SmartCap Experience. Water Ingress anyone?

[DeadSetMonkey]

Hey all.

I have a 6ft Bed TH. Have had a SmartCap EVO on for about 1 month. Paid for installation fee at the shop where I bought it to get it professionally installed.
I think it looks good. I like the design and the side doors, etc. I like that it does not cover the bed scene lighting. IMHO it matches the "off road" vibe of the TH. I'm not inlove with the window open/close mechanism - I predict breakage here eventually - the prior design for these sliders seems beter.

My plan was/is to put a single person platform to sleep on for overnight bike/hike/fishing adventures.

But, it leaks.

Prior to purchase, the dealer reassured me that they felt the SmartCap was at least as "water tight" as a Leer or similar.
At delivery, I even asked if it could go in a car wash (wondering if the air intake/vent would be a problem in particular).
They said it'd "probably be OK" unless a pressure jet was aimed just right.

We've had one rain storm and one snow storm since install. And for both, I found water in the bed. Some up front, some in back. Water here/there on the inside metal seem joints (hard to isolate precisely). If I had been asleep in there, I'd have been wet at my head and ankles.

The dealer was a bit reluctant to even chat about it. Their 1st response made it sound expected. That "no topper/tonneau is guaranteed to be water tight."
But they have agreed to check it out (I just have not been in yet). I'll report back, but to be honest, I did not get a good feeling about their ability/willingness to helpout given they reported my experience to be "normal." We'll see.

Anyone else out there with a SmartCap? What has been your experience? Is mine defective. was install poorly done?

I added some photos. Not sure they help. Wonder what others have noted on there installs. Seems to me the gaskets shouldn't be popping out. Also the front end of the unit seems a bit askew or not level and with some obvious gap in the seams? And the bed rail gasket is a bit bulging in the rear, both sides?

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[Muckle]

I would be a bit upset having paid that much for those gaskets to look like that. Seems to either be a product defect or installation error. I hope they don't say those gaskets appear normal.

 

[Dirt]

I've not had one of those tops; that said, I've never had an install that looked like that on my other canopies, even after I took'em off and then put them back on myself.

 

[Pahern]

I had the same problems, the pictures you took look exactly like mine.
My smart cap leaked like sieve up and down each seam.
I also had it "professionally installed", gaskets popping out, wrong torque on nuts.
Went back and fore between smart cap and installer no joy. Finally had another installer redo installation and Smart cap paid me back the cost of that redo.
Bed rail gasket still wants to poke out, I have to push it back every few days

 

[ORRINGEjuice]

I had the same issue with my gaskets poking out in one spot. Although it was due to the glue on gasket had removed some of the paint and wasn't adhearing to the canopy itself. Which is an issue I am still dealing with and have been waiting on warranty claim to be resolved. I highly suggest you check your smartcap for any bubbling or loose paint. My passenger side panel had clearly not been prepped properly and the coating is flaking off in various places. It's been in my garage taken apart waiting for a replacement panel for over a month now.

 

[Mtnbikes]

I hate to tell you this, but that is a crap job. Exactly why I installed mine. Mine never leaked and held up to all conditions. Inexcusable in my opinion, especially what they charge for them.

To those who are purchasing one of these. Please do yourself a favor and save some money by installing it yourself. There are torque specs that have to be followed if you want a waterproof and quality install.

 

[soupy1234]

I assembled mine myself (and bought the correct torque wrench). I haven't had it out in the rain enough to tell if there are leaks but I have noticed some of the gasket puffing up though nowhere near as bad as in the OP pictures.
I have had to deal with the bottom gasket bulging out. Fix is to lift the top up slightly and apply some superglue to stick it on. This is what is done at the corners during assembly, but if I had to do it again, I'd superglue the entire length.
As far as any leaks in the future, I'm just going to seal them when they happen.

 

[soupy1234]

I hate to tell you this, but that is a crap job. Exactly why I installed mine. Mine never leaked and held up to all conditions. Inexcusable in my opinion, especially what they charge for them.

To those who are purchasing one of these. Please do yourself a favor and save some money by installing it yourself. There are torque specs that have to be followed if you want a waterproof and quality install.

Hardest part is flipping it over.
And superglue the entire length of the bottom gasket instead of just the corners.

 

[dvrgz]

I mentioned this in a previous post. I had a Smartcap for a month (had it “professionally” installed). They managed to get glue on one of the sides. And it immediately started leaking. Smartcap was cool. Took it back to the dealer and got a refund.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

Hey all.

I have a 6ft Bed TH. Have had a SmartCap EVO on for about 1 month. Paid for installation fee at the shop where I bought it to get it professionally installed.
I think it looks good. I like the design and the side doors, etc. I like that it does not cover the bed scene lighting. IMHO it matches the "off road" vibe of the TH. I'm not inlove with the window open/close mechanism - I predict breakage here eventually - the prior design for these sliders seems beter.

My plan was/is to put a single person platform to sleep on for overnight bike/hike/fishing adventures.

