Soft Topper Question

I'm thinking of purchasing a used soft topper for my 03 Tacoma Access cab until I can afford a OVRLND camper.
Do these toppers limit trail dust? I get that the tailgate and any holes in the bed will allow dust to infiltrate, so I don't expect a air tight seal. Just wondering if it cuts down on dust?

 

It definitely better than fully exposed

 

Clearly.

 

We do a ton of gravel roads in our Taco and it does really well. Can't complain at all. Same with water and I am in the PNW. I think most of the dust comes in from the tailgate gaps.

They are awesome. Low weight, you can move it out of the way or run it with the sides rolled up, I have zero complaints. And I paid full pop for mine. I would totally buy another.

 

Thanks Mad Nachos.

 

Good example, we did a few hours of gravel roads a couple weeks back with our cooler all the way at the back of the bed at the tailgate. It was a bit dusty when we got home. Everything ahead of it was clean.

ETA: You probably want to seal the frame where it mates to the bed, when you get a new one it comes with a strip of adhesive foam, I am sure it makes all the difference.

 

I found that if I closed the tailgate after the top, the overlap helped keep some dust out as well. Instead of letting the last few inches of the canopy hang onto the top of the tailgate.

There's some variation on how you align the soft with the bed so it's possible you may need to scoot it a little bit to get a good seal with the above tip.

 

I have a 3rd gen so a little different but after sealing off my tailgate with this

$50 ESI ROK Block 4.25" Width Tailgate Gap Cover and Ultimate Tailgate Seal with Taper Seal 6ft for Sidewalls

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R8KBV9Y
As well as sealing off a few other potential entry points I have found I get very minimal dust intrusion and as far as I can tell just about zero water. I’ve run many extremely dusty trails in both Colorado and Moab. It’s not perfect but very good. May vary a bit on a first gen.

As I believe someone else mentioned, buy some new adhesive window trim foam or similar to run between your bedside and the aluminum square tubing.

 

I plan on buying the insert snaps and new foam seal when I mount the canopy. I appreciate the advice.

 

So you tuck the rear flap inside the bed rather than on the outside. Interesting, you found this minimized the dust?

 

Good to hear. I just want to keep my camping gear some what dust free. Until I can afford a 4wheel pop top camper this will be my stop gap measure. I plan on buying the seal tape soon.

 

On my truck that wouldn't be a good fit, maybe differences in production runs perhaps, but mine came with Velcro on the outer bottom flap where it touches the tailgate along with an adhesive strip to stick onto the tailgate. Never used it, but I am sure it would provide more dust protection. Unless you are looking to keep it 100% dust free you probably won't have a problem. Sealing the frame to the bed with the foam will get you 99% there...adjust as needed.

 

Yeah. I don't have a softopper anymore, but here's an older pic of it tucked into the tailgate. Just made less of a gap between the softopper's bar and the closed tailgate

 

On the 1st Gen I think the topper is a bit of a better fit than the later ones, that is probably a factor.

 

I camp in mine & yes not to dusty. I also have lil broom to clean things up if get some. Can also use air compressor to blow out what ever is back there.& Lots’O good info on the Softopper thread.

 

Nice setup.

 

I rock my softtopper in the winter since I found somewhere to leave my Four Wheel Camper inside. Tends to keep most dust and snow out. It’s not perfect, but with fresh seals I’ve been very impressed how much snow and water it’ll keep out. About equivalent to my old fiberglass topper. A bunch of dust enters the bed from underneath and comes through the holes under the bedside rails so be sure to seal those as well.