Let's See Some Softoppers

The screws aren't really necessary. I rode around for weeks before drilling mine. If you have the Velcro on the top of the bed rail, that should be enough to keep it closed. Maybe if my screws were in the right spot, I would notice more use out of them.

 

he's right
I have a 2nd gen and softopper and he is right. my softopper is for 2nd gen, I have a blue AC
just like the pic... and my softopper it is exactly roof height and level. the one in the pic is too tall
in front, and even taller in back. it looks like it is for a different truck.

 

I see the same thing with the 2nd gen on a 2nd gen, but I removed the plastic bed-side rails and replaced them with KB Voodoo steel bedside caps and the tailgate cap. Overall it keeps everything nice and low (and of course reinforces it). It's almost to the point of it looking too low on the truck, but its really not bad, since the roof rack seems to exaggerate its look of being lower.

 

I guess I got the old style? It's got the curved bar for the rear window/flap. Works fine.

(shady driveway pics) Grey on Silver



The older style slots for the rear flap bar



Mounted



Ass view







I like it so far. Should work OK hauling the paramotor in the bed. Just have to figure out how to rest it. Previously I had a bar I made out of a dowel rod and pool noodles that sat on the bed rail (bungee strapped to the bed rail tie downs) and the motor cage would rest against that. The tailgate held it in.


The paramotor fits in, but I have to lay it down prop-up, with the topper folded down, then slide the motor forward, then fold the topper up so I can slide the hoop under the pivots. It would be nice if they didn't intrude into the bed as far as they do.

Better pic out at the field before I flew:

 

I am going to be installing my SofTopper sometime over this weekend. I was wondering if anyone knows the measurement between the pivot pins? If not I can get them after install. I am thinking of getting the FrontRunner SlimLine II Load Bed Rack Kit to put under the SofTopper. The rack is about 56 x 54. The length of the rack would not be an issue, more concerned with the width.

https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...em-bed-rail-kit-front-runner-slimline-ii.html

I know that the Load Bed Bars Kit would work as well.

https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...coma-bed-load-bars-2005-oem-bed-rail-kit.html

I know that I would not be able to lower the SofTopper with the rack installed, but this would give me two levels of storage for camping gear and other crap. It would also provide a little extra security for stuff under the rack. This is one option I am considering, along with a few others for under the SofTopper.

 

I'd guesstimate that the brackets intrude about 1" into the bed on either side, then the pin and the frame for the topper add another inch. I'd expect you'd lose 3-4" of width between the topper frame compared to the bed sides. I can try to measure tomorrow.

 

One with Softopper up and one with it all snapped

 

Thank you. That would be awesome. I got a coupon code from FrontRunner by just calling them and asking for one; so this would be cool if it would work.

 

Installed

 

Undo the screws holding the pins to slide the mounting point back, it will get rid of that wrinkle!

 

Thank you. I was wondering how I was going to do that.

 

That worked out nicely on the drivers side. I have a small wrinkle on the passenger side. A little fine tuning and that should take care of it. Thank you for the advice.

 

Forgot to measure between the topper pole base... will try to do that tomorrow.

Here's how I have to get the paramotor in. The hoop is too wide to fit between the poles, so I have to kinda wedge it under the pivot. The tailgate holds the bottom of the hoop.

 

No need to measure. I installed mine this weekend, and the frontrunner rack is too wide. I am looking at other option. I like the @KB Voodoo cargo basket and reversible crossbars. I think that they would fit perfectly under the softopper, and easy to remove if needed.

 

Aww darn, I just took the trash out and measured. 53.5" between the black plastic hinge point at the bottom of the hoop frame. LOL

 

I need to do the same thing... still a bit of a wrinkle in the rear.

 

LOL, all good.

 

So I too had the wrinkle. I went and took some of the stress off of the back strap on the passenger side, and most of the wrinkle went away. I am thinking that I may have had that too tight. I will mess with it more over the weekend when I have some time, but that seemed to work for now.

 

I also noticed in the instruction manual, the pins that the hoop pivot mounts to has 3 holes in the bracket, so you can take the hoop off, and move that pin up or down to adjust tension. I may move it up to see if I can just gain a little more space under the hoop pivots for the paramotor. We'll see if it works!

 

Hopefully that will get you what you need, and take out the small wrinkle.