Let's See Some Softoppers

I use one of those yellow topped tubs from costco in the same setup. I use a single ratchet strap between the two tie down points at the front of the bed. As for security there is nothing stopping anyone from walking by and opening the topper and taking my stuff. I do however always try to park with the tailgate against a wall or another vehicle when at all possible so I am less likely to get walk by's that see in the back window. If I am going to an area and I am staying for a few days and cant park like that I usually take it inside or toss it in the back seat and cover it with a black blanket so its less likely to be seen through the tinted windows.

Old pic from last year but essentially how I do it.

 

Looks nice. I am building a wooden holder for a Plano crate with the intention of securing it to that, and the holder is in turn secured to the truck. Keeps it snug, in position, and hopefully not removable without tools and time. The only solvable is how to secure the crate to the holder without drilling into the crate.

 

Here is My Soft topper set up on my single cab first gen.
I love this topper, coming from a fiberglass topper I really like how light it is, and how easy it is to fold it down or remove it when I need to access the bed for something big.

 

First time rolling her up!!!!! Awesomeness.

 

Anyone willing to trade their prinsu roof rack for my DCSB softopper? let me know.

 

Anyone in here running the solid rear window? Getting tired of cleaning the clear one, it fogs so quick.

 

Just bought a mountain bike. How do you guys transport your mountain bikes with a softopper?

I've seen the bed rail mounts that mounts the bike on the outside on the side. Not sure i want to go this route.

I think my only real option is a tailgate pad....but wanted to see what you guys do. Maybe get some ideas.

 

Just throw it in the back. maybe not the answer you want, but I don't get the thrashing of said bike on a trail. then hanging it out to look pretty.

 

Nah for sure, its kind of like getting your first "fuck it, its a truck" scratch then you start to care less. But until then you try to baby it. I think that's my thought with the bike.

Really just looking for transport ideas that keeps the bike in the bed under the softopper. Im not really interested in mounting it anywhere on the exterior.

 

I know what you speak of. good luck on ideas.

 

Thanks, I have an old beater bike that I oddly never had to put in the truck bed until today. So this is where my question comes from. I realized pretty quick there wasnt alot of room and options for a shortbed with a topper.

 

Can't wait for spring so I can roll it up! Looking awesome

 

I am wondering what you guys think about access from the tailgate and a softopper or bestop. I am considering a softopper but I need access to my bed often. Do I have to un-velcro the back every time I need access? And, if I dont use the velcro would the back panel flap around?

That might be an advantage of getting a bestop, it looks like the rear panel just rests on top of the tailgate.

 

With the bestop you can open the tailgate without any interference from the topper. There is a single beam that goes across the back that the topper clips into. So if you just need to open and close the tailgate, there is nothing needed to be done with the topper. If you need to open the whole back end up, then you need to pull the bottom of the cover off the track, then unzip both sides and the top and it comes off.

Here is the only picture I have of my bestops back, but you can see the bar that goes across. Also as seen in this picture, the whole frame that the bestop fits on is all track mount on the top. So you can mount lights to it, mount fishing rod holders like I did, or just about anything you want thats not too heavy.

 

Here is another picture I found of my back rail. You can see the rail is still on there, tailgate down and kayak loaded in. The side and rear windows all removed.

 

^^^That is exactly what I wanted to see. Thank you very much sir! Love the rack mount in the bed too, looks awesome!

 

I needed a way to keep my stuff safe in the bed while I had the tailgate down with my kayak sticking out the back. With all the windows on the topper put in, the top half becomes a extra compartment. I put my fishing rods on the left side, and put plano boxes in the rack with my fishing gear in them. Since this picture was taken, I have put the wind fairing on (its on the rear to keep things from falling out that big hole) and I replaced the trash clamps the rack came with, I put in 1 inch u-bolts. The stock mounts stick up and prevent my plano boxes from fitting nice.

Nothing worse than going kayaking only to find out half your stuff slid out the bed and is all over the road.

 

Found another picture with the tailgate up, though its not a great picture because the bar is not installed. But you can see that the back flap doesnt get in the way of the tailgate, so you can open and close it without even touching the top.

 

That seems like an overlooked, massive advantage for the bestop. Basically every time I drive my truck I need access to the tailgate. Thanks again for the insight and the great pictures. Love your truck!

 

Its one of the main reasons I went bestop over softopper. Everyone always says that softopper is better than bestop. I went with bestop because of its mounting system being much better. Also everything is powder coated black instead of chrome bars with snaps on them... softopper reminds me of a old boat top.

I compared both bestop and softopper in person (people at my works parking garage have both) bestop came out much better.

The only thing softopper has over bestop is more options when it comes to windows/side panels. Bestop you get a rear window, and solid sides.. nothing else. But you can always have a shop make you custom ones if you really wanted.