Buying guide
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14 min read
For you if: you want cab-height weather and splash screening with quick full-bed access; you camp, haul dogs, run mixed trades loads, or tow weekend gear and refuse a permanent fiberglass shell; and you will confirm year, bed length, rail or lockbox condition, and clamp type on the maker page before checkout.
Skip this page if: you need a rigid roof, walk-on structure, or maximum theft resistance — soft fabric is weather-resistant, not a lockbox and not watertight in every loading condition. Skip if you wanted a low-profile flat tonneau (see the tonneau guides). Skip if you wanted a hard camper shell or permanent fiberglass cap. Skip the separate Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 Tonneau — that is a tonneau accessory that requires the soft-top rails, not a substitute for the topper. Skip any order where year, bed length, rail/lockbox, or clamp configuration is still open on the selector.
01 · Softopper · F-150 / Raptor / Lightning 5.5 ft
Softopper truck bed cap for 2015–2023 Ford F-150, 2015–2023 F-150 Raptor, and 2022–2023 F-150 Lightning; 5.5-ft bed. Retracts toward the cab or removes. No-drill custom clamps. Laminated sailcloth. Replaceable windows and parts. Standard/utility clamp and fabric/window options still pick on Softopper’s live page.
02 · Softopper · older gens / multi-brand 6.5 ft
Softopper truck bed cap for a broad 6.5-ft bed listing: 1997–2014 F-150; 1999–2013 Silverado/Sierra applications; 1991–2002 Ram applications; 2004–2024 Nissan Titan (plus older C/K and HD applications on the maker page). Do not treat this SKU as a newer F-150 6.5-ft shell. Cab, step-side/bed-rail, liner, and clamp configuration stay on the selector.
03 · Softopper · Tacoma candidate (selector recheck)
Softopper Tacoma family candidate from the maker URL (black, utility-track configuration as shown). Softopper’s Tacoma family page currently speaks to Tacoma through 2027; the SKU-specific bed-length and lockbox chip must be reselected before you buy. Treat a commonly indexed 2016–2023 Tacoma, 5-ft bed, without bed-storage lockbox story only after you recheck the live selector — do not order blind.
04 · Bestop · F-150 6.5 ft
Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 for Ford F-150 2015–2024, 6.5-ft bed. One-person side operation. Four clamps. Removable fabric side panels. Laminated PVC-coated Black Diamond fabric. Removable/replaceable DOT-approved tinted rear window. No drilling (maker). Confirm year/bed/cab chip in Bestop’s selector. Do not call this a 5.5-ft fit.
05 · Bestop · Ranger 6 ft
Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 for 2019–2023 Ford Ranger; maker URL identifies the 6-ft bed. Same Supertop for Truck 2 architecture: four clamps, removable sides, tinted rear window, no-drill claim. Recheck any 2024+ Ranger or bed-rail exception on the product option before you order. Confirm the Amazon year range matches your Ranger before you buy — some listings narrow 2019–2020 while Bestop’s product path lists 2019–2023. Prefer the maker page if the years do not match.
06 · Bestop · Tacoma 6 ft (not 5 ft)
Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 for 2005–2023 Toyota Tacoma, 6-ft bed. Bestop separately lists a 5-ft Tacoma service/product SKU — do not put 7730135 on a 5-ft Tacoma. Confirm cab/rail/bed option on the current selector. Confirm bed length and year chips on the Amazon listing match a 6-ft Tacoma for your years — prefer the maker page if the chips conflict.
A soft truck topper (soft camper shell / folding truck bed cap) stands near cab height over the bed. Fabric and frame keep weather and dust off cargo. You fold, roll, or remove panels when a tall load shows up. That convertible promise is the whole point: covered weekdays, open bed when you need height.
It is not a flat tonneau that sits on the rails. It is not a hard fiberglass or aluminum cap with a rigid roof and fixed glass. It is not the Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 Tonneau — a separate tonneau accessory that needs the soft-top rails already in place. Do not order that tonneau accessory thinking you bought the soft topper.
Soft shells trade rigid security and insulation for lower weight, fold-back access, and serviceable fabric or windows. Weather-resistant is not theft-proof. Weather-resistant is not watertight in every loading condition. If the load cannot get wet or stolen, put it in a locked box inside the shell — or buy a hard cap instead.
Softopper’s pitch is reversibility. The shell retracts forward toward the cab or comes off. Custom clamps are no-drill. Weather stripping is non-adhesive. Frame is anodized aluminum. Fabric is laminated sailcloth. Windows and parts are replaceable. Side and rear panels roll up. Maker-published weight sits about 14–28/30 lb depending on model — use that maker range; it is not one number for every SKU.
