Softopper Issues??

Hi Tacoma World friends. I’ve recently adopted a white 2018 off road double cab. We want to go road tripping and camping more often so, after lots of research, we purchased a tan Softopper.

We’re on our first trip with it - a long one at that from MO to FL - and we’ve discovered that the front bed flap will NOT stay down or secure. We used the provided sticky Velcro strips, which we expected to not be the strongest in the world, but after hours of driving, the flap that slides between the bed and cab had dislodged, flipped upward, and was causing extremely loud banging/flapping noises. We were also worried this would damage the Softopper, so we’ve tried to re-secure the Velcro several times, but it kept coming undone and banging around. We eventually gave up, stopped at Home Depot, and Gorilla taped the fuck out of this monster. It’s holding on the inside of the Softopper but the flap between the bed and cab still won’t stay down and has lifted again and is causing the window panel to bow inwards toward the bed.

I can’t seem to find anything about this specific issue - mostly people talking about using better Velcro on the inside, but nothing about that godforsaken flap that sits outside.

Any insight is appreciated.
Attached photo was taken during setup this weekend.

 

Contact Softopper via email and ask for screw/snaps for the bed/cab. They will be cheap if not free. My outside flaps but I don't notice or mind it.

 

I plan to used the screw snaps when I get one. Velcro will not stick to the bed material very well. About the only thing that you can try is adhesive promoter if you don't want to drill:

3M PRO Primer Pen 94 - Vinyl Car Wrap Application Tool - Automotive Film Wraps Applicator - Vehicle Decoration Accessories - 0.2oz

https://www.amazon.com/Rvinyl-Pro-Application-Tool-Primer/dp/B00FAQO4P6

That stuff kicked VHB tape into overdrive.

 

I probably can't offer any real good advice, since I've not experienced anything like that with plenty of highway driving logged with my softopper. I do know that I ended up installing my topper slightly forward on the bed from what the included instructions suggested. My topper is basically hugging the cab (top of it is just barely removed from the third brake light on the cab. When I initially set up using the suggested dimensions from the instructions it seemed to sit too far back to me. Maybe you can move the whole thing forward some? Good luck.

 

Use the snap screws that were included. My outside flap stays in place since it doesn't move anymore.

 

We initially thought the flapping wouldn’t bother us but boy did it get rowdy. We might look into the screws - thanks!

 

After we manage to rip up this Gorilla tape we might just do that. We can’t count on anything sticky, I think.

 

Was hoping not to drill but also hoping to get some good mileage out of the Softopper so definitely going to consider this. Thanks!

 

You're welcome.

 

I will say, definitely do something about it staying in place. I went on a ~500 mile road trip and the front flap was flapping around like crazy, and it ended up burning off the paint on the top corner of the beside where the plastic piece ends. I installed those snap screws the very next day.

 

I was wondering about this. We saw in threads here that people had suggested to move it forward, so we did install it’s rails flush to the from of the bed, but I think you might be in to something - it would make sense that the closer it is to the cab, the less airflow that would agitate it. We can probably pull it forward another inch so it’s hugging the cab. Thank you!

 

Good luck. Also like another user said, maybe install the whole Softopper a little closer to the cab.

 

Damn, sorry about your paint! That’s what we’re afraid of. Definitely considering the screws when we get home. Thanks for your quick replies!

 

Mine also sits forward. Where are you mounting the velcro? I placed mine on the underside of the bedrail, so that the inner flap wraps all the way around. Also, I see a few wrinkles on your picture. How tight are the sides? Those side snaps should take a moderate effort to attach.

 

Thanks, everyone. Your quick replies are much appreciated. Helping soothe our very frustrated nerves.

 

Hey there - yeah, that photo was taken during setup, so we weren’t quite finished. But we did struggle a bit to get the snaps all on when we attached them, so I think it’s down tight.
We followed the instructional video from the ST website and installed the Velcro strip on top the bed rail that sits against the cab - so that the ST’s velcro attaches directly to it.

 

There is a opening on the cab side of the flap. Before I put a 4 foot strip of Velcro across the inside of the bed I put a short pole made out of a dollar store aluminum broom handle in that flap. The 4 footish piece eliminates any flapping. My inside flap doesn't come down far enough to keep those 3 snaps secure at 65mph, but the pole or full length Velcro do work for me.

 

So if the side panels are tight and the top of the frame sits less than an inch from the 3rd brake light, the positioning should be good.
I would try tightening the front panel by stretching where it velcros to the sides. Make sure there isn't any wrinkles where it velcros to the top either.

If that doesn't work, relocate the bottom velcro to another surface, underneath the bedrail if you can.

 

Switchback, with your topper forward to the cab, what did you use to secure the rear flap (tailgate end)? I tried the velcro but the adhesion wasn't very good. without it the bottom edge of the flap kid of curls and allows rain to collect on it. I'm thinking of moving the whole topper toward the rear, but reading this thread makes me worry about the front flap. idk, thoughts?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lets-see-some-softoppers.277644/page-37#post-9014851

Here's the best solution for the rear flap in my opinion. Add a matching strip of clear vinyl to the tailgate where the magnet sits to protect the paint from rubbing. Get a slightly stronger magnet if you want to ensure zero flapping.