Considering one for my DIY off-road camp/utility trailer I’ve been working on. Seems way better and less trouble than a hard top. Ideas? It’s a long bed 88 f150 bed. Experience with them? Best one?

Personally I like the looks of them, the reduction in weight over fiberglass or metal, but they don't offer the security I need for some places I go.

Seems like the way to go for camping. I agree with the security part

I'd gather that a canvas top one might be cooler to camp in if one was not able to park in the shade.

I hunt and camp in places like this many times, and prefer the hardtop, as insecure as that is even, to just having someone cut a tent or soft camper to get at my gear.



Everything I'm not willing to lose to a snatch and grab camp robber goes back in the shell before I head out to hunt. Sometimes I even wrap an aircraft cable around the back hatch handles so they'd have more to screw with instead of just popping a latch. Better than nothing I guess. But thirty miles from the highway, and a 1000 miles from home, I'd prefer not to be having to go get more items to continue my hunt in relative comfort. I could survive with what's in the day pack that always goes with me, but it's kind of nice to have a stove to cook on!

Good luck in your search.

Hard top has the most advantage in the end

They seem to be popular with the "cool kids" into overlanding. They don't seem very practical to me. As someone who has owned a soft top Jeep, and had the top ripped open for thieves to get inside I can verify that they only provide the illusion of securing anything inside. And then you have to consider that soft tops are good for 7-8 years before they have to be replaced. A hard shell cap will last as long as the rest of the truck.

If concerned about weight they still make aluminum caps that can be put on, or taken off, with no help. Cost is about the same as the soft tops too.

This.

When it comes to campers, if it's got canvas, on it I don't want anything to do with it, been there done that, Rio7

If it is a soft top, it can't be called a shell can it?

How is a soft top "way better and less trouble" than a hard top? Are you talking about one of the canvas ones that are on a rail and collapse forward accordion style? If you are constantly changing loads and don't want to remove the hard top, then those collapsing soft shells may be of some benefit.

https://realtruck.com/p/bestop-supertop-truck-topper/

Some Federal campgrounds in bear country ban canvas top campers or tents.

Had one of the Ford F-150 pickup bed tents that are put on at the camping site, one look at the directions and It went down the road and I bought a Leer cap. The new owner was happy to get it. Should note that the bed tents are for stationary use only and can’t be left on the truck when driven.