I am wanting to buy a soft top for my newly purchased 89 4runner. I have seen them for sale from brands such as Kayline, CanBack, and Softtopper. I want one that completely covers the back end and is easy to fold down and put back up. Softtopper looks about like what I want and is only 600. CanBack stays erect as best I can tell and costs 12-1400. Anybody have these and can give me more insight as to what I want or need. Is CanBack that much better? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Soft Top questions
- Thread starter SkinnyDip
- Start date
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Here's the one I plan on getting in the Spring. Seems to break down quickly, no new holes drilled, options for side windows. The only thing I think the Can-back does better is carry a load on top, which is not too much of an issue for me.
http://www.killertoytops.com/
http://www.killertoytops.com/
Did anybody notice the size of the hitchball in that one picture? Must be pulling a double wide. I definately like the looks of the CanBack the best and the ability to put a cargo rack on top. I don't like the fact that it doesn't fold down easily and I really hate the fact that it costs 1400. Thats about the cost of my 4runner. Killertoytops are about 950, but don't look quite as good as CanBack, and don't fold down easily. It'll be a little while before I purchase and hopefully I'll find some new manufacturers and new info, but as of now I think SoftTopper is who I am going with. To each our own. Thanks for the info all.
Philbert
New member
I got a kayline years back and didn't like it.
Bought it used new in the box from a guy who never installed it.
The vinyl windows scuffed up easily and in cold weather it was really hard to roll the sides up (vinyl does that I guess-gets hard....).
I ended up scrapping it after it got so bad....would not recommend it.
Bought it used new in the box from a guy who never installed it.
The vinyl windows scuffed up easily and in cold weather it was really hard to roll the sides up (vinyl does that I guess-gets hard....).
I ended up scrapping it after it got so bad....would not recommend it.
I have the CanBack on my 89...you can find the company that is currently making them by searching for Truck Candy. They bought the design from CanBack and are now out of Az. The top is nice, good quality but it is $$...you can take the top completely off but the under carriage is bolted on...if you add a roof rack you will not be able to take off the top...you can only roll up the sides and back. I've kept mine on this winter and it is not that bad. Only issue I had when I first recieved the top was some leakage but the seams have sealed themselved. The windows will scratch just like a jeep top. I will try to post some pics if you want them.
austintaco
Member
I have a Kayline top. The previous owner put it on and I have had it on since I bought the truck back in 2007. I agree, they are not the best, but it depends on what you want out of a top. If its below 68, the top will not stretch enough to snap down unless you just finished driving and the wind has stretched it. I use a portable heater to heat things up if I am in a pinch.
Second, you can fold the top back, like convertible, but then there is a bar going over the tailgate area making it difficult for my dog to jump in without having to do some acrobatics.
Snaps will break, so be ready to replace them, and one of my tension straps snapped.
However, with all of the problems, I will just keep fixing it until its too far gone. After that, I am looking at KTT.
Second, you can fold the top back, like convertible, but then there is a bar going over the tailgate area making it difficult for my dog to jump in without having to do some acrobatics.
Snaps will break, so be ready to replace them, and one of my tension straps snapped.
However, with all of the problems, I will just keep fixing it until its too far gone. After that, I am looking at KTT.
abarringer
New member
I have the soft topper and it works great. Very versatile and very easy to install. No drilling or any of that mess. And the guys I talked to were very helpful. After a window got blown out during hurricane Ike, I needed a top very quickly and they went way out of their way and shipped it to me immediately. All in all I'm quite pleased with it. Oh, and there is no bar for your dog to have to pole vault or limbo around 
I came up with a great alternative for the standard mounting for a soft top. I bought a used Kayline off of Craigslist ($200) and did not want to drill all the holes for the snaps. So I bought a used hard top for $50 off Craigslist and cut the edges off with a sawzall (keeping the frame/edges that mount to the truck, -about 3"s wide from the tailgate to the front, across the cab and back to the tailgate- I did not keep the windows, but did keep the lower/front metal for better mounting). I also cut the frame/edge part into 3 pieces, with the metal overlapping where I cut the frame (so you can't see that it is cut) , to make storage and install much easier. I then bought some 2" wide heavy duty velcro from Home Depot for about $20 and had the scratchy side sewn to the edges of the soft top ($100) I applied the soft side of the velcro to the cut frame and put a few self tapping screws in it about every foot or so for good mesure, and put a strip on the top of the tailgate (which sticks very well and is the only thing that shows when the hard top is on). So, when I remove my hard top I then bolt on the frame from the cut hard top and screw down the support bows to hold the top up. I then just velcro the top to the frame and I'm ready to go! I have driven at 70MPH with no problems at all. It is VERY EASY to instal and remove. I hope this all mkes sense. The total was about $400 with screws, etc. And I love it!
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austintaco
Member
skiwalk said:
Dude, we need pics of this mod. Do you have any of the finished product on and off? That would be awesome!
I will try and get some good pics of the "conversion" ASAP. Also I forgot to point out that one of the real benifits of this setup is that the top can be cold and you can still put it up, since the Velcro does not have to match up perfectly, like the snaps do. When the top warms up I just redo the Velcro to tighten it up. So you can adjust it to any situation.
Made my Own
Due to being a cheapo, I bought a canvas tarp and did some heavy modifications to make my own soft top. I made a frame to support the shape I wanted out of 2" PVC that snaps on to the roll bar. I put snaps on the back end of the frame and velcro on the bottom to create a separate "rear window" that I can easily remove. The tarp snaps onto the body using a series of aluminum door sweeps that I modified and bolted into the hard top holes in the body. The aluminum even extends across the top behind the cab. Happily, it never leaks even here in the rainy N.W. and looks pretty cool in a funky sort of way, I think. Kind of looks like one of those soft top Hummers or a Rat Patrol rig. Total cost: maybe $100. Hours to make: geez...
Due to being a cheapo, I bought a canvas tarp and did some heavy modifications to make my own soft top. I made a frame to support the shape I wanted out of 2" PVC that snaps on to the roll bar. I put snaps on the back end of the frame and velcro on the bottom to create a separate "rear window" that I can easily remove. The tarp snaps onto the body using a series of aluminum door sweeps that I modified and bolted into the hard top holes in the body. The aluminum even extends across the top behind the cab. Happily, it never leaks even here in the rainy N.W. and looks pretty cool in a funky sort of way, I think. Kind of looks like one of those soft top Hummers or a Rat Patrol rig. Total cost: maybe $100. Hours to make: geez...
sixonthefloor
New member
I love my softtopper. It folds all the way back like a convertable and or the sides can be rolled up like a bikini top. It very easy to assemble with no moding or drilling. Outstanding product. Even have my 4runner on their web site. lol
