Over the years, we’ve found the absolute best way to get the most utility out of our truck bed is by adding on some sort of bed cover. For the past two years, we’ve used a Bestop EZ-Roll tonneau cover on the back of our 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. Despite frequent adventures on the trail, the Twill material has held up fantastic and has worked great to keep our gear out of the elements. However, as our kids have grown, so has the gear (and bed toys) we often carry along.
This gear hauling dilemma had us looking for a way to increase the cargo capacity. This meant looking at two different options—a soft shell bed cover or hard shell one. We’ve had both in the past on different trucks and each has its list of pros and cons. Aside from price, the biggest difference between a soft cover and hard cover is security. Without a doubt, hard shell caps are better at keeping your gear secure. The biggest drawback for the hard-shell cap however is that they are very heavy and not easy to remove. Both of these are real problems for us as we often find that we our hauling items that would not fit under a typical hard shell cover.
There are only two soft shell cover options for the Gladiator—the Bestop Supertop for Trucks 2 and the Softopper. After looking at both, we ultimately opted for the Twill version Bestop Supertop. Not to say there is anything wrong with the Softopper, but we simply preferred some of the features of the Bestop more. It also helps that we’ve actually had a Bestop Supertop on a truck in the past. So, we already knew the build and fitment quality we were investing in. While you can see the entire install of the Bestop on our YouTube channel, this article will focus on what it’s been like using this setup.
Folded
For us, one of the biggest selling points of the Bestop was how easily it could be folded up or completely removed. If you find yourself in need to haul some oversized cargo, it only takes a minute to unzip the windows and fold the bow assembly to the front of the truck. The bulkhead is still accessible. So, if you have motorcycles, you will still have a free space to place the front tire.
Weather Sealing
We’ve had a lot of different bed covers over the years and found that none are completely weather-proof. This one does work well to keep the water out, but we do find it seeping in from the siderails occasionally. In terms of keeping dust out, it works surprisingly well. This is especially true at the back. We always say manage your expectations when it comes to any bed cover. But, if you’re looking for a place to keep your luggage and wheeling gear out of the weather, the Bestop works great.
Safari Mode
The rear window, along with both side windows are completely removable. This works great on hot days to keep our bed gear cool when at the beach and allows for a nice breeze to flow through. We typically leave the rear window at home on beach outings and simply roll the side windows up when we hit the sand. This keeps our gear protected on the drive out and makes for a quick transition once we hit the sand.
Access
The biggest difference from a practicality standpoint of a hard-shell cover versus a soft one is the rear window. The window on the Bestop can be unzipped from the side very quickly and flipped out of the way. It’s not as convenient as a glass window with helper struts, but you learn to work it quickly. The rear bar is separate from the window. So, if you need to crawl in and out of the bed, it will have to be removed. We often just leave the bar at home on days were we know we will be getting in and out of the bed frequently.
Zippers & Grooves
Each window is held in on the sides by zippers and a groove lip on the bottom, similar to what you would find on a Jeep Wrangler top. We find this setup makes it quite easy to get access inside of the top.
Matching Twill
Shortly after we installed the Bestop, we pulled our hardtop and put on our factory soft top. It matched the Bestop Twill perfectly. We actually prefer the overall lines and look of this setup over the hardtop.
No Side Glass
One thing we like about this Supertop over the previous one we had on our Tacoma is the fact that the side windows are a solid material. The reason has to do with trail riding in the south. We have lots of branches that can easily make contact with the top on the trail. The result of that happening with a soft top window is a permanent scratch. The Twill material is largely unfazed by this.
The Setup
For those curious about the setup on this Gladiator, it’s fairly simple. It’s running a 1-inch TeraFlex front spacer and bumpstop with a Daystar ¾-inch spacer out back. The tires are a 35x12.50R17 Nitto Ridge Grappler mounted on a set of Jeep OE wheels that come on the Xtreme Recon package. We have over 15,000 miles on these tires and they are wearing well and have remained fairly quiet.
More From Driving Line
Thinking about a more low profile bed cover? Check out this one.
