All You Need To Know About SmartCap
When it comes to truck bed caps, fiberglass constructed caps have been king for quite some time. However, SmartCap is determined to give them a run for their money. If you aren’t familiar with SmartCap, they’re a brand out of South Africa with roots that run deep in the camping, overlanding, and safari lifestyle space. They created a modular, stainless steel alternative to the traditional fiberglass truck bed cap back in 2007. Since then, they have grown the business in a major way. They now have a manufacturing facility here in the US, with top of the line manufacturing, and more efficient shipping timeframes.
Speaking of shipping, one of the major benefits with SmartCap is the ability to order this cap and have it delivered right to your door! Unlike a traditional fiberglass cap that comes in 1 piece and has to be shipped to a dealer, SmartCap comes in 3-5 pieces (depending on the model) which allows them to package this unit very conveniently on a smaller pallet with a heavy duty cardboard box. When you get the package to your door and open it up, you’ll notice that there is an instruction QR code right on top. Upon scanning you’ll see that they have well written, detailed instructions, including pictures for every step of the install. The box turns into a clean, padded installation platform for you to assemble the unit on.
We’ve been running a SmartCap on our company F250 for some time now, but recently we added the brand to our site and had the opportunity to install the first model we sold onto a customer’s F150. Throughout the install process it’s clear that quality and precision is at the heart of this company and their product. The seals on every seam looked perfect with extra padding in the more critical areas like corners. The rubber trim that seals the side panels was robust and heavy duty, and the latches used on the side and back panels are secure and satisfying to use.
SmartCaps are offered in 4 distinct models, the EVO Sport, EVO Adventure, EVO Commercial, and EVO Defender. Each model has different features designed to make sure your specific needs are covered. With the Commercial model we installed, you get full metal side panels with integrated MOLLE on the inside, along with a professional looking white paint job on the unit, which matches well with most white work trucks. If you’re looking for a cap on a personal truck and you aren’t crazy about the white paint, check out their Sport, Adventure, or Defender models, which all come in black. The Sport model is going to have glass on all sides making it the most similar to a traditional truck cap, the Adventure is similar to the Commercial model in construction, but not in color (black vs white paint), and the Defender takes security to the next level by going with metal panels on all sides, ensuring your valuables are protected from prying eyes.
When shopping these units you’ll quickly notice that there are a number of accessories offered for SmartCaps. The ones I want to highlight are the roof add-ons, and the bins. The roof add-ons available are load bars, platform rack, roller rack, and drop rack.
The load bars will allow you to carry items like kayaks, canoes, bikes, rooftop tents with ease along with commercial items like ladders and longer items like conduit, if secured properly. Think of them like traditional roof crossbars, but much beefier and with the ability to add T-slot accessories.
The platform rack on the other hand is a great option if you have a variety of smaller items that wouldn’t be able to span the gap between two load bars. It offers much more square footage to mount items to, along with an outer rail system that offers endless tie-down points.
The roller rack takes the utility of the platform rack and adds ease of loading/unloading thanks to 2 integrated roller bars and numerous tie down straps located throughout the platform. This model would be ideal for the commercial user and makes a great addition to the EVO Commercial model.
The drop rack is the ultimate rooftop storage solution for the outdoor enjoyer. Camping prep becomes much easier when using this model as its platform is split into 2 sides, one which is stationary, and one which slides out and drops down next to the side panel of the SmartCap. It is assisted by hydraulic shocks as well ensuring the rack half, and your cargo, has a controlled descent from the roof.
The bin systems from SmartCap come in a few different configurations, suited for a variety of users and tasks. They are offered in half MOLLE, full MOLLE, drawer bin, and kitchen bin.
The MOLLE bin models offer a simple way to customize your gear. Opening the side panels of your SmartCap gives you immediate access to your gear attached to these bins. They're offered in half, and full-size models.
The drawer bin would be a great addition for the folks who have tools and want to set them up in a certain way, like you would with a traditional toolbox drawer.
The kitchen bin is the bin of choice if you're looking to set you truck up for camping, or tailgating. It has everything you'd need for some coffee or breakfast next to the trail.
In conclusion, SmartCap has truly revolutionized the truck bed cap market by offering a robust, modular, and highly customizable stainless steel alternative to traditional fiberglass options. From its origins in the demanding South African overlanding scene to its current US manufacturing, SmartCap's commitment to quality and precision is evident in every aspect of its product. The user-friendly assembly, and superior build quality set it apart. With a diverse range of models and an extensive array of accessories from roof add-ons, to versatile bin systems, SmartCap caters to a broad spectrum of users, from commercial professionals to avid outdoor enthusiasts. This innovative approach not only addresses various practical needs but also ensures durability, security, and ease of use, making SmartCap a compelling choice for anyone seeking a premium truck bed cap solution.