.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
Key Takeaways
- Softopper builds SUV soft tops engineered for classic removable-top rigs like the K5 Blazer, early Ford Bronco, International Scout, and first-gen 4Runner, each sold as a complete, bolt-on kit.
- Every kit arrives ready to install and replaces your heavy factory hardtop, so you gain open-air freedom and lighter weight without giving up covered, all-weather protection.
- Your SUV soft top mounts to the vehicle’s existing factory hardtop holes in roughly one to two hours, with drilling only into those holes and no permanent modification.
- For open-air driving you can roll up the side and rear panels Safari-style, or retract the whole canopy rearward when you want the sky overhead.
A classic SUV soft top is a retractable, removable fabric canopy built to replace or supplement the factory hardtop on vintage removable-top SUVs. If you drive a K5 Blazer, an early Bronco, a Scout, or a first-gen 4Runner, it gives you weather-resistant coverage when you want it and open-air freedom when you don’t, minus the bulk of a heavy hard shell. This guide walks through fitment, replacement, install, materials, and what comes in the kit, so you can match the right top to your rig.
What Is a Classic SUV Soft Top?
A classic SUV soft top is a lightweight, retractable canopy that mounts to a vintage SUV’s factory hardtop holes and stands in for the original removable roof. It seals passengers and cargo against sun, rain, snow, and trail debris, then rolls up or retracts rearward for open-air driving. Softopper builds these tops as part of its vintage SUV line, engineered for specific classic platforms.
The point is versatility without a long-term commitment. You keep the iconic look of your rig, add modern weather-resistant materials, and switch between fully enclosed, Safari-style, and fully open in minutes. It suits the way enthusiasts actually use these trucks: daily drives, trail days, and camping trips where the weather changes on you.
Think of it as the middle ground between running your SUV topless and locking a heavy hard shell in place for the season. You get real coverage when the sky opens up, and you get the roof out of the way when it clears.
Which Classic SUVs Does Softopper Fit?
Softopper builds vehicle-specific SUV soft tops for most of the classic removable-top platforms enthusiasts actually drive. That covers the Chevy Blazer, K5 Blazer, and GMC Jimmy, the second- and third-generation Ford Bronco, the International Scout 80/800 and Scout II, the Dodge Ramcharger, the Plymouth Trailduster, and the first-gen Toyota 4Runner. Each one is a fitted kit, not a universal cover.
Vehicle
Years
Chevy Blazer, K5 Blazer & GMC Jimmy
1969–1991
Ford Bronco (Gen 2 & 3)
1978–1996
International Scout 80/800
1961–1971
International Scout II
1971–1980
Dodge Ramcharger
1974-1980
Plymouth Trailduster
1974-1980
First-Gen Toyota 4Runner
1984–1989
K5 Blazer, Chevy Blazer & GMC Jimmy
The full-size GM trio (1969 to 1991 Chevy Blazer, K5 Blazer, and GMC Jimmy) shares the same removable-top design, which makes it a natural fit for a Softopper canopy. Grab the K5 Blazer soft top for the K5 and Jimmy, or the Chevy Blazer soft top for the full-size Blazer. Either way you swap a heavy, hard-to-store roof for a canopy you can open on demand.
International Scout 80/800 & Scout II
International fans are covered on both ends of the lineup. The Scout II soft top fits the 1971 to 1980 Scout II, while the International Scout 80/800 soft top covers the earlier 1961 to 1971 trucks. Both are fitted canopies engineered for the specific body, not a generic cover stretched to fit.
Ford Bronco (Gen 2 & 3)
Softopper fits the second- and third-generation Ford Bronco built from 1978 to 1996, the classic full-size era before the nameplate went on hiatus. The Ford Bronco soft top mounts to your existing hardtop holes and gives your Bronco open-air driving without the weight of the factory shell.
First-Gen Toyota 4Runner
The first-generation Toyota 4Runner from 1984 to 1989 started life as a removable-top truck, so it takes an SUV soft top naturally. The first-gen 4Runner soft top restores that open-air character and adds weather-resistant coverage you can put up or roll back as the day changes.
Replacing a Heavy Factory Hardtop
You can replace a heavy factory hardtop with a Softopper SUV soft top on a K5 Blazer, Bronco, Scout, or 4Runner. The top is designed to stand in for that hard shell, and it wins on light weight, open-air versatility, and no permanent commitment to your rig. You keep the classic look and lose the bulk.
Be straight with yourself about the tradeoffs. An SUV soft top does not match a locking hardtop on security or weather sealing, and it is not built to. What it gives you instead is a canopy you can put up, roll open, or retract rearward in minutes, without bolting your roof shut for the season. For valuables, add a lockable storage box and keep the open-air flexibility.
For a lot of classic SUV owners, that tradeoff is the whole point. A brittle or missing factory top is a common headache on rigs this age, and a fresh hard shell is heavy, expensive, and hard to store when it comes off. A fitted canopy solves the coverage problem and hands back the open-air character these trucks were known for.
