Soft topper

[GunsAreFun]

I have had one for four years.

Pros:
Its pros are well advertised. Keeps stuff dry. Easy to fold down or take off completely. My kids love getting in it if we stop for food. I’ve camped in it a few times, and it is serviceable for that.

Cons:
It obviously provides no security at all other than out of sight out of mind. It robs you of gas mileage on the highway…1.5-3mpg depending on truck and speed. It creates blind spots when backing up that aren’t a big deal if you have cameras, especially 360 cameras, but are pretty annoying and kind of dangerous if you don’t. It really limits the clarity and volume of your rear view mirror view. The rear windows are dust magnets on dirt roads. Don’t even bother cleaning them.

When I got a new truck last winter, it was the first thing I bought for it. That said, a few months later I bought a hard tri-folder and haven’t had my Softopper on since. It is more secure…though still venerable…keeps things cooler in the back, seems to help MPG, and is faster to remove. It’s nicer in the soft topper being able to climb in to get things in the back, but I’m working on a simple diy bedside for that.

I’m not sure how much more use the soft topper will get. If there is just two of us per truck hunting, I’ll probably stick to the tri fold because I dont need the vertical volume, and I don’t want to lose any more gas mileage than I already do driving 80 on Hwy 70. I mag still use it for deer season in Missouri as I usually spend a few impromptu nights in the woods.

 

[Carr5vols]

Really like mine stays on 50% of the time. Other time when I need security I have a hard tonneau. If someone wants in they will get in. Have completed 3000 mile trips up to 80 mph no issues. Does cut my fuel mileage by about 1.5 mpg. Would do again. I found on Craigslist for about .3rd price of new.

Bottom pic is a little blurry but they are awesome for one person trips.

 

[Cantshoot]

I put a soft topper on my truck for trip out west from the east coast. I figured I would take it off when I got home but it’s been on the truck ever since. I bought it used for $300, the guy had it for several years and it’s been on mine for 3 and still in great shape. I never thought I’d like a shell on my truck but I like the soft topper.

 

[Cedarsavage]

I had one on my old truck
Pros
-cheaper
-easier on and off
-can fold down
Cons
-after a couple years quite a few of the snaps were rusted out
-weathered kinda hard


Would I buy another? Idk maybe

 

[roosiebull]

Mine (softtopper) is 12 years old on my Tacoma and still going strong—has never leaked.

The only drawback I can think of is the vinyl "windows" get dirty and you lose your rearview mirror, but you still have two mirrors and a backup camera

Mine is on a shortbed so it doesn't give me full coverage for sleeping in the rear; however I found I can rig two trekking poles (with the tailgate down) to lift the rear portion affording me a little more coverage for my feet area.

Mine is a short bed taco as well, so I too have to drop the tailgate to sleep back there, but I know that is easy to overcome

 

[Clovis]

I put a Softopper on my short bed Tacoma too and it does what I need it to do. I did the initial install in very cold weather and that wasn't easy. I ended up laying it over the frame and then warming it with a Coleman stove in the bed. Worked like a charm but probably not recommended. Sure it would have been different when it was warmer. I cracked the back window during the warranty period due to the extreme cold and rolling it up every day and they were quick to send a replacement. I don't love the look of it, but it is what it is. My primary concern was cover for a couple of dog boxes I have installed in the bed and it is great for that--warmer in winter and I can roll the sides and back to make it into more of a shade cover in the summer. I don't find it hard to see out the back and have completely gotten used to it. Light, not too pricey, easy to adjust or remove and provides a clean dry space out of the weather for gear. I had a hard tonneau on the bed for years and much prefer the Softopper. Wish I had done it sooner.

 

[mtwarden]

Here's what I do to get a little more rain/snow protection w/ the shortbed and topper

The trekking pole loop is put over the rod that's at the bottom of the window and the tip inserted into the factory rail where it meets part of the topper hardware (you might have to adjust the length of the trekking pole).

Gives you a little additional coverage on your foot end.

 

[Clovis]

Here's what I do to get a little more rain/snow protection w/ the shortbed and topper

The trekking pole loop is put over the rod that's at the bottom of the window and the tip inserted into the factory rail where it meets part of the topper hardware (you might have to adjust the length of the trekking pole).

