Let's See Some Softoppers

What size tires, and what amount of lift?

 

I just took a trip from central Texas up to south western Colorado. I traveled up with my pup in a crate in the back. For the most part unless it was raining I had the two corners closest to the cab rolled up at an angle and the back flap at the tailgate rolled up. It worked out really well. It let plenty of air through, stayed cool, and didn't flap around much at all. Solid set up for traveling with a pup.

 

How strong are the utility rails on our trucks where we clamp on to? I don't want to over torque the clamps (I think softopper just says snug) but I'm paranoid of the rail ripping out over time, worrying about nothing?

 

much stronger than you are giving it credit lol. Crank it down, as long as youre not bending the metal you aint hurtin nothing. THeyre meant to take a beating

 

I see on Soft topper under replacement parts you can buy mesh screens for front and back but they are 100 a pc....probably go that root even though it will cost me lol
Staying away from best top though,havnt read anything good about the window quality

 

Picked up the Softopper last week and took it to the beach this weekend. Couldn’t be happier. The versatility is awesome, I think I had it in every different configuration over the course of the weekend.

 

They work well for dove hunting with Dad...He's not getting any younger at 80.

 

are your guys' bed rail bars sitting flat? i'm wondering if i need to do some adjusting. the top kinda pulls them inward and the snaps are a bitch to get in, especially towards the tailgate.

 

Did you make sure to take the paper film off the bottom of the weather foam? My dumbass forgot to on the right side and it made a difference

 

i actually added new foam because the OG foam got pretty messed up after a year. the new foam is a bit thicker. i'll try some adjusting when i get home from work.

 

couple reference pics...

 

Maybe try switching the pin where the topper pivots to the middle hole?

 

i might try that. i undid the clamps and tried to reseat them using the back window bar as a gauge. it seems that the rails need to be closer together than the clamps allow. when trying to tighten the clamps with the bar in place, it kept fighting me and wanting to lock in a position that was further apart than i needed. i undid each clamp again and kind of held them there as i tightened them down, seemed to help, but i ran out of daylight. gonna inspect more tomorrow during my lunch break at work. seems not too many others are having issues so i probably just fuckled something up along the way.

@jre32 i figured the snaps were supposed to be difficult, maybe i'm just a bitch. i think i'm just impatient during the fine tuning. trying to balance tension between the straps and the buttons but with the straps pulled too tight, the fabric is too loose up front, slack straps and the buttons are like my pants after Thanksgiving dinner. maybe the pin is the key.

 

The aluminum that the rail bars and clamps are made of tend to "grab" rather than slide. If you fully seat the bar in the clamp and slowly tighten down, while tapping here and there with the ratchet as you go, it will tighten up square. It's a PITA, but can be done.

 

You need to tighten them down a little more. Mine was like that too and I was kinda scared to torque it down more because I thought I could rip or damage the utility rails but basically I torqued them down until the washers were flat and it was then the clamps got perfectly flush with the clamps

 

To get them flat you have to slide the bars out further than you think. The clamp needs to be flat against the side of the bed

 

Finally got my Softopper! Thanks for all the insight. Know there aren't too many first gens in this thread, but here's a rad red and tan combo.

Still working on adjusting, I think I may have to move my pivot pin down and redo the clamps to get them flush, but pretty pleased with it so far. That is definitely the time consuming piece.

 

Go with Black. Grey just looks faded.

 

Truck looks good with the tan topper. I like those red 1st gens.

 

that is why i went with the premium Line-X topcoat so it would stay black and not get faded, or is not supposed to
but I do have the chrome package and charcoal gray decals all around
i am not the least bit color coordinated but i sure can tell stories getting ragged on for the dark coal powder coated rope hooks
but the soft topper would hide the rope hooks lol

i guess that poses another question! , about the fitness on top of the Line-X

TW Constituent?
how did ye receive this honor!?