Leer OR Soft top??

[mosovich]

What do you prefer and why? I'm looking at a Leer top that has the side windows that lift up, or a Soft Top that of course can fold down or zip the sides off.. Leer is more secure, but Soft Top more versitle.. Won't be adding a roof tent..

Also can someone PLEASE measure from the floor of their bed to the top of the inside of the Soft top? I'm trying to decide if my MTB will fit in there on a fork mounted rack with out having to take the rear wheel off..

Thanks for the feedback and the measurement... :bowdown:

 

[4x4x4doors]

I think you've hit on the crux of the decision, versatility vs. security. One other consideration is the weight. Depending on what vehicle you drive, that hard fiberglas shell weights a few pounnds that will take a share of the vehicle's net weight.

 

[MotoDave]

I looked back on how I've used my truck over the last few years, and came to realize I've hauled exactly one thing that I would have had to remove the campoer shell for, which I can easily rent/borrow a utility trailer for, so the decision towards a hard camper shell was obvious for me.

MTB will be tough, you can definitely do it with one of these tailgate pads though: http://www.dakine.com/w/bike/pick-up-pads

 

[hornytoad]

Leer!

I had the 100R with windoors on my 2012 taco and used the hell out of it. I love the look of the soft top but have to leave my truck in urban areas where tools/ stuff in the back of the truck would walk off....

When you get a topper make sure that the shop has a good reputation. Leer and Snug tops are both excellent products but a so-so install and bad customer service can make or break an experience.

 

[Louisd75]

Also can someone PLEASE measure from the floor of their bed to the top of the inside of the Soft top? I'm trying to decide if my MTB will fit in there on a fork mounted rack with out having to take the rear wheel off..

Thanks for the feedback and the measurement... :bowdown:

I think a lot of the measurements are going to depend on which truck you've got My '02 Tacoma with the cab height Leer has enough room for my cross bike, mountain bike, or road bike with the front wheel and seat post removed. I ride a 58cm/large. My wife's bikes (50cm/small) can fit without taking the seat off. The mountain bikes are 26" wheeled XC bikes, no long travel.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Another consideration is dust. While a hard shell is not dust-tight, it can be made pretty dust-resistant (ask Michael McDowell on this forum about that - he managed to do a pretty good job of keeping his Ranger bed dust-free during the DE-III.)

OTOH, any canvas or soft top will allow a lot of dust in, which can be annoying, especially if your truck bed is where you sleep or keep your food.

 

[mosovich]

Thanks everyone.. It's a 2013 Tacoma TRD Off Road.. I love it, but am trying to figure out the best route to go and am pretty perplexed to say the least.. I like the mobility of the soft top, but not the fact that I have to basically lock everything up that is inside it to the truck ie: hi lift, any storage containers etc.. I have the towing package so if I ever needed to haul anything I could borrow a friends trailer if it wouldn't fit in the back for some reason, but my bike now is the only thing.. Now though I have to keep all my riding stuff in the cab instead of jsut throwing it in the back.. I work in a down town environment (low income etc.) and while I'd like to think people wouldn't be interested in anything I have, I wouldn't want to say leave my stuff in a hotel parking lot at night or a mall parking lot in a soft top... I have two kids, wife etc, so storing stuff in the cab is not an option and right now, moving stuff from front to back is becoming a regular PIA..

So, I would have to take my seat post out?? That's what I was wanting to avoid.. UGH.. I ride a 56, or a Large Spec. Epic...

 

[surlydiesel]

When I had my 08 Tacoma, I got an ARE scratch and dent cap with windoors and it was 3 inches above the cab height. Level, not short to tall in the back but the whole roof line of the cap was up 3 inches. That meant I could fit my MTB or Road bike with the seapost at normal height and front wheel off. I never bothered to use a fork mount, just tucked em on the side of the bed with a bungie. I ride a 56 as well. Not sure that setup would have worked with a fork mount though. I can say I find myself in situations constantly where I think I wish I had an open bed but 97% of the time, it's a non-issue. Also the semi-security of being able to lock the cap helps. It keeps the lazy thiefs out. For me it's all or nothing, the softop is easily cut into and not water tight or dust proof enough for my taste.

Best,
Jorge

 

[washington taco]

If the bike will be in the back I would want a hard canopy. The bike is worth at least 1500-2000 and if you have a bunch of bikes like me it adds up fast!

 

[Mrknowitall]

My 26"/Large frame bike fit in the Tundra/Cab high cap just fine- think it was right around 31" at the door. I had to drop the seat post and tilt it to get through- more height inside. Even w/o a roof tent, roof racks may still prove desirable in the future- easy on a fiberglass cap, not so with a softy. Eventually I got sick of it sliding around on the rails and I bolted it- much success.

 

[Clutch]

For bicycles, go with a high rise top, might not be cool looking but super practical.

Those canvas toppers are even tighter than a cab high.

 

[ReadyForAdventure]

I looked back on how I've used my truck over the last few years, and came to realize I've hauled exactly one thing that I would have had to remove the camper shell for, which I can easily rent/borrow a utility trailer for, so the decision towards a hard camper shell was obvious for me.

This.

I switched from bestop to my SnugPro and love it. Even though I own two bikes, I have a cab-high model simply because I like the way it looks on the truck than the bump and my bikes still fit. I've managed to put a 26er MTB in the back, but have yet to try a 29er.

If you've settled on a soft top, and you'd like a no-drill fork mount, I suggest looking at the BeddyJo from Yakima, I used one with my soft top and really liked it.
http://www.yakima.com/shop/bike/truck-bed/beddyjo

 

[mosovich]

For bicycles, go with a high rise top, might not be cool looking but super practical.

Those canvas toppers are even tighter than a cab high.

View attachment 172592

I went this route..

 

[mosovich]

Thanks!!

When I had my 08 Tacoma, I got an ARE scratch and dent cap with windoors and it was 3 inches above the cab height. Level, not short to tall in the back but the whole roof line of the cap was up 3 inches. That meant I could fit my MTB or Road bike with the seapost at normal height and front wheel off. I never bothered to use a fork mount, just tucked em on the side of the bed with a bungie. I ride a 56 as well. Not sure that setup would have worked with a fork mount though. I can say I find myself in situations constantly where I think I wish I had an open bed but 97% of the time, it's a non-issue. Also the semi-security of being able to lock the cap helps. It keeps the lazy thiefs out. For me it's all or nothing, the softop is easily cut into and not water tight or dust proof enough for my taste.

Best,
Jorge

 

[mosovich]

Ordering a Leer 180 tomorrow with win doors.. Pretty pumped.. Thanks for everyone's feedback..