My Softopper Thread

[truckster]

Not to take away from TheAlien's thread. This is my own experience.

After dealing with a long backorder, my Softopper arrived on the day I left for North Carolina, so it sat in my garage for three weeks. I got it installed last week and here's how it went.

First of all, it's possible to do it with one person, but it really helps to have a second person when you're putting on the canvas.

The instructions were pretty simple, but there seemed to be some things missing. I'll go through them in order to help anyone else who might be doing this.

When mounting the header bar, the screws supplied in the kit break very easily, even if tightening by hand. I had a problem with the front end of the canvas coming up at 35 MPH. I discovered I needed to bend the header bar up slightly to get the plastic front edge of the canvas to seat.

Between steps 3 and 4 of the canopy installation (page 17 on my installation guide) snap the rear snaps onto the rear bar.

On steps 7 and 8 of installing the canopy, it's easier to secure the plastic strip under the header bar before you secure the velcro to the door surround.

On steps 10 and 11, it's easier to fasten the front snaps if there's little or no tension of the rear safety straps.

Prior to step 20, make sure the rear window is installed onto the canopy at the top using the velcro.

That's it. The installation isn't very complicated. I like having options that allow me to drive the Blazer in any weather.

[BobbyK]

Thanks for the tips.
Good job on the instal

[DeadheadNM]

Helpful write up. Thanks for posting.

[hemi43]

Can you post a pic of the area where the rubber block touches the top.
The picture I posted was of my top BEFORE I moved the rail rearwards a bit. If that block touches the top, it will wear right through the vinyl within a couple months. That's what happened to mine. Thankfully I caught it in time before it did anymore damage. I looked at TheAlien's install, and his rails are more forward than mine were, so unless he moved them back, he will be into the same damage. There needs to be clearance.

[Thealien]

Originally Posted by hemi43

Can you post a pic of the area where the rubber block touches the top.
The picture I posted was of my top BEFORE I moved the rail rearwards a bit. If that block touches the top, it will wear right through the vinyl within a couple months. That's what happened to mine. Thankfully I caught it in time before it did anymore damage. I looked at TheAlien's install, and his rails are more forward than mine were, so unless he moved them back, he will be into the same damage. There needs to be clearance.

How about Unsnapping your top and showing us where your rail sits on the bedside?

Any pictures of where your top was worn through in just a couple of months?

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by Thealien

How about Unsnapping your top and showing us where your rail sits on the bedside?

Any pictures of where your top was worn through in just a couple of months?

Here you go !!

[Thealien]

Originally Posted by hemi43

Here you go !!

And a picture of your rail location on your bedside please.

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by Thealien

And a picture of your rail location on your bedside please.

I have the top off for the summer. I will post a pic next time I put it on. Just showing the rail without the top on won't really help because these Blazers were built with a +- 1/4" tolerance so they are all slightly different. Door location also plays a big part. I moved my rail backwards until I could see a gap. I did this a few months after I built the truck, and the damage never got worse.

[Thealien]

My blazer is also a basically top off vehicle. I have the soft top just in case of pop-up rain. I appreciate you trying to help those of us with these expensive tops from causing damage to them. Please take a picture of where your rail is on your bedside even with the top off it is still information.

Could you also post a picture of the plate with the three holes that mounts to the top of the rubber door seal. I had to modify mine to make it fit and just wondering if maybe I did something wrong or as you say these trucks with their plus or minus could be that much different from Blazer to Blazer?

Originally Posted by hemi43

I have the top off for the summer. I will post a pic next time I put it on. Just showing the rail without the top on won't really help because these Blazers were built with a +- 1/4" tolerance so they are all slightly different. Door location also plays a big part. I moved my rail backwards until I could see a gap. I did this a few months after I built the truck, and the damage never got worse.

[Harold Holbrook]

Does any one do white tops?

[72gmguy]

Originally Posted by Harold Holbrook

Does any one do white tops?

I thought softopper did. They used to do black, tan and white.

[Thealien]

Soft topper is the only option unless you have a boat or upholstery shop do a 1 off for $$$$

I believe soft topper offers Black, tan, and grey.

[truckster]

Here are the pics of how mine is installed.

[Harold Holbrook]

Black, tan, and grey is all that soft topper offers.

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by truckster

Here are the pics of how mine is installed.

Wow, they really changed the design of the old Softopper. No offence, but that rail they use now looks kinda cheap quality. Is that just an angle piece?
My rail is totally different, and so is the mounting by the windshield header.
Compare your picture to my picture I posted last week. Take a look how far forward your snap is compared to mine. Even where mine is in that picture I had to go move it back about 1/8' to stop the chaffing.

[truckster]

I think they did change the design and while it's fairly heavy gauge, it is just basically a piece of angle.