Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap

[Rokon]

Install is happening today. Had to redo my lift attachment on the cap to gain a few more inches of clearance. My Rubicon is 54” from the ground to the top edge of the tailgate.
Prepping the cap to bed mounts I discovered something odd and not sure what to make of it.
All of the nut plates that attach the lower cap mounts to the Trail Rail have their threads made at an angle. At first I thought the odd piece got tipped in its fixture but they all have this same issue. Threads are good and bolts start by hand ok as long as you have the bolt at an angle.
The two nut plates in the photo are opposite to show the angle better. Maybe it is to help lock things together and keep all tight. I dunno.....

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[Rokon]

So the cap went on well. Typical tweaking and repositioning to get it placed before securing the brackets.

 

[Rokon]

Some shots showing the external fit.

 

[Rokon]

All three doors work, fit, and latch well. The latches are adjustable in how they clamp up

 

[Rokon]

And.......it is Gopher approved!

 

[SavageCoffeeTea]

Looks great! How do you like it with the lines of the cab?

 

[Rokon]

Looks great! How do you like it with the lines of the cab?

I think it is perfect. Square and boxy like the JT. There is a lot of interior space. And for 126lbs it is stout.
Sun is on the wrong side of the house now.....the lighting is a bit wonky.

 

[SavageCoffeeTea]

Sun is on the wrong side of the house now.....the lighting is a bit wonky.

Looks great! Better lighting would only help but it looks really good on there. Of you get a chance could you give us a measurement on inside height?

 

[Rokon]

Here are some proper pics. This cap may well give sliced bread a run for its money!

 

[Rokon]

Looks great! Better lighting would only help but it looks really good on there. Of you get a chance could you give us a measurement on inside height?

From the high point of the open tailgate to the lower edge of the hatch is 37”. You can slide something 37” tall on the tailgate into the bed. You have 39 1/2” inside height to the bottom of the roof cross members.

 

[coreoski]

Looks great! Just picked up mine and installed it last night as well. Very pleased with the fit.

Have you figured out the cab lighting wiring? I can't find instructions anywhere...

 

[Rokon]

Looks great! Just picked up mine and installed it last night as well. Very pleased with the fit.

Have you figured out the cab lighting wiring? I can't find instructions anywhere...

Haven't looked into wiring the lights yet. Not really keen on a 4th brake light.... but in my state if the light is there it has to work. Don't think I will tie the 3 interior lights into the existing bed lights. Really think going to one of the Aux switches set up for power with the ignition off would be better for camping. Each of the lamps has their own switch built in. If they were left on I could kill them from the cab.
Or I may set up an auxiliary battery in the bed for my fridge and will run the lights from that.
Not even sure which of the lighting wires is positive........
Didn't see anything on the AluCab site covering this wiring either.

 

[steffen707]

Just when I decide on the RSI Smart cap... excited for more details! Looks fantastic so far.

well wait before you buy the RSI, 3 of us on here will be showing off the Alu-Cabs soon enough.

@smlobx , i got a call from Eric, mine is supposed to arrive by this weekend; however, he didn't get me a tracking number, so who knows.

 

[steffen707]

From the high point of the open tailgate to the lower edge of the hatch is 37”. You can slide something 37” tall on the tailgate into the bed. You have 39 1/2” inside height to the bottom of the roof cross members.

Nice stuff @Rokon, What did you decide about the bolts going at an angle? Do you have them going at an up angle, or a down angle?

 

[Rokon]

Nice stuff @Rokon, What did you decide about the bolts going at an angle? Do you have them going at an up angle, or a down angle?

Actually they are sideways so the choices are left and right!
May have to fiddle with the cap mounts some. The “fitment” directions online leave me with questions.....
AluCab wants the weight of the cap primarily on the trail rails versus the bin (bed) sides. My take is your supposed to set the cap on the bed. Align the top and lower brackets. Measure the gap and shim 1.5mm or more than the gap is. So you actually are to lift the cap some to get the shims in and then bolt the mount halves together.
Well that doesn't do anything for compressing the cap seal...... I can see a slight gap just inboard of the front corners for a few inches.
Man, I would think the bed sides would be stronger than the Trail Rail attachment. Then again they have a stated rating for the Trail rails and I don't think I've seen anything for the bed sides.
Another thing that bothers me. If the weight is primarily on the Trail Rails, I would want the slop (up and down) of the lower bracket all the way down before tightening up. Doing this increases the gap between the brackets enough that there are not nearly enough shims to go around.
I had my bed LineX'd after purchase and removed the rails prior. I wonder if factory coats with rails on. My two front brackets (left and right) wouldn't quite pair up. There is a slot but I was about a 1/2 bolt diameter off. Had to shim one upper mount out a tad. I wonder if my bed coating wonked the rail location a little.
Summed up......I need to fiddle with it some more!

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