Bestop teaser concept: folding soft cover / shell / topper for Gladiator bed

[kevman65]

Do they make this in a material that matches the premium soft top?

Currently it is ONLY available in Black Diamond which is a vinyl type material.

Sponsored

 

[WXman]

I got the Bestop 2 because I didn't want to put Velcro on the tailgate.

The instructions with the Softopper clearly state the Velcro is optional.

The SofTopper's arms extend down into the bed area below the bed rail caps. It gets into storage space and can be damaged by heavy, bulky cargo if it shifts.
The Super Truck 2 has rails that mount on top of bed rails and the arms never go lower than the top of the bed rail caps.
The Super Truck 2 Black Twill, when released, will have a lifetime warranty on the fabric, Black Diamond and SofTopper do not offer this.

We can't even get the black diamond version right now. It might be a year to 18 months before we see the twill version.

Interesting about the arms and framework though. The Supertop looks narrow and cheesy to me. It looks like a greyhound that hasn't been fed in 2 months. With the arms being mounted on top of the bed sides, one would think that it would actually look more "full" than it does. Hmm...

 

[busstees]

I got the Bestop 2 because I didn't want to put Velcro on the tailgate.

This is the same reason I went with the Bestop. With the cross bar on the Supertop you can still open the tailgate with the top fully closed. With the Supertopper you have to unvelcro the back window panel from the tailgate to open the tailgate.

 

[WXman]

This is the same reason I went with the Bestop. With the cross bar on the Supertop you can still open the tailgate with the top fully closed. With the Supertopper you have to unvelcro the back window panel from the tailgate to open the tailgate.

But if you don't install the Velcro, which is shown as purely optional in the instructions, then you could open the tailgate with the top closed on the Softopper, correct?

 

[Gren71]

But if you don't install the Velcro, which is shown as purely optional in the instructions, then you could open the tailgate with the top closed on the Softopper, correct?

Id be leery of leaving fabric to flap against the tailgate unsecured. Seems to me it would scuff up the paint after a short time since the clear coat on these JTs is a joke.

 

[Gren71]

I got mine installed FINALLY. It was a rather frustrating process for sure. To be fair my work schedule is awful and both times I attempted to install this cover it was with all of 6 hours of cumulative sleep over the course of 3 days.

BUT!

The supertop worked really well for camping and I got a lot of compliments on it. Now that I have a better grasp of the topper and all I feel like it wont be too awful to remove and reinstall it for when I need it with camping. But I could be wrong. There is a chance the components that secure the rails to the bed may wear out after a couple of uses since small mental fragments fly out when I ratchet them in.

As for the tonneau. I was disappointed in the cover. The fitment was unsat for me and it was just not what I want, which was for it to be more similar to the mopar soft rolling cover.

My only real issue is that there is pretty much zero ventilation for the dogs. I made a hasty little port out of a cut-up pool noodle. But Im working through an idea with some PVC to make a vent system for the pups.

 

[kevman65]

I got mine installed FINALLY. It was a rather frustrating process for sure. To be fair my work schedule is awful and both times I attempted to install this cover it was with all of 6 hours of cumulative sleep over the course of 3 days.

BUT!

The softtopper worked really well for camping and I got a lot of compliments on it. Now that I have a better grasp of the topper and all I feel like it wont be too awful to remove and reinstall it for when I need it with camping. But I could be wrong. There is a chance the components that secure the rails to the bed may wear out after a couple of uses since small mental fragments fly out when I ratchet them in.

As for the tonneau. I was disappointed in the cover. The fitment was unsat for me and it was just not what I want, which was for it to be more similar to the mopar soft rolling cover.

My only real issue is that there is pretty much zero ventilation for the dogs. I made a hasty little port out of a cut-up pool noodle. But Im working through an idea with some PVC to make a vent system for the pups.

@Gren71 If you have a boat cover place near you, take one of the side panels to them and see if they can duplicate it with a mesh insert. Might cost a little, but you'd get some air flow for the pups.

