Who this is for / skip
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.
Soft topper — what it is (and is not)
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.
The ones that matter
Softopper: retractable, replaceable parts
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 Supertop for Truck 2: one-person, four clamps, removable sides
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.
Same category, different jobs
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: your exact bed length, 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.
Fitment table (truck / bed / 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.
Spec table
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.
Shop by need
More Bestop Supertop sets and the makers’ own pages. Confirm the part number, year, and bed length on the page you open.
Softopper sells direct from its own site. On Amazon, Bestop 7733635 fits a 2015–2024 F-150 with the 6.5-ft bed. For a Ranger or Tacoma, check Bestop’s fit tool before you order.
- F-150 / Raptor / Lightning 5.5-ft bed (2015–2023 / Lightning 2022–2023 as listed) — Softopper SO-FD65B
- Older F-150 / listed GM / Ram / Titan 6.5-ft bed — Softopper SO-FS78A (not a newer F-150)
- Tacoma soft topper candidate (recheck year / bed / lockbox) — Softopper SO-TC60B-BSU
- F-150 6.5-ft bed (2015–2024) — Bestop 7733635
- Ranger 6-ft bed (2019–2023) — Bestop 7733135
- Tacoma 6-ft bed (2005–2023) — Bestop 7730135 (not 5-ft)
- Want a flat tonneau — leave this page; use the tonneau guides
- Want a hard fiberglass / aluminum cap — leave this page
- Looking at Bestop’s tonneau accessory that needs soft-top rails — that is not the soft topper
Skip these
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.
FAQ
What is the best soft topper for a truck?
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 vs Bestop: what is the difference?
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.
Does a soft truck topper fit an F-150 SuperCrew 5.5-ft bed?
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 to match the 5.5-ft bed. 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.
Will a 5.5-ft or 6.5-ft topper fit my F-150?
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.
Does a Softopper or Bestop fit a Toyota Tacoma 5-ft or 6-ft bed?
Treat 5-ft and 6-ft beds as different fits. 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.
Do soft truck toppers fold back for full bed access, and do they require drilling?
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.
Is a soft topper the same as a tonneau cover or a hard camper shell?
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.
Check Bestop 7733635 on Amazon