That is why Softopper wins the “classic retractable soft topper with serviceable panels” explanation on this page. You are buying a soft shell you can open for tall cargo and service when a window ages out — not a permanent fiberglass box.
Bestop’s pitch is modular operation. Maker copy highlights one-person side operation, four clamps, front bulkhead and tailgate bars, removable fabric side panels, laminated PVC-coated Black Diamond fabric, and a removable/replaceable DOT-approved tinted rear window. No drilling is called out on the product page. Third brake light 576.71P is separate where required.
That is why Bestop wins the “Supertop for Truck 2 one-person / four-clamp modular shell” explanation. You are buying a clamp-on soft shell with removable side panels — not Softopper’s retractable sailcloth package, and not a hard cap.
Both brands sit in soft topper / soft camper shell. Neither is a tonneau. Neither is a hard cap. Fabric-versus-fabric scoring is less useful than: exact bed chip, clamp or rail condition, fold-back or removable-panel access, serviceable windows, and whether you actually needed a flat tonneau or a rigid shell instead.
For 2015–2023 F-150 / Raptor and 2022–2023 Lightning on a 5.5-ft bed.
Drawback: Softopper and Bestop parts do not interchange. Do not order Bestop 7733635 (6.5-ft) for this 5.5-ft bed.
For listed older F-150 / GM / Ram / Titan 6.5-ft applications on Softopper’s page.
Drawback: multi-brand listing still needs a live selector check — year and rail shape are not interchangeable footnotes.
For a Tacoma soft topper only after year, bed, and lockbox chips clear on Softopper.
Drawback: do not order blind from a cached SKU story. Recheck the live Softopper selector.
For 2015–2024 F-150 on a 6.5-ft bed that wants four-clamp modular operation.
Drawback: soft fabric is weather-resistant, not a hard-cap lockbox. Confirm cab chip before you torque clamps.
For 2019–2023 Ford Ranger on a 6-ft bed.
Drawback: year-chip mismatch on some listings is why this page uses Check, not Shop, for this SKU.
For 2005–2023 Toyota Tacoma on a 6-ft bed — not 5-ft.
Drawback: size-chip inconsistency on some listings is why this page uses Check, not Shop, for this SKU.
Bed length owns the SKU. “SuperCrew” names a cab; it does not erase 5.5 vs 6.5. Measure the actual bed. Use the maker selector. Softopper and Bestop parts do not swap.
| Search chip | Maker SKU | What is confirmed now | Still confirm on selector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 SuperCrew, 5.5 ft | Softopper SO-FD65B | 2015–2023 F-150, 2015–2023 Raptor, 2022–2023 Lightning; 5.5-ft bed | SuperCrew-specific rail/bed option; 2024–2026 F-150 Softopper SKU; liner / utility-track suffix |
| Ford F-150, 6.5 ft | Bestop 7733635 | 2015–2024 F-150; 6.5-ft bed | SuperCrew vs other cab; any 5.5-ft Bestop SKU (not this one); 2025/2026 availability |
| Older F-150 / Silverado-Sierra / Ram, 6.5 ft | Softopper SO-FS78A | Generations and 6.5-ft bed on Softopper’s page (1997–2014 F-150 and listed GM / Ram / Titan apps) | Exact cab, step-side/bed-rail, liner, clamp configuration. Do not generalize to newer F-150 |
| Toyota Tacoma, 5 ft | Softopper SO-TC60B-BSU (candidate) | Softopper Tacoma family supports Tacoma through 2027; SKU present in maker URL for a utility-track config | Exact year; 5-ft vs 6-ft; bed-storage lockbox; suffix. Never use Bestop 7730135 on a 5-ft Tacoma |
| Toyota Tacoma, 6 ft | Bestop 7730135 | 2005–2023 Tacoma; 6-ft bed | Cab/rail/bed option; whether current selector changes the year range |
| Ford Ranger, 6 ft | Bestop 7733135 | 2019–2023 Ranger; URL identifies 6-ft bed | Any 2024+ Ranger or bed-rail exception |
Softopper vs Bestop Supertop for Truck 2. Maker claims only. Confirm year and bed length on the maker selector. Listing totals move — this page does not freeze a dollar amount.
