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Key Takeaways
- Overlanders choose a soft truck top because it keeps gear covered on the trail and folds down when they need the whole bed, then folds back up for protection.
- A Softopper weighs roughly 40 lbs, so you keep more of your payload on the trail for water, fuel, and recovery gear.
- For truck camping, Safari Mode and mesh accessory panels bring in airflow, and double-pull zippers let you zip up from outside or inside your Softopper.
- Add an aftermarket lock box for valuables, then bring in the Exo Truck Bed Rack when your build needs tent bars and awning mounts.
A truck should stay a truck. You bought yours to haul bikes, coolers, firewood, and a muddy recovery kit. Covering the bed shouldn’t mean giving up the bed.
So why choose a soft truck top? You get covered storage when you want it and a full open bed when you need it.
So what is it? A soft truck top, or soft camper shell, is a retractable, cab-high fabric canopy on a lightweight frame that mounts to your bed rails. It covers your cargo from sun, rain, and dust, then folds out of the way when you need the whole bed.
Softopper built the original retractable soft truck top in Colorado in 2000. Here’s why overlanders and weekend campers run one, plus the honest tradeoffs.
Soft Truck Top Benefits at a Glance
Overlanders and weekend campers choose a soft truck top for full open-bed access in seconds, low weight, and weather-resistant cover for their gear. Add camp-friendly airflow, a modular rack option, and an install with no permanent commitment, and your truck keeps working like a truck.
Benefit
What You Get on the Trail
Proof Point
Full open bed in seconds
Load a bulky cooler or bikes, then cover back up at camp
Folds down for full bed access and folds back up for protection
Low weight
More payload left for water, fuel, and recovery gear
Roughly 40 lbs
Weather-resistant cover
Gear stays covered from rain, sun, and trail dust
Waterproof vinyl fabric that’s UV- and mildew-resistant
Airflow at camp
A breezy bed on warm nights
Safari Mode rolls up the side panels and rear window
Inside and outside access
Zip up without leaving your sleeping bag
Double-pull zippers work from outside or inside
Room to build
Tent bars and awning mounts above the bed
Exo Truck Bed Rack supports up to 1,000 lbs static load
No permanent commitment
Put it on without putting holes in your truck
Most models install with no-drill C-clamps in about an hour
Built to last
Fix a part instead of replacing the whole soft truck topper
Every component is replaceable
Why Do Overlanders Want a Full Open Bed in Seconds?
Trail days change fast, and your Softopper changes with them. The top folds down when you need full bed access for a bulky cooler, bikes, or firewood. Then it folds back up to protect your gear when the weather turns.
Need even more room? Your Softopper folds forward or removes in minutes. With the top up, you get clear vinyl windows so it’s easy to see out back.
Most days, folding it down is all you need.
Covered when you need it. Full bed when you don’t.
How Much Does a Lightweight Soft Truck Top Matter Off-Road?
Weight matters off-road, because every pound up top eats into payload you’d rather spend on water, fuel, and recovery gear. A Softopper weighs roughly 40 lbs, so a soft truck cap keeps the load over your bed modest. The lineup also covers compact trucks, including the Ford Maverick Softopper.
The frame is corrosion-proof anodized aluminum. Mud, rain, and road salt won’t rust it.
How Does a Soft Truck Top Handle Rain, Dust, and Weather?
A Softopper keeps rain, sun, and trail dust off your gear with a weather-resistant top made from waterproof vinyl fabric. Weatherstrip and seam sealer help protect against water, dust, and wind.
You have two fabric choices. Standard Vinyl is two-ply sailcloth, a waterproof vinyl fabric that’s UV- and mildew-resistant, in black, tan, or grey. Premium Black Twill brings triple-layer construction, extra insulation, and a standard dark tinted rear window.
Twill and the TrueTimber camo options, Vintage Brown and Midnight, aren’t available on every model.
Here’s the straight talk. A sewn top can leak at the seams in trouble spots, and it won’t match a hard shell’s weather sealing. That’s where seam sealer comes in.
Every truck top ships with clear vinyl windows front and rear. Tinted, mesh, and solid window panels are sold separately and swap in individually, so you can dial in privacy or airflow after you buy.
Is a Soft Truck Top Good for Truck Camping?
A soft truck top makes a good base camp because it gives you a covered, cab-high space over your bed. On a Softopper, you can roll up the sides for airflow and zip up from inside at night.
Airflow and Safari Mode
Safari Mode means the side panels and rear window roll up for airflow and quick access to your gear. Want air while you sleep without opening the sides? Swap a mesh accessory panel in place of the front or rear window.
Airflow is also how you beat condensation. Your breath puts moisture into a closed bed, so ventilation beats sealing up tight. In cold weather, unzip a solid window panel just a crack.
Whichever fabric you run, the topper doesn’t insulate the bed floor. Sleep on an insulated pad.
Double-Pull Zippers for Inside and Outside Access
Double-pull zippers let you zip up from outside or inside your Softopper. That’s what makes sleeping under it practical. Not every soft truck topper works this way.
The Camper Top Tent in Mid-Size and Full-Size
Want more room at camp? The Camper Top Tent turns your truck bed into an instant campsite. It comes in two sizes, Mid-size and Full-size, so check availability for your truck.
