Snap Softopper sides down in high crosswind best?

Just back from driving across Nevada to see a friend in Eureka where I went to HS then on to Great Basin NP in eastern Nevada, returning via Tonopah and Mammoth Lakes to NE Cali. Anyway, hit high crosswinds three times, first time I had to stop and fold the top down to store behind the cab, wind was too hard to try to figure out what was going on or to snap it down. I had the sides and rear rolled up, not much to hold the top down except the straps and corners. Later, I figured the straps had loosened up some. Have you modified your topper or added straps or ? to hold the top down when a crosswind is encountered? Only thing I did the third time was snap down the side in the wind and no other issues, leaving the back down and secured, but the other side still rolled up. The first time the framework looked ready to fly off or get damaged.
Duane

 

I'm in Oklahoma and have driven on the highway with extremely strong winds and my softopper has never budged. Are you sure the top is installed correctly and properly tightened down?

 

As you discovered, most of the strength comes from the tension in the vinyl skin. The bows just give it shape. This is similar to houses, tents, and aircraft. If you are in unusual conditions, best to unroll and fasten it.

 

Thank you, what I'm thinking as the one side after I snapped it down, held the top in place since the wind couldn't get under the top and lift it. Tough when it starts raining too.
Duane

 

Yes. But also, that tension in the canvas was doing work to keep the frame from tweaking. It acts as a diaphragm.

 

The straps weren't holding taunt, they loosened some which allowed the top to flop around and increase the air caught from my observation, initially worried that the 5 minutes or more that I let the top flop around, that the framework was damaged. The straps needed to be tightened again, so the buckles were unable to keep the straps tight. Next time will have to stop sooner, which is what I did when I ran into a cross wind for the third time outside Tonopah. Topper works good in 70 mph speed, just that cross wind with the sides and rear rolled up. I do see that the corners work to keep the top tight, provided the corner straps hold.
Duane