SoftTopper Theft Deterrent

I bought a soft topper a few months ago and have wanted a way to make it a little more secure when I park it at a trail head with camping gear in the back or in the parking lot of a ski resort. I know that someone could unsnap the sides or cut it with a knife, but petty theft is usually a crime of opportunity and I'm trying to minimize that opportunity as much as possible.

I searched Tacoma World For an SoftTopper theft deterrant idea or product, but didnt really find anything that suited my needs. So I thought up and created my own.

I started by buying and installing the Pop n Lock manual tailgate lock for the 2nd gen tacoma. Being able to lock the tailgate made the rest possible.

I then made a blackout curtain for the back wind of the SoftTopper. People dont know what they could steal if they cant see it!


I made a lock cable out of a build your own cable kit from Home Depot. That cable runs through the two tie down loops at the rear of the bed, then up to the zippers on the rear window. I locked the cable to the zipper holes using some luggage locks (getting heavier duty ones soon, the zipper holes are way bigger than I thought)


Finished product and it was super cheap and easy.


I didn't buy my SoftTopper for the security and was well aware of the security issues with them when I bought it. A fiberglass shell or tonneau cover weren't really options for my needs. This little modification definitely gives me some more peace of mind when I have gear in the back and my trucks unattended.

Hopefully this idea helps some others.

 

Came here from Reddit had to give you a like lol

 

I dig this concept a lot! Was thinking about something similar when I first purchased my softopper. I can't help but wonder though if a thief finds the zippers locked if that will entice them to cut or destroy the topper more so at that point? I have always been one to believe that if a thief wants something they are gonna figure out a way to get it. But every little deterrent helps I guess. Nice job though on this!

 

As a guy who has owned several Wranglers with soft tops my best advice is leave everything unlocked so they can get in without damaging it. Or just buy a hard shell. If the doors are locked they will do more damage getting in that they will get from stealing what's inside. BTDT.

 

No offense but this is useless, shithead thieves want something that won't stop a thing.

 

I just put the solid front and rear panels on mine and have a locking tailgate. I hardly ever have anything worth stealing left in the bed anyway but if you can’t see it, that’s usually sufficient

 

Only thing I have back there is my fridge/freezer filled with Carona Beer and some Seltzers

 

Good work OP but I agree with others. It's way too easy to just cut through the back window to bypass any locking system. The tailgate lock is really the main deterrent that is worth investing in with a ST.

 

Thanks! I appreciate it. I posted this months ago and your bump gave it some traction. Hopefully it helps others.

 

Yep my girlfriend just leaves her wrangler unlocked and doesn't keep anything inside. Too much risk of the top getting cut in the city and its expensive to replace.

 

To respond to everyone saying theat this wont do anything at all to prevent a theif from stealing stuff out of my truck, I repectfully disagree. Im not saying a dedicated theif couldnt get into the softtopper relatively easy. But for what i use this for, it is 100% better than nothing.

I made this for when im at a trailhead for a hike, or when I have stuff in the back and run into the store for a little while. Im not keeping valuables in there overnight or for long periods of time. I only use this device for relativley short periods of time in broad daylight. It is a "deterrant", thats it.

1. The blacked out curtain makes it so a potential thief cannot see whats in the back. So when walking by they dont just see my camping gear or tools in there. The Softtopper back window is super clear and you can see everything when just walking by.

2. Just to find out whats inside someone would have to un-velcro one of the flaps an pear thru the tiniest fuckin hole ever to try and see whats inside.

3. If they get through Step 2 and decide they wanna steal some shit. They will have to firs have a sharp knife on their person, then cut through my softtopper in broad daylight and then through my rachet straps hold shit down.

4. Then they will have to try so squeeze the giant gazelle tent and other long shit i put on top of all my camping gear out of the hole they cut, which isnt gonna be a fast process.

5. Then they gotta get out of there without anyone seeing them.

Yes if someone really wants to get in there they could. But most thefts are crimes of opportunity when someone is walking by and sees something they want to steal. This device will at least make less obvios whats inside at firat glance and a more difficult operation. It gives me more piece of mind to leave my truck unattended for short periods of time with gear in the back without constantly freaking the fuck out that my shits gonna get stolen.



Ultimately, if someone is dedicated to stealing my shit, most likey they will be succeed, but it will be alot harder and time consuming than me not having this "theft deterrent" on there. This shit cost like 12 dollars to make.