Sponsored

RSI Smartcap

OffroadAlliance.com

Rock Sponsor (Level 1)
Joined
Jan 10, 2021
Threads
40
Messages
225
Reaction score
209
Location
Boston, MA
Website
offroadalliance.com
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator
Occupation
Premiere Offroad Shop!
Our Gladiator in the RSI booth this weekend at the Big Show in Dallas, TX!


Jeep Gladiator RSI Smartcap X81DMkA



Jeep Gladiator RSI Smartcap h7YjDvv



Jeep Gladiator RSI Smartcap 9kTG2y0
Sponsored

 

kaeo_15

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
192
Reaction score
292
Location
PDX
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTR
Jeep Gladiator RSI Smartcap 94C8519F-B873-4E6B-9783-C69D74D6B44D

Just took our first long trip with the cap on and we are seeing warping at the clamp points. I know some may say that they are overtightened, but i don’t think that’s it. None of these spots were there pre-trip and I drove it around quite a bit before that.
 

Walter-new jeeper

Well-Known Member
First Name
Walter
Joined
Sep 25, 2018
Threads
12
Messages
187
Reaction score
128
Location
Federal Way, WA
Vehicle(s)
Expedition, Escape, Ocean Blue Wrangler JLUR, Firecracker Red Gladiator Rubicon
Build Thread
Link
94C8519F-B873-4E6B-9783-C69D74D6B44D.jpeg

Just took our first long trip with the cap on and we are seeing warping at the clamp points. I know some may say that they are overtightened, but i don’t think that’s it. None of these spots were there pre-trip and I drove it around quite a bit before that.
Just curious if you had a rack loaded up on top?
 

Sponsored

Bulldog10

Well-Known Member
First Name
Rick
Joined
Aug 4, 2020
Threads
4
Messages
462
Reaction score
692
Location
Oregon
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Overland Sarge Green Diesel
Occupation
Retired Helicopter Pilot, FAA ATC, Retired Gentleman Farmer Trying to Survive Divorce!
Vehicle Showcase
1

kaeo_15

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
192
Reaction score
292
Location
PDX
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTR
Nothing on top. Just the cap on the bed rails. Can’t be over-torqued as the gasket isn’t more compressed in that area. It just follows the shape of the rail. Also want to note that I do not have the trail rail. So, I used the standard clamps.
 

kaeo_15

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
192
Reaction score
292
Location
PDX
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTR
Asked my buddy to check his as he just put an Evo Sport on his Ram 1500 Rebel. Check this out...his is rippled throughout.

Jeep Gladiator RSI Smartcap 97D7F07C-EFE8-4C49-A1ED-378F42AAC6CC
 

Walter-new jeeper

Well-Known Member
First Name
Walter
Joined
Sep 25, 2018
Threads
12
Messages
187
Reaction score
128
Location
Federal Way, WA
Vehicle(s)
Expedition, Escape, Ocean Blue Wrangler JLUR, Firecracker Red Gladiator Rubicon
Build Thread
Link
Nothing on top. Just the cap on the bed rails. Can’t be over-torqued as the gasket isn’t more compressed in that area. It just follows the shape of the rail. Also want to note that I do not have the trail rail. So, I used the standard clamps.
Is it just the plastic rail cover or is the metal under the plastic bent as well?
 

kaeo_15

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
192
Reaction score
292
Location
PDX
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTR
Can’t really tell with the cap secured and I am still traveling this weekend. I don’t think the plastic would deform without the metal also deforming. On mine anyway. Idk about the Ram.
 

Sponsored

briscoelab

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2019
Threads
5
Messages
261
Reaction score
318
Location
MN
Vehicle(s)
2023 JTRD, 2021 JLUR, 2020 Gladiator LE
So the cap has bent and pushed in the truck bed at the points of clamping? I think that is what your pics and the Ram show, correct? This is a concern I’ve had about the mounting design of the cap, where the majority of the loan is placed at each of those clamp points on the area of the square rubber pads. This includs clamping force, the weight of the cap and any load you have on top of it. Higher dynamic loads on rough roads could make this way worse.

Use of the trail rail system and corresponding clamps could actually make this worse than the direct clamps, if that is what is going on. The direct clamps sand which the surfaces involved more directly, where the trail rail clamp pulls the cap down onto the rubber pad with no support on the underside.

Designs that use a continuous rubber pad along the cap would help spread and distribute the load, even with some extra force at the clamp location.

Please keep us posted on what you find when the cap comes off for inspection. Something we should all keep an eye on.
 

kaeo_15

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
192
Reaction score
292
Location
PDX
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTR
Yes, that is correct. The Ram 1500 I posted has the trail rail system and has much worse deformation. Although, it is a full size, so the cap is much heavier/bulkier in comparison. This past weeks adventure included a lot of medium speed twisty roads that probably put more pressure on these points. I researched a bit online and found other forums where people have also seen this issue. This is definitely disappointing as there is currently no load on the cap.
 

EWP

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Threads
4
Messages
53
Reaction score
170
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
Jeeps
I can see the same on mine at the clamp points. To my eye it just looks like the plastic caps on top of the bed sides is deflecting under the clamp. The plastic caps are not solid and you can do the same thing with just finger pressure on the tailgate cap.
 

kaeo_15

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
192
Reaction score
292
Location
PDX
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTR
Thanks for that. Yeah, I am unsure as I can’t lift and inspect. May be that, but none of these spots were present before this trip.
 

relayer4u

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ray
Joined
Oct 11, 2020
Threads
5
Messages
90
Reaction score
134
Location
Henderson, NV
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
Occupation
SCG
People found the same thing happening with the Diamondback bed covers. I think that vendor sent the customers shims to put under the bed rail caps for better support.
Sponsored

 
 







Top