Let's See Some Softoppers

Installed mine yesterday on the grey metallic 2021 Taco. I like how the grey color ended up matching - was torn between black and grey, but black was sold out - glad it all worked out. I have a shortbed, but definitely seems doable to camp in with the tailgate down.

Question - has anyone gone through a carwash (like the basic drive through kind with brushes and stuff) with the topper down and stowed away? It seems like if it's put down in the bed, it could survive that whole process. But obviously, don't want to destroy it now that I've installed it.

Thanks!

 

Something look weird in the back. Maybe you install it to far in the front

 

I’m convinced that the short-bed Softopper is a few inches too short. I asked about this a few weeks ago; aside from the looks it seems that it would rob a few inches of interior room, for bikes or other cargo, when the 5’ bed needs every bit of space inside. Still on the fence about an ST and pics like this don’t help me. I used to have an ARE Z Series hard shell and it had a stylish sloping rear window that made it a very tight fit to clear the handlebars of fork-mounted bikes, facing backwards. And our bikes aren’t even the latest long-slack style. Personally, I think the 5’ ST should have a near-vertical rear window.

 

I know what you mean - in the install video though they say that the bars when laid flat should rest on the lip of the truck bed behind the rear window. At first they were not flush with the lip of the truck bed, so I had to move the rails forward about an inch / inch and a half. It works fine for me at the moment as I'm primarily going to use as a cover for skis during the winter. I might move it back if it annoys me too much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6JrfFd3J2g&t=708s

Now that I've posted the video, the thumbnail frame also shows a slanted back window So perhaps the dimensions are as intended.

 

Not sure what is going on in the picture. It really looks like its the wrong top for the Tacoma. Im extremely satisfied with the fitment of mine.

 

It almost seems like you have the inside part flipped if that makes sense. So pretty much the frame of the softopper was installed in reverse. Obviously making first sure that you received/bought a correct topper for the tacoma and not for another vehicle I suppose.

Edit: I ran mine multiple times through various car washes and always held up like champ.

 

I bought the correct one, and also lined up the red dot with the red dot facing forward - they address that in the video. I haven't put the finishing touches on - such as velcro at the back and fully stretched out the canvas. I guess I'm not seeing what you guys are pointing out - the pictures of the blue truck and also the first frame of the video show the back panel sloping down to the top of the tailgate...

In any case once the velcro is applied and pulled taught, I would expect it to look similar to the blue truck above.

 

Is the back rail attached? Something is way off. should be a curved bar

 

Yes, curved bar is attached. As a note, the bar is curving inwards towards front, which seems strange - but that's the only orientation that works with the snaps coming over the top. I think the truck bed rails can be moved back about an inch. But yea the back flap is sagging since I didn't want to apply the velcro strips on the tailgate just yet.

 

Bar should curve outward with the curve of the bed rail

 

I assume you mean matching the curve of the tailgate. Anyway, I don’t mean to dis the looks of the top. I just think it would look better closer to the back of the cab (if that is feasible), maybe an inch taller, and with the top surface extending further back for a more vertical rear window to maximize internal space. OTOH the angles may be needed to maintain tension. And in any case it would double the covered volume compared to my tonneau. Keep posting experiences and I may pull the trigger before winter.

 

I kind of dig having it in safari mode.

 

You may be more interested in the bestop

 

I’ve tried looking everywhere so I figured I’d ask in here.

Does anyone have photos of a gray or tan soft topper on a dark blue 2.5 gen, preferably blue ribbon or nautical metallic?

Google is not cooperating.

 

Thank you, it is much appreciated! I think I’m convinced to go with black or gray now. The tan is lighter than I expected to go well with dark bronze wheels. I’m torn. Haha

 

You definitely need to flip the bar over so the snaps are facing up and the curve is facing back. That'll fix it.

 

I will try moving the bedrail bars further to the outside the next time I'm messing with it. Also considering the magnet idea for the front flap so I'll probably take it off soon anyway. Thanks for the reply!

 

On the note of bed bars, is there a way to position the ends of them near the cab outboard more to match the taper of the side? I look in my side mirrors and can see the topper is mostly straight whereas the side of the bed at the cab is a little wider. Looks kinda silly.