REVIEW: RSI SmartCap Evo Sport
So I figured we’d kick off some of our gear and tech posts with a review of something I’ve been utilizing for a while: The RSI SmartCap Evo Sport truck topper for my 2018 Tacoma.
Now, I used to not be a big fan of truck toppers… I felt like many of them turned your sexy, squatty Tacomas into a “grandpa truck,” especially with the fiberglass varieties of toppers. Researching how to live out of my Tacoma, a truck topper seemed like the natural solution for many of my logistical concerns but… once again…“grandpa truck.” If you’re going to build a bad ass rig, it not only needs to be functional but aesthetically pleasing too. Long gone are the days where the only people who had truck toppers were grandpas, serial killers, and the Terminix guy… companies like RSI SmartCap, Alu Cab, and Go Fast Campers are bringing sexy back in the topper world.
Photo Credit: Mack Williams (@mack.williams42)
Why a Topper/Cap?
Gear Protection: between overlanding and Search & Rescue, I have a ton of valuable gear to carry around. Protecting it from the elements, keeping it organized, and keeping it secure from theft are critical for me. A truck topper would help in this regard.
Secondary shelter: in the event that I wanted to stealth camp, using a topper would be a quick and dirty solution. I have yet to pull up into a Cracker Barrel for a nap, but it’s nice knowing I have that option especially with how far I travel for SAR.
My Choice: RSI SmartCap
There are few countries out there live, breathe, eat, and sleep Overlanding: Australia, South Africa, and South Korea (Canada and the US are a little late to the ballgame on it comparatively). Most of the good stuff comes from companies based out of one of these three areas… and RSI SmartCap is one of them. Originating from South Africa, RSI SmartCap was built with a modular design that understood the rigors of driving your vehicle on uneven terrain in absolute dog shit weather. Seeing as I too intend on driving in horrible conditions, taking all my precious cargo with me, I gravitated towards RSI compared to Leer, Snugtop, ARE, and your grandpa’s other fiberglass favorites. Companies with similar designs like Alu-Cab and RLD Designs had an incredibly long wait time for me to get a topper, which I felt was a critical component for my build. Without the topper, I couldn’t mount the tent or continue on with the other parts of my build I wanted. The RSI SmartCap is also pretty damn light compared to other toppers, and can be dismantled completely when not it use. This is a plus for a solo female overlander who has to rely on themselves to re-configure their set ups. The SmartCaps also come with swappable bins, half bins, and even kitchens if you feel like lighting money on fire… which is another thing that sold me on them.
But mostly, because Offroad Alliance in Conroe, TX, gave me a sweet deal…
The Good:
Gullwing doors and “doggie windows”: easy access from every side of the truck and each window (minus the rear) has small slide windows for ventillation. This is great for trips where I have the roof top tent and my dog, Blitz, who is 80lbs. and has dysplasia in 3 out of 4 of his limbs. At night, I can turn my entire truck bed into a giant doggie kennel for him to stretch out and sleep with plenty of ventilation and protection.
Positive pressure ventilation: living in the desert for three decades, I absolutely hate dust. I despise it. Dust has destroyed so much of my SAR gear and medical equipment that I was constantly cleaning and rotating inventory, often times trashing hundreds of dollars of supplies. This topper has yet to have a single leak or breach with dust, which I believe is largely due to the ventilation on the roof as well as the gaskets throughout the cap’s seams.
Weight: truck toppers can be heavy… but the RSI SmartCap is fairly light compared to their fiberglass counterparts. It can handle 770lbs static and 330lbs dynamic weight, which is perfect for RTT’s and other gear. It also weights 226lbs, which is great for a truck that has limited load carrying capacity like the Tacoma.
Modularity: The RSI SmartCap is fairly modular, which is a huge plus. I can swap out left and right gullwing doors for full or half bins,
Looks: Biggest selling point is that these look straight up sexy. My truck doesn’t have as much of a “grandpa” vibe to it with these caps. The design is sleek, sexy, and looks like a spaceship instead of a boat.
The Bad:
Mold: maybe it’s because I live in Houston where it’s rainy and moist all the time, but I feel like my gaskets around the seams of my topper have got a weird, whitish/gray mold growing on them. Haven’t figured out what that is yet, or how to get rid of it… it’s not a deal breaker though.
Truck bed limitation: This goes with any truck topper minus those soft tops that roll back… you’ve now eliminated your ability to haul tall or very large items in the bed of your truck. Gone are the days where I could throw my dirt bike in the back… but then again, I hated loading those in the bed solo anyways. Instead, I’ve opted for a hitch carrier which seems to be easier for me to handle alone.
Portable table: The portable table I have installed on the ceiling of the topper is a great addition, but it’s not without its flaws. First off, it was a pain in the ass to install. Secondly, it did not want to line up and secure correctly. Thirdly, it is NOT ergonomic for short people. You have to be sure to install it as far aft as possible, and if you have a lift on your truck it’ll be a giant pain in the ass to reach it. Deal break? No. Pain in the ass (and back)? Yes.
Locks: the locks work great, until you live in a rainy/humid location then they start to get difficult to lock/unlock. Fortunately that’s an easy fix with a spray of dry lube on the locks and key… just put the key in and lock/unlock it a few times and viola! Your locks are lubed again. Other concern I have is that you can’t seem to unlock it from the inside… so if I wanted to stealth camp, I can’t easily hit a switch on the inside to let me out… which that would be an awkward AAA call.
The Ugly:
Removability: You can’t remove it easily… but that’s a problem with every truck topper minus the Soft Toppers. Fortunately, I think I have found the solution to this issue with the “Rapid Topper” system that I am eagerly awaiting shipment of to have this capability.
