Soft Topper Thoughts, ETA when ordering, durability?

[flagbasher]

X2 you just give it a good snug pull. I like the look of it all rolled up. Ive gotten a lot of comments on how it looks. Its looks sweet.

Now I usually pinch the innermost part of the roll (where it snaps), and tighten the entire roll tighter, then I smash it flat with the top right against the clip, then I plug it in and snug it a bit.

There are a lot of little things you learn after doing it for a year or more.

 

[Smitty777]

Someone talk me out of buying this

I spoke to them yesterday...

 

[flagbasher]

On the seal/waterproof aspect, the seal has to be placed just right. Go slow and take your time.

You have to bend the hoop correctly, and your existing topper seal needs to be good first.

I put their seal on as far away from the snaps as possible. I think I put their sticky edge right at the edge of the hoop.

I also put some silicone in the screws/gap where the hoop screws together in the middle if I recall correctly.

Mine hasn't leaked water at all. As said above, the rear corners have a nice gap, but the top overhangs so rain isn't getting in.

I know heat stays in pretty well. It doesn't feel any colder with the soft top than it did with the fiberglass one.

If you want an over engineered way to remove and store the top, my build thread has pictures of my Harken Hoister installed in my garage.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1799304-post45.html

 

[Smitty777]

What tires do you have on your 87?

 

[Smitty777]

Soooo....

If I buy this top, what do I do with the hardtop? I dont have a place to store it. I guess i will try to sell it but where and how much would i ask for it?

 

[flagbasher]

My tires? Maxxis Mudder Buckshot 32x11 50R15LT 6PR 113Q.

The top. I installed a Harken Hoister to both remove and store it on my garage ceiling.

AFAIK, you'd be lucky if someone came to pick up the top for free. Haha

 

[Smitty777]

My tires? Maxxis Mudder Buckshot 32x11 50R15LT 6PR 113Q.

They are nice looking tires. Are they noisy? Im looking for 38's but more of a street tire versus a mud tire. Do you like them?

 

[89FourRunner]

What hole do you guys use on the bedrail frame for the cross bar supports?

The bottom the middle or the top?

 

[Griswald]

Looks good. Did I read that others have left theirs on for the winter? That's ballsy...at least SoftTopper advises against. I took mine off in Sept 2015 for the winter, and am about to put it back on in a couple weeks.

Take care of it, clean it regularly and store it well in the offseason. And dont lose any of the bolts and screws from the hard canopy - there's that one that needs to be in place or else the back window wont roll back up...in case you were wondering what that one weird bolt in the side was for...

I probably would not have bought my '89 if it weren't for the soft top...that's what makes it so great.

 

[89FourRunner]

Soooo....

If I buy this top, what do I do with the hardtop? I dont have a place to store it. I guess i will try to sell it but where and how much would i ask for it?

I guess if you are in...what was it, Florida? Then the hardtop isn't needed....but I would find a buddy who would let you store it anywhere, even if it is outside against or behind a shed or something.

If it ever comes time to junk the 4runner, you can sell the softtop by itself pretty easily.

 

[flagbasher]

They are nice looking tires. Are they noisy? Im looking for 38's but more of a street tire versus a mud tire. Do you like them?

They're okay I guess. They were purchased by the PO like 15 years ago, haha. They're starting to dry rot. I plan to replace them with 30s since I don't do any offroading.

They don't make the truck too much of a slug, even when the truck was an automatic, but I'd be interested to see what it drives like on 30s. Peppiness, ride quality, and fuel economy are my considerations there.

Noisy? Not that I can tell. If I pay attention, I can hear the tread, but overall the creaking and noise of open windows and top combined with the engine, the tread noise doesn't really rate that high. haha

 

[Smitty777]

30's I HAVE 38's on mine. :cheers::cheers:

 

[herpestes]

What hole do you guys use on the bedrail frame for the cross bar supports?

The bottom the middle or the top?

https://www.softopper.com/media/wysiwyg/4RunnerInstructions.pdf

 

[Volcom]

My OG Canback is awesome! I've towed it to CA and back for King of the Hammers so it saw 2000 miles of 70 mph on the trailer. It's held up great. I do close all the windows in it while towing.

 

[herpestes]

after sitting in the box for 5 years finally put it on my 84.

 

[86'dBlue]

There's a "Kayline" brand one on eBay right now. Looks like it's white. If I had a white T4R I'd contemplate it. Gonna call ST in the morning and order a top now.

 

[89FourRunner]

There's a "Kayline" brand one on eBay right now. Looks like it's white. If I had a white T4R I'd contemplate it. Gonna call ST in the morning and order a top now.

You are better off - that has been there for a while its really overpriced. They are a lot cheaper quality - and the conpany is out of business. $250 is more reasonable. That guy will have that listing up over and over for another 6 months lol.

 

[HiLuxer]

Good read and info. One thing from my research about KTT is you can use the rear glass window as part of the top. And it's made to order that's why it's more expensive nd takes a lot longer to make.

Aiming for my next year's tax return and I'll get either one of these for sure.

 

[89FourRunner]

Had thr softtopper on since february and i roll it up or put itdown several times a week depending on weather. It is holding up perfectly. The only thing Im not huge on is the rear bar for yhe window, its the only piece you have to store somewhere, and its long. I am considering removing it altogether, I think the velcro on the tailgate is enough, just havnt tried it.

Good stuff! Lots of questions and comments when it is in the rolled up safari/canopy mode.

Mainly: "What kind of Tonneau cover is that?" And "Did you custom make that Toyota pickup?".

 

[flagbasher]

For the bar, seriously just get a couple of wire grommets to hold it in.

Or cross drill the bar and use a little shackle pin with a spring clip.