 

[busstees]

But if you don't install the Velcro, which is shown as purely optional in the instructions, then you could open the tailgate with the top closed on the Softopper, correct?

Honestly I'm not sure how that would work. I would imagine it would then just be a hanging flap not fastened to anything which would mean it would never be fully sealed up. I don't have one though so I could be wrong.

 

[Gren71]

@Gren71 If you have a boat cover place near you, take one of the side panels to them and see if they can duplicate it with a mesh insert. Might cost a little, but you'd get some air flow for the pups.

im concocting a device made from PVC that I want to try first. But that is one heck of a great idea! I definitely didnt even consider that.

 

[WXman]

I got mine installed FINALLY. It was a rather frustrating process for sure. To be fair my work schedule is awful and both times I attempted to install this cover it was with all of 6 hours of cumulative sleep over the course of 3 days.

BUT!

The softtopper worked really well for camping and I got a lot of compliments on it. Now that I have a better grasp of the topper and all I feel like it wont be too awful to remove and reinstall it for when I need it with camping. But I could be wrong. There is a chance the components that secure the rails to the bed may wear out after a couple of uses since small mental fragments fly out when I ratchet them in.

As for the tonneau. I was disappointed in the cover. The fitment was unsat for me and it was just not what I want, which was for it to be more similar to the mopar soft rolling cover.

My only real issue is that there is pretty much zero ventilation for the dogs. I made a hasty little port out of a cut-up pool noodle. But Im working through an idea with some PVC to make a vent system for the pups.

You meant to say Supertop, right? Looks like you've got the Bestop branded one. The Softopper has an optional mesh rear screen. You can get it solid, clear, tinted, or mesh. That's another cool thing about it.

I wish there was a good YouTube video showing the Bestop Supertop II up close and personal. You should make one. Lite Brite did one on the Softopper and it was very helpful.

 

[Gren71]

You meant to say Supertop, right? Looks like you've got the Bestop branded one. The Softopper has an optional mesh rear screen. You can get it solid, clear, tinted, or mesh. That's another cool thing about it.

I wish there was a good YouTube video showing the Bestop Supertop II up close and personal. You should make one. Lite Brite did one on the Softopper and it was very helpful.

YEaaaaaaa I ment the bestop supertop. Ill edit that post.

I actually hate youtube due to their selective censorship so I dont use their service for anything. So no video from me friend. unless you want to PM me your phone number I can send you a video walk around of it.

 

[WXman]

I went back through much of this thread. I'm starting to like the Supertop a little better than the Softopper. BUT.. I would want the twill fabric.

Looks like they've been promising the twill is "coming soon" since March of this year. That's just terrible and makes me leery to even order one at all. Sigh... and I need something in less than 4 weeks.

AND.... in the last 24 hours the price went up $45 at Quadratec, and they guarantee "best price". A $45 price increase on an item that you can't even get right now.

Terrible, just terrible....

 

[mojaveron]

Been on the fence about this for some time now after reading this review I am leaning more towards the Softopper.


https://dirtnsmores.com/why-i-love-my-softopper/

also like how it Folds forward giving you full access to the bed.

 

[GladnotSad]

Do they make this in a material that matches the premium soft top?

That is the twill material everyone is waiting for.

 

[mountainpass]

I went back through much of this thread. I'm starting to like the Supertop a little better than the Softopper. BUT.. I would want the twill fabric.

Looks like they've been promising the twill is "coming soon" since March of this year. That's just terrible and makes me leery to even order one at all. Sigh... and I need something in less than 4 weeks.

AND.... in the last 24 hours the price went up $45 at Quadratec, and they guarantee "best price". A $45 price increase on an item that you can't even get right now.

Terrible, just terrible....

A dealer told me that on August 1st, Bestop was having a price increase on an item I was asking about, must be more than it.

Sponsored