Soft Tops- Any with access from cab? And general bed covering thoughts.

Like many others, I'm looking at the pros/cons of a hard cap, soft top, and tonneau cover. I live in NY so snow/ice is a concern.
Various uses of my truck:
Taking kids to hockey (so some sort of cover is needed for the bed by winter). For those who may not know, hockey gear is incredibly expensive, so security is a big concern.
Kayaking- but the kayaks go on a small utility trailer with a Thule set up.
Bikes- usually just take the front wheel off and put them in the open bed, but we usually take very short trips for that.
Dogs (they have not been in the open bed and never will be.) As of now they're in the cab but we haven't gone kayaking with them since getting the truck. I'd love to be able to throw their wet, furry butts in the back, safely.
Firewood and various home improvement pickups.

With the dogs possibly in the bed, I'm wondering if there are any soft tops that have access from the cab into the bed while the soft top is on. I've read a bunch of reviews that state that is the main drawback to their soft top.


This is getting kind of off topic from that, and this has probably been done on here, but here are my thoughts on the various items in general as I weed through my decision:

Hard cap
Pros- security of items, safest for dogs, Could add a rack on top if desired. Paint matches truck. Windows, including access from the cab. Additional lock- not just the tailgate lock.
Cons- Cost, Removal for carrying items too tall to fit, storage when removed.

Soft Top
Pros- More secure than an open bed, but could be cut with a knife. Much cheaper than a hard shell, but much more than a tonneau. Still get the larger storage capacity like a hard cap, but it sounds like they're a lot easier to remove. Being able to open the side windows. Windows.
Cons- I've read that some leak and you need tent or seam sealer. I am not a big fan of the black vs my MGM Taco. Again, have to remove or at least fold down for larger items, although storage seems much easier. I also wonder how long it will take for parts to wear out. I shattered a friend's Jeep soft top window years ago trying to tap some snow off. Whoops. So fragility is a concern, especially when throwing hockey bags and sticks in there in freezing temps. No access from the cab, unless someone answers my original question.

Trifold Tonneau
Pros- Low cost. Can be partially folded to allow some taller objects, although you still lose some bed space doing that.
Cons- Again, someone could cut through with a knife if they really wanted to see what's in it. Less vertical space. No pets.

Hard Tonneau (Lid?)
Pros- Security, lower cost than full cap. Could put a bike rack on it.
Cons- Limited vertical space. Can't increase storage without removing, then storage is a pain. No pets.

Did I miss anything or make any glaring errors in my assumptions?
Thanks for any help.

 

If security is one of the big factors the Softopper is completely out. And your don't any knife to get it one, it opens from the back with zippers. And the sides open up with snaps.

 

And the Softopper windows are plastic

 

I live in Western WA and mine does not leak. I haven't seen anyone report a cracked plastic window either. Even for those who live in Colorado or other places where it gets really cold. Also there is only a rear window, no side windows unless you get a Best Top brand, which from what everyone else says are not as build as well.

The Pros for me are that it keeps my groceries or whatever else I'm transporting dry. It's super light weight and zero impact on MPG/rear suspension. It folds flat in less than 1 minute. This is the biggest benefit for me when I pick up large items that would require me to take a hard top off, I can just fold it down with no drama. Oh also the price. I bought mine used here for like 460 or so in perfect condition. Cheaper than a used tonneau cover.

The only Cons are low rear visibility, but you get used to that and use your mirrors more and it's not secure like a locking hardtop But with no side windows you keep your items out site and out of mind for most people. I've never had anything stolen out of there but I also do have a locking storage bed bin that replaced the factory one.

 

Do any of the windows zipper from both sides, so you could put a small lock on the zippers? Or have a loop to lock the zipper to? I know it could still be cut open, but at least I'd feel better with some sort of lock.
And I guess there aren't any accessible from inside the cab. Bummer.
Thanks for all the replies.

 

No lockable zippers. Sorry.

I've had rigid caps for a couple of decades, the soft Topper wins big time.

 

Any one that steals hockey equipment us out of their mind. That stuff stinks. I don't think that is a big worry.

Rigid caps are easy to get into as well. Don't sweat the security issue.

As for water proofness, I don't think my soft Topper is less waterproof than my previous rigid cap. I have to take both off on a regular basis, so waterproofness is going to be less than perfect.

 

I got horrible mileage soft topper. Vinyl/soft tonneau - same thing. Hard top tonneau, much improved mileage, and lockable. Don't car what Myth Busters says, my hard tonneau increased my mileage and, since it locks, makes for safe storage. It is 100% NOT waterproof to be sure. It also gets hot as hell under that cover, but I do like it.

Would love to try a hard top camper, but they're so expensive for a LB.

But I can remove my hard top tonneau, by myself, in about 20 minutes, if I need to.

 

Bed covers and bed caps are different animals. Yes, you will get better mpg with a bed cover vs a bed cap.

 

LOL. Agreed about hockey stuff stinking. But today's sticks cost anywhere from $50-$250, so they go first. And they don't stink once you change the tape. At least, they don't stink like someone else... But I've known people who've had entire bags of gear stolen. Even if they can't use the stuff or sell it for pennies on the dollar, it would stink to lose all the gear. And now and then I'll have other stuff in it.

 

I guess you have your own decisions to make.

I leave $700 Sage fishing rods in the back of my soft topper on a regular basis. I just refuse to be frozen with fear of theft. If someone wants my stuff, go nuts, just please use it.

If it's my turn to be robbed, I'm gonna get robbed. A rigid cap or a soft cap isn't going make any difference to a thief .

 

I use a soft roll up top for my hockey gear

 

My wife says leaving the equipment in there with the windows open would be all the theft deterrent we need, even if there was gold bars in with it.

 

I talked to BestTop. They've got an improved SuperTop for Truck 2 hitting the market in mid-October. One of the main improvements is better leak-proofing. The side windows become an "option" for an additional $280 black fabric panels being the standard. Not sure if I like the lower level of visibility or not, but for $280 I'm probably not going to find out, short of rolling up the black panels.

Stinks to wait until mid-Oct, but I am going to go with it. $800 vs double that for a hard shell. It's become clear that I need the vertical space, so a tonneau/lid was out.

Thanks for the advice, etc.