RLD designs pic request

[chorky]

Okay listen not to rain on anyone’s parade but do yourself a favor and look at another canopy. You can’t get parts if anything break which I believe is very unethical. If you call RLD they will drag their feet to see if you’ll just give up. The new hinges will have corrosion within months. Mine corroded and broke off and RLD won’t give me an answer. Learn from my expensive purchase, don’t buy anything you can’t get part for. I mean talk able false advertising.

what version do you have? I havent read of any other issues with these canopies. But if its the new version then thats not good. I would continue to be persistent. considering its suposed to be all aluminum i would be surprised that it rusts at all. from your earlier picture it looks like just the bolt rusted?

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[Outdoor1]

what version do you have? I havent read of any other issues with these canopies. But if its the new version then thats not good. I would continue to be persistent. considering its suposed to be all aluminum i would be surprised that it rusts at all. from your earlier picture it looks like just the bolt rusted?

It’s less than a year old. All the hardware is rusting even the RLD plate on the side. RLD doesn’t have any parts nor can they get them. They actually ordered me a new side window because mine had a corner chip in it. (Out of the shipping crate) That’s been close to a year ago. Listen I love the product but the company can’t get parts. There are others dealing with the same issues. Anyone making money off of the product isn’t going to disclose this vital information to potential buyers. I thought I did my research and thought I was getting the best. A product is only as durable as the company’s after the sell customer service. So far RLD has failed to impress me. I’ll keep this post up to speed on how they are handling this issue.

 

[Zybane]

Okay listen not to rain on anyone’s parade but do yourself a favor and look at another canopy. You can’t get parts if anything break which I believe is very unethical. If you call RLD they will drag their feet to see if you’ll just give up. The new hinges will have corrosion within months. Mine corroded and broke off and RLD won’t give me an answer. Learn from my expensive purchase, don’t buy anything you can’t get part for. I mean talk able false advertising.

I just looked at the hinges on my new RLD. They aren't anything proprietary or special. I could find one at a hardware store that would work. May have to drill new holes for the bolt spacing is all. Havin those exact hinges from RLD isn't THAT big of a deal.

I do agree though it would have been nice if they were stainless hinges and bolts. May have only cost them a few dollars more. As a matter of fact I may just replace the bolts/nuts with stainless eventually.

But I will do preventive maintenance and spray all of the hinges and mounting hardware with Amsoil Metal Protect HD film. They will last a long time then.

 

[chorky]

I just looked at the hinges on my new RLD. They aren't anything proprietary or special. I could find one at a hardware store that would work. May have to drill new holes for the bolt spacing is all. Havin those exact hinges from RLD isn't THAT big of a deal.

I do agree though it would have been nice if they were stainless hinges and bolts. May have only cost them a few dollars more. As a matter of fact I may just replace the bolts/nuts with stainless eventually.

But I will do preventive maintenance and spray all of the hinges and mounting hardware with Amsoil Metal Protect HD film. They will last a long time then.

good call on the amsoil HD metal protect.... I think I will do the same actually since on of the hinges is missing paint - probably just a clearance issue.

it is a bummer though like you said that the hinges aren't stainless or alum like the rest of the canopy.

 

[Zybane]

good call on the amsoil HD metal protect.... I think I will do the same actually since on of the hinges is missing paint - probably just a clearance issue.

it is a bummer though like you said that the hinges aren't stainless or alum like the rest of the canopy.

Ya, hinges should really be lubricated too which luckily products like HD Metal Protect and FLuid Film do. I'm one of those guys that espouses "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

 

[Outdoor1]

Zybane It’s all about the Principle of the matter. That’s not what we all put down deposits and waited close to a year for. That’s not what we all over paid for. If this unit is advertised as the toughest and can handle all weather and environments it doesn’t need crap hardware that we have to replace. Don’t rollover on the guy that is actually educating you to use a preservative to coat your cheap hardware. Someone has to be the squeaky wheel and call the BS out. So we take the time and get all new hardware great, can we get any other components at a local hardware store? Is the company going to reimburse us for material cost and time? That’s not what I over paid, waited 6 months and drove 11 hours for? We can all make our own topper ?

 

[Zybane]

Zybane It’s all about the Principle of the matter. That’s not what we all put down deposits and waited close to a year for. That’s not what we all over paid for. If this unit is advertised as the toughest and can handle all weather and environments it doesn’t need crap hardware that we have to replace. Don’t rollover on the guy that is actually educating you to use a preservative to coat your cheap hardware. Someone has to be the squeaky wheel and call the BS out. So we take the time and get all new hardware great, can we get any other components at a local hardware store? Is the company going to reimburse us for material cost and time? That’s not what I over paid, waited 6 months and drove 11 hours for? We can all make our own topper ?

I don't disagree with you that RLD should respond to you and send you out new hinges. That is poor customer service.

But a simple hinge replacement is making a mountain out of a molehill. I'd like all of the fasteners on my Jeep to be stainless steel, but then the truck would also cost six figures.

I do have a question, is the only time you noticed an issue was when the hinge failed? Why would you want another RLD hinge/bolts if you think it will just fail again?

I do appreciate you bringing this to light so that others may check their hinges. But I hardly think calling for a boycott of the product because of one reported hinge rusting is warranted. Why isn't the thread littered with more of these rusted hinges?

Maybe your hinge was scratched or damaged during assembly or manufacture. I'm sorry to say but you must not be very handy with stuff if you think replacing a hinge with a couple of bolts equates to "making your own topper". The RLD cap has many high quality aspects about it.

Maybe since Offroad Alliance is a main distributor for these caps, they can send a note to RLD that this issue has come up on the forums.

