RSI SmartCap Long Term Review | Survives Jumping in the Ford Raptor

My Long Term Review of my RSI SmartCap EVO on my 2017 Ford Raptor.
Just going over my experience with it and how i feel about it. Not many good reviews on these so figured id do my own.
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[@butch1254]

Great video! Thanks! You just chilling in the rain talking about the RSI.. clearly you are accustomed to the rain, just another day for the Pacific NW. thanks!

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Yea I like the rain haha. Usually doesn’t bother me.

[@TacomaSteelhead]

Hey! I got one of the first rsi caps on the west coast in 2020. Leaked like a b**** RSI was great. Sent new seals. New everything. Tried it all. They eventually sent me a new cap. Yes. It was that bad. The new one leaks worse. I’ve no talked to anyone else who has had these problems. Nice to see it works for most folks.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

I met someone else who’s leaked a ton too up here. I was either lucky or you guys were unlucky haha.

[@trivialone11]

Love my RSI. 2018 F150. Yep frozen locks at The Summit Ski. RSI sent the latch cover's lickity-split. on the list for new lock sets. PWN!!!

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Yea I got my new latches and covers witching a week. Hopefully those new ones come out soon haha.

[@FarmerSarducci]

Right before the cold season, drench your locks with WD-40. I haven’t had any problems with my locks freezing after doing that.

[@micahbowen184]

I live in the INW, it's funny that everyone calls it the PNW here too.. I guess it sounds cooler.. anyhow, just got this on my trail boss.. it's awesome

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Where’s the INW?

[@dissonant_a]

Thanks for this mate. Been on the fence about these. Looks mint.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Yea they are nice. Definitely the way to go over a fiberglass one.

[@davepayne2024]

Cool

[@brettbonotto5840]

Nice! Any issues with the molle panels interfering with the mounts for the RSI?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

No I mentioned it at one point but they have just enough clearance to not touch.

[@RickReardon]

Great video! Can I ask, what length Frontrunner bars you went with? I have a 21 F150 Rocky Ridge.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

It’s a front runner kit for the rsi the 1255mm wide. Here is the link. www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/rsi-dc-smart-canopy-load-bar-kit-1255mm.html

[@RickReardon]

@@Exploringthewildlands Thanks much! It's what I thought was the correct width. Appreciate the verification.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@@RickReardon no problem!

[@Crumb_Trails]

Have you had to take the cap off? I'm wondering how difficult it would be should I need to. I'm looking at putting the Smart Cap on a 350 Tremor

[@Exploringthewildlands]

I haven’t taken it off. But I’ve had to move it to install something and once the clamps were off it was easy to lift by myself and move back about a foot. But definitely gonna want 4 people to take off.

[@ClemHo]

Thanks for the video and overview. I was curious if the rear slider (truck) sealed to the front slider (Smart Cap) which I can see now that it doesn't. Did you do any suspension upgrades (in general) or any upgrades to deal with the added weight of the cap?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

No I didn’t change the rear suspension at that point. Being around 180lbs it didn’t really do much. I know some people think the weigh more but me and one other guy easily pulled it off to put on another truck.

[@ClemHo]

@@ExploringthewildlandsDid you find the rear sagged at all with the cap and your gear loaded? I found on my 2020 that the rear end can sag a bit and get a little bouncy even with only a few hundred pounds loaded in the bed. I wonder if that is a result of the "live" suspension.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@@ClemHo I definitely sagged with all the gear. I may have dropped about 1/4 inch with the cap alone. At least on the non live valve a little weight made the rear bounce less. But once going with deavers it’s completely different. No bounce always plush but also stays stout too. Overall feels softer even though it isn’t

[@ClemHo]

@@Exploringthewildlands I will check them out. I'm going to blaspheme a bit... I rarely off-road (to almost none at all, occasionally camping but nothing extreme) but I would love my truck to be a bit more "useable" in terms of payload and road trips, hauling gear and our 5 place Velocirax bike rack without it looking like (and driving like) I'm rolling around with a "Carolina Squat". Would you recommend only adding Deavers or should a person also do something to the front suspension as well? P.S. Thanks for all the advice.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@@ClemHo even if you don’t off road the deavers made onroad 100 percent better too. I have the hd packs as well so an extra 400-500lbs of payload. I did do a 1.5” collar in front. Took away some bounce. Of road is more stout but still just as soft. In the long run I want aftermarket coilovers so didn’t want to spend that much up front. But I’ve been in a a raptor with eibach springs and definitely felt stiff compared so glad I just did the small collar. I may do an actual walk around on my truck soon. Show how it sits and how it works now that I’ve changed stuff.

