Softtopper

A glass rear panel would be pretty nice. Although, I have heard that hard canopy rear windows are a similar pita on the visibility front. I know it was on our station wagon, CUW and hatchback, but at least there is a wiper.

The one big deal for the Softopper is that a glass panel wouldn't be able to be fold up over the top for quick access. I'm sure there would be a solution though.

 

Stay a while, Stallone. We got ya.

 

yeah seriously....it’s gonna get worse before it gets better

 

It's TW. Always trending toward the gutter.

 

Now that you invited the likes of me in here, I can guarantee that statement.

 

hahahaha

 

so how tight does this get? It’s not gonna flap around goin doin the highway right?

 

That's the beauty of these things. No flappin'.

 

To put your mind at ease, this guy is 5 years old. I bought it for my 2016 and kept it when I traded to my 18. I abuse the hell out of it. Aside from very basic repairs (2 sunbleached clips, one gorilla'd zipper pull, one rear window) it still looks great. And it's still tight as a drum.

 

Here's how the Jeep hybrid soft-top works - it has a hard rear portion to support the fold-up glass in back. I guess with the Taco the issue would be coming up with a similar solution for the glass panel behind the cab too. They aren't cheap but I'd deff shell out the cash if this option was available:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XFgaYuN6ak

 

I would personally NOT want a glass panel, even if there was a solution to flip it up out of the way (although not sure how graceful that would be without rigid support). I like the low weight, portability, and the specific durability that the vinyl provides. Which is, even if it gets ripped while out camping or wheeling, I'm not spreading broken glass shards everywhere, and one can usually triage the rip in the field with some duct tape. I might entertain a good plexiglass type material if designed well.

The idea of a lightweight plastic or something else that is somewhat of a hybrid between the canvas softtopper and a full hard shell would be interesting. Hell, I wouldn't mind if it looked like a giant cube on the top of the box. As long as it is capable to act as a shell, but fold up flat like a card table for storage, and is deployable by a single person.

 

Not bad.


I think they could stick with the same general method. Just an adjustment to the rear opening and probably needing a zipper instead of velcro for the upper connection.

I would definitely want a glass window at least the same size as the vinyl in approximately the same position.

I would certainly jump in the deep end there. It would make it a lot more carefree, even with the breakage risk.

 

Good point on the plexiglas.

 

So that requires sewing your own pockets for them