Softopper or Hard Shell?

So my next purchase for my taco is a shell.
I've spent the last couple of weeks reading as much as I can on camping with my taco and have narrowed it down to either a softopper or a hard shell. I'm hoping you guys can help me with deciding which is better for my needs.

I like the look of the hard shell camper shells much more than the softopper. I don't know that I want to keep the shell on the truck all the time. This makes the softopper a better idea simply because it will take less space to store.
My plan is to build a platform to sleep on and for storage underneath. I would then sleep in the back.

I have to imagine the hard shell will provide better shelter than a softopper but is it that much better? Are then any other advantages of one over the other? Are there any disadvantages of either that I should know of?

 

I went through this question myself and here was my thought process. Let’s ignore price for a minute...

• Do you need to store things on top of the topper/shell?
• Do you need to place/carry things taller than the cab in the bed?
• How safe/unsafe are the places you’ll be?

I think based on how you answer those you’ll know what you need.

I went with a Softtopper because I wanted the ability to carry any sized cargo and let my truck be a truck (bed fills up quick with a short bed). I also didn’t need to place things above it. The ease of set up/take down of the topper was more valuable to me than the structure and security that a shell provides. Softtoppers go for about 1/3 of the price of a shell that I would actually want to place on my truck too - so that was icing on the cake.

OA

 

When you talk about safety, are you talking about people stealing things from inside or do you mean keeping you safe inside from say a bear?

I didn't consider the storage on top. Have to think about that.

 

I meant more about people stealing things. It’s not an issue for me but you can’t really “lock” a softopper.

OA

 

Love my softopper so far. Way cheaper and easier to remove then a hard top.

 

This has been explored on TW several times:

://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/soft-top-or-hard-shell.510017/

 

Love my softopper!!

 

Glad I answered consistently lol. I thought this thread was familiar.

OA

 

If I could afford, soft topper with exo skeleton frame

 

I got my Softopper for the price point compared to a hard shell and how easily I could put it up and take it down to use the bed for taller items. I love it. I did plan to put a rack over it, but when I called All-Pro last week to order their pack rack that is softopper compatible, they said they were no longer making them. They did say they might start again...but not for "month down the road". I needed something to put a RTT on, so the Softopper may be coming off in the near future. So as of now, I don't think there are any companies out there that make compatible bed racks to go over the softopper, in case that was something you were thinking of doing.

 

sosoffroadconcepts.com/bestop-bedrack/
Your not looking hard enough lol, plus it comes in aluminum if you wanna save on weight. I'll be going this route but i need to get a softtopper first lol

 

The dissent offroad rack is designed to fit over the softtopper, there are also options locking side accessory doors for a little added security.

 

If you are at all thinking of storing your camera gear temporarily get the hard camper shell, no question.

 

I have always gone with the hard top. Primarily because I want to be able to lock my "stuff" up and have a good expectation that it will be there when I get back. The soft top provides almost zero security from theft or the whack job bad guy. Are you comfortable leaving your property in a soft top parked on a remote public road for a day {or more} or for that matter on a dark city street for a few hours? I wasn't so that is how I made my decision.

 

Do you keep it out in open or garage it. Id just hate to spend 800$ and have it wither away exposed to elements in 2 years like my trampoline in backyard. Thats only thing stopping me

 

I bought a shell last year. I spent the extra change for windoors and roof rack. I use my truck and haul lumber to finish the post flood repairs on my house.... I can haul 99 percent of the stuff I hauled before the shell. I have an 8x5 trailer for everything else.

I like locking my gear up. And I keep an iced down cooler in the back for cold drinks.... Or food.... Lunch etc.

That shell has been the best thing I have bought for the truck hands down.

 

Thanks for the heads up! I thought I was out of luck.

 

I had a SnugTop Rebel installed Saturday. I was having the same decision making issue as you. I ended up with the hard canopy due to hauling my dogs and not wanting them to be frozen and also for a bit more security. Mine was $2200 OTD with LED light, Pet screens and install.

If I didn't have dogs or care about security that roof rack and canopy rack with a Softopper from @Dissent86 would be the way to go, I think it flows perfectly together.

 

It stays garaged at night but out in the elements every day. It's made out of a quality convertible top material and is built to handle the elements. Below is a quote from their website under the FAQ's. I got mine for $300 on FB Marketplace and it was basically brand new. I figured if the elements mess it up in the near future, i'll know not to buy another one but feeling the quality of this fabric, I believe it will last for a long time.

What fabric is used for the soft top?
The fabric is a premier, automotive convertible fabric, which consists of a woven fabric with a UV stabilized PVC coating for water resistance. It's been proven against, wind, rain, sunlight, fading, mildew and rot, and will remain beautiful for years. It is also the chosen fabric for convertibles used by many major OEM convertible manufacturers such as Jeep, Ford and Chrysler.

Does the fabric fade?
The fabric is UV protected at the factory and should hold its color for years. The material is designed to be on vehicles and thus exposed to the elements 12 months of the year.

 

I’ll have to change my answer now that I have an ARE Z series. I love the hard shell more than the softopper. For the price difference, the softopper will give you the same result for less money and you will have the ability to easily fold it up when you need to haul something big. Even with the ARE being heavy and hard to remove, I still like it better for some reason or another. Partially because I can haul my RTT on top.