Soft Shell Camper yes or no?

Completely agree. Biggest pain in the ass are those windows. The canvas on mine has just enough give in warm temperatures to get them on but I still have to wrestle with it for a minute.

I should also mention the plastic slider clip pieces on mine are slightly deformed in the same spot on both sides, which also makes it a pain in the ass to secure the side windows. They make it in, it just takes some time and finesse.

 

I wouldn't want one. I've always put a hard shell on my trucks and never take them off. If I need to carry something that won't fit with the shell on the truck my 10' utility trailer works better for big stuff anyway. Once or twice a year I loosen the clamps and slide them back a few inches to thoroughly clean the area between the truck and shell.

I've slept in the back of a truck on several occasions. Don't plan to ever do it again. Even a cheap backpacking tent is more roomy, comfortable and easier to set up. If you're going to sleep in the bed all the other gear has to be moved out, then put back in. They aren't that much cheaper either. And having owned 4 Jeeps over the years, none of the fabric tops are meant to last more than a few years. Especially in sunny climates where UV rays damage the fabric.

 

I liked mine to an extent. Decent dent in fuel economy, the windows were hard to install, and the canvas material began to tear in a couple spots. Windows are also hard to clean without scratching them to shit.

I may suggest the Softopper, heard great things about them if you want to stick with a canvas style topper.

 

Softopper here, not a Besttop. I think the product is excellent and have no complaints. Besttops should be just as good. But personally I would hold out for a Softopper though. Vinyl windows are very hard to keep clean and scratch very easily. Having two (completely useless IMO) side windows just adds to the problem.

 

I do not have one, but I was considering one before I bought my hard top. I had been camping in a tent previously. Reasons I ended up going with a hard top:

More security (sometimes I want to park in the woods and hike up a mountain)
More protection from weather/temp
More headroom (got an increased headroom hard top, would have HEAVILY regretted not doing so now that I have it)
Can support 300 lbs on top

I came to the conclusion that the only advantage was price, and since I'm in this for the long haul and will be spending lots of time in there I wanted to do it right the first time.

 

Thanks for all the info! I think what Im really after is a Hard Camper shell... now the search continues.

 

I have the bestop softopper on my 2013 SB, Love it, light weight, no leaks, great product. I do remove it for the winter months and put my tonneau cover on. That's just me, a little OCD.

 

i was thinking of doing that

 

so what did you decide on OP? I'm onthe fence too. Hard shell or soft top?

 

@eccracer104 and @YotaGurlIAm both camped in theirs this last weekend, they can weigh in on how it went.

 

Camping with one of these is great. The shell actually does a great job at trapping in heat to keep it warm. I haven't tried it in summer on a hot night. Everything stays clean which is always good.

 

As far as installation, does anyone know if a topper from a 2nd gen will fit a 1st gen? Both 6ft beds

 

I'm gonna hold off for the hard shell. makes the most sense when transporting my canoe. and security for my camping gear in the back.

 

Good call. I love my shell for camping and canoe.

 

The soft tops are almost as ugly as the Hard tops and tonneau covers

 

I picked up a soft topper from member on here for a great price. It was cool it did its job, but on the freeway it flapped around like crazy especially in a cross wind. I sold it and got a used shell.

 

Some people say our Tacoma's are ugly as hell, too. That's irrelevant to the thread.

I don't have a soft cap for my Tacoma...yet, but I do have one for my Tundra. I like it much better over the hard cap I had on previously.

I find it seems to make the truck quieter at highway speeds. I notice very little flapping of the fabric. The issue of security doesn't really bother me. If thieves want in the truck, they are gonna get in the truck, regardless of a soft or hard cap.

I opted for the Soft Topper brand. I think the side windows on the best top are not that big of a deal to me. I could see how some people like to see out the sides, but I find it easier to just use my side view mirrors.

The convenience of lowering and raising the soft topper is great. The advertisement for this soft topper is no exaggerating. It goes up and down in 2 minutes or so. I can have the soft topper lowered and the 5th wheel camper hooked up and ready to travel in 15 minutes. With my previous hard top, it was an afternoon ordeal to get ready to travel. Not to mention, I wont be blowing a grape taking that heavy fucker off any more. I won't be missing it a bit.

Now to just talk the war department into letting me get one for the Tacoma.

 

I have had a softopper for almost a year now.
I need to be able to fold it down and back up again for work so a hard top is not for me.
This is a very fast and easy process with the softopper. It looks like it would be more difficult with the bestop because of needing to remove the side windows. I do not miss the side windows.

I have had no problems with water getting in.
I have only had problems with it flapping in the wind if it's not properly tightened.
The vinyl windows do collect dust but I have a marine vinyl cleaner which helps a lot with that.
I have not noticed any change in fuel economy.
I get compliments on its looks all the time.

 

I have a soft top and haven't had too much of a flap noise issue. The only time I heard anything was doing 90+ in Idaho with a crosswind. Other than that I've camped in the back of my truck in -9deg weather under the soft top and it did a decent enough job of insulating. If I had a garage I would get a hard top so that I could remove it when I need to but until then being able to fold it down suits my needs real well.

 

Off topic but do you B.A.S.E jump?