Best Truck Bed Tent – Reviews and Buying Guide

This is a tent which is designed to work in a truck. Before its invention in 1990 by the founder of Napier Enterprises, Roman Napieraj, campers used to construct makeshift tents from the normal tents. When you have a truck bed tent, it will give you an experience of camping outdoor that is great.

 It will offer added comfort and protection of sleeping off the ground. They tend to be similar to sport utility vehicle tents and roof tent. Its only limitation is that it is limited to where the truck will be able to go and for you to use it, you must have a truck.

Due to the fact that it is raised, it will provide protection from wildlife as you have raised up the ground and together with the truck sides which are solid, it makes it hard for smaller animals or bugs to be able to attack you in the tent.

Why You Should Consider A Pickup Truck Bed Tent

As compared to traditional