Let's See Some Softoppers

Question....

Ive seen people take foil bubble insulation and cut panels to fit the window cut outs in fiberglass shells to insulate them. Has anyone bothered to take the time to cut panels to fit the windows on a Softopper/Bestop to add some insulation to it? Any luck making it any warmer in the winter/cooler in the summer?

Ive slept under my bestop in single digits and it was chilly. Id like to add some insulation any way I can.

 

I don't think the windows have any less insulation than the rest of it. I think a warmer sleeping bag would be the best option. I've also used a catalytic heater in mine. Warms it up quickly.

 

Maybe as cheap and easy as throwing a concrete insulation blanket over the topper and staking/tieing it down.

 

Your bed is also a very poor insulator. You really should just get a better sleeping bag and plan on the top and bed as just shelter from the elements.

 

Figured as much. Ive upgraded to a new sleeping pad/foam roll for this year, Im hoping it makes a little difference.

 

Would a softopper from a 1st gen short bed fit a 2nd gen short bed?

 

Yes. That's what I'm running. It's the same model for both.

 

Awesome thanks!

 

Has anyone tried coating the frame with bedliner?

 

I am in the same boat. .I believe somebody on here did...

 

Apparently this guy did
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lets-see-some-softoppers.277644/page-91#post-13906279

I'm curious how it holds up but can't find any long term wear info.

 

Might message him to see what he has to say..

 

What's wrong with just a polished aluminum frame? It's inside the topper, you can't even see it from the outside unless the tinted flap is up... Just seems like a waste of energy.

 

Yeah, I'm hoping they realize it's pointless for a couple reasons... #1 things won't stick very well to it and #2... well, it's an interior piece of the bed area, not even the cabin, that you can't see from the exterior.

If you guys really want them to be colored (or black), go get them professionally powder coated or anodized. I can guarantee those are the only two ways you'll get something halfway durable.

 

I don't wanna paint the inside tubing. I personally am interested in painting just the rails black. Since I moved to Florida I barely have my topper mounted and would like the rails to be black...I as well dont care about the inside tubing. .

 

I definitely wouldn't use bedliner, that'll cause some pretty nasty wear on the fabric with any real amount of wind and motion over time.

I think if you are dead-set on changing the color and keeping the bars on, powder coating is the best bet for a desirable result.

My plan is to just remove the side-rails completely, it's just 4 bolts and they come off easy. I actually will probably only take it off to use my bed cross-bars for carrying additional kayaks.

 

After reading these posts, I have decided to just leave the aluminum alone. Seems like there is way too much downside to do it easy and too much effort to do it right. It would be nice if softopper offered powder coating as an option though.

 

Anyone have their Hi-Lift mounted in their softopper? Hard to fond some good pics.

 

somewhere in the bed. Makes this a little different with how the softopper bars are in the way of the accy. rails.