Soft Topper

There is a small gap at each corner, I just live with it and have yet to get any water inside the bed while camping. IMO this is the ONLY area where a hard topper outperforms in that it is sealed.

 

This seems to be the best thread for the soft topper so I'll ask my question here.

How much of the sliding bed rail system functionality is reduced with this thing installed?

Thanks

 

The middle of the side rail is blocked by the softopper frame. There is a flap of fabric that covers the rail behind the cab, but I unsnap the flap if I need to attach something, there is velcro that holds it to the top rail.

 

I'm sold. That's not bad at all. Still plenty of places to tie down cargo.

 

Wore a Softopper on my 99 taco for over 5 years with no problems. Lots of camping in it in all weather conditions and nary a leak or problem with big snow. In hot weather the sides roll up for ventilation. The only thing it couldn't stand up to was that 2 ton delivery truck that destroyed my truck. One of the first additions to my new 2013 taco was another Softopper. Extremely versatile and tough. I love em.

 

I actually found that it reduced drag a bit on my 99 and I gained a bit of MPG. Since the new one on my new 2013 sits "in" from the cab a bit I expect the same. Kind of like a boat-tail bullet effect.

 

Mine works well

 

hey everyone.

For a quick refresh and touch up, wash the topper thoroughly, let it dry completely.

Head to walmart, in the camping section they sell a heavy duty water proof spray, has an orange cap and is usually next to the 3m scotch guard.

Spray it really good, it'll "rewaterproof" it (not like it's needed but can't hurt) but it will really bring back the color and newness look. Great move for under 5.00.

 

Reduces drag? On my '99 and my '05 I saw/see a significant reduction in MPG.

On another topic: Who has filled the gap between the cab and front of the top? What did you use? I'm sick of digging the snow out of the gap and listening to the ice rattle against the window.

 

It attaches using Velcro strips you tape to the back. It mostly works, I need to apply some more glue to the strips before this summer due to wear-off. It also leaks a little inside the truck.

 

I found a soft topper for a t100 75 inch bed, my bed on my tacoma is just shy of that. What would I have to do to make it fit? The guy only wants 150 for it

 

Check the width of the T100 bed and compare. How long is your bed 72"? Length wise I think you could put the rails up far enough toward the front of the bed to make it fit. My concern would be the width.

 

Buy a T100. Lol, sorry. If it doesnt fit close enough for your liking, there isnt much else you can do.

 

I'm going on 4 years with my Softopper so I thought I'd share some of my thoughts:

I've taken it through a handful of automatic washes and through Hurricane Irene with no problems. I have driven maybe ~110mph with it. (Downhill only: truck doesn't drive that fast.) Its basic design is sturdy.

I laced the doggy door shut using a hole punch and 550 cord. If you have the doggy door that is absolutely necessary if you are going to drive it through severe thunderstorms. I tried velcro on the vinyl first but summer heat melted the adhesive.

Although the top leaks less in severe weather than my previous Leer top, I built a plywood shelf with skids (72 x 40 inches) in the bed that pulls out. The shelf keeps everything elevated an inch or so off the bed and bone dry. It also helps me load and access items deep in the bed. The shelf has a lip to hold things on it as I pull it out.

I originally planned to replace the plastic brackets that hold the rear door bar in place with metal brackets. Instead, I incorporated step pegs on a cargo rack that also protect the brackets. (See picture.)

I had an overhead rack built from 1.5" square tube, with four removable cross bars and a platform on top for camping on the roof, and stake pockets on the side rails to extend the rack upward if necessary. The rack is half the weight of the only quality commercially available rack I found for this application (Kargo Master). I might still have the plans I drew for it if anyone is interested.

I trashed the bed clamps and screwed everything straight to my bedrails with sheetmetal screws. This keeps the aluminum base bars from bowing outward in the middle. The whole top fits and looks better now.

I had a white panel sewn in on top instead of getting an all black Softopper. (You have to catch them at time of manufacture to do this.) The white panel makes it cooler for camping but it is a PITA to keep clean. It currently has a lot of mildew staining on it that I need to clean off.

My fuel economy has suffered about 1 to 1.5 MPG with this setup. Interestingly, that loss was BEFORE the rack went on. The rack hasn't significantly impacted fuel economy.

The top offers little security for items in the bed and poor visibility, but you already know that. You buy it for its versatility, and hopefully you buy some stick-on convex side mirrors too.

My only major complaint is that the mesh and the vinyl windows are on two separate doors panels. This is a PITA when traveling cross country through rain storms and camping in the back, when you need the functionality of both panels, but have to change the entire door out to either let the top breathe or protect your cargo. Softopper should really offer a 2-in-1 option.

Here are some pictures from Hell's Revenge trail in Moab and other parts of the West. Since these pictures, I gusseted the front corners of the cargo rack, changed the rear bumper to one made of 6-inch C-channel on a 45 degree angle for clearance, and put in a Powertrax No-slip.

 

Nice write up!

I put a tarp down at the bottom for the leaking issue, like you said the water runs down the channels and the stuff on top stays dry.
I didnt go with the mesh window for the reason you gave, I didn't want one more thing to carry and swap out.

 

I just bought a used softopper and going to install it this weekend. I want to install new weather stripping on the side rails. Any buy anything at Home Depot or Lowes that is similar to the original material?

 

I was never able to keep the weatherstripping under the rails. No matter how square and even I make everythng, it always works itself out. I said fuck it and just ran a bead of silicone.

 

My weather stripping does the same, kinda squeezes itself out from under the rails. That being said, I still have a good seal all the way around, not much if any water gets through. The original weather stripping feels like foam mixed with a little rubber. I bet you could find some good stuff at Home Depot or lowes.

 

I use the 3M double sided foam tape. Silicon would work but clamping the rail right to the plastic would mark up the bed rail. Plus my skill with putting down a bead of silicon would look just as bad as the foam squishing out.

 

I ended up using 3/4" W x 5/16" H Frost King Weather stripping from Lowes. I washed my truck with the top on and got no leaks with it installed! I will see how it does with the rain on the highway.

I also kept the weather stripping closer to the inside of the bed so when it was pushed down it was not exposed to the exterior as noted by other people.