.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
Key Takeaways
- If you drive an S10, Sonoma, S-15, C/K, D21, Toyota Pickup, T100, Comanche or Mazda B-Series, Softopper builds a vehicle-specific soft truck top with its own product page.
- Most models clamp onto the top of your bed rails with no drilling, so you can cover an original bed now and take the top off later with no permanent modification.
- A soft truck topper won’t lock down like a fiberglass cap, so pair it with a lock box for valuables and enjoy what it does well: low weight and fast bed access.
- Every Softopper is bed-length specific, so measure inside your bed with the tailgate closed before you order, because a return caused by a wrong measurement costs you shipping.
A classic truck should stay a truck. You bought your S10, square-body C10 or D21 to drive it, haul with it and keep it original. Bolting a heavy shell onto that bed can feel like the wrong trade.
Classic square-body soft truck toppers give you another option: covered cargo when you need it and a full open bed when you don’t. Softopper® has built the original retractable soft truck top since 2000, starting in Colorado. This guide covers which classic trucks it fits, how it installs and what to check before you order.
What Is a Soft Truck Topper for a Classic Truck?
A soft truck topper is a cab-high soft camper shell made of fabric stretched over a lightweight aluminum frame. On a classic truck, it clamps to the top of the bed rails and covers your cargo from sun, rain and snow. When you need the whole bed, it folds forward toward the cab.
Your Softopper runs on a corrosion-resistant anodized aluminum frame. Standard fabric is 2-ply PVC-coated sailcloth, a waterproof vinyl fabric that resists UV and mildew. The top as a whole is weather-resistant, and sewn seams can let moisture in during heavy rain, so seam sealer is available.
There are two states worth knowing. Retracted, the top folds toward the cab in seconds, and your rear-window view stays clear. Removed, you lift the frame off the pivot pins for a completely open bed.
It’s designed for year-round use and handles snow loads. Properly installed, it’s fine at highway speeds. That makes it a practical match for a classic you actually drive.
Which Classic Square-Body Soft Truck Toppers Does Softopper Make?
Softopper builds classic square-body soft truck toppers for the Chevy S10, GMC S-15 and Sonoma, and Chevy and GMC C/K trucks, including the square-body C10. Models also cover the Chevy C15, Nissan D21, Toyota Pickup and T100, Jeep Comanche and Mazda B-Series. Each model is vehicle-specific, so start with your truck’s product page.
Vehicle
Model Years
Price
Product Page
Model years and prices come from each product page. Use the vehicle selector on your truck’s page to confirm your year and bed length before you order.
Chevy S10, GMC S-15 and Sonoma Soft Truck Toppers
Yes, there’s a soft camper shell for the S10. The Chevy S10 Softopper covers 1982-2003 trucks, and there are matching models for the 1982-1990 GMC S-15 and the 1991-2003 GMC Sonoma. If you’ve been hunting used listings for an S10 camper shell, this is a new, vehicle-specific option that clamps on without drilling.
If your S-series truck is still original, a Softopper adds covered storage at a fraction of a fiberglass shell’s weight. It also leaves your bed rails free of new holes.
The S10, S-15 and Sonoma models are each listed at $1,049.99. They ship with clear vinyl windows front and rear. The rear window uses #10 YKK double-pull zippers, so you can open it from inside or outside the bed.
Do Mini-Truck Toppers Swap Between the S10, D21, Ranger and Mazda?
Sometimes, and Softopper’s own fit lists show why. The S10 product page’s fit list also includes the GMC S15 and Sonoma, the 1983-2011 Ford Ranger and the 1986-1994 Nissan D21. It adds the Mazda B-Series and the 1996-2000 Isuzu Hombre. That makes it a common mini truck camper shell crossover, but fit still depends on your year and bed length.
So don’t assume a shell from one truck drops onto another. The Mazda B-Series model, for example, covers 1986-2006 trucks but still asks you to verify bed length. Confirm your year and bed length in the vehicle selector, then measure the bed yourself.
Square-Body and OBS Chevy and GMC C/K Soft Truck Toppers
A square-body C10 takes the Chevrolet C/K Softopper, which covers 1967-2002 CK10/20/30 and CK1500/2500/3500 trucks. Square-body and OBS-era GMC owners have a matching GMC C/K model. Both start at $1,069.99, clamp to the bed rails without drilling and give you a cab-high square body camper shell.
