Those with SMARTCAPS

[Hunterman]

I use the bed of my truck for work and hauling stuff that will not fit under a camper shell. I also do a lot of solo camping, hiking, and hunting and would love a shell to sleep under. How easy/hard/PITA is it to remove and mount a RSI CAP? If I ever put a shell on the back of the truck I want something like the Smartcap that I can mount stuff on top of (sleeping tent or whatever). My question is it a PITA to take of and put back on???

 

[Skyguy]

It’s heavy enough that I haven’t ever taken it off. It took all I had with my teenage son and I to get it on. I was going to rig a winch and pulley deal that hooks to the roof racks to be able to offload/store doing it solo. Got to finish the shop before I have a ceiling to hook it to…..

Other than that the 4 clamps and brake light wire are easy. Love mine for working. Only thing is slushy ice on the latches are hard to clean in the winter.

Hope you have a great time with it.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

Weight is around 200lbs. You aren't going to manage it solo. It's way too awkward for one person. If I were to remove mine on a regular basis I would have a pulley/winch system rigged that would safely handle the size/weight. Something like this.

Truck Top Lifter

The Truck Top Lifter is the smartest, safest, Bluetooth-enabled hoist for heavy truck tops. Control speed, automatic stopping points, and weight limits.

www.smarterhome.com

 

[Devil's Advocate]

It is a minor PITA. I used my overhead winch in garage connected to two 2x4s with eye screws to fashion a sling. It works OK. Probably need to work on my sling design a bit, but I don't take it on or off much.

DA

 

[Hunterman]

Weight is around 200lbs. You aren't going to manage it solo. It's way too awkward for one person. If I were to remove mine on a regular basis I would have a pulley/winch system rigged that would safely handle the size/weight. Something like this.

Truck Top Lifter

The Truck Top Lifter is the smartest, safest, Bluetooth-enabled hoist for heavy truck tops. Control speed, automatic stopping points, and weight limits.

www.smarterhome.com

That top lifter looks pretty nice but not for $2100. I need to figure out something before I drop the coin on a smart cap.

Thanks to all those that replied.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

That top lifter looks pretty nice but not for $2100. I need to figure out something before I drop the coin on a smart cap.

Thanks to all those that replied.

There are many less expensive alternative. I just grabbed the first example I found. I am not using that one. I think Harbor Freight has a manual versions for under $100. Just take some rigging to make it work with the canopy.

 

[EmptyStraw]

I just bought a smartcap from a guy (today actually) and had to xfer it from one vehicle to another. we couldnt do it safely with just the two of us, we resorted to using straps and a tree, it ended up working incredibly well. It would be incredibly akward even with 4 guys as there is very little to grab ahold once its installed on a truck. Using a winch and pully system is the only real option especially if you plan to do this more than once.

 

[MarshFly]

I know this is an older thread but I want to mention the way I have moved toppers around before that nobody seems to do.

What we do is take two 8ft 2x4s and lay them cross wise under the topper. For a fiberglass topper two people can probably handle this. We did. You lift the topper using the 2x4s as handles and place the 2x4s on the bed rails with the topper in position. One person gets inside the topper and lifts the topper one end at a time with their back on the roof squatting with their legs. Super easy. Then the second person removes each 2x4 with the topper lifted slightly. Very easy, and safe with zero chance of scratching anything.

 

[boisefly]

There’s no way you’re going to remove and reinstall a smart cap on a regular basis. It’s cumbersome and won’t seal perfectly if it is removed frequently. Go with a softtopper or something similiar if you need something that can be removed.

 

[Vermonster]

That top lifter looks pretty nice but not for $2100. I need to figure out something before I drop the coin on a smart cap.

Thanks to all those that replied.

I did this for my Jeep Wrangler back in the day - but I made my own with a Warn winch from Amazon. Was pretty easy.

 

[Skyguy]

Still love my smart cap. Still haven’t taken it off.

Still hate the latches in snow (they either stick shut or won’t latch unless it’s super clean around the outside edge). It would be nice to not have to go around and lock 6 different latches also. Would be amazing to lock/unlock with the key fob.

 

[os1r1s]

It took 3 adult (large men) when we put mine on the first time. My wife and I have been able to adjust as necessary. We could probably get it off by ourselves, but aligning it properly (and not damaging anything) would be difficult to do with 2.

 

[boisefly]

Still love my smart cap. Still haven’t taken it off.

Still hate the latches in snow (they either stick shut or won’t latch unless it’s super clean around the outside edge). It would be nice to not have to go around and lock 6 different latches also. Would be amazing to lock/unlock with the key fob.

You know SmartCap will send you winter latch covers free of charge, right? They did for me and my latches are great in the snow. Had 6 degree temps and snow a week ago and no issues with the latches.

 

[NightForceFan]

You know SmartCap will send you winter latch covers free of charge, right? They did for me and my latches are great in the snow. Had 6 degree temps and snow a week ago and no issues with the latches.

I think I am ready to pull the trigger and order one.

 

[ThePugLife]

For those with smart caps installed, what does your foam seal compression look like installed? Had a leak form between the roof and the back panel. The mounting hardware is torqued to RSIs specification but not set on the lock washer.

 

[bbrett]

Check out the Kuat racks that you can add on side panels to make it a shell. I'm still contemplating purchasing one for myself for the same reasons.

Truck Bed Products

At Kuat Racks we are driven to make the most advanced products for outdoor enthusiasts, and we stand behind our products like no other company. Shop our Overlanding truck bed racks and accessories, roof racks for kayaks and snow sports, hitch bike racks, and products that are rated for e-bike...

kuat.com

right now they only have the side panels for their tacoma racks, but from what I hear the f250 panels are coming soon. You can order it to mount to a Retrax T-Rail also.

 

[idrivea2022tremor]

Look for Jeep Wrangler hard top removal winches, they're a dime a dozen. Or rig your own with some pulleys. Shouldn't be too hard to rig up something.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

https://www.harborfreight.com/440-lb-electric-hoist-with-remote-control-60346.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21901270796&campaignid=21901270796&utm_content=169550066359&adsetid=169550066359&product=60346&store=240&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAm-67BhBlEiwAEVftNriWY-XNuvJSb_7d6Nepke4lUY0qmHmnqiKgQMISmJrjaTdQMIlEqRoCIBwQAvD_BwE

This what I use for my YJ hard top...just fabbed up mounting plate to mount to joist in the garage. My HT weighs about 300lbs...it will pull head on at least V8 sized motors too..

 

[os1r1s]

For those with smart caps installed, what does your foam seal compression look like installed? Had a leak form between the roof and the back panel. The mounting hardware is torqued to RSIs specification but not set on the lock washer.View attachment 185892

Mine looks a bit more squished then that. I know you said you followed the torque specifications, but did you follow the pattern of tightening that they gave you? Also, those clamps are very easy to get crooked. I can't tell from this pictures if yours is, but it will cause it not to function properly.

 

[MarshFly]

For those with smart caps installed, what does your foam seal compression look like installed? Had a leak form between the roof and the back panel. The mounting hardware is torqued to RSIs specification but not set on the lock washer.View attachment 185892

That bolt does not look to be torqued correctly. Either it is binding in the threads or it is too long. It looks like there is a gap between the bolt head and the washer so it can't torque anything.

That said leaks on these are pretty darn common. I had one on my Power Wagon and that is the number 1 reason this is not an option for this truck.

A quick scroll through any of the Facebook owners groups will confirm the amount of people that chase leaks constantly.