Camping in bear country? Store food and coolers securely, away from where you sleep.
Build It Out with the Exo Truck Bed Rack
When your build outgrows the bed, the Exo Truck Bed Rack turns your truck into a platform for tents, awnings, and recovery gear. It mounts under the Softopper bed rails and stands on its own too. Keep using your Softopper with the rack installed, whether fully snapped, in Safari Mode, or retracted.
Start with the top. Add the rack when your trips get longer. It’s a natural next step as your build deepens, and the Exo Truck Bed Rack grows with you.
It’s built from 10, 12, and 14-gauge HRPO steel with a dual-layer finish: E-coat plus a matte black powder coat. It supports up to 1,000 lbs static load. Two accessory panels and four tent bars come included.
Exo accessories let you attach awnings or tents to expand your camp setup, with tent crossbars and awning mounts built for the job.
No Drilling, No Permanent Commitment
Most Softopper models install with no-drill C-clamps in about an hour, so you can put one on without putting holes in your truck. Install varies by vehicle, so check your fitment before you plan the install.
One hour. No drilling. Your truck stays yours.
Your Softopper is also built to last. Every component is replaceable, so normal wear doesn’t mean replacing the whole soft truck topper. Window panels attach via zippers and swap out individually.
The Honest Tradeoffs of a Soft Truck Top
A soft truck top doesn’t match a locking hard cap on security or weather sealing, and any topper changes how air flows over your truck. What you get instead is versatility, low weight, and full bed access in seconds, with no permanent commitment.
Gas mileage is a common concern, but the impact depends on your truck, speed, and load. Softopper tops are designed to fit the exact year, make, and model of your truck. Mileage concerns are more common when purchasing a secondhand top that isn’t the correct fit for the vehicle.
Security has a simple fix. Pair your Softopper with an aftermarket lock box, and you get secured storage for cameras, tools, and valuables while keeping the open, retractable bed.
Weighing a rigid shell too? Read our Softopper vs camper shell comparison for the full head-to-head.
Find the Softopper Built for Your Truck
Softopper offers over 50 vehicle-specific fitments, from compact trucks like the Ford Maverick to full-size pickups, so there’s a model engineered for your exact bed. Start with your truck below, then confirm your bed length so the fit is right the first time.
- The Tacoma Softopper fits 1995-2027 Toyota Tacoma trucks.
- The Softopper for the F-Series offers fitted models across the Ford F-Series lineup, each engineered for its own bed.
- The Ram Softopper fits Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks across multiple year ranges and bed lengths.
- The Jeep Gladiator Softopper gives trail-built Gladiators covered storage and open-bed access in one setup.
Not sure which bed you have? Here’s how to measure your bed length in a few minutes.
That’s why outdoor and overland drivers choose a soft truck top. Your gear stays covered on the trail, your bed opens up in seconds, and your truck stays a truck. Explore the full Softopper truck tops lineup and find the model built for the way you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Soft Truck Tops
Straight answers to common questions about soft truck tops, from weather and fit to camping with your dog.
For many overlanders, yes. A soft truck topper covers your gear on the trail and folds down when you need the whole bed. A Softopper weighs roughly 40 lbs, leaving payload for water and recovery gear. It also pairs with the Exo Truck Bed Rack as your build grows.
A soft truck topper isn’t a locking hard cap, so it won’t match a hard shell on security or weather sealing. Sewn seams can also leak in trouble spots, and seam sealer helps there. For valuables, pair your Softopper with an aftermarket lock box and keep the open, retractable bed you bought it for.
Mileage depends on your truck, speed, and load. A Softopper is a lightweight top at roughly 40 lbs, and it folds down whenever you want an open bed. That keeps things flexible.
A soft tonneau cover lies flat at bed-rail height, so it protects low cargo but leaves no covered space above the rails. A soft truck top rises cab-high, giving you room for taller gear, airflow through roll-up sides, and a place to sleep. A Softopper also folds forward for full bed access.
Yes. A Softopper folds down when you need full bed access and folds back up when you want your gear protected. It folds forward or removes in minutes. With the top up, you get clear vinyl windows so it’s easy to see out back.
A Softopper gives you weather-resistant, all-weather protection. Standard Vinyl is a waterproof vinyl fabric, and weatherstrip and seam sealer help protect against water, dust, and wind. It won’t match a hard shell’s sealing, and sewn seams can leak in trouble spots. That’s where seam sealer comes in.
Yes. Softopper’s double-pull zippers let you zip up from outside or inside your Softopper, which makes sleeping under it practical. Use Safari Mode or a mesh accessory panel for airflow. Add an insulated pad, since a topper doesn’t insulate the bed floor. In bear country, store food away from where you sleep.
Yes. Softopper offers over 50 vehicle-specific fitments, from compact trucks like the Ford Maverick to full-size pickups. Each model is engineered for an exact bed, not adapted from a generic size. Measure your bed length and match it to your truck’s year and model before you order.
A Softopper gives your dog a covered space in the bed, and the shade and ventilation through mesh panels help keep your dog cool and comfy. For more airflow, roll up into Safari Mode or swap a mesh accessory panel in place of the front or rear window. Softopper also offers a Dog Window DIY Cutout Kit accessory. Never leave pets unattended in the bed, especially in heat.