| Softopper truck bed cap | Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who for | Retractable / removable soft shell with replaceable windows and parts | One-person / four-clamp modular soft shell with removable side panels |
| SKUs on this page | SO-FD65B, SO-FS78A, SO-TC60B-BSU (selector recheck) | 7733635, 7733135, 7730135 |
| Access | Retracts toward cab or removes; side/rear panels roll up | One-person side operation; removable fabric side panels |
| Mount | No-drill custom clamps; non-adhesive weather stripping | Four clamps; front bulkhead + tailgate bars; no drilling (maker) |
| Frame / fabric | Anodized aluminum frame; laminated sailcloth | Laminated PVC-coated Black Diamond fabric |
| Windows / service | Replaceable windows and parts | Removable/replaceable DOT-approved tinted rear window |
| Weight | Maker-published approx. 14–28/30 lb range by model | Confirm per SKU on Bestop page |
| Extras | Clamp / fabric / window options on Softopper live page | Third brake light 576.71P separate where required |
| Not this pick | Flat tonneau; hard fiberglass cap; newer F-150 on SO-FS78A; 6-ft Bestop on a 5-ft Tacoma | Flat tonneau accessory (separate Bestop tonneau); hard cap; 7733635 on a 5.5-ft bed; 7730135 on a 5-ft Tacoma |
Secondary searches and locked /dp/ Checks only. Confirm the part number, year, and bed length on the page you open.
Chips are secondary. Softopper stays maker-only. The Shop button is Bestop 7733635. Ranger and Tacoma Bestop rows are Check.
Ordering a 5.5-ft shell for a 6.5-ft bed (or the reverse). Bed length owns the SKU.
Putting Softopper SO-FS78A on a newer F-150 because “it says 6.5 ft.” That SKU is the older-generation / multi-brand path.
Putting Bestop 7730135 on a Tacoma 5-ft bed. That SKU is 6-ft only.
Buying Softopper SO-TC60B-BSU without rechecking year, bed length, and bed-storage lockbox. Selector first.
Treating “SuperCrew” as a bed-length substitute. Cab name ≠ bed length.
Expecting soft fabric to match hard-cap theft resistance or insulation. Different product class.
Substituting the Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 Tonneau for the soft topper. That tonneau needs soft-top rails already in place.
There is no one universal “best.” Match brand architecture to how you open the bed, then lock the SKU to year and bed length. Softopper wins when you want a retractable soft shell with replaceable windows and parts (SO-FD65B, SO-FS78A, or Tacoma candidate SO-TC60B-BSU after selector recheck). Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 wins when you want one-person / four-clamp operation with removable side panels (7733635, 7733135, 7730135 on their listed beds). Measure the bed. Use the maker selector.
Softopper emphasizes retractable/removable access, no-drill custom clamps, laminated sailcloth, anodized aluminum frame, and replaceable windows and parts. Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 emphasizes one-person side operation, four clamps, removable fabric side panels, Black Diamond laminated PVC-coated fabric, and a replaceable tinted rear window. Both are soft toppers — not tonneaus, not hard caps. SKUs do not interchange across brands or bed lengths.
Softopper SO-FD65B is the Softopper SKU for 2015–2023 F-150 (including Raptor) and 2022–2023 Lightning 5.5-ft beds. SuperCrew names the cab; you still need the 5.5-ft bed chip. Confirm rail/liner/utility-track options on Softopper’s live page. Do not grab a 6.5-ft Bestop (7733635) for a 5.5-ft bed.
Only the matching bed length. Softopper SO-FD65B is the 5.5-ft Softopper path for the 2015–2023 F-150 family listed above. Bestop 7733635 is the 6.5-ft path for 2015–2024 F-150. Softopper SO-FS78A covers older-generation 6.5-ft applications on Softopper’s page — do not generalize it to a newer F-150. Measure the bed; do not guess from cab nameplates.
Treat them as separate chips. Softopper SO-TC60B-BSU is the Tacoma candidate from Softopper’s family URL — recheck year, 5-ft vs 6-ft, and bed-storage lockbox on the selector before you buy. Bestop 7730135 fits 2005–2023 Tacoma, 6-ft bed. Bestop has a separate 5-ft Tacoma listing; do not put 7730135 on a 5-ft bed.
Softopper retracts toward the cab or removes, with side/rear panels that roll up; maker pages describe no-drill custom clamps. Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 uses one-person side operation and removable fabric side panels; maker pages call out four clamps and no drilling. Exact fold/remove steps and clamp hardware still follow the instructions for your SKU — read that SKU’s page, not a generic YouTube.
No. A soft topper is a cab-height soft shell over the bed. A tonneau is a low-profile cover on the rails (soft roll-up, hard fold, retractable canister, and so on). A hard camper shell / fiberglass or aluminum cap is a rigid roof with fixed structure. The Bestop Supertop for Truck 2 Tonneau is a tonneau accessory that requires soft-top rails — not the soft topper itself. Buy the product class you actually need.
Last updated September 21, 2026. Author: TruckDaily.