Let's See Some Softoppers

Is that an air horn ready to go? For the cute little critters that just want to come up and cuddle haha?

 

Yup. Good eye, was on second largest island in North America. Kodiak sleep’n Softopper for 5 nights.. gotta be Prepared not Scared.

 

Thinking about getting a softopper and ditching my hard tri-fold flip tonneau.

I would love to camp out of my truck bed but I've got the short bed... Anyone have a setup they utilize to sleep back there without going in the fetal position? Lol

 

@Longbow25 .. should’a got Longbed.. . Softopper sells a “camping” extension thing & co. called Topper Tent. Also some people have done different things YouTube can be your friend sometimes.

 

My ski buddy sleeps in his short bed with his feet sticking out on the tailgate haha. Sometimes he rigs up a tarp or awning type thing.

 

Yeah I planned on checking out YT but was hitting up this post first while at work, thanks. The Topper Tent might work, if not I actually have an old Kelty tent with a snapped pole that I might be able to rig up something similar with (if I can keep it from looking too ghetto/hillbilly).

 

Kelty does make some New stuff, Backroads shelter & some other ones. I use MoonShade with mine extra coverage.

 

Not many bugs where I’m at so if the weather looks nice I just leave the tailgate down and the back open. I also have the DAC topper tent which works well but in extreme wind and rain I don’t have full confidence it would survive the night. Also it isn’t completely sealed off from bugs/mosquitoes. There is another company called Topper Tent that makes a similar product It looks a little more stout and probably more resistant to the elements and bugs but it’s twice the price and not as spacious.

Just found this on Amazon looks decent at a fair price and has good although limited reviews with a bonus awning.

$162 JOYTUTUS Truck Tent with Awning, Truck Bed Tailgate Tent Pickup Camping Tent Canopy (Only Fits Full-Size Truck with Soft Topper or Camper Shell)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6BMTNT6

Edit: apparently the Amazon one is for full size trucks

 

https://youtu.be/-MFFiQzJRE8?si=7MRj6jvMQEB0HsIY

 

I see you carry the essentials, Beer, paper towels, and a "Bear Horn".

Practical !

 

It's amazing how much shear load can be piled on those two small "hinge pins" that carry all the loads imposed on an entire Softopper.

Snaps on the side rails may oppose any "lifting", but If pre tensioning amounts to anything, those two pins carry a bunch ,,,,,,
Something to consider when hanging stuff from the cross rails.

Myself, I have a bunch of para-cord loops hanging up there for any need that may arise.

 

I ended up ordering a WildTop topper from Australia. I loved my folding soft topper but I kept feeling limited by not being able to access the sides easily because of the folding frame and I wanted roof storage as well, hence why I was trying to figure out how to mount stuff to the ceiling.

I am going to mount a Prinsu rack on the WildTop so that way I can mount a 270 awning, carry a large folding tent, and have easier access to my traction boards. I am pretty much rebuilding my whole truck.

 

I went this way



The Thule rack is the "bottom of the line" as far as "robustness" goes, but it seems stout enough. (Not too pricey either)
The uprights were cut down to fit as close to the topper as will allow. Still, simple folding takes a lot more jostling than without the ladder rack. I drilled holes in the base rails to allow positioning of the rack feet all along the bed length in 8 inch intervals. The rear most rack member is very useful for an awning attachment. (I just use one of those inexpensive silver tarps )
The rig is dead quiet at highway speeds. Carries full sheets of plywood etc. Has nice brackets for securing ladders etc. Two 1/4" NAS "aircraft" hex head bolts hold each foot, so the rack unships in only a few minutes with a battery nut runner.

The setup answers all my needs.

 

Not a Softopper but still a soft top.
Got my WildTop installed. Just waiting on my Prinsu racks to show up then I will get them mounted on the cab and topper, I will probably have to make custom brackets to get the topper on flush with the cab Prinsu.

 

I've always considered that awning style side panels and an effective bug screen setup would be the hot ticket for in-bed camping.

So far, the only bug screen I've come up with is one of those outdoor screen nets. It works, but those things are bulky to store.
The wife and I first started using the screen nets years ago for outdoor sleeping at the house. We put down carpets and had a full double bed and mattress etc. It was delightful!
But here in New England, about August, the darn thing would never dry out. The evening damp just spoiled the entire deal.

Now the screen tent covers the Softopper when we go out. Short sticks hold the sides of the softtopper aomewhat. It's not perfect, but it works.

 

Question for those with a 3rd brake light:

How/where did you run the wire through the bed to connect the 3rd brake light to the OEM brake light tap?

I bought the Softopper 3rd brake light and I’m trying to limit the number of holes in the bed but also hide the wires as much as possible.

One idea I had was to run it down the cross bar supports to the pin/pivot points, per install instructions by Softopper. Then run the wire within the OEM bedrail system to the front cubby hole above the wheel well (2nd Gen feature). There, inside the cubby, I’d drill the hole and run the wires back to the tail light and pigtail it. The idea being that if the Softopper was folded down, or removed, I could wind up any excess wiring and store it in a cubby that isn’t being used. When the the topper is in use, the wire exposure is minimal.

 

My only complaint about the WildTop is the hardware they provided for mounting the top to the bed rails.

The bolt and track nut (pictured on the bottom) is what they provide, it is barely long enough to engage all the treads in the nut.
I replaced them with some aftermarket track nuts

$27 RED WOLF Thread 3/8"-16 T-Slot Nut Button Socket Cap Screw 10 Pack for Toyota Tundra Tacoma Pickup Truck Cargo Bed Rail Deck Cleat Rack Trail 304 Stainless Steel Tie Down w/Wrench

https://www.amazon.com/RED-WOLF-Thread-16-Stainless/dp/B0CN3B1LRR