RSI Smart Cap

4 people on each corner is already a bear because your also having to hold it in front of you slightly- just awkward. If I was to do it again I would change it up. Basically get the canopy over the bed halfway then 1 of the rear corners duck under and jump in the bed and put your back against the roof and walk it, the other rear corner shifts to the center.

 

That last bit is exactly what I told him I would do for a fiberglass tonneau cover I used to have on an F-150. Get it on top without worry about exact alignment. Then I would lay on my back and use all fours to push it up and maneuver it into position. Regardless of how many people we have lift it, I think the trickier part is getting it onto a platform first to have our elbows down when we lift it. That should make it easier to get it to bed height. Hopefully the gasket will stay put with during all that!

 

You won’t see me laying on my back with my fours up

I was talking about standing up in the bed (back to roof) and walk it in place while the 3 buddies guide it in place.

 

it's ok, no one will know. they're your buddies.

 

I stand when I leak

and if your buddies don’t hassle you about that until you die, were they really your buddies?

 

Same concept, but when doing the tonneau cover alone, I couldn't line it up if I was staring at the floor of the bed.

 

You mean they will all have their phones out so you never forget...

 

Should be close enough to the tacoma bed for 1000 hard to beat

 

No the ranger is too narrow and uses a bed specific mounting system

 

The struggle

 

We got it installed today. Last night, when I was trying to put on the weatherstripping, I could see how hard it would be to get it to stick well with the cold. This morning I opened the garage door and let the mounting surface and weather stripping warm up. That made it much easier to install and it held way better. My buddy and I flipped it over, picked it up, set the back on the tailgate and sides on two saw horses. That let us adjust our grip and put it about halfway on the bed. Then, as suggested earlier, I climbed in and lifted the cap with my back while my buddy fine tuned the alignment. Got it all torqued down and will re-torque everything after a trip out to Junction this weekend. Need to grab some pics also.

 

Just got my EVOa Adventure series shell last weekend. It looks amazing, but I'm a bit confused by the molle panels on the side doors. It doesn't look as though they are removable, and what a serious PITA it is to fish anything with snap backed mole straps through. Is anyone else struggling with this?

I've seen lots of posts for using "Mole Clips" for hooks and whatnot, but all I wanna do it attach some simple bags/pouches, and seems like a serious hassle.

 

No Sir, according to the instructions on pg. 19 Step 33 the rubber lip is supposed to be tucked underneath the cap.

 

Just received our initial shipment of electric canopy locks from Australia. Tested on some locks to verify fitment and operation. Took some time to adjust each latch but when done worked great.
https://mikescustomtoys.com/products/hammer-safe-lock-system?variant=44643697721556

 

Yes Sir. Cannot deny that. It was a double whammy for me.

I failed to read the entire procedure before starting, and I missed the comment about the lip.


On a positive note: It's been raining for 2 days now, and no leaks through any of the flanges...yet. I get a little bit of water through the infamous gap at the tailgate (both sides). Will work on that later.

 

I'll probably be driving in some dusty areas this weekend and hope the positive pressure vent will do a good job. Then hoping to install this around the tailgate later.

 

Please share what you've done (with pictures).

I have some D-rubber left from the installation that I can experiment with. As others have previously pointed out, there is a gap in weather stripping where the D-rubber ends on the Smartcap and where the weather stripping on the rear windoor begins, which is where rain is entering.

If I could do it again, I wouldn't have done a straight cut of the D-rubber per the instructions, but rather cut only the "D" part of the gasket and leave some amount of the lip overhanging. It wouldn't have made it weather proof, but I think it would help a little.

 

If you have a trim tool you may be able loosen the clamps a little and go around the truck bed and push it into place.

 

I used the same thing it was pretty effective everywhere but the gap where the truck bed and tailgate meet. I'm going to use some tailgate gap seal for that.