[@Nate-zy5ce]

Good review. A question, if you will. I'll be getting an F150 later this year or early 2025. I anticipate getting either this RSI Smartcap, or getting a Diamondback HD bed cover. The bed cover of course would be a lot lower and if I chose to put a rooftop tent on it on a low rack it would be streamlined, about even with the cab top, maybe allowing a canoe or kayaks above the cab, while if I got this smartcap and put up a rooftop tent, it would likely be too high to but a canoe or kayaks above the cab since they'd need to extend behind the cab some and the tent would get in the way. My question, do you have any thoughts on that choice a high end bedcover like the Diamondback HD or the RSI Smartcap? Thanks. I live in a drier, hotter climate in the summer, though I do get around the country.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Those diamondback covers are really nice. Running one of those with a tent on it is nice for not going above the cab. Then you can run a thicker tent too. Would you get a roof rack to mount kayaks then? I had that problem with my tent on I couldn’t really travel with my kayaks. Now I can since i have the whole gfc platform camper. Since it’s hard shell I have racks on top of it to run kayaks.

[@Nate-zy5ce]

@@Exploringthewildlands There is a hardshell pop up tent I am considering that does allow for a rack on top of it. But that would make the kayaks awfully high up, top heavy, if all that was on top of the RSI. I've never used a popup tent though, so am investigating, and still deciding if I want a rooftop tent or just to pack in a regular tent stored in the back and put it up on the ground wherever I go. I've even considered having both since sometimes you can't find a level place to park but a short ways a way would be a level spot to pitch a tent. Still deciding. Both the RSI Smartcap and Diamondback HD bedcover look like great products. I just go round and round. One thing about the Diamondback HD, when there's no tent on top, it would be like driving around with a portable backyard deck, great for putting a lounge chair or two and a cooler on top, all the storage still underneath. And stairs too, with the F150, just pull out the step, and step onto that, then onto the open tailgate, and then one big step up onto the Diamondback. But that spacious 3 sided access of the RSI really is something.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@@Nate-zy5ce plus the diamond back will still resemble a truck and not an suv like with a rsi. More secure too since there’s no glass to break too.

[@Kaiser333333]

Those maxtrax mounts are awesome, if you think of the guy who makes them (not sure if its an etsy thing) please let us know. I am about to buy a Smartcap Evo Adventure and would really like those!

[@Exploringthewildlands]

I made the mount. Just got the idea of someone else on instagram. Just bought the Maxtrax mounting pins and bolted them to the pieces of steel then mounted them. I could show more on the mount if you wanted?

[@Kaiser333333]

@@Exploringthewildlands No that makes sense, thanks for the quick response! I am not a hardcore offroader, i live in the PNW and have maxtrax really only for getting out of a mess, not for everyday use. I am thinking of moving to Alaska in the next year though so all of this will be very useful to me. Thanks for the review it was really helpful!

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@@Kaiser333333 oh gotcha. Yea I don’t use them a ton that’s why I wanted them up out of the way but easy enough to grab when we do need them.

[@gsrport1]

@@Exploringthewildlands I would love to see how you did it if that’s cool really love this idea thank you

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@@gsrport1 yea I can make a video about it. I may make it as a short since it’s pretty simple. Let me see in the next week or so.

[@TheGodSchema]

I was waiting for you to say which state it was, I was certain you were in Oregon based on the soggy wetness that I see.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Oh haha in Western Washington.

[@bajamedic]

Do you think that my GJ third brake light would fit between the cap and the cab?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Yea it should fit. There is a decent amount of space there. It’s set into the cap a little bit. I’ll try and get a video of it in my next video. I’m actually selling the smartcap. Definitely was not the plan when making the review. I still think it’s the best cap you can get.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

In my newest video posted today I show the gap around the third break light a bit. It’s at about 9:55 in the video if you want to see it.

