Pros/Cons ARE Camper vs. Softopper

Hello guys,

debating between a hard shell camper and softopper. Can yall give some feedback about your experiences with them? Wind noises?

 

Hardshell:
- Pros: Durability, generally more waterproof, harder to break into, can put stuff on top. I have a hard shell and it's dead quiet.
- Cons: less versatility for hauling tall loads, usually need two people or a hoist to take on and off. More permanent.

Softopper:
- Pros: Lighter, easier to take on and off, more versatile because of that if you need the bed open. Some even fold down.
- Cons: Easily stolen or broken into, cannot put things on the roof without another rack over top of it. For the cost of a softopper and a rack to go around it you might as well just get a shell.

 

Can’t speak for a hard shell
Softopper
Pro
1. Light weight
2 easy to remove and store
3 cheaper than a hard shell
4 no noise or flapping on the highway
cons
1 color fades over time
2 material shrinks over time
3 plastic windows can crack in cold weather.
4 restricts visibility
5 can’t secure anything in the bed from being stolen .

 

Now that you mentioned it, I do like the idea of putting a rack on the shell. But can’t really justify getting it, only thing I would do is haul a kayak up top but I think it would require two person from preventing damage to the truck and kayak

 

Didn’t really think about the material fading and cracking. I just really wanted to store stuff in the bed without a chance of it getting blown out lol

 

First why do you want a topper? What is its purpose, What are you going to use it for? Do you plan to leave it on 24/7 or just put it on for specific times and purposes? Is cost a consideration? Need a little more info to advise you.

 

The gear will be secure while driving .no issues with stuff blowing out lol .

 

that's a pretty big deal to properly load,, up to you still.

 

I was originally set on buying a Leer 100XR when I got my truck, but once you add some extras (I really wanted windoors), the price quickly gets out of hand. A buddy with a Tacoma picked up a softopper so I could see one in person, I liked the looks and the price, so I decided to try one out, figuring I could take it off easily if I didn't end up using it all the time or sell it. It's been on my truck for 3+ years at this point and I don't have any plans to remove it.

Things that I like about the softopper:

• Styling
• Price
• Keeps snow out of my bed in the winter.
• Can easily roll up the sides and reach most things in the bed.
• Keeps things out of sight, which is half the battle with deterring theft. If someone wants to get into your locked hard topper, it might take 30 seconds vs 10 seconds with a softopper. Roll up tonneau covers can also be defeated in no time. No real difference in my use case. I don't leave anything expensive in there all the time.
• Still looks almost brand new after being on the truck for 3 years, with little to no upkeep besides getting a quick spray in the car wash when the rest of the truck does.
• Fairly watertight, never had an issue with major water in the bed even with some driving rains, I make sure to keep stuff that needs to stay 100% dry off the bed of the truck for good measure.
• Has held up great in high winds on the interstate.
• Safari mode (sides rolled up, front and rear panels removed).
• Folds up against the cab in ~2 minutes if hauling anything bigger.
• Completely removable in ~3 minutes, easy to do with one person.
• No worrying about the back hatch breaking in some fashion (the lock, the shocks, etc.) on a hard topper, which seems to happen to everyone I know who owns one eventually.

Things I dislike about the softopper:

• Covers 3rd brake light. I ended up adding my own, makes me feel better about my chances of hopefully getting the attention of the yahoo staring at their cellphone behind me.
• Visibility isn't great, but honestly it hasn't really been an issue for me, I added an anytime front/rear camera that helps.
• Their solution to securing the back flap to the tailgate with velcro is terrible. I went with a magnetic strip backed with velcro on the inside of the flap that sticks to the tailgate, and a clear strip of vinyl on the top of the tailgate to keep it from rubbing the paint. Works great.
• As mentioned, security isn't really a thing other than keeping things out of sight. Hasn't been an issue for me, but maybe would be in more of a metro area where crime was more of an issue.

Overall I love my softopper, it works great for my needs, but they are certainly not for everyone. My brother in law ordered one after liking mine for his 2500HD Silverado, and it just didn't make sense on that truck (bedsides too tall). He also had a difficult time returning, which put a damper on the whole thing for him.

 

I've had my ST since 2019. No fading or cracking. I hit it with Aerospace 303 Protectant twice a year. I don't touch the windows if it gets into the teens.

Pretty easy.


On security. Someone broke into mine once by properly opening it. Rooted through hundreds of $$ of recovery gear and such and only stole a $7 Costco InstaCrate.


I do see lots of hard canopies with broken out windows.

Not sure what the real security answer is other than full metal or fiberglass and no windows.

 

Every soft topper I’ve seen here in California that spends a lot of time in the sunlight looks like total ass after a few months.

 

You still haven’t told us why you want a camper shell or what use you plan. So I’ll just tell you my experience. I’ve had hard shell campers on all my trucks (7 trucks). Never had any problems with them, never had one broken into. Never had windows break or anything else. I actually use mine. I do a lot of remote hunting and fishing and sleep in the back of the truck, along with my dog. It keeps me warm and dry is quite comfortable. I put and keep equipment in there and makes it less likely for stuff to be stolen , lost or ruined from weather. I don’t keep anything back there permanently. It’s invaluable when I go camping, couldn’t imagine going with out my camper shell on. If I want to take it off it’s not difficult, I seldom do though. For me a soft top just doesn’t work.

 

I have a hard top. Not being able to haul big stuff is a con sometimes and a pro other times. I.e., if I need to haul furniture I need to rent a trailer (con); if someone wants me to haul their furniture, it can’t fit (pro).

 

haha that is a big plus!
My father told me long ago when I got my first truck "with a truck, you will be everyone's best or worst friend"

 

Once you go cap there’s no going back

 

I run a snug top with racks, and haul kayaks/paddle boards on them. Front runner has a “roller” attachment for the rack, it allows me to load everything on the roof single-handedly(circled in red in photo). In case you haven’t seen that setup before.

 

I got a softopper strictly for camping purposes paired with a topper tent and being able to haul things in the bed without them flying out or getting wet in the rain.

I also needed something very easily removed in case I need all bed space or hauling something larger than what would fit in a cap. For my needs, a softopper was the perfect choice and the right price.




Made no change in wind noise or fuel mileage. Been over 90mph and no issues.

 

The only way I’m hitting 90mph is if I drive it off a cliff.

 

It was downhill