Had a Soft Topper on my 3/4 ton for 7 years. Came with a little bottle of seam sealer that we applied when it was new. Never leaked. Just folded it forward when towing my 5th wheel.
I want to try to install a receiver hitch in the front steel bumper instead of mounting the winch permanently there. I had this type of setup on a ZR2 and was able to use the winch on front or rear. Also not having the winch exposed to winter salt spray and the extra 90 lbs. all the time...