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**NOTE - The Boot Cover / Canopy is now sold separately. It is not included with your purchase.**
SofTopper Installation Instructions:
INCLUDES:1 Fabric Softopper canopy
2 Hinged folding arms (left and right sides)
4 Cross members (3 long, 1 short) (5 cross bars on long beds)
2 Bedrails (2 pieces each)
4 Clamps (6 clamps on long beds)
5 pieces of Velcro tape (Hooks)
4 screw in snaps
1 bottle of Seam sealer
Remove all contents of the Softopper carefully to protect the frame from scratches.
1) Select the bedrail pieces (the 4, 1-inch square tubes) Join the 2 pieces of each bed rail together. They go together so that the snaps are all on the same side. Join them by inserting the round tube into the square end of it's mate, then line up the push buttons with a corner, slowly push together, and carefully turn until the push button finds the hole.
2) There is a LEFT and RIGHT bedrail. NOTE: To tell the difference, the push button will always be forward of the split point (cab side of where the bars split in 2).
The angled pivot point bracket must be facing inwards towards the bed and the snaps will be facing outwards. Place the bedrail on the topside of the trucks side rail, with the weather stripping facing down. (Do not remove the smooth Mylar coating on the weather stripping. This is to prevent it from sticking to the truck.) The front end of the bedrail should be evenly aligned with the front inside corner of the bed.
It can be placed, evenly with the inside edge of the truck's side rail or moved outward from the inside edge as far as the pivot point bracket and the clamps will allow.
3) Carefully place the clamps under the trucks side rail and then into the slots on the inner side of the SofTopper bedrails. The clamp's bolt will be on the top.
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Tighten down firmly. but don't over tighten. Just make sure they are snug so the Softopper bedrail is unable to move.
Note: You may have to re-tighten the clamps in a few minutes, after the weather stripping has had a chance to compress. Follow the same steps on the other side.
Note: At this point it's nice to have another person around as an extra hand to help put the folding frame together. You can do it alone..but it's a little awkward.
4) Take the hinged folding arms (Left and right sides) and hold 4-5 feet apart. They should be exactly opposite of each other. The snap buttons will be facing inwards. One side has colored dots near the top.
5) Take each of the 4 cross bars, or 5 for long beds (they each have colored dots on one end) and carefully fit them together with the corresponding colors on the arm. Press the push button with your finger and carefully slide them together until the button finds the hole. You may have to wiggle them a little. Hint: be careful not to pinch your fingers between the pieces.
Here's how it should look once they are all together.
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6) Before installing the frame onto the pivot pins on the truck bed rails, make sure to get the left and right sides correct. Note: The pivot point holes in the frame are in the tubes that will be towards the rear of the truck.
Example: If the folding frame were on the pivot pins and laying forward behind the cab, the bar with the holes in it would be on the top. See photo at top of page.
Remove the cotter pin from the steel pivot pin in the bracket on the bedrail and carefully slide the frames pivot hole onto the steel pivot pin. You may have to wiggle them a little or pivot it back and forth to get them on. Reinstall the cotter pin. Do the same on both sides.
Note: The pivot pin is designed to loosen slightly to allow for movement and flexing of the truck bed.
Tip: It is easiest to attach the canopy to the frame by working from the rear on the tailgate.
Carefully lay down the frame towards the rear of the truck. Unfold the canopy a little to find the front snap flap. Note: The back window has zippers; the front does not.so look for the front.
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Wrap the front snap flap (that has 6 or 7 female snaps) . over and around the front cross bar and connect to the male snaps located on the front cross bar of the frame. Now, raise the frame into a position that makes it easy to attach the 6 or 7 snaps to the rear cross bar of the frame.
Flip up the rear window panel onto the roof or climb into the back of the truck and attach the rear snap flap snaps to the rear cross bar. Be sure to go over the top of the bar, around and snap from underneath.
Now attach the two front straps to the eyelets located on the top front ends of the bedrails and the back straps to the 2 rear eyelets (make sure the straps are loose).
Note: It should still be able to rock back and forth a little as the straps should still be loose.
Flip down the sides of the Canopy and connect the snaps along the edge of the fabric to the snaps on the side of the bedrail. It's easier to start at the front and work your way back. Snap the front 2 or 3 on each side and then tighten the back straps a little. Work your way back, one snap on each side at a time.
The Canopy will be quite snug the first time it goes on. Take your time and let the fabric have time to stretch out. The roof will stretch out and everything will fit into place. It can take a few min or more. If it's very cold (in winter) take more time or move the truck into a warmer garage.
Note: If it is snug when you are nearing the last few snaps, place one hand up on top of the frame and pull down gently to help set the snaps.
Reach in and adjust the front and rear webbing's until they are snug.
Don't over tighten the straps; you just want them to be snug. They are only there to hold the roof in place when the sides are rolled up.
Note: Test again, to see if the bed rail can move. If so, retighten the clamps. After a short time the weather stripping will compress and there will be no need to retighten. Just be sure to check it once in awhile.
Adjust the 4 corners of the Canopy with the adjustable corner Velcro to get a nice fit on your truck.
Caution: When removing the canopy from the frame, pull evenly on the snaps. If there is any resistance, wiggle them around under a little tension until they release. Tugging violently can cause the snaps to deform, making it very hard to re-snap.
VELCRO - Take the 5 pieces of Velcro Tape.
3 pieces will go on the outside
of the tailgate and the other two will go on the top inside wall at the front of the
box.
Pull down the zippers on the back flap and adjust the Velcro on the back corners of the canopy so that the back flap sits nicely along the top of the tailgate. Tug gently on the back flap and find the place where it seems to sit easily. There is Velcro (loops) sewn along the bottom inside edge of the back flap. This is where the Velcro tape must line up, once installed on the tailgate. Not too high, not too low. Just right so it won't be seen when the back is zipped down and secured. Tip: Use a removable crayon to help you line things up. Don't pull off the sticky backing yet.
Note: Be sure to clean the area (remove any wax or dirt) where the Velcro will be installed. Plastic Box Liners or tailgate protectors generally have a waxy surface (which reduce the holding strength of the Velcro glue) so it is best to apply the Velcro directly on the paint.
Flip the back flap down and retest again for evenness. Peel off the sticky backing, and then very carefully line it up evenly along the tailgate. Leave an extra ½ inch at each end to wrap around the edge of the tailgate. When it is even, carefully press it against the tailgate and press along back and forth to make sure it is firmly attached.
Note: Velcro tape will reach maximum holding strength after 24 hours.
You will now repeat this process with the second Velcro tape for the front flap along the inside front of the truck box. With bed liners you can instead install the screw in snaps (supplied) to attach the front inside flap.
NOTE: Recheck Clamps again to make sure they are tight and bedrail is secure.
Seam Sealer: The seam sealer should be applied to the underside of the fabric (as it may show if it’s on the outside ) It usually only needs to be applied to the seam that goes all the way around the roof and on the buckle webbings on the sides and rear. Be sure the shake the bottle well before applying to mix up the contents. Applyliberally to the seam concentrating on where the needle and thread penetrated the fabric to fill the needle holes.
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS - Wash the Softopper by hand with a mild soap and water as you would use to wash the truck.
**********DO NOT GO THROUGH AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH************
Please call us at 1-800-810-7227 if you have any questions at all.
