Let's See Some Softoppers

Some crooks aren't that smart. Like busting a window on an unlocked car door to get in.

 

This is true.

 

true... but they still get in.... !!! i personally dont leave anything of worth in the bed... all camping gear, tools, etc gets put into lockable boxes and attached to the ubolts with cable and lock... can they still get into it, sure... but it would take special tools, a lot more time, and make a lot more noise... It will however keep the opportunistic prick from grabbing anything and making a quick or quiet get away....

 

My best investment:

When parking in a remote location and I know the truck will be unattended for an extended amount of time, I post a game camera in an inconspicuous location.

So far no issues will the truck being harassed.

As for security of the soft topper, I don't give it a thought. My previous hard caps were easy to break in to as well.

It's not good to leave valuables in the bed of any truck.

 

I'm looking at getting a softopper,

I have 1 question for now.

For the flap on the cabin side, how does it secure? I currently have a husky tool box fastened to the front bed rail. Is this gonna be an issue?

Here is a pic of a similar tool box

 

I doesn't. It just hangs between the cab and the box. The flap on the inside of the box is attached to the box with 3 snaps.

 

So how do you attach the snaps to the inside of the box? Do you have to drill in snaps to the bed? What would happen if I didn't have the inside flap secured?

 

I actually tried it. The ST comes with 3 snaps that have sheet metal screws attached. You drive these into the front of the bed. I didn't want to put holes in my bed, so I tried it without attaching the flaps. The front of the ST flopped around and made lots of wind noise. I ended up having no choice and installing the snaps. I don't notice it anymore and I've got over installing the snaps.

 

You dont have to attach the front flap with snaps or velcro... . I dont like drilling into my truck and the velcro glue quickly came undone in the summer heat... so i just leave it hanging in place... Ive had my topper for 3-4yrs now and have never had a problem...

 

That's interesting, their website says "No need to drill into truck".. kind of misleading.

So it seems that the front bed rail is now somewhat useless.

 

Your response is completely different from @koditten

 

The only thing I can offer is my ST is on my Tundra. I don't know if aerodynamics are different and causing us to have different results. All I know is I didn't want install the snaps, but had no choice.

 

Yeah, i just read that.... I dont know what to tell you ... thats my experience and i often run with the sides rolled up... all i can tell you is try it without... if it flops and makes noise try making some adjustments or put the snaps in.... if not, dont worry about it... i think if you have that box secured with a ratchet strap or whatever it would pinch the flap against the truck and youd be fine...


Edit - maybe i dont have issues because of the stepside rear... the cab is bigger than the bed and probably moves the air past that front flap.. just a thought

 

aerodynamics could be different on a Tundra. Thanks for the input.

 

I don't want to ratchet strap the box, I have it bolted into the bed rail for security. But if what your saying is correct, it could be fine just hanging there. Thanks for the info.

 

Wonder if you could add a brass grommet to each side of the inner flappy and bungee it down to the bottom front corners of the bed?

 

Or like this

 

Or like that!

 

Its that way on my Tacoma too. The flap blows into the bed, air flows through the topper, and because it has to go somewhere so it goes out the back. Not good.

 

Found this locally on Craigslist, but from what I read on this thread, the 2nd gen ST is different than the 3rd Gen?

Not bad for $150

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/d/6-softopper-tacoma/6395063860.html