rack on the canopy. Prinsu feet are bolted to the extrusion then to the roof via the track. Does that help...at all?

 

Sorta haha thanks for the reply I could install a track like you and then mount from there.

 

Better late than never...

 

Does anyone else have issues with the locks? For how much these things cost, I would expect high quality metal toggles and smooth locking. Instead I got cheap feeling plastic toggles That won’t shut with one snow flake inside the mechanism and keys that operate like a 4 year old cut them with a crayon. Seriously, I have to violently jiggle the key back and forth to get it in and out of the cylinder. Not really happy about this.

 

You should look into getting the half bin as the rest of the rails is kind of a wasted space. I was originally planning on getting the full rail myself but when I found out you could only fit 3 boxes with it but could get a half bin and the rail for the bin and still fit 3 lion boxes then that made the decision easy for me. And I'm 99% certain the RLD and Front Runner boxes come from the same supplier as they look identical.

 

All the African canopies have similar locks and have the same problems (RSI, Alu-Cab, RLD, etc.). I had a Alu-Cab before I got the RLD and those locks were always hard to get into especially in the winter. Alu-Cab has since come out with covers for their locks. Wondering if these might work for our locks as well. I've lubed up my RLD locks really good and they have yet to freeze but I haven't used them very much this winter so we'll see what happens. I've read that RSI is working on a new lock design that can also be unlocked from the inside. Maybe this will also fit our canopies or maybe RLD will come out with something a little better than the current locks as it seems that most people who live in colder climates have issues with them.

https://www.alu-cab.com/us/product/push-button-lock-cover/

 

This is clear as mud. What are you getting at?

 

The key fitment issue is not related to snow/ ice though.

 

Didn’t know if you realized that or not. Your never mentioned they were the same box just “Per the measurements of the RLD slide and Front Runner bins, it looked like it would work.” Thought I’d let you and others know they are the exact same box so no need to take any measurements.
Also saw that you have a strap holding your boxes in place. With the bin installed there is no need to strap them down to keep them from sliding around. Just though I’d mention that to you and other potential buyers as I don’t see the point in having that rail if you can only fit three boxes on it.

 

You stated “won’t shut with one snow flake inside the mechanism.” That is why I brought these to your attention as they would help with that issue your having. Also thought I would show this option to other owners.

And I’m on my second RLD canopy and have had no issues with the keys on either.

 

I sprayed my locks with Motorkote MK-30301-6 All Purpose Lubricant spray and coated them with lithium grease. So far so good and they are working better than the similar Alu-Cab locks so I’m guessing this has helped. I also noticed when we went camping and went off the beaten path that the Alu-Cab locks wouldn’t work as good. I’m sure all the dirt and dust didn’t help. Maybe that is something that is contributing to your lock issues and something those covers could help with also. But your right, they aren’t the most robust locks out there and would be nice if they were designed better.

$16 Motorkote MK-30301-6 All Purpose Lubricant Spray, Friction Fighter 12-Ounce, Single

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MCVGB6/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_WA17FbQHVS3G9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

Thanks for the link/ suggestion. I spayed them all with silicon for now. When I used to live in WI we sprayed graphite lube in lock cylinders to prevent freezing. I’m in WA now so freezing isn’t as much of an issue, but snow is for sure since we go skiing and snow wheeling

 

I’m so excited to pick mine up tomorrow. Went with a black/black for my cement taco. Then the task of getting the right load bars and flattest tent so i can still fit in the garage.

 

Why not just bolt the tent straight down to the canopy? No reason to have bars if your just using them to mount a tent and want to keep as low a profile as possible. We mounted our CVT directly to our RLD and it worked great. You can just drill holes in the base of the tent to match the existing holes in the RLD or just drill new holes anywhere you want. Have a friend who did the same thing except he left his rails on that came with his tent.
We recently sold our CVT and are going to purchase a Bush Company Alpha and plan on mounting it direct to the canopy as well. Always a good idea to keep the weight as low as possible especially when off roading.

Hope you enjoy your RLD. We love ours!

 

I bought mine “placed order in October” just got a update looking like it’s gonna be sometime in March for the camper I got a GFC superlight ordered and that looks like March too so should have some goodies coming soon enough. Now to wait....

 

thank you!! That’s a great idea. I’m looking at the cvt mt hood. So you removed the rails on your tent and bolted directly to the rld? I like the idea of it laying flat against the cap. Do you happen to have any photos?
Thanks.

 

Exactly! Took the rails off that came with the tent and bolted the tent directly to the cap. I’ll check our computer tomorrow and see if we have any pictures of it set up this way and will post one on here if I find one. Will post a few pics of the Alpha mounted this way also as soon as we pick one up.

 

FYI- the hinge bolts on all the door hinges are now covered which were previously exposed. Recently got a new RLD cap with the side windows and that is one of the differences I noticed between this cap and the one I purchased about a year ago.