How to Install a Classic SUV Soft Top
Installing a classic SUV soft top takes about one to two hours with common hand tools. The side rails mount to your vehicle’s existing factory hardtop holes, so the only drilling goes into holes that are already there. That means no permanent modification to your rig, and the top retracts rearward when you want it open.
- Set your rig on level ground and remove the factory hardtop so you have clear access to the existing mounting points along the body.
- Position the bedrails and weather stripping, then line up the anchor points against your vehicle’s factory hardtop holes.
- Fasten the side rails, drilling only into those existing factory holes so there is no permanent modification to your SUV.
- Attach the canopy and folding frame, then set the removable rear window and check that the panels roll up and zip cleanly.
- Confirm the top retracts rearward and sits square, then fit the boot cover for driving with the canopy folded back.
A second set of hands makes the canopy step easier, and it pays to test-fit the rails before you commit to fastening them. Because the hardware is model-specific, everything lines up with the factory points rather than forcing you to improvise. Once it is on, putting the top up or taking it down becomes a quick job you can do solo.
Materials, Weather Protection & Windows
Softopper builds each SUV soft top from UV- and mildew-resistant sailcloth, a waterproof vinyl fabric, stretched over a corrosion-resistant anodized aluminum frame. The top is weather-resistant and built for all-season use, protecting passengers and cargo from sun, rain, snow, and trail debris while staying light enough to retract by hand.
Because the canopy is sewn, seams can let water through in trouble spots, so seam sealer is available if you run into a persistent leak. Pick your canopy in black, grey, or tan to suit your rig.
You choose clear or dark-tinted side and rear windows when you buy. On SUV soft tops the side windows are sewn into the canopy, so they are not individually replaceable; changing them means replacing the whole canopy. The rear window is removable, so you can drop it out for airflow or swap it if it wears.
For open-air driving, roll up the side and rear panels Safari-style, or retract the canopy rearward for the full open feel. That range of settings is where the top earns its keep: closed for a rainy commute, panels up for a warm afternoon on the trail, fully back when you just want the sky overhead.
What's in the Kit and How to Care for It
Every Softopper SUV soft top ships as a complete kit. You get the canopy, model-specific mounting hardware, bedrails with weather stripping, a removable rear window, and a boot cover that protects the top when you drive with it retracted rearward.
Keep the fabric clean and it will last. Rinse off dirt and trail grime, spot-clean the vinyl, and let everything dry fully before you fold the top back. Storing it wet is what invites mildew and creasing, so give it time to air out. Softopper’s care guide walks through the routine step by step.
When a component eventually wears, genuine replacement parts let you refresh that piece instead of buying a whole new top. That is the practical advantage of a system built from serviceable parts: you fix what needs fixing and keep your rig on the road.
Ready to match a classic SUV soft top to your rig? Browse the full SUV soft tops lineup to find the fitted kit for your K5 Blazer, Bronco, Scout, Jimmy, Ramcharger, Trailduster, or first-gen 4Runner, along with the colors and window options built for your vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Classic SUV Soft Tops
Common questions from classic SUV owners weighing a Softopper® SUV soft top for their rig.
Yes. Softopper builds SUV soft tops engineered for classic, removable-top rigs, sold as complete bolt-on kits. Each kit includes the canopy, model-specific mounting hardware, bedrails with weather stripping, a removable rear window, and a protective boot cover, so your vintage SUV gets modern, adaptable coverage without losing its original character.
Softopper offers vehicle-specific SUV soft tops for the Chevy Blazer, K5 Blazer and GMC Jimmy (1969–1991), Ford Bronco Gen 2 and 3 (1978–1996), International Scout 80/800 (1961–1971) and Scout II (1971–1980), Dodge Ramcharger, Plymouth Trailduster, and the first-generation Toyota 4Runner (1984–1989). Use the vehicle selector to confirm your exact year.
Yes. The Softopper SUV soft top is designed to replace your heavy factory hard shell. It mounts using your K5 Blazer’s existing factory hardtop holes, so installation drills only into those holes with no permanent modification. You gain a lighter, open-air setup you can run enclosed, rolled up for airflow, or retracted rearward.
Classic SUV tops that mount to your vehicle’s factory hardtop holes do require drilling, but only into those existing factory holes. There is no permanent alteration to the body, so the installation stays clean and respects the integrity of your classic platform while giving you a secure, model-specific fit.
Softopper SUV soft tops use UV- and mildew-resistant sailcloth, a waterproof vinyl, over a corrosion-resistant anodized aluminum frame, so they deliver dependable all-weather protection from sun, rain, and snow. As with any sewn soft top, treat it as weather-resistant rather than a sealed hard shell; seam sealer is available for trouble spots.
Yes. Roll up the side and rear panels for a Safari-style, open-air feel with airflow and visibility, or retract the top rearward, or remove it entirely in minutes. The included boot cover keeps the material protected and looks clean when you drive with the top retracted rearward.
Softopper SUV soft tops come in Black, Grey, or Tan to match a classic look. You choose clear or dark-tinted side and rear windows at purchase. On SUV tops the side windows are sewn into the canopy, while the rear window is removable, so pick the tint you want up front.
