Softopper vs Bestop

Just ordered a Softopper. Appreciate the comments/input from everyone on this thread. Hoping to get it and have it installed before a hunting trip next weekend.

 

This showed up today. Looking forward to using it with the Softopper for a comfortable place to lay the head while under cover from the elements.

 

Interesting. You'll be touching the switch by braille through the canvas there. Which isn't a bad idea, actually. In many ways I could see how that would be more functional than reaching inside to activate.

 

Yeah, not gonna lie... I might need to move my switch.

 

Sottopper definitely looks better! While I'm here, ANYONE HAVE ONE FOR SALE in the NorthEast?!?

 

One of these days I'm gonna rewire my 3rd brake to look a tiny bit cleaner than the one hour hack job I threw at it originally. When that happens id love to put a switch in the bed somewhere. Id also love to figure out how to isolate the existing bedlights so they come on with either the switch or the door, but that's going to take some creative wiring.

 

I've had a Bestop for 8+ years and have no real complaints about it that wouldn't also apply to a softopper fot he same age, rear window is no longer transparent and zippers are sticking without having been lubricated for all that time parking outdoors. At the time I bought it, I was able to get the Bestop for about $50-75 less than the Softopper in total cost and money was a little tighter for me than it is now.

If I were to replace it now, I'd probably go with the Softtopper instead because after seeing how they work, I like the way the sides roll up vs the complexity of sliding the side windows in/out on the Bestop and I don't particularly care about having side windows in the back. The difference isn't a big enough deal IMO to warrant going so far as to replace the one I have as long as it's doing its job. If you're going to sleep under it frequently you might want to consider whether the opaque sides instead of tinted windows will bother you when you're inside.

Overall, I think the differences are relatively minor and either one will get the job done for anyone who doesn't just really want a hard shell instead.

 

It's actually not too bad. That switch has a real heavy detent so it works out.

 

I glued a Christmas tree fastener to the back of a multipack connector and attached it to the plastic bed caps. Works pretty well!

 

Mine is similar...


But with less pieces of flair

 

Noice! That's what's so sweet about this forum. Spitballing ideas.

 

I’ve seen a cheap longbed one in the NJ craigslist. Try the NE regional for sale threads on here.

 

Softopper definitely was the move. I had a bestop for a day - may have just been the one I received, but the machining of the threads were all messed up and once I had it installed completely the rear portion of the topper was lifting off the bed. Fortunately I received a full refund. Decided soft shells weren’t for me

 

I had the same experience.... The Bestop fit like garbage and the mounting rails would not stay straight. I returned it immediately and went with Softopper.

 

Thank you! I'm always looking on them NE Craiglist Finds thread. I need shortbed unfortunately though. I believe they are compatible across 2nd/3rd gens thought, right?

 

I believe there are some slight differences. One being that the rear bar is curved for the 3rd gen to match the tailgate. I think the 3rd gen may be slightly taller too. I'm sure you could probably make a 2nd gen work. The folks over at softopper are good to work with too. You can probably buy a curved bar from them if you really wanted to.

 

The 2nd and 3rd gens are compatible but the older 2nd gens are slightly taller. When softopper came out with the new shorter one for the 3rd gen they started selling it as fitting both the 2nd and 3rd gens. For whatever the reason the rear bar design on the shorter softopper is dependent on bed length. Shortbed is curved and longbed is straight.

 

This is correct.

Also, I might get some hate on here for it, but I've seen examples of a 2nd gen topper on a 3rd gen bed. It looks ever so slightly wrong. It It has that confused look of a commercial delivery cap that's made of canvas. It looks like you're trying to open a Schwann's frozen foods franchise, but only on the weekends. It's like wearing a suit jacket after getting 30 pounds fatter but you still haven't bothered to have it tailored. Some people claim they can't tell the difference, but I can.
It looks almost as bad as a 3rd gen topper on a 2nd gen bed.

If you buy used, please be patient and buy only the model that fits your gen. You don't want to be rolling down the road looking like this.

 

Agreed the 2nd gen on a 3rd gen looks terrible

 

If you ever decide to sell your rack please look me up! Thanks!