But, it leaks.

Prior to purchase, the dealer reassured me that they felt the SmartCap was at least as "water tight" as a Leer or similar.
At delivery, I even asked if it could go in a car wash (wondering if the air intake/vent would be a problem in particular).
They said it'd "probably be OK" unless a pressure jet was aimed just right.

We've had one rain storm and one snow storm since install. And for both, I found water in the bed. Some up front, some in back. Water here/there on the inside metal seem joints (hard to isolate precisely). If I had been asleep in there, I'd have been wet at my head and ankles.

The dealer was a bit reluctant to even chat about it. Their 1st response made it sound expected. That "no topper/tonneau is guaranteed to be water tight."
But they have agreed to check it out (I just have not been in yet). I'll report back, but to be honest, I did not get a good feeling about their ability/willingness to helpout given they reported my experience to be "normal." We'll see.

Anyone else out there with a SmartCap? What has been your experience? Is mine defective. was install poorly done?

I added some photos. Not sure they help. Wonder what others have noted on there installs. Seems to me the gaskets shouldn't be popping out. Also the front end of the unit seems a bit askew or not level and with some obvious gap in the seams? And the bed rail gasket is a bit bulging in the rear, both sides?

I had the same problems, the pictures you took look exactly like mine.
My smart cap leaked like sieve up and down each seam.
I also had it "professionally installed", gaskets popping out, wrong torque on nuts.
Went back and fore between smart cap and installer no joy. Finally had another installer redo installation and Smart cap paid me back the cost of that redo.
Bed rail gasket still wants to poke out, I have to push it back every few days

Hey all.

I have a 6ft Bed TH. Have had a SmartCap EVO on for about 1 month. Paid for installation fee at the shop where I bought it to get it professionally installed.
I think it looks good. I like the design and the side doors, etc. I like that it does not cover the bed scene lighting. IMHO it matches the "off road" vibe of the TH. I'm not inlove with the window open/close mechanism - I predict breakage here eventually - the prior design for these sliders seems beter.

My plan was/is to put a single person platform to sleep on for overnight bike/hike/fishing adventures.

But, it leaks.

Prior to purchase, the dealer reassured me that they felt the SmartCap was at least as "water tight" as a Leer or similar.
At delivery, I even asked if it could go in a car wash (wondering if the air intake/vent would be a problem in particular).
They said it'd "probably be OK" unless a pressure jet was aimed just right.

We've had one rain storm and one snow storm since install. And for both, I found water in the bed. Some up front, some in back. Water here/there on the inside metal seem joints (hard to isolate precisely). If I had been asleep in there, I'd have been wet at my head and ankles.

The dealer was a bit reluctant to even chat about it. Their 1st response made it sound expected. That "no topper/tonneau is guaranteed to be water tight."
But they have agreed to check it out (I just have not been in yet). I'll report back, but to be honest, I did not get a good feeling about their ability/willingness to helpout given they reported my experience to be "normal." We'll see.

Anyone else out there with a SmartCap? What has been your experience? Is mine defective. was install poorly done?

I added some photos. Not sure they help. Wonder what others have noted on there installs. Seems to me the gaskets shouldn't be popping out. Also the front end of the unit seems a bit askew or not level and with some obvious gap in the seams? And the bed rail gasket is a bit bulging in the rear, both sides?

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

I didn't have the canopy one week, and after the first wash half of that powder coat came off of the roof. It's taken smart cap over 3 months to get a new roof panel.

 

[dvrgz]

This is horrible . Sorry you’re going through this.

 

[Pahern]

Alucab or Lear for me next time

 

[Rubi2Trailhunter]

Timely thread. As I research caps, there’s one I can immediately rule out. The range of issues contributors have pointed out here is inexcusable. Seals, powder coating, construction, and installation—these are well-understood practices by now.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

As you can see in the picture, my canopy is non. Existent. The smart cap finally sent a replacement top for the canopy. For my troubles, they are sending me for free. The drop down pull out camp table and fire pit. They also sent all new gaskets, not just the roof gaskets. When I see pictures like the ones above, it makes me want to I hate to say it choke someone.
You literally have to rob a bank to buy one of these things and to see workmanship like that, smart cap needs to send a dealer out to that representative and have them pulled from their sales list.That is absolutely horrible work, i'm sorry that happened,
I've had minor leaks with mine, that was minor tweaking. It stays dry and my dogs love the little side windows plus I love them staying out of the truck.

Timely thread. As I research caps, there’s one I can immediately rule out. The range of issues contributors have pointed out here is inexcusable. Seals, powder coating, construction, and installation—these are well-understood practices by now.

Yes a paint issue, yet a nice cap, keep everything tight and they work great. Unfortunately, everything that I've seen in the pictures. Looks like poor construction on the dealer's part, and that is unfortunate for the people that are buying them.
I would buy it again even with the problem that i've had.
Aubrey at Smart cap has been reputable and, good to work with.

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