RLD Shell - Paint Cracking, Falling Off

I'm glad they didn't screw you as bad as they did me.

I got the roof rack from the importer. I'm not pursuing him any longer. I understand RLD has been stiffing him too.

But as promised ill keep updating the thread. I guess I'll make it a community event for us. Togther we can all watch my new shell turns to shit.

After another week or so in the sun. Here's where we're at:

 

So since they told me they won't honor their factory warranty and have to take whatever the importer will do. I send them emails like this.

I appreciate you guys jumping in to leave comments and keep the thread alive. I feel the pain all over again when I wash the truck.

 

I don’t know how search engine optimization works, but I’m curious to look into it now.

I hope they know that someone buying such a specialized product like this at such a high cost can easily be swayed by real online reviews about follow up customer service.

 

I don't know much yet. I know you can make a lot of money if you're good at it though.

The algorithms on YouTube are interesting too.

I read everything I could before ordering the RLD. I couldn't find anything too bad at the time and it seemed like they were taking care of their problems when they came up.

Eithwr things changed or that was an incorrect assessment on my part.

 

i kinda wonder if they've decided they're just not that interested in keeping pace with the other metal cap manufacturers in the NA market, preferring to cut their losses.

 

I recently got an RLD designs cap used, but it had the side cabinet brand new never installed. I followed the directions and they clearly don't make sense. I contacted RLD and they responded a few times and our last correspondence was basically telling me to just fabricate something. Then sent me instructions for the new design that is different. This is for a cabinet that cost my buddy $400 when he bought the cap. Pretty lame. I just asked if they had a picture of their set up, but never heard back.

Love the design of the shell, but wish they had a better website and support. Would love to be able to find replacement brackets and stuff too, but so far disappointed with their customer support.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'll stay away from RLD but am leaning towards the RSI SmartCap. Hope it doesn't have similar problems.

 

I love my RLD, but their customer service sucks. The cap is amazing though....provided your paint isn't cracking.

 

Haven’t had paint issues, minus some slight rust at some welds along the drip edge. But that was expected after 2 years on the gulf coast. Not even stainless is immune. That all being said, it was Bought assuming I wasn’t going to get good customer service.
it’s a foreign company, you should have known they’d more then likely stiff you. They aren’t under any legal obligation here.
Personally don’t care how mine looks, but if the look is important to you:take it off, pressure wash the remaining paint off, hit it with some 400 grit and rattle can it with some etching primer and black paint. It’ll last longer.

The RSI are nice but only half as strong for essentially the same price. If your really looking for something I’d probably go with a GFC platform topper. Get a good dynamic and static rating with a U.S. based company more likely to honor a warranty The RSI are nice but only half as strong for essentially the same price.

 

I'd be buying to use to sleep inside for truck camping. I really need sliding windows. I've inquired with a few local dealers for Leer shells and they're not far from from a metal camper. Thanks for your opinion though, its really giving me insight on metal campers.

 

I wouldn't have guessed that they would stiff me. If I saw anyone having the same problems as me, I never would have ordered it. I think it's safe to assume they've lost a couple orders because of these threads. I don't understand how it could be worth it.

 

I am looking at the big three (RSI, alucab and RLD) I have officially ruled out RLD

 

Wise decision. Thanks for posting.

 

Seeing these posts here got me wondering what went wrong. I do see that some places are no longer selling these. I’ve had mine for over a year and have no issues except for the time that I strapped my swingout to the rack attached to the canopy which then pulled the canopy back about half an inch went I went wheeling in Moab. Strapped my bumper swingout down because the handle to open it came off when I landed hard on a rock. It was an easy fix, just moved it back up front and resealed. Won’t be strapping it down again.

 

Look close at the areas where I'm loosing my paint. If you've been flexing it I wonder if your paint cracked too.

I think they failed because they have shit customer service. Can't make customers eat your mistakes and expect to make it on word of mouth.

 

I’m lucky not to have one of those. But makes me want to get rid of mine if they treat customers like this and less companies are selling it. Too bad, it seems like a real nice design. With other companies I at least see that the issues here and there are being addressed. It’s obvious that they are losing business here. I haven’t seen the RLD thread active so that tells you.

 

Yeah, I got an RLD camper shell too. I've had mine for nearly 2 years and waited about 6 months for it to arrive. I thankfully haven't had any issues. Even though it's still in great condition, I kinda have buyer's remorse over getting it.

 

Sorry for everyone's troubles but thank you for posting your issues. Because of this thread I will definitely be buying an Alu Cab Explorer instead. Hate to see companies behaving this way screwing over customers. Ironically, it will only hurt them in the end. If a couple hundred people see this thread thats 300k wiped off their balance sheets. Screw em'.

 

Huh, thank God for this thread. My local dealer (Cap-it) was selling his stock on a heavy discount, and said they were moving away from RLD simply because Alu-cab sold better.

I am thinking he is doing so because the product, and presumably RLD is giving him nothing but headaches, and he'd rather unload the last of the garbage rather than be honest that it's no good.

You can add one more tick to the "didn't buy RLD because I saw this thread" column. I also think I'll find another local canopy seller.

 

it looks like they've simply vacated the US market. RLD US hasn't posted to their instagram account in nearly a year, while their SA and Aussie accounts are still active.