Let's See Some Softoppers

Been doing it for years.

I do prefer the RTT though.

 

Maybe you're thinking of a Bestop?

 

Hey may have those features but I believe sell new only for 3rd gen fitment. Not sure if a 3rd gen would fit on 2nd gen.

I’d hope so considering the fact people put 3rd gen softoppers onto 2nd tend all the time, but they look kinda odd with the lower height which is less room

I dunno maybe it’s because I didn’t just camp one Sunday on a beautiful lucky day

I lived in my truck for months in 85-90deg.
Had to open the windows for air and avoid condensation.
Had to get a battery fan to move the air.
Things I’ve never seen a Softopper have.

seen plenty of people do extended stays in a hard shell.
Never seen it with a soft top.
EcoFlow is now even coming out with portable A/C units.

big difference between beautiful day drive 30min to the best spot blow a bunch of gas each time bouncing around an uneven trail (time and place for everything)
Versus any time, any place, quietly open the glass and jump in.

key word any place
Truck stop, business hotel or Walmart parking lot doesn’t matter

shell even windows open looks like a random parked car
Blue tarp extension = downtown SF

gonna move cross country at one point. Last time I did that took 5 days.
Would be great to pull over each night and sleep comfortably for free.
Without being downtown SF stock photo and getting tased by police

 

I've camped in -20°c and +27°c for usually 3-5 days. Never lived in my truck but if I had to, I'd get a hard top. I'm not sure how safe I'd feel anywhere in public even with all the luxuries.

 

take a boxing class and get a Mossberg 590A1 sleeping partner.
they can assume someone’s in it and if not, they may be in for a surprise to find out there’s a 190lb boxer standing between them and whatever plastic forks they felt like stealing.

someone can open a shell window just about the same. But they are quieter.

that being said, it’s more about being stealth and avoiding any attention.
Because my old Softopper the back panel was velcro and zipper.
A pain in the ass. Slow to operate. Loud as fuck. Harder to close from inside and takes longer.
It’s not quick in and out like a shell back window.

one time I got lucky. a clean brand new portapotty near me. Had to go to the bathroom. Opened my window and got out.
a Softopper on the other hand, well it has the above issues.

 

I just drop the tailgate. Soft & quiet. Even closing, it is no louder than hardshell window catches.

 

I use this for extended stays. Tricky to set up solo in the wind but other than that it's an excellent option for the money. The screen walls wrap under the tailgate and allow you to keep the back wide open for sleeping. We setup the interior as our kitchen. It's not sealed up but stays mostly bug free. (*edit Reading on I don't know why you don't just stick with a hardtop. Doesn't seem like a Softopper has any features you're looking for.)
https://slumberjack.com/roadhouse-screen-tarp/

 

For those that were asking about sales…

 

reasons of wanting Softopper:
-cheap
-light
-exo cage rack
-roll up, foldable, or remove quickly
-looks good

but I guess if it fails at actual camping then it’s a no go and nothing more than a higher/roomier tonneau cover

honestly a hack to overcome that, invention idea
Would be making a channel. Possibly cut square into bedside. Vent. Mesh screen. Routing to let water drain.
And fan to suck in cool outside air.
That would work with a Softopper.
Never been done before.
Would solve main problems of condensation and ventilation
Could even route to draw air from down below and not even need section cut out of the bedside.

potentially closed while running/driving to avoid intake of exhaust fumes

and if facing down, would prevent sucking in water
If any company makes it, it could potentially be called “the taco vent” mass produced sell many units

and even be usable in hard shells
To allow for window closed sleeping to be stealth
As a closed tinted window is much stealthier than an open one that also lets water in

but that (companies making them) probably will not happen.

factory cubby holes could even potentially be repurposed as a vent intake with fan.
Maybe solid closable lid while driving to prevent rain splash mud dirt rocks etc

the only hurdle would be routing inlet through and atop/past wooden bed platform
So it’s bringing air above into where people are
Not down below into storage boxes of clothes

 

It's great at camping a few nights. Wouldn't use it to pull over in a city to sleep in. Wouldn't use it to sleep in 3 weeks straight. 3-4 nights? Sure, I have and it works

 

I’ve done a couple of nights with no issues, but it does depend a lot on the weather. This summer was brutal so I didn’t even bother. Closer to winter is completely doable. Also a lot less bugs! I hate bugs!!!!

 

Well I knew if I dragged my feet long enough.. it would happen, jus got off phone with Amy.. super helpful I took advantage of Sale Im joining the Club.. jus in time for Fall camping/hunting.

 

This is hitch mount 3rd light

 

Well I had to join the club finally. Last time we took
the dogs out in the truck they fought over who's head was going to lay on the armrest for 40 miles.

Now they have a complete 6 1/2 foot bed to claim, and I have a nice clean truck inside the cab.

 

Any advice on Dealing with Customer service? I had bought a softopper in July, took a bit to get it which was fine. But only now have I gotten the time to install. The driver side folding frame had 2 badly milled pipes. 8000ths off on each. Tried filing and sanding, but it was a no go. Now I have a stuck crossbar and a possibly cracked hinge point. Of course it's a holiday weekend, so hopefully they will answer come Tuesday.

 

I emailed them once and got no response. I've also called them on two separate occasions and had no trouble getting through.

 

Wish my rear window was nice and flat like yours, mine came as a wavy mess. Still works fine though

 

My tan Softopper finally started showing some mold/dirt build up. I got Griot’s convertible cleaner and a horse hair brush from Amazon. Super easy to clean and make it look new again.

 

Might be adding bed bars to go over the topper and freespirit aspen lite tent soon.

 

Not really sure why your back window is wavy. Does it look the same off the top laid out on the ground? If it doesn't, I would maybe try to loosen the tension you have on just the window from the Velcro at the top, and the zippers on the side.