[@5thgen1]

Did off-road alliance shipped to your house and you did a self install?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Yes they shipped it. Came freight then I had to assemble and install it.

[@Nate-zy5ce]

Oh, and how do you like your Raptor in the woods with that wider stance? I hear people say get the Raptor for wide open spaces and deserts, but get the Tremor for areas like where you are in this video. But I wonder about that. I mean lots of people buy regular F150's, level or lift em, and offset the tires, many as much as half to all of the extra width of the Raptor. Any thoughts on this? Thanks. I'm going round and round on this question too. Getting an F150 Platinum Plus lift it 3-4", add bigger 35 tires with an offset, that luxury interior is tempting, but then that Raptor, well, that is so very tempting for so many reasons.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

I love it. Have a million pin stripes but I don’t really care. If you’re full size you’re full size on these tight trails.

[@Nate-zy5ce]

@@Exploringthewildlands Apparently the 2025 Raptor will have an increased payload capacity, not up to that of the Tremor, but closer.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@Nate-zy5ce yea they seem to keep adding a little bit each generation. I ended up getting Deaver HD leafs to hold more weight. They’re like 450lbs over stock for payload.

[@Nate-zy5ce]

@@Exploringthewildlands Do those decrease the famous buttery smooth highway drive of the Raptor?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@Nate-zy5ce no it’s better in every aspect. No more jitter especially on rough trails. The rear end bounces around a ton With stock leafs. It’s pretty much the one upgrade you have to do. Everything else can stay stock and be good. They make non hd ones too but I put my hds on with out anything in the bed just before going to get my gfc and I was surprised it was still as smooth as stock but felt better. Went and immediately jumped the truck and definitely was blown away.

[@TheSgt93]

What hood antenna mount is that? Been looking and can’t find it. Thanks in advance.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

It’s a rugged radios stubby uhf antenna. Found the cheapest a pillar light mount then mounted a small 90 degree bracket to it that fits the antenna.

[@TheSgt93]

@@Exploringthewildlands thank you!

[@LolaNeverLeaves]

how is the visibility through the rear view with a tinted cap on?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Can see well during the day. At night it’s a little dark but makes it very nice when cars with bright lights are behind you.

[@cajun869]

How does the rear door interface with Ford's stupid idea of how a rear tailgate is shaped and looks? Especially since the rear door flap doesn't cover the top of the tailgate like every other manufacturer out there? How far over the roof of the truck does the cap sit? Thanks you

[@Exploringthewildlands]

The rear door is still just a straight seal that lines up with the inside of the tailgate. Seals tight so really no water intrusion. And for height it’s right about the same as the cab.

[@cajun869]

@@Exploringthewildlands Thanks for your help. Nice setup

[@justisheitz1038]

How did you get this I can’t find anyone who has them in stock anywhere

[@Exploringthewildlands]

Off road alliance got like 5 in, in October of 2021. I am putting it up for sale though. Ended up going with a gfc a couple weeks ago.

[@saloon.studios]

@@Exploringthewildlands still selling?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@@saloon.studios actually sold in April.

[@5thgen1]

What was wrong with the rsi?

[@theangrycamper]

Are the latches able to be opened from the inside when its locked?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

No they aren’t.

[@theangrycamper]

@@Exploringthewildlands so then can they be opened from the inside when they are not locked?

[@theangrycamper]

I am just thinking about buying one and using it to sleep in instead of a rtt and would like the security of being able to be locked.

[@Exploringthewildlands]

@@theangrycamper yea they can’t be opened even unlocked. They did tell me they were coming out with new latches that you can open from the inside. Not sure if they’re out already or not.

[@theangrycamper]

@@ExploringthewildlandsOh snap, that is a huge issue then, I will reach out to them and ask if the latches are available as of now. thanks!!!

[@rorycompton8138]

Sounds like you put your dogs in there. Ever notice they get stressed in there during the summer?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

They don’t go in there they are in the back seat.

[@Sanjuk0522]

Which loadbar is that?

[@Exploringthewildlands]

It’s from front runner. RSI DOUBLE CAB SMART CANOPY LOAD BAR KIT / 1255MM