Full-size classics still get put to work. Retract or remove your Softopper and the bed is open for firewood, lumber or a parts run. Put it back up and your gear is covered again.
Own a 1982-1986 C15? Softopper lists a separate Chevrolet C15 model, also starting at $1,069.99. Bed length varies across C/K trucks, so pick yours in the vehicle selector and measure before you order.
Nissan D21 Hardbody, Toyota Pickup, T100 and Jeep Comanche
Softopper builds models for the 1986-1994 Nissan D21 Hardbody, the 1978-1995 Toyota Pickup, the 1995-1998 Toyota T100 and the 1987-1992 Jeep Comanche. Each has its own product page with year and bed-length options. The D21 is listed at $1,049.99, and the Toyota and Jeep models at $1,069.99.
Nissan D21. The Nissan Hardbody Softopper shares its fit list with the S10 model. The same rule applies: confirm your bed length before you buy.
Toyota Pickup. The Toyota Pickup Softopper covers 1978-1995 trucks. Its fit list also includes the 1987-1992 Jeep Comanche.
Toyota T100. The Toyota T100 model covers 1995-1998 trucks. The same page also lists the 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra.
Jeep Comanche. The Jeep Comanche Softopper covers 1987-1992 trucks and also fits the 1978-1995 Toyota Pickup. It clamps on without drilling, so your Comanche bed stays as it came.
What About the K5 Blazer and GMC Jimmy?
Yes. Softopper makes a K5 Blazer SUV soft top that fits 1973-1991 Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Jimmy models and 1975-1986 K5 Blazers. It works differently from a soft truck top. It retracts rearward, and installation drills only into the existing factory hardtop holes, so there’s no permanent modification to your SUV.
The front attaches through a header bar that uses those existing hardtop holes. Here’s what comes with it:
- A complete kit with rear window, hardware, bedrails with weather stripping and a boot cover.
- A boot cover you use whenever you drive retracted (its color isn’t selectable).
- A canopy in black, tan or grey.
- Sewn-in side windows, with clear or dark tint chosen at purchase.
- Safari Mode, where you roll up the side panels and rear window for airflow.
Soft Truck Topper vs. Fiberglass or Aluminum Shell on an Old Truck
A Softopper won’t match a locking fiberglass or aluminum cap on security or weather sealing. It earns its place on an old truck through versatility. It’s lightweight, opens to a full bed in seconds and clamps on with no permanent commitment, which matters when your bed is original. For valuables, add an aftermarket lock box.
Factor
Softopper Soft Truck Top
Fiberglass Cap
Aluminum Shell
Weight
Lightweight, a fraction of a fiberglass shell
Heavy
Varies by design
Full-bed access
Retracts toward the cab in seconds, or lift the frame off the pivot pins
Full removal required
Full removal required
Security
No locking enclosure; pair with a lock box
Locking rear door is common
Locking rear door is common
Weather sealing
Weather-resistant; seams can let moisture in during heavy rain
Tighter seal than a soft truck top
Depends on age and condition
Classic-truck fit
Vehicle-specific, bed-length-specific models
Check the maker’s fit list
Used shells are cheap, but fit is hit-or-miss
Cost
$1,049.99, or starting at $1,069.99 on full-size and Toyota/Jeep models
New caps often cost more
Used shells can be inexpensive
So are soft truck toppers worth it on a classic? If you want covered cargo most of the time and an open bed for the bigger loads, yes. If you need a locked box on wheels, a hard cap is the better tool.
Most owners can have both. Mount a lock box for tools and valuables, and keep the open, retractable bed for everything else.
How to Fit and Install a Softopper on a Classic Truck
Most Softopper truck models install without drilling. Side rails clamp to the top of your bed rails, and the folding frame pins to the side rails. The canvas snaps, buckles and ties to the frame. Plan on about 45-60 minutes with a wrench or socket the first time. Reinstalls take about 2 minutes if you leave the frame and canopy together.
- Measure your bed on the inside, from the top of the front wall to the top of the inside tailgate, with the tailgate closed. Measure twice.
- Find your truck’s product page and confirm your year and bed length in the vehicle selector.
- Check your bed for liners, toolboxes or a tonneau cover that could get in the way.
- Pick a day that’s 62°F or warmer so the canopy is easier to fit.