 

[Zybane]

Ok Daniel I will eat some crow. At first I just looked at the inside of the hinge where everything bolts together. You would assume this would be the place to look, but alas, further investigation has prompted me to send the following email to RLD:

Hello, a forum member on JeepGLadiatorForum.com posted a picture of his RLD cap rear door/window hinge (right side) had corroded and separated from where the hinge bolts to the door.

I went out to check my brand new RLD that just came in (uncrated it a few days ago) to check my hinges. With the rear door up, the inside of the hinge area where the bolts are looked fine. It's only when I looked at the hinges from the exterior at the top of the door, I noticed there was a gap between the hinge plates and the door mounting surface. Shining a light in there, I could see small amounts of rust forming. Remember, this is on a brand new cap that has not seen any water under my care as it was uncrated and stored in my garage.

What I believe may be happening is galvanic corrosion is occurring between the stainless steel (cathode) and what I assume is galvanized steel hinge (anode). Please correct me if I am wrong about the material of that hinge. It also matters how much zinc is in that hinge.

Just something to bring to light in your manufacture process, that either stainless steel hinges should be used (including the bolts/nuts), or some sort of anti-corrosion measures should be implemented in the hinge mating area.

Please let me know if you would like the photo.

I would definitely recommend everyone spray down all of the hinges on their RLD caps with something like Amsoil HD Metal Protector as a preventative measure if it isn't galvanic. I'll keep my eye on the areas to see if it helps or if galvanic corrosion mitigation is required.

 

[LostWoods]

I've had the opposite experience with their customer service... I did a dumb and broke a latch and they just sent me one. Took about a week to get it.

It looks like that hinge issue is a new design. The V2 that I have doesn't have a cut seal like that, has external hinges, and is 100% A2 stainless hardware. Seems an odd design choice IMO but I guess they might have revised to interior hinges to streamline the look a little. The cap is still stainless I assume so maybe the hinges aren't?

 

[Outdoor1]

I brought the issues up to RLD several months before it broke. That’s actually why I’m making a mountain out of a molehill lol. LostWoods you lucked out that they had your request in stock. You have a request today you ain’t getting squat. After the hinge broke I realized that they were extremely poorly designed. Crap actually. The older exterior hinges models seem to be the way to go. We have to bring these issues up so they can be fixed. I don’t want to have to pack spare hardware for something that is advertised as being top durability.

 

[MotoBrad]

Finally got my RoofNest Condor XL mounted! Was a serious painin the A## having to reseal my windows. The gen 2 window rubbers leak in the PNW climate, had to use Sikaflex to lay beads around the windows, which looks awful. But that meant removing the canopy again.

Overall, after over a year on my JT, I have had some serious issues. Water leaking being the biggest. Kind of defeated the purpose of having a covered bed of water just pours into through the windows. Once water was in the back, the condensation would fog up the windows making them inpossible to see though. RLD would not fix it, directed me to Adventure Ready, who said to get it fixed and send them a bill. But I didn't trust anyone else to do the job (thats why i became a mechanic in the first place), or that I would be reimbursed for all the hours of cleaning, drying, and prep, so I did it myself. They didn't even reccomend a sealant to use! Terrible customer service in my experience.

I also have corrosion forming on the nameplates, the aluminum rivets look like they are going to break. All the latches have paint peeling where corrosion is bubbling from underneath, which looks horrific. The locks dont work well, despite lock-ease spray. They freeze shut and become inoperable in the winter here in Canada. Have to pour hot water on them to unfreeze, just to be able to open a door. And the plastic end pieces on the inside of the latch break and fall off.

i love the look and strength of the cap, but I can't believe the issues I'm having with what I paid for a premium product.

 

[Outdoor1]

Yo Zybane that hurts man lol. You don’t have to eat crow it’s all good. I’d be saying the same thing of someone was bashing my new toy. The reality is that is what they want us to do instead of them building something right. I’m probably not the master handyman you are but yes I can get new hinges on it. We shouldnt have to for as much as we paid!! Period.

 

[Outdoor1]

Motor and that’s flipping sweet man. You have the exposed hing model. IMO that’s the way to go. They made the new ones cheap but advertised as anti-thief hinges. Lol

 

[Outdoor1]

Motobrad thanks for coming forward. You must not be much of a handyman lol. That was a joke. Man that ride looks tough.

 

[chorky]

Finally got my RoofNest Condor XL mounted! Was a serious painin the A## having to reseal my windows. The gen 2 window rubbers leak in the PNW climate, had to use Sikaflex to lay beads around the windows, which looks awful. But that meant removing the canopy again.

Overall, after over a year on my JT, I have had some serious issues. Water leaking being the biggest. Kind of defeated the purpose of having a covered bed of water just pours into through the windows. Once water was in the back, the condensation would fog up the windows making them inpossible to see though. RLD would not fix it, directed me to Adventure Ready, who said to get it fixed and send them a bill. But I didn't trust anyone else to do the job (thats why i became a mechanic in the first place), or that I would be reimbursed for all the hours of cleaning, drying, and prep, so I did it myself. They didn't even reccomend a sealant to use! Terrible customer service in my experience.

I also have corrosion forming on the nameplates, the aluminum rivets look like they are going to break. All the latches have paint peeling where corrosion is bubbling from underneath, which looks horrific. The locks dont work well, despite lock-ease spray. They freeze shut and become inoperable in the winter here in Canada. Have to pour hot water on them to unfreeze, just to be able to open a door. And the plastic end pieces on the inside of the latch break and fall off.

i love the look and strength of the cap, but I can't believe the issues I'm having with what I paid for a premium product.

Sorry to hear of your troubles.... man thats concerning for sure. Can you expand on the issues experienced by the windows and them leaking please?


Also how do you like that Roof Next? I was thinking of getting the same. Looks bigger than I thought it would be. Can it mount directly to the roof of the canopy or are those cross bars necessary?

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