RLD Design Canopy

[RubiWhiteGladiator]

So I figured this was going to happen with living in cold climates and the modern style of latch and lock. But does anyone have suggestions for a fix or replacement? I now have to use a torch to heat it up to hnlock and open which has caused some of the thin metal to deform.

for reference even other main strwam canopies with T-handle locks also freeze up.

I am having the same issues with my locks freezing up doing cold weather. Was expected but the locks for mine are seized up and I can’t even unlock my rear hatch so now I can’t get into my truck bed. Been trying to contact them but issues getting a response. It’s only 10 months old and seen only one winter. For what I paid customer service is terrible

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[chorky]

I am having the same issues with my locks freezing up doing cold weather. Was expected but the locks for mine are seized up and I can’t even unlock my rear hatch so now I can’t get into my truck bed. Been trying to contact them but issues getting a response. It’s only 10 months old and seen only one winter. For what I paid customer service is terrible

the freezing is nothing specific to RLD though. It relates specifically to this style of latch and is why these latches are popular in other countries where it is warmer and only recently popular here since most of these ‘expedition’ style canopies are made over seas

with mine, I did have freezing several times and I ended up needing to use a small torch to warm it up and break the ice. When it was warm out I sprayed in some wd-40 as well as some keylock graphite dust. That has, at least temporarily, resolved the issue and I have not been experiencing any freezing since

Also, I am pretty confident the company is going out of business. Unconfirmed though.

 

[Coldtoes]

the freezing is nothing specific to RLD though. It relates specifically to this style of latch and is why these latches are popular in other countries where it is warmer and only recently popular here since most of these ‘expedition’ style canopies are made over seas

with mine, I did have freezing several times and I ended up needing to use a small torch to warm it up and break the ice. When it was warm out I sprayed in some wd-40 as well as some keylock graphite dust. That has, at least temporarily, resolved the issue and I have not been experiencing any freezing since

Also, I am pretty confident the company is going out of business. Unconfirmed though.

If you can't find a grease/lubricant that will prevent it from freezing up... could you get a seat heater and take it apart and wire a heating coil around each lock (on the inside), wired to a switch up front? It would be kind of an extreme option perhaps, but should work. It would also require the truck to warm up the locks which isn't ideal, but just trying to toss out an idea that might help.

 

[chorky]

If you can't find a grease/lubricant that will prevent it from freezing up... could you get a seat heater and take it apart and wire a heating coil around each lock wired to a switch up front? It would be kind of an extreme option perhaps, but should work. It would also require the truck to warm up the locks which isn't ideal, but just trying to toss out an idea that might help.

I am sure it would work and I bet some of the vehicles in prudhoe bay have something like that for some stuff but that is extreme. I would just get a different canopy than do that lol. My solution works fine. No more frozen locks thus far. Was just offering a suggestion to RubiWhite who posted above

 

[chorky]

That does make me think of maybe a way to add a glass heater to the canopy for winter deicing though!

 

[loud0g40oz]

Thats a bummer hearing about all of those problems with your canopy. I have heard of others with problems also, but I have run mine with the cross bars and the RLD 60” roof rack for over a year with no problems that weren’t caused by me. May be lucky, but I’ll take it. My family loves the weather resistance and security it provides when we travel, and it’s been a game changer when we camp.

That said, I’m sure some of the other brands would have worked fine as well. I couldn’t get an RSI cap shipped to me without damage, so I went with RLD.

I did break one of the mounting stud plate bolts, but I think that was my fault. My dealer sent me out 2 new plates without an issue and I’ve been good ever since.

 

[RubiWhiteGladiator]

Thats a bummer hearing about all of those problems with your canopy. I have heard of others with problems also, but I have run mine with the cross bars and the RLD 60” roof rack for over a year with no problems that weren’t caused by me. May be lucky, but I’ll take it. My family loves the weather resistance and security it provides when we travel, and it’s been a game changer when we camp.

That said, I’m sure some of the other brands would have worked fine as well. I couldn’t get an RSI cap shipped to me without damage, so I went with RLD.

I did break one of the mounting stud plate bolts, but I think that was my fault. My dealer sent me out 2 new plates without an issue and I’ve been good ever since.

How were you able to get a hold of the company?

 

[Blade1668]

Also, I am pretty confident the company is going out of business. Unconfirmed though.

I'm certain you was correct about that. There still is listing for some of these toppers but....

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