Softopper vs Bestop

Coming from a Wrangler I’m familiar with Bestop. Went through two winters with only a soft top on my JLU and didn’t have any problems. Seen some posts of people swearing by both brands. Would use it as a camping topper/utilitarian topper that I can collapse forward to haul my Z650 around from storage. Brittle windows were never really an issue with my JL top, just didn’t brush off the ice and crap on there let it thaw as the Jeep warmed up or left it frozen and relied on my side mirrors to see. Pros and cons of both options, pics if you got them, do your thing!

 

SOFTOPPER

 

I’ve owned bestop supertop in the past and currently have softopper and by far I’m loving the softopper way more.

 

Softopper are legit. Very easy to use, sturdy, and can be quickly taken off in a matter of minutes. Probably my favorite thing I’ve bought for my truck.

 

I tried the bestop super top for a couple weeks. I wasn’t happy with how it fit, how it worked (pain to get in and out of the back window) and no security. I returned it and bought an ARE cap. I would say softtopper or try the supertop 2 from bestop (I haven’t seen many reviews for that redesign).

 

I should have specified the Supertop 2, rather than the original. Seems everybody prefers the Softopper was hoping for a bit more “why” than just because. Guess more research is in order I didn’t know the Softopper existed until about 10 minutes before the original post

 

“Bestop, Inc. (“Bestop” or the “Company”), a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, LLC (“Kinderhook”), announced today the acquisition of Softopper, LLC (“Softopper”), a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of convertible soft tops for light-duty pickup trucks and SUV’s. Softopper represents the sixth add-on acquisition for Bestop and Kinderhook’s 74th automotive-related transaction. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.”

Looks like either one I go for is the same brand as of 2019. Who knew! I think the only way to know for sure is to buy it, install it, use it. If I don’t like one sell it and go for the other. Everyone seems to say the fit of the Softopper is better, as well as the Bestop has a bar behind the tailgate for rigidity similar to the bar on the back window of the Wrangler. I’ll have to watch some videos on both to really narrow it down. Seems like both are solid options though and I won’t be making an awful decision either way.

 

Softopper again.

 

Softopper w/ storage bag is $808 (w/o storage bag $759), Bestop is $825 no accessories (on the manufacturer websites). Seems like price and everybody swearing by Softopper is starting to push me in that direction.

 

I think the bars and collapsing the softopper are faster too. I never put my bestop in the stowed position, but getting those windows in an out was worse than the jeep softop for sure. I like the design of the softopper frame, the bestop (original mind you) was not very robust and would move around a lot from the wind. I think part of that was because it sat higher than the cab. I had aluminum flat stock and additional clamps up front because some people had them blow off when wind gets under that front rail. Both are owned by bestop, but IMO the softopper was engineered better.

 

Yup, ST.

 

Softopper or die. I would rather drag my ball sack through a mile of broken glass than deal with Bestop's customer service...

 

lmao0o0oo, like the others said, softtoppers just look better imo

 

I've seen a bestop in person just recently and it did nothing for me. Everyone comments on my softopper so I think it wins

 

ST all the way!

 

Saw they had a used Tacoma Softopper for $50 off, got a virtual card with Affirm and bought it. Can’t wait!!

 

Soft topper is awesome! That said i actually ordered a bestop super top II 1st - they back ordered me and pissed me off so I went to sister company and ordered soft topper. Glad I did I love it. I made one mod to the soft topper and added pressstuds to the tail gate
So much better than just Velcro and matches the studs on the topper . My taco has holes for snorkle , holes for rack, CMC 5 more holes in the tail gate make no difference
Just make sure you seal them up!

 

You won't regent it at all! Not to freak you out after your purchase but I placed velcro on top of my tail gate to keep the rear window flap from hitting my tailgate paint. Works well can send pics if needed. It was for sure making a mark on the paint! It's an easy fix for the quality though!

 

Interesting, you should make a separate DIY on this. I’d be interested to see it in further detail.

 

I've had both and I'm definitely on the soft topper train. It's just a better product all around.