Gives you a little additional coverage on your foot end.

That's pretty slick--nice idea!

 

[3Esski]

I’ve had mine for 7 or 8 years and it is great. A hard shell is certainly nice for security reasons, probably a bit warmer if you were going to sleep in the bed, and I do get a little water in the front corner occasionally. But I can take it off or put it on in less that 10 minutes easily. No complaints overall and would definitely get another if this one dies.

 

[BBob]

On occasion I'll use a tailgate tent extension. Softopper sells them but they can be had cheaper. With a little practice you can put it on in 5 minutes and take it off quicker.

 

[17Hunter]

I have one on a chevy colorado the last 4 years. I love, except if you are in and out of the back very often dealing with the zippers is a pain. I got the Agri-Cover Outlander, with windows all the way around. Has held up with zero issues or leaks. They are difficult to deal with in cold weather. The vinyl gets pretty stiff and shrinks up a bit.

 

[spike camp]

Mine is a short bed taco as well, so I too have to drop the tailgate to sleep back there, but I know that is easy to overcome

May have been mentioned, have you checked out the inflatable toppers?
Buddy has one and said you can’t even tell it’s an inflatable.

 

[roosiebull]

May have been mentioned, have you checked out the inflatable toppers?
Buddy has one and said you can’t even tell it’s an inflatable.

No, didn’t even know that they were a thing

 

[roosiebull]

I have one on a chevy colorado the last 4 years. I love, except if you are in and out of the back very often dealing with the zippers is a pain. I got the Agri-Cover Outlander, with windows all the way around. Has held up with zero issues or leaks. They are difficult to deal with in cold weather. The vinyl gets pretty stiff and shrinks up a bit.

I would have to really time it right to have any issues in cold weather. We have about 5 mornings a year that is below 30. I’m on the Oregon coast, so cold isn’t a concern

It can be cold mid April when I go east to hunt turkey, but unless it’s for sure dry weather, I just put my tent up and sleep in that. It would be nice to not have my cab a complete mess of gear on that trip. Midsize pickups fill up quickly

 

[huntineveryday]

I've had one for 2 years now. Got it primarily for protecting dogs in the back. Out of the wind in the winter, out of the rain in the summer, in the shade when it's hot. If temps start rising I roll the sides up and it stays shaded with plenty of airflow. I usually have the mesh back panel on all summer, even in the sun it doesn't seem to get nearly as hot under there as it does with the window panel. And I can see out of the mesh better. If it gets dusty, just smack or wipe it quick and it's back to good. And it really doesn't let that much moisture in when it rains. Just keep stuff back from the tailgate a little and it stays dry. That vinyl window is a dirt magnet that is never clean for very long. I am pretty much waiting until I crack it getting in and out of the back hunting in January. I don't notice any difference in gas mileage with it on or off, which surprised me a little.

Iwould definitely one again, but next time I would get a mesh panel and a solid panel and just forget about that back window altogether.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I have had a WildTop for a year and love it. The roof rack is great and a big benefit over other brands, though it does catch air on the highway (you can hear it, I haven’t noticed a mileage difference). The topper is fully waterproof, and surprisingly dust-proof (I live on a gravel road). I have had no issues with zippers, I do lube them with silicone spray. The “windows” aren’t great, but I didn’t expect them to be. The side zip panels are a nice addition for sure. If I had one complaint it would be that the entire thing gets a little stiff and harder to use (zip, roll) in the cold.

 

[svivian]

No, didn’t even know that they were a thing

AIR-TOPPER

Discover FLATED's Air-Topper collection – the original inflatable truck toppers. Lightweight, durable, and easy to install, with full-time utility at highway speeds. Use our year, make, and model fitment search to find the perfect topper for your truck. Shop now for innovative truck solutions!

flated.com

I believe there is a thread on here about these

edit: found it https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/flated-truck-toppers.399322/

 

[goathunter]

I got the straight fabric replacement back window when I bought mine, no one can peek in and I read the plastic window cracks. Also velcroed a magnet strip to it instead of sticking Velcro to my truck. I put a strip of clear bra on the tailgate to protect. I did drill button snaps into the front bulkhead and 2 of those have pulled out so I may try to stick Velcro there. Has held up fine for 3 winters and has had heavy wet snowload