OVS expedition cap

[Wolfman00]

i’m most likely switching to a cap soon, and saw overland vehicle systems is releasing this cap for the ranger in august.
i haven’t seen much on it, does anyone that’s more “in the know” have any info on it? i know they were at expo.

apparently its made from 304 stainless, weighs 175, and holds 800 on the roof static, 325 dynamic. other than that i got nothing.

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[tcour]

I called the company a few months ago and paid for one. I originally wanted to go with RSI but a few buddies of mine have nothing but horror stories regarding leaking and frozen locks. Figured with OVS being less expensive than RSI it was worth a shot. The guy I spoke with said they have a lifetime warranty for just about everything short of rolling the truck and I personally like that it does not have side windows.

Unfortunately I can't really share much more until I receive it and can put it through its paces.

EDIT: When I spoke with them a few months ago, I was told to expect it around the end of the year or very early next year. Would be very happy if it comes in August, just in time for my bday... =P

 

[Wolfman00]

I called the company a few months ago and paid for one. I originally wanted to go with RSI but a few buddies of mine have nothing but horror stories regarding leaking and frozen locks. Figured with OVS being less expensive than RSI it was worth a shot. The guy I spoke with said they have a lifetime warranty for just about everything short of rolling the truck and I personally like that it does not have side windows.

Unfortunately I can't really share much more until I receive it and can put it through its paces.

EDIT: When I spoke with them a few months ago, I was told to expect it around the end of the year or very early next year. Would be very happy if it comes in August, just in time for my bday... =P

oh cool. we need to keep this thread live. a friend of mine is waiting for them to be released too,

 

[Wes Siler]

OVS: The Harbor Freight of 4x4 accessories.

 

[tcour]

OVS: The Harbor Freight of 4x4 accessories.

What makes you say that? Have you had any experience with other products from the company? I can cancel my order up until whenever it actually ships... Really wish we had more topper options other than basic fiberglass toppers or the ridiculously expensive RSI. Currently running some BillieBars and I'm not happy with them.

 

[Wes Siler]

What makes you say that? Have you had any experience with other products from the company? I can cancel my order up until whenever it actually ships... Really wish we had more topper options other than basic fiberglass toppers or the ridiculously expensive RSI. Currently running some BillieBars and I'm not happy with them.

They take existing designs from other companies, remove anything difficult to manufacture, make stuff at cut rate prices in China, then sell them at discount prices here in the U.S. If that's not a Harbor Freight analog, I don't know what is.

I've started helping GFC out with some PR and marketing stuff and my little brother is their product designer, so take this for what you will, but this remains the highest quality bed cap you can buy. It'll out last any truck you mount it to:

 

[Wolfman00]

back on topic, ha

so what other options are out there?
kinda burst my bubble a bit,

 

[Wes Siler]

back on topic, ha

so what other options are out there?
kinda burst my bubble a bit,

Sorry, I ruin everything.

AT Overland makes another great product: https://atoverland.com/pages/at-truck-cap-topper

In general, I'd encourage people to consider business models when shopping for any product, as a way to calculate value.

Using OVS as an example, some random factory in China is selling them products with a 50 to 100 percent markup, they're paying to ship containers of those to America, then selling those to distributors at a 20 to 50 percent margin, who are selling them to dealers at same, then you at same. So you end up paying $3k for something that maybe costs $300?

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I am interested in the OVS topper. I will say, I love my RSi SmartCap. I put it together myself and have zero issues. It also cost twice as much.

I can't imagine the SmartCap costs $4000 to manufacture, so... there is always a mark up.

I have the OVS awning and I have been very impressed with it so far. There is something to be said about offering a product at affordable prices. That being said, the OVS cap does seem to be a direct rip off of the RSi SmartCap.

 

[Wes Siler]

I am interested in the OVS topper. I will say, I love my RSi SmartCap. I put it together myself and have zero issues. It also cost twice as much.

I can't imagine the SmartCap costs $4000 to manufacture, so... there is always a mark up.

I have the OVS awning and I have been very impressed with it so far. There is something to be said about offering a product at affordable prices. That being said, the OVS cap does seem to be a direct rip off of the RSi SmartCap.

RSIs are made in SA by local laborers earning $2/hr. Same deal with distributor and dealers, so you're still spending thousands on a product that ultimately cost a couple hundred.

You off-road a bit, you will eventually suffer a failure.

 

[Wolfman00]

so the other possible idea is the new extrusion overland rack/cap. the modular nature of that cap seems like i could change it based on needs. and with two little kids that’s a weekly thing.

 

[Wolfman00]

seems like the sky is the limit. saw an awesome one from nuthouse industries. 6k though.

i guess a standard ARE is in my future.

 

[Wes Siler]

so the other possible idea is the new extrusion overland rack/cap. the modular nature of that cap seems like i could change it based on needs. and with two little kids that’s a weekly thing.

Why not just go with the brand everyone else here is ripping off?

 

[tcour]

GFC is great but I could also purchase a human heart for the amount of money they think its worth

 

[Wes Siler]

GFC is great but I could also purchase a human heart for the amount of money they think its worth

There's a right way and a wrong way to make stuff, and that will bear out as you use products, and rely on them in harsh conditions. GFC is direct to consumer, so you're not putting 40 percent of your money in a middle man's, and then a dealer's pocket. You're paying the same price for as a SmartCap, but getting over $3k in actual cost rather than $300.

It's no coincidence that other, foreign-made, distributor-and-dealer model products look just like the original. But look at the specs. OVS quotes 800 pounds of static load (with no methodology about how they calculated that), GFC conservatively quotes 800 pounds dynamic, and shows its products carrying a 5,000 pound truck on top.

The other problem with stuff designed and made in China or SA, the sold through dealers here is going to be support. When something goes wrong with a cheap knock off, who's going to pick up the phone? Are they going to have parts? Where are those parts located? Odds are, if they can help you at all, you're going to be looking at a total replacement cap, on who knows what timeline.

Roll your GFC in Death Valley? You can bring it to the shop in San Diego for a checkup, but odds are you aren't going to find anything wrong with it:

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