Let's See Some Softoppers

Im curious as to what type of roof crossbars you have for your access cab.. They look like the thule Traverse 480 and their square cross bars. Are your cross bars the 50" or 58"? how are you liking the setup? Im considering this for my access cab but I have thule 50" cross bars on my shell and am wondering if the cab requires the 58". Any info would be greatly appreciated, sorry this in a random thread, just noticed your truck in your sig while cruising through here

 

Any tips on applying the seam sealer that Softopper includes? Do you remove or unsnap the canvas to apply it?

Tips I've seen so far:

• It goes on the inside
• Wipe down with rubbing alcohol first
  
• Put it on extra thick around the straps and down the straps a little bit
• Anything else?

 

http://www.rhinorack.com/en-us/products/roof-racks/euro/euro-2500-black-2-bar-roof-rack_ja3929

Works well. I use it to haul my canoe. The bars are 54". Very well built. I like the square bars because they give you better mounting options for accessories. The fairing is homemade out of plexi. I have a Thule on my Jetta and the Rhino Rack is built just as well.

The roof racks can be had cheaper on Ebay than any where else. IIRC.

I posted a link to the lights I used. They are wired into the bed rail lights so they come on when the tailgate is opened. They are on a pin switch. Theres a ton of different DIY write ups on here on how to do bed lights. Follow one of those then add these lights into the circuit as well.

The wiring is ran through the Supertop frame. I drilled a small hole next to each light to bring the wire outta the frame to the light. The lights themselve's are just zip tied to each crossbar. This was the only way of mounting them with no issues because of the snap Bestop uses.

I ran the harness up to the front corner of the bed where it is connected to the bed rail lights via a Delphi Weatherpack plug.

If I was stuck on an island with a priest, Id be more worried about being fondled than I would water....

 

Ok, now that I finished sealing it, I'll share some of my tips in addition to the above:

• Un snap the sides and loosen the buckles so you can seal behind the bars.
• Unsnap the end bars so you can seal behind them.
• Squeeze some of the sealer in a small disposable cup and use a craft paint brush about 1/4" to 3/8" wide. It works better upside down than the built in applicator.
• A headlamp helps out to ensure you are applying an even coating and not missing any areas.
• Ignore the neighbors watching you crawl around in the back of your softopper with a headlamp on.

 

This may be a dumb question but...did you wipe rubbing alcohol only on the areas that you were applying the sealant?

 

Completely forgot to snap some pics.. Ill try to remember tomorrow.


Updated -






I replaced the 5050 smd led strips on the bed rails with some 2835 smd strips.

Im still waiting on the 3rd LED strip for the topper frame to ship (shitty Ebay seller) then I can finish that part of the bed lights install.

 

Just the seams to clean them off

 

Installed some lights from @mattgecko. The bed lights turn on with a tailgate mounted pin switch and have a second switch to turn them off manually. The Softopper lights have their own switch mounted on the tubing for when I'm camping in the back.

 

Man that is so sexy! I am gonna have to order mine on Monday now like I said from @mattgecko

 

Those turned out nice. I wish the Supertop had smooth rails like the Softopper. It would make mounting the lights on the crossbars cake, just like yours are.

I like the switch holder, any details?

 

Color me impressed!

 

It's a motorcycle switch for a 7/8" handlebar. The picture on Amazon shows a different switch than what I was sent, but that's the one I ordered.

Carviya 12V Motorcycle Handlebar turn signal Switch CNC Aluminum with Indicator Light for under 7/8" 23mm(22mm) Diameter Handlebar (for Fog Lamp HeadLight Electrical System) Interrupteur Moto

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DFBH6LQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used clear shrink tubing to hold the lights on the Softopper tubing. Something similar may work with the supertop.

Insultab 3010000C1A5 HS-105 1", 25' Clear Polyvinylchloride Heat Shrink Tubing

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ICY2H4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I ended up using an aluminum led strip for mine and a few zip ties.

Thanks for the link! I knew I saw those switch holders somewhere but couldn't remember what they were.

 

Jesus H Christ you get my jealousy. This is clean AF. I keep telling myself to ditch the stupid battery power dome light I have and do this, but then realize I only sleep in mine a hand full of times per year and decide against it. But just the thought of doing it so well like this gets me back on the band wagon!

 

Thanks! I spent more time on the plans for this than actually doing the install. I think I bought and returned 3 switches before I got one that I liked. I just installed the Softopper Saturday, so I haven't even camped in it yet.

 

Even if you don't sleep in it regularly, it is damn nice to have some light in the bed for loading/unloading things at night.


I typically sleep in mine when I solo camp and it's great being able to see at night when you gotta get up and piss or when it's raining and you don't wanna sit in the dark.

I ordered a dimmer for mine that has an RF wireless remote as well -

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...d-dimmer-wireless-rf-remote-8-amps/3145/6309/ -

That way I have some control of how bright they are.

 

This is why I've considered using red LED's, in the middle of the night it doesn't matter how dim the white LED's are they'll burn your retinas. Gears are turning once again......

 

I wonder if RGB leds will produce enough of a white light to be usable?

I finished up my lighting tonight. The 3rd topper light showed finally after fighting with the Ebay seller and the RF wireless dimmer showed up today as well. -

 

Very much good. Ive been wanting to mock up some red LEDs to use so it doesn't wreck my retinas at night.

 

I use a Fenix EO1 (with a chapstick cap over the end as a diffuser) to light up my backpacking tent. Tie a small loop of thin cord on the end and you can girth hitch it to one of the cross bars. It's plenty of light with dark adjusted eyes.

Fenix Compact LED Flashlight, Grey

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002...AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=fenix+eo1