We had been searching for a bedcover to install on our project Toyota. We had looked at a variety of fiberglass bed caps, and then we discovered the Can-Back soft top. The Can-Back is a rugged, all-weather, all-season, lightweight design. And when we're four-wheeling, the soft top will flex and bend slightly with the vehicle rather than crack or snap like a fiberglass shell. Rockcrawling and fiberglass shells don't mix. Now we don't have to worry about shattering windows or scratching paint like we would with a traditional bed cap. The soft top protects our gear and equipment from the elements, looks awesome, and provides a cool, dry shelter when camping.
The Can-Back soft top is made of Sunbrella, a woven acrylic fabric that is both waterproof (PVC-lined) and breathable. The fabric fits very snugly over the frame with adjustable tension straps, which means there is no additional wind noise at highway speeds. Sunbrella is an extremely durable material that is tough to puncture and almost tear-resistant. It also resists fading, mildew, and rot. The windows are made of 0.040-inch thick, DOT-approved vinyl, and they offer great clarity. This vinyl window material is almost twice as thick as any OE soft top window vinyl and comes in smoke tint or clear.
The soft top's frame is available in two versions: powdercoated steel (the Can-Back) or stainless steel (the Pachyderm), and all of the hardware is stainless steel. Any frame points that come in contact with the vehicle are lined with high-quality, dense rubber padding. The Can-Back frame is very easy to assemble and is meticulously built to exacting tolerances for each vehicle application. There is no tweaking, modifying, or head scratching involved in its assembly. Can-Back soft tops are built in the USA using the finest materials and come in tan, black, or blue. In most cases, assembly and installation take about an hour. Caring for the soft top is simple: just wash it down with your favorite car soap and water. The windows can be cleaned with any household, oil-based cleaner, such as Pledge. Be careful not to use window cleaner because it will dry out the vinyl.
We were very impressed with the quality of the Can-Back, and it made a great addition to our 300,000-mile project Toyota. Not only does the top give the rig a cool look, but it helped lighten the load on the rear suspension. Freeing the rearend of the weight of the fiberglass shell lets the suspension articulate with the trail rather than fight to support the heavy old shell. After the first trail run, we simply hosed the soft top off, wiped down the windows, and it looked as good as new. The Can-Back is not a low-cost alternative to a fiberglass shell; it is a high-quality soft top that will make your four-by more functional.