What's your Softopper setup like?

Been trying to figure out how to best utilize the space I've got and would love to see other people's setups! I'm currently running a Softopper with Decked and have been working with @BillieBars on a side mount setup that still allows you to use your softop. Just ordered mounts for my rotopacks, so those will be on soon!

 

How did you mount the traction boards? Did the holes align with the Billie bars?

 

Yeah, Billiebars makes a mount for it and they work really well. Very solid. Only thing I did different is I put Maxtrax mounts on it so I could lock them.

 

This is exactly the setup I’ve been looking for! Is this side mount available yet?

 

It's not available yet, but it will be if it gets more traction! Contact @BillieBars and let them know via Instagram or wherever you use social media. They may be willing to make a small batch if we get 5-10 people!

Also, I think you'll be able to buy them one at a time depending on your budget!

 

Awesome - will do. Thanks!

 

Running KB Voodoo max modular rack. Bike rack attachments on either side and rhino kayak stacks up top.

 

I'm on the KISS side of things. Stuff stays inside.

 

hey man dope setup! What brackets did u use to hold up the billiebars molle panel? Looks a lot longer and They look a lot more flushed than the brackets that came with mine?

also with your softopper, do you have trouble opening and closing it becaused of the decked system?

thanks man!

 

Hey man! I actually worked with @BillieBars to create these brackets! They aren't released yet but if more people become interested they will speed up the process. They are very sturdy and I've had no idea with them at all. Unfortunately due to covid, money has been tight and I haven't been able to hit the trails like I used to

As for the Softopper, it isn't perfect with the decked, and you can't open and close it like you normally would. You have to take topper off the brackets and fold it. Once folded you can reattach. Hope that answers some of your questions!

 

Thank you so much! Emailed billiebars and your opinion on the softopper def helps. I think ill pull the trigger on it. Thanks!

 

Awesome! Another note, I did but a 2gallon rotopax on the passenger side and unfortunately I can't fit 2 due to the placement of holes. I've kept them in the loop and that's been made note of so it shouldn't be an issue on the next one!

 

That was one of the questions I was looking at. I've got a Decked system and used to run a KB Voodoo bed rack with RTT. I pulled the RTT and rack off, and I've been wanting to go with the Softopper, but that clearance issue for folding wasn't getting a really clear answer and from what I was able to get from Softopper it sounds like I would need about an extra 1/4-1/2" of height off of the top of the bed rails to be able to fold and open the Softopper.
So with the rig you've got, those rails don't add enough height to allow the arms on the Softopper to clear the top of the Decked system? It looks like they raise the mounting rails a little bit.
Also, any issues with the gap under the mounting rails since they are now resting on top of the side rail mounts. Did you have to use a different weather seal on the bottom?
I've got an UpTop roof rack that I can put some of the stuff I had on my bed rack onto, and I was looking at having to stow my 4 gal RotoPax between the tailgate and the Decked system under the softopper, and move my traction boards to the roof rack. These side rails look like they could solve a couple of issues for me.
Thanks for posting this!

 

It did create a bit of a gap and the mounting solution for the Softopper isn't fully fleshed out as I can to do some stuff to get it to work, but I 3D printed some spacers for the Softopper rails to sit on and that help a bunch. Far from water tight but definitely not soaked! I was too excited when I received the brackets so I didn't replace the weather seal haha. But I've had it on for about a year now with no issues!

 

Good to know.
One reason I want the Softopper is that I came out to open my Decked drawer that had a lot of tools including some power tools after a monsoon rain. My drawer had a nice orange coating that it didn't have previously and I spent several days cleaning tools. There was about an inch of standing water in the bottom of the drawer as well. I had previously had some water intrusion but nothing like this time. So I want to put the Softopper on there to help keep most if not all of the rain off of the Decked system. I also plan to actually sleep in there if I need to, so keeping wind, rain, and dust out would be needed.
I like the idea of the printed spacers, curious to see how that works out for you. I'm guessing without the spacers, maybe a thin seal between the side rails and the tent rails and then a more substantial one where there isn't anything between the tent rail and the top of the bed.
Thanks again. I think I'll reach out to them on the mounts.

 

This is an awesome configuration for your traction boards. I tried rigging something like this but it wasn't nearly as clean or sophisticated. Would definitely be on board for one.

 

@BillieBars Is this traction board mount something that will be available at some point?

 

I’m digging this design also. Any feedback from Billie bars about availability?

 

Rad, also thanks for the trail rec, not too far from there!

 

Third this