2025 was a milestone year for Softopper® — marking 25 years of building dependable, retractable truck tops designed for real-world use. To celebrate our anniversary, we didn’t just look back—we pushed forward. From launching all-new products like the Softopper® Exo Truck Bed Rack® to expanding our Premium Black Twill offerings, 2025 was all about raising the bar on versatility, durability, and design. We showed up at industry-leading events, connected with the off-road and truck community in person, and partnered with athletes who put our gear to the test in real conditions. It was a year defined by growth, innovation, and staying true to what Softopper® has always been built for.
25 Years of Softopper®: built on experience
In 2025, Softopper® proudly celebrated 25 years of designing and building the original retractable truck bed top. What started as a simple solution for protecting gear has grown into a trusted product used by truck owners across every season, terrain, and use case. For a quarter century, our focus has stayed the same: lightweight design, dependable durability, and real-world functionality that works just as hard as the trucks it’s mounted on.
This milestone wasn’t just about looking back—it was about recognizing how far the brand has come by listening to our customers, refining our designs, and staying true to what makes a Softopper® different. From daily driving and jobsite use to weekend escapes and long-haul trips, 25 years of feedback and hands-on experience shaped every decision we made in 2025. That foundation set the stage for what came next: new products, expanded offerings, and smarter solutions built for the modern truck owner.
a year of innovation
With 25 years of experience behind us, 2025 became a year focused on expanding what a Softopper® setup can do. Every new product introduced was designed to complement the original retractable truck top—adding versatility, strength, and functionality without sacrificing the qualities of the design Softopper® is known for. The goal was simple: to make the Softopper® the ultimate truck bed accessory, delivering a setup that’s adaptable enough for daily use, tough enough for demanding conditions, and flexible enough to evolve with the way truck owners actually use their rigs.
The Exo Truck Bed Rack®: Expanding Softopper® Capability
One of the most significant moments of 2025 was the launch of the Exo Truck Bed Rack®, a product designed specifically with the Softopper® in mind. After 25 years of refining the original retractable truck top, the Exo Truck Bed Rack® was the next evolution, expanding what a Softopper® setup can do without compromising the features that make it unique.
Unlike traditional bed racks, the Exo Truck Bed Rack® was engineered specifically to integrate with the Softopper®. Its lightweight design pairs seamlessly with the Softopper’s aluminum frame, allowing users to mount rooftop tents, recovery gear, and accessories while still maintaining the ability to retract the top when needed. The result is a more capable, modular system that adapts easily from daily driving to extended trips.
The Exo Truck Bed Rack® was developed specifically to solve long-standing compatibility challenges between traditional bed racks and the Softopper®. The unique design and mounting method of the Softopper® make it difficult—if not impossible—for most off-the-shelf bed racks to work properly.
Many traditional bed racks mount in the middle of the truck’s bed rails or fail to account for cab-height fitment, both of which interfere with how the Softopper® installs and functions. Because Softoppers are engineered to sit at cab height, most universal bed racks simply don’t align correctly.
The Exo Truck Bed Rack® solves these challenges with a purpose-built design. Its bed rails sit flat on top of the truck’s bed rails, allowing the Softopper’s square bed rails to mount directly on top. The Softopper® bed rails are prepped with foam adhesive weather stripping that forms around the Exo Truck Bed Rack® rails, maintaining a proper seal and keeping water out. The rack is also designed to sit slightly taller than cab height, ensuring full compatibility with the Softopper® while preserving the clean, streamlined profile it’s known for.
The expansion of the Twill-verse
In 2025, Softopper® expanded its Premium Black Twill lineup to give more customers the option to upgrade to a refined, premium top without sacrificing the functionality Softopper® is known for. The expansion was driven by growing demand for a more elevated look paired with long-term durability—while keeping the same retractable, lightweight design.
The Premium Black Twill fabric features a triple-layer construction engineered for added strength, improved insulation, and a more structured feel compared to standard vinyl. Each Premium Black Twill Softopper® also comes standard with a dark tinted rear window, providing a cleaner, more streamlined appearance along with increased privacy.
Another advantage of the Softopper® system is its long-term serviceability. Every component of a Softopper® is designed to be replaceable, extending the life of the product and allowing owners to refresh or upgrade their setup over time. To support that flexibility, Softopper® introduced a Twill Canopy-Only option in 2025—making it easy for existing Softopper® owners to upgrade to Premium Black Twill without replacing their entire system.
By expanding the Premium Black Twill lineup and introducing new upgrade options, Softopper® made it easier than ever for customers to build a setup that matches both their truck and their lifestyle—premium in appearance, proven in performance, and built to last.
Engineered for Every Truck, Every Generation
With every new model year comes new trucks—and new opportunities to put Softoppers on the road. In 2025, Softopper® expanded its lineup to include 2025+ Ford F-150 short bed and 6.5 ft bed models, continuing our commitment to supporting the latest truck platforms as they evolve.
Softopper® offers one of the most extensive fitment lineups in the industry, with models engineered specifically for each truck’s year, make, model, bed length, and body style. Rather than relying on universal designs, we make the necessary adjustments to ensure every Softopper® follows the lines of the truck, sits at consistent cab height, and integrates cleanly with each generation’s unique design.
As trucks change from year to year—whether through updated body lines, new bed configurations, or revised trim levels—Softopper® adapts alongside them. Each new release is carefully developed to maintain proper fit, functionality, and compatibility, ensuring that every Softopper® delivers the streamlined look, weather protection, and ease of use customers expect, no matter the model year.
By continuing to expand fitment for new trucks, Softopper® remains focused on what matters most: a precise, purpose-built fit that looks right, works right, and holds up over time.
Connecting With the Softopper® Community
In 2025, Softopper® made it a priority to show up in person—connecting directly with the community and introducing more people to what Softopper® is all about. Attending industry events allowed us to meet Softopper® owners, talk trucks face-to-face, and see firsthand how customers use their setups in the real world.
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Throughout the year, we participated in industry-leading events including the Salt Lake Off-Road & Outdoor Expo, the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California, and the Off-Road Expo in Costa Mesa, California. These events gave us the opportunity to showcase our products, answer questions, and connect with enthusiasts across different segments of the off-road and outdoor communities.
Looking ahead, we plan to continue attending events in 2026 as part of our ongoing commitment to the Softopper® community. Stay tuned to see if we’ll be coming to an event near you.
Looking ahead
2025 was a defining year for Softopper®—one that celebrated 25 years of experience while continuing to push the brand forward. From launching new products and expanding premium options to meeting the community in person and supporting the latest truck platforms, the year reinforced what Softopper® has always been about: building dependable, versatile solutions that work in the real world. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re carrying that momentum with us. With new ideas, continued innovation, and more opportunities to connect with the Softopper® community, there are plenty of exciting things on the horizon.
