New in the USA: RLD Design

I am not sure if linking to YouTube videos is allowed but @Louisd75 this might be what you are looking for https://youtu.be/cYiYxJ7pj8w?t=229

 

Hmm, might be just easier to buy their load bars and sell my front runner ones. Not sure I want to get into drilling new holes/etc.

I'll talk to them about it.

Thanks

Steve

 

I’ve been a bit of a lurker, figured I would add my thoughts/pics to this thread as this thread helped me decide on the topper. I just had the RLD installed this week at Adventure Ready.

I went in day of; purchased the topper and was installed within 2 hours. They had just received a shipment, and there were about a dozen or so in their warehouse. Experience was very positive and I appreciated their quick service.

Like everyone says, this thing seems very solid. No extra wind noise which I was a bit concerned about. The Windoors are very large compared to the other toppers I have looked at, the access to the back is great. I haven’t noticed a mpg drop but don’t have a baseline anyways.

One negative, and not sure if this is an issue with all toppers; is that water drips onto the tailgate when the rear window is open. I’ll figure something out with a gasket- but if someone has already solved this let me know what worked.

The topper they had was in their standard grey/black, and I think it pairs nicely with the Magnetic gray.




Overall- very happy with the setup and look forward to building it out.

 

Looks like it matches pretty good! Yours is the first one I've seen with the side windows

 

Thanks. Yeah- the windows were what they had. They are small enough where even if broken, you’d have a hard time pulling gear out.

 

Do you mean at the rear hatch hinge it leaks when it is open ? Well my Snugtop doesn't but the hinge design is different .

 

Yeah, there’s a gap where the water flows down off the door when it is opened. Would be nice to have that sealed when sitting on the tailgate.

 

I like it. Definitely love the black on the MGM, coming from a MGM 2nd gen guy. How much did that run you with those options and does it have roof rails installed?

 

It doesn’t have rails, but is drilled for direct mounted cross bars. Paid just about 3500.

 

I'm really loving the look and features of a steel camper. However, my plans for a topper are for overlanding, as well as some stealth camping/poor man's RV action. I'm planning on a bed platform and storage build. My questions are: would this become unbearably hot? Is there anyway to finagle, replace, or bypass the locks in anyway to open them from the inside.
For being just about the same price as a fiberglass topper that runs the risk of cracking during my offroading, and offers less modular mounting abilities, I really would like to pull this off with the steel topper.

 

I can’t speak to the concern with heat. I suspect carpeting or insulating the interior and a light color would help a lot.

looking at the locks, I think it’s possible to drill through the locks from the inside. This would allow you to access the latch.... I think the better alternative would be to add a latch on the inside. The doors are steel and should be easy enough.

 

That’s some outside of the box thinking there. There is hope then

 

someone should be brave and try a bare steel polished looked

 

Really nice looking set up! Any plans on a 2nd Gen version?

 

@Freeheelbillie looks like the have them coming. https://www.rlddesignusa.com/p/toyota/gen2-toyota-tacoma-truck-cap-canopy/

 

There’s actually a gutter built in where the rubber seal lands, which funnels water down along the side corners, which helps. But if it’s actively raining you’ll get some dripping with the doors open.

 

Hey, thank you for the thoughtful reply and kind words! One of the reasons we switched from Alu-Cab to RLD was for the fit and finish quality. RLD is miles beyond the Alu-Cab in this respect. To answer a few questions noted above:
1) The hinges on the RLD are actually bolted through with a fender washer and locknut on the inside so it would be a pretty good project to remove the doors this way. Also, it’s worth noting that the hinges on the RLD are powder coated metal not just plastic.
2) The positive pressure vent isn’t something new overall, but it’s newish in the US. These have been used and proven in South Africa for a decade or so. I’ve tested it myself and it’s surprisingly effective for keeping dust out of the bed area!
3) The latches on the RLD are better than the Alu-Cab or GFC in thatvthey utilize metal keyhole covers that are more resistant to freezing than the cheaper plastic ones. That said though, locks do freeze so if you’re in that climate some standard de-over is good to keep on hand.
4) We are stoked to be able to offer paint-match with the RLD!

 

In stock now!

 

We just installed a paint-match Silver Sky canopy with windows. I gotta say it’s beautiful!

 

Yes, they build in two side doors to maintain the strength and structural integrity of the canopy.