Camper/Shells/Topper - Soft or Hard for camping?

So I am in the market for a topper for my truck. My 'idea' is to turn my truck into a make shift camper. I would find a topper of some kind, build a raised bed platform to sit over the wheel wells which would allow an air mattress and storage underneath. I already put an inverter in my truck for powering accessories and we could use a buddy type heater for warmth. We don't camp that much so the times we do, I think it would great. We used to do this my Tahoe with folding down the rear seats and it worked pretty well.

I've been scouring craigslist/FB marketplace, etc. I finally found a black hard top that is from an access cab that I think I can get for $400. I know they aren't easy to come by so I was happy to find this one. Where I am torn is which setup would work better, hard or soft? I'd love to see anyone's setup if they have something similar. There are probably more cons/pros, but this is what I have come up with:

Hard top pros:

• Cost - $560 with DAC tent bed extension
• More 'resistant' to weather, hail, water, sun, etc
• Longer life span most likely

Hard top cons:

• Losing ability to utilize most of truck bed
• Storage when not in use
• Glass window replacement if broken?

Soft top pros:

• Folds down to utilize entire bed
• Light weight
• No glass to worry about being broken
• removes easily and can be stored easily.
• Durability - all the reviews seem to show they are holding up great

Soft top cons:

• Cost - $1000+ with tent extension
• Reviews say sun fades colors/windows within a year or so if stored outdoors
• Not 100% water proof but they do sell a seam sealer that they recommend to help with that
• Not that great of a warranty on their parts for a $1000 setup
• Long term life span?

 

Between the 2 choices I’d go
With a hard top. But that’s mostly
Because it’s a little harder to break into than just cutting the soft Topper

breaking glass makes noise. Cutting the topper doesn’t make Much at all.


But soft toppers are defiantly easier to store and work well for camping

 

https://www.tundras.com/search/2890642/?q=softopper&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1

 

If you are someone that frequently uses the bed of your truck for hauling things, I probably wouldn't get a hard top. That's really what it's going to boil down to I think. Taking them off isn't hard but they are a bit heavy unless you've got some friends. My wife isn't strong enough so the only time I've removed mine I had to get help from my step dad. If you have people around then that may not be a big deal.

I personally wouldn't pay $1,000 for a soft topper. I would see if you can be patient for a used one if that's what you want. Otherwise, I would just get a fiberglass shell and be done with it.

 

Or, another thought, if it’s just a camping thing. Look into truck bed tents, like a Napier.

 

I vote hard top. For camping its much quieter and keeps the elements out. Do you have a garage or carport to park your truck? I have my hard top off most of the time and made a 4-point pulley system with 2x4's in my carport to easily take it off in 10 minutes by myself.

 

I have never had a hard top, but have owned a Softopper for almost 3 years now and it has held up great! The color has not faded much and the windows are still in decent shape (some scratches, but no fading at all). It is 98% waterproof, and only leaks slightly if it's raining nonstop for a few consecutive days. I use mine for camping with a sleeping platform and love it back there. Also, I own a motorcycle and the few times a year I need to transport it/move large furniture I can fold the top down in less than 5 minutes. It is sturdy, practical, and looks great. The downsides are the cost (mine cost roughly $850 with the storage boot) and the lack of visibility. However, these were minor tradeoffs for me to have the utility and look I had wanted for so long. Feel free to ask me any questions you have!

 

Hard all the way. And if you can, get one that will get rid of the tailgate and have a lockable door.
I've driven around the country a few times with a p/u and a topper, tho it was an S-10, so my feet would would stick out.
As space is a consideration, with a hard top, you can also put a rack up there and when you get to where you're going to camp, unload the bed and can put stuff on top to keep it off the ground. Can also run a tarp off of that for a bit of a sun/rain shelter.

 

^ FIFY.

Unless you are camping a lot, or like having a covered bed otherwise, and have good storage, then I wouldn't recommend a hard top. Limits use of the bed for hauling, heavy, and kills rear view. However, if you can do a storage setup like @seth419 above, then by all means get a hard top.

 

I appreciate everyone’s input and advice. After a short period of weighing out the options, I decided to go snag the hard top. It was actually at a Truck topper store about 10 minutes from my work. It’s a long story how I found it but it was more of less by accident. Anyways, I got down there and offered them $400 and they took it. It’s a Leer 100R, black and in really good shape considering it’s at least 14 years old. I was actually shocked they had it and I don’t think they know how rare they can be.

After talking to the owner, it helped me make my decision. He said the 100R is a very ‘standard’ topper in the sense that the all the parts, windows, lights etc are used across the board in many different brands. He said windows are cheap and a glass shop could even cut the back window out if anything ever happened to it. I recently found out on the other topper I bought last weekend, not all back windows are a ‘cheap’ replacement but that’s a different story.

Another plus side I factored in, if I don’t like it, I should be able to sell it pretty easily since they don’t come up often. Hell, I might even be able to make a buck or two on it. Figured I would try this first and if it didn’t work out, I could shell out the coin for a different setup. I’m excited to get this ‘bedroom’ setup now. I get some pictures of posted tomorrow.

 

Cool. Which style windows did it come with?

 

Good score. Toppers for tundras, esp full sized beds are hard to impossible to find. I have to get one made if I want one, but the cost v. lifespan of it is worth it.
I used to be able to get inside the fiberglass S10 topper I had, lift it, then put it on the bed at an angle so it'd stay. Then get inside the bed, pick it up via my back and walk it to where it needs to be. If you make a setup like above, it'd be easy peasy to take it off and put it on.
Another thing I consider is it protects the inside of the bed from the elements. For the bottom, I lay 2x3s flat and screw a sheet of osb on top. That makes for more comfortable sleeping and also easier to slide things in and out--and protects the bed too.

 

Slick, need to figure out a way to do it with one pull rope!

 

You know, I am not sure. When I picked it up, he rattled off the dimensions of the all the windows and how they would fit LEER, some A.R.E, Century and a few other brands. I was just excited it was black and he took $400 lol. Here are the pictures:

 

I actually like that white on black combo. It looks good! What I meant was slider vs pop out windows. Looks like both slide. I wish I had sliding windows so my dogs could get more air. Good find! Worst case, you can always sell it like you mentioned.

 

I’ve got the sliding windows on mine. But man I’m really considering getting windoors with sliders. I’d love to not have to crawl into the bed to teach things at the front

 

Yeah there are definitely pro's and cons to both. Are you saying they make some that pop out and slide?

All mine do is pop out.

 

Leer does. Well they did. My uncles f350
Has them

 

That is a SERIOUS score; well done! (and I hate you...)


Can't find anything like that when I remember to look. Have to be fast on the draw. Like you said, I figure even if I didn't use one much, it probably wouldn't depreciate just sitting around.
.

 

Oh I see what you meant, yes they are sliders. I dig the two tone look as well, almost matches one of my Kimber's.

 

I honestly think this guy has had this sitting around for a bit, hence why he took my offer. When he mentioned that they only fit the first gen's, he acted like it was a bad thing... lol

 

It seems they are hard to find. A friend of mine has a first gen and has been searching for a while now with no luck.