NavyChief
Well-known member
- First Name
- Jeff
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2022
- Threads
- 39
- Messages
- 403
- Reaction score
- 550
- Location
- Orlando, FL
- Vehicles
- 23 F350
- Thread starter
- #1
I recently installed the bestop soft top mainly because it was in stock but I’ve had both and even though I think bestop owns Softopper now(?) there are pretty significant differences in the two.
Pretty much the same price (I think the bestop was 100 more) and they look similar
The bestop uses the plastic tension rails to hold the fabric tight (exactly like any soft top from a wrangler or Bronco) while the Softopper uses snaps.
The bestop has a better rail system on the bed and just looks more refined even though install took a little longer it has a complete solid connection all the way around and with the plastic rails it’s cleaner looking. Holding tension on the top when it’s up I like the Softopper having the tension straps in the rear to hold the frame directly instead of the bestop using the fabric itself for tension
Opening the back to load things is similar but the Softopper you have to take the tube out to flip the back flap up to drop the tailgate where the bestop you can drop your tailgate without taking anything apart.
Folding also I like the Softopper as you just flip the sides up in the top and drop it where the bestop you have to remove the sides and they don’t store in the top so you have to deal with the pieces.
If they were both available and there wasn’t an 8 week wait for the Softopper I would have purchased it instead for my use.
I think if your leaving it up all the time the bestop is cleaner looking. Oh and one last thing is the Softopper requires you to drill into the front of the bed to install the 3 snaps that hold the front fabric tight where the bestop has a rail so no drilling.
Hope this helps someone trying to choose between the two.
Pretty much the same price (I think the bestop was 100 more) and they look similar
The bestop uses the plastic tension rails to hold the fabric tight (exactly like any soft top from a wrangler or Bronco) while the Softopper uses snaps.
The bestop has a better rail system on the bed and just looks more refined even though install took a little longer it has a complete solid connection all the way around and with the plastic rails it’s cleaner looking. Holding tension on the top when it’s up I like the Softopper having the tension straps in the rear to hold the frame directly instead of the bestop using the fabric itself for tension
Opening the back to load things is similar but the Softopper you have to take the tube out to flip the back flap up to drop the tailgate where the bestop you can drop your tailgate without taking anything apart.
Folding also I like the Softopper as you just flip the sides up in the top and drop it where the bestop you have to remove the sides and they don’t store in the top so you have to deal with the pieces.
If they were both available and there wasn’t an 8 week wait for the Softopper I would have purchased it instead for my use.
I think if your leaving it up all the time the bestop is cleaner looking. Oh and one last thing is the Softopper requires you to drill into the front of the bed to install the 3 snaps that hold the front fabric tight where the bestop has a rail so no drilling.
Hope this helps someone trying to choose between the two.
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