DIY softopper??

So I've been looking at them for a while and just can't pull the trigger on spending the money for a softopper so I was wondering if any of you evil geniuses have come up with a DIY softopper if so plans and pics!

 

Patience coupled with craigslist will net you a cheap topper. I got mine from a Chevy Colorado for $100....new. However. I would think if you built a bed rack, then just measured a simple LxWxH, you could easily make one. The stitching is simple, so simple they have you go over it with a sealant to cover the stitching. Michaels coupons and some basic cloth for a trace will help........or hope someone has a pattern.

 

I agree. I searched cl everyday for a few weeks and found one for 200

 

I had the same thought process, even went as far as to make the rack for the bed. Yeah, if you want a project it will be a fun challenge. But unless you have a hookup on materials it will most likely cost as much or more than a used softopper for the homemade. I abandoned mine for the moment, may go back this summer.

 

I bit the bullet and went with the Bestop. I was sifting CL for months and finally just bought new...

 

Fuckin jealous. I want a Bestop so badly, more than the Softopper.
They weren't to be found on cl for months, so I finally gave up and started hunting down Softoppers.

 

Damn man here in mississippi I never find anything for my truck unless it's just stock takeoffs

 

I know in my situation I found a guy on eBay selling Bestops, and he took my best offer which was at least $80-100 off what he had them listed for. Not much in way of "discounts" when buying new unfortunately. There was a guy on here in the 2nd gen BST section also selling them direct and looked like he had good deals too.

FWIW, like everyone else is saying, once you buy all the materials to do the canvas itself, you'll have to figure out a metal support setup, which is either A. a pre-existing bedrack you buy from a fab shop or vendor on here, B. something of your own design (time + money). And then it has to hold up to whatever your top hwy speed is when you drive. All assuming you do EVERYTHING yourself, you may save a little. Unless I was in it for the shear pleasure of fabbing something up of my own creation, I'd scour for a used one or just save and buy new.

 

There are bestops all over the place in the craigslists close to my area.

When I was looking for mine, I found four bestops for tacomas, one of them was for a long bed.

Picked mine up for $200. Owner had used it ONCE.

 

I can't find Softoppers for sale in my area ever. Been looking for 3 months.
I've seen one used on Ebay and it was for a short bed

 

I used searchtempest.com and did nationwide searches for a month or two. I found one in Idaho and contacted the seller and we worked out a paypal deal and he shipped it to me. He ended up being a TW member so it worked out well.

 

Thanks for posting that link.