RSI Smart Cap Vent Leaking

I've had my RSI Eco Smart Cap about 5 months now, and when I go through a car wash (regular occurrence in a snow/salted road climate) it gets about a quart of water in the bed through the vent (I can see drip marks where it comes in, so I know it's not the windows or seals). RSI has a youtube video that recommends using some Butyl tape (which is ridiculous, I shouldn't need to to a crappy modification to get it to perform as expected), but that didn't even help. Short of blocking up the whole vent, any suggestions out there?

 

Bump as I'm curious as well

 

Check the bed rails in front of the bed where the holes are (in the corners)... You may need to use silicone or whatever to fill the holes with.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sealing-holes-in-front-of-tacoma-bed.600760/

 

Yep, got that done before installing the cap. OP and I are referring to RSI's rooftop vent that supposedly does something nifty with pressure.... Just leaks when you take it through the wash lol. Usually try to handwash it but alas... mud season

 

Oh my bad. I looked up about the vent.. I see what you meant..

Just lay the towels on the bed floor then after the wash, take the towels out... How's that?

I thought about black electrical tape covering the vent but I don't think tape will hold against the wash.

 

UPDATE: I talked to a rep at RSI (originally about the paint chipping on the rear door) and he said it's a known issue with no real solution. Just that American car washes have too much pressure. He recommended duct tape over the vent before going through a wash. Annoying.

 

You cannot shoot water through that vent. No matter how hard you try it's going to get in there because it's not made to take direct pressure water through it.

before you enter the car wash though you could put a strip of tape across the opening and that would probably delete the water coming inside. We have more questions pull off the cover and look for yourself. You'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Design is for air not pressure water. I've had mine in a complete downpour and no water inside. But my pressure washer if I'm not careful will put water through it into the inside.

 

I don't trust the duct tape because if you take it off, it will leave residue. Which you feel sticky around the vent.

Black electrical tape or car paint masking tape. These can hold at water hose... not powerful pressure washer because the pressured water will tear/peel tape off.

If it is too much for you, then you hand wash on the top and you can use pressure wash on the sides.

Or you can use towels on bed floor that will absorb water. When finished, take them out. Check floor... if it looks wet, dry it.

If your cap doesn't come with built-in ladder on the back, you can get it installed at one of the off road shops. That way, you can get up there to hand clean/dry.

 

I would sell it. You probably get as much as you paid anyway and buy something else.

 

Lol sell it because you can't take it through the car wash without a bit of extra planning

 

I know common sense for some is a challenge...