Let's See Some Softoppers

For you guys who have added lighting or even a 3rd brake light to your toppers, how are you running your wiring?

I plan on adding some LED lighting to my Supertop. I plan on tying it into the same circuit as the bed rail lighting. The wiring is not the issue, keeping it neat and OCD acceptable is.

I run my topper about half the year, so there needs to be a plug to disconnect the upper LED lighting harness from the bed rail lighting harness.

I HATE the idea of just having/leaving the plug dangle inside the bed. I LOVE the idea of adding some sort of bulkhead where I can unplug the harness from when I take the topper off.

I thought about using something as simple as a 12v socket (cigarette lighter) and plug since the LEDS draw such low current. I just dislike the idea a big plug sticking out when the lights are plugged in. Ive looked at mil spec style bulkheads, but they seem over kill for a simple 2 wire harness.


Is anyone else as OCD as I am and figured out a solution to this?

 

I used a trailer harness as the plug on mine. But I'm not entirely happy with it.

What about a USB port mounted into the bedwall, with custom usb cables?

 

That may be worth exploring.

Another though I had was a 3.5mm jack.

 

Using USB would get you more use out it. The headphone jack would limit you IMHO.

The hardest part would be sealing the port up when not in use so the weather doesnt ruin it.

 

Marine plugs, too easy

RUPSE Dual USB Charger Socket Mount Marine with Wires 12 Volt Motorcycle Boat Rv Truck Car Plug Power Outlet

https://www.amazon.com/Rupse-Charge...&qid=1493068152&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+boat+plug

 

Hey guys getting ready to order a soft topper and had a few questions. For those of you that use these to haul your dogs around... Does the black color get really hot inside? I'd like the tan color but it wont really look right with my quicksand truck, black will look best.

Also can you run these with the sides partially clipped up as long as the back window is rolled up? Im concerned about ventilation for the dog on summer days. Can you achieve highway speeds with everything rolled up (safari mode)?

Last, do you guys think the extra storage cover is worth it, or is it only worth it if you are going to have the top folded down for long periods of time. I don't think I will need the mesh window unless some of you dog owners think it really helps with ventilation.

Thanks

 

hot as hell. really fuggin hot

you can do highway speeds with sides rolled up BUT you must do something extra to
the 4 corner straps so they do not loosen.

the 4 corner straps are only to hold the softtopper in position when taking up and down,
the buttoned sides are what actually holds the topper stable when on highway.

the 4 corner straps are not able to remain tight
with highway use if the sides are rolled up...you need to use some clamp device on them to keep them solid
if you want to roll with sides up. I use long thin double-sided velcro strips [for cables] and choke them at the plastic clip so they stay tight

 

I appreciate the information, that's good to know. I live in the PNW and its not crazy hot here only sometimes in the summer. Is it possible to run the topper kind of like this for extra ventilation? or will this just create a huge kite.

 

Not sure how close you are to ordering but there is a GB set to begin in three days. There is a discount so you might want to head to the group buy section and check it out.

 

Got any pictures of how you set this up? This is the first I've seen someone mention this and it's one of the reasons I'm getting a softopper as it looks friggin awesome rolled up.

 

Thanks man!!

 

Power pole connectors with a panel mount on the bed might work.

https://powerwerx.com/panelpole-panel-mount-powerpole-housing

 

Neat. Thanks for the link. I'll have to look into that a bit.

 

Optional Driving Configurations (PDF from Softopper website)

http://www.softopper.com/skin/frontend/default/softopper/images/Optional_Driving_Configurations.pdf

 

awesome thanks!!

 

Here's a couple more that might work (I'm trying to decide what to use also)

https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Continental-2sq-hplg-pba/dp/B00TO32VJM

$17 Tecmate OptiMATE Cable O-40, Weatherproof SAE socket, panel mount, Black

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N57XLNS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I'll just leave this right here...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/orange-county-meetups.217178/page-2440#post-15023998

Speaking of softoppers flying off your truck... Anyone get another set of clamps? I'm thinking of going with more and another way to secure the topper to the front of bed closest to the cab

 

I just drove mine 80 mph for 7 hours through high winds and storms. No issues.

Did he have a clamp fail?

 

Yeah. I need to hear some more details on this. Have never heard of this happening before.

 

Just a guess but I suspect he either had it installed incorrectly or there was a freakishly strange wind event. Ive driven at 78 mph in fairly high winds and mine hasn't moved at all.