- Clamp the side rails to the top of your bed rails.
- Assemble the folding frame and attach to the side rails.
- Unbox canopy and attach to folding frame, once attached secure safety straps.
- Set the front panel’s outer panel between the cab and bed, then hook the rear panel to the tailgate.
- Snap canopy to side rails
- Expect the canopy to stretch and settle over the first few weeks.
Want the full step-by-step? Review the Softopper installation instructions before you start.
Compatibility Checks for Older Trucks
Before you order, check what’s already in your bed. Over-the-rail bed liners need a hole saw cut at each clamp point, and over-the-rail toolboxes must come off. A tonneau cover can’t be used with your Softopper. Floor-mounted boxes with 2 or more inches of clearance are usually fine.
- Over-the-rail bed liners need two holes per side on standard beds, cut at the clamp points.
- Drawer systems need 7 inches of clearance below the top of the bed rail.
- Loads can’t go on top of the frame, so plan cargo for inside the bed.
- Height is cab-high, so the top sits level with your roofline.
- Touchless is the best choice.
For more edge cases, read the Softopper compatibility guide.
Choosing Fabric, Color and Windows
Standard Vinyl comes in black, tan or grey. Premium Black Twill, a triple-layer fabric with 33% woven acrylic and a standard dark tinted rear window, isn’t available on all models. Neither is TrueTimber camo, so check your truck’s page. Standard Vinyl truck tops ship with clear vinyl windows front and rear.
Tinted, mesh and solid accessory panels are sold separately and swap in after purchase. For airflow on a hot day, swap a mesh accessory panel in place of the front or rear window.
Window panels attach via zippers and can be swapped out individually. The frame components are user-replaceable too, so your topper lasts instead of getting thrown away. Every Softopper is made in North America and backed by a 1-year warranty on materials and workmanship.
Classic square-body soft truck toppers work best when the fit is exact. Explore the Softopper truck tops lineup, find your truck’s page and confirm your year and bed length. Then enjoy covered storage on a truck that stays a truck.
Frequently Asked Questions About Classic Square-Body Soft Truck Toppers
Here are straight answers to the questions classic truck owners ask most before they order a Softopper.
If you want covered cargo most of the time and a full open bed for bigger loads, yes. A Softopper is lightweight, and most models clamp on without drilling, so your original bed stays unmodified. It won’t match a locking hard cap on security or sealing, so add a lock box for valuables.
Yes. A properly installed Softopper handles highway speeds. It’s designed for year-round use and handles snow loads too. Before a long drive, check that the clamps are snug and the canvas is snapped, buckled and tied to the frame. Drive with it retracted and it rides toward the cab.
The common types are fiberglass caps, aluminum shells and soft camper shells. Fiberglass and aluminum give you a hard, often lockable enclosure with a tighter seal. A soft camper shell like the Softopper trades that for low weight. It folds forward toward the cab, giving you a full open bed in seconds.
Don’t rely on a spec sheet. Softopper models are bed-length specific, so measure your own truck. Close the tailgate, then measure inside from the top of the front wall (bulkhead) to the top of the inside tailgate. Measure twice, because returns caused by an incorrect bed measurement incur shipping charges.
It can. The S10 product page’s fit list also includes the 1983-2011 Ford Ranger, the 1986-1994 Nissan D21 and the Mazda B-Series. Fit still depends on your exact year and bed length. Confirm both in the product page’s vehicle selector, and measure your bed before you order.
A soft camper shell doesn’t lock like a hard cap, and it doesn’t seal as tightly. Sewn seams can let moisture in during heavy rain, though seam sealer is available. You also can’t carry loads on top of the frame. For valuables, pair your Softopper with an aftermarket lock box.
Yes. The K5 Blazer SUV soft top fits 1973-1991 Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Jimmy models and 1975-1986 K5 Blazers. It retracts rearward and installs by drilling only into the existing factory hardtop holes, with no permanent modification. The kit includes a rear window, hardware, bedrails with weather stripping and a boot cover.
S10, GMC S-15, Sonoma, Mazda B-Series and Nissan D21 models are listed at $1,049.99. Toyota Pickup, T100 and Jeep Comanche models are $1,069.99. Chevy and GMC C/K and Chevy C15 models start at $1,069.99. Check your truck’s product page for current pricing and options.
