Soft campershells

Mine just arrived today, can't wait to install but this bipolar PA weather isn't great for it yet. I used the excuse with my wife I can load the bed up higher than with a tonneau and if surprisingly worked haha!

 

Tacomaworld made me do it! just installed this yesterday.

 

I found a soft topper on craigslist but it was off of 2014 tacoma and from a longbed... I have a 2016 tacoma with a short bed will that fit?

 

Not even close.

 

I have the bestop and love it for it's intended usage. I have dirt bikes and didn't want to hassle with removing a hard shell, so decided on the bestop since it has the side windows, which really help with your field of view. Most of the time it stays folded down like a Jeep soft top. But, when I need it, I can leisurely set it up in 5 minutes or so.

I'm not too worried about it getting cut. It's pretty easy to open, so if someone is taking the time to peep through the tinted windows at goodies, it'd be hard to miss the zipper right there. Not to mention, on most tacomas, they could just open the tail gate.

 

The definitive Softopper thread (with a few Bestops thrown in as well).... 100+ pages:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lets-see-some-softoppers.277644/

Here's mine, love it so far. Get a lot of people asking me about it, a lot of compliments. Service from Softopper was great. I suggest calling and talking to them because they can answer all your questions and are great to deal with.

I got the regular back window, a mesh rear window, and a solid panel rear window (which is not listed on their site but which they will make for you for like $70, or will swap out for the regular window at no charge).

 

Mine is pretty water tight. I didn't get the storage bag as I rarely fold mine down, but i do have four dogs in the back every weekend to go to the ranch and the screen is definitely worth it! lets the airflow. keeps it a good bit cooler

 

I am curious about rear visibility from the cab. Would someone be willing to post a picture of maybe the rear view mirror looking back through or from the cab rear view window?

Also, anyone in the greater Seattle/Everett area with one who wouldn't mind meeting up somewhere so I could look at it in-person? I'll bring you a six pack of Washington's finest microbrew for the trouble. I am still on the fence, and although the comments on this thread and the massive 108 page one are helpful, I think seeing it in person might convince me one way or another. Thanks!

 

Not the best but here's what I have looking backward (photo from the rear view sucks when taken on my phone). Visibility isn't great but it's pretty much as good as any other cover. Enough to see behind you and a bit to the sides but obviously not as good as without it.

When the vinyl windows get gross obviously vis goes down; they're relatively easy to clean.

That said, I love my Softopper and the flexibility it provides.

OA

 

This is very helpful, thanks! Is there anything special you use to clean/protect the windows? E.g., do they get scratched easily with Windex?

 

I know this is an older post but I figured I'd respond as well. Mine is relatively water tight minus the two corners where it meets the bed near the cab. Very little water comes through, but it always does when it's raining. The water essentially runs down the front corners onto the bottom of the bed. Rather than sealing the corners, I purchased the OEM bed mat. Between the raised bottom surface of the bed mat and the courrigations in the bed itself, my stuff stays dry.

Never had mine slashed but I guess if someone wanted to there isn't much I could do to stop it.

I didn't get the rear mesh since it kinda eliminates the features of keeping your stuff clean in the back. My dog rides in the cab for a number of reasons so there's no need. If I needed ventilation I can just roll up the sides.

I highly recommend the boot cover. Small dollars for the protection it provides, and it keeps the loose fabric on the collapsed topper from flapping around at speed.

Just my 2 cents!

OA

 

I find windex does the job but not well. I'm anal about tying to maintain the quality of the windows. Car wash (I use turtle wax ice car wash) works the best and seems to provide the best lubricarion against scratch particles.

I haven't tried any specialty products but would be open to the idea (something like 303).

OA

 

Plexus Spray Cleaner-7 oz Can (Standard)

Plexus Spray Cleaner/Polish works amazing on soft top Jeep windows and vinyl boat windows. I don't have a softopper for my truck yet, but I'm assuming the window material is the same as Jeeps.

 

X2 on Plexus.

My mother in law’s Jeep had soft top windows that you couldn’t see from one side of the Jeep to the other. Plexus and it was like magic many of the fine scratches became invisible. The scratches are still there but plexus makes them seem to blend away, I can’t describe it. I use it on motorcycle windscreens (it is a motorcycle designed product) and once again magic.

 

would anyone be able to post a picture of how the front flap attaches to the bed?
Thanks!!

 

3 snaps on the inside of your bed that u attach with screws

 

Loving my Softopper.

 

how for below the rail?

 

A good 10 inches maybe. Ill take a picture of the snap location my soft topper is currently off because i just got a rtt and gotta do some work to the free rack that came with it

 

In my case I decided not to drill in snaps and use Velcro instead. The flap that goes onto the bed has the loop part already on it. The Softopper comes with a good amount of "hook" on adhesive strips. I placed these strips on the highest part of the bed that protrudes forward (where those two bolts holes are for the OEM tonneau are).

They're super easy and essentially collapse forward towards your cab. Think like a convertible top (see pic below) but folding towards the front of the truck. It's very stable at highway speeds both deployed and collapsed (I use the boot). It attaches with two rails that sit on your bed sides that are clamped to your bed rail (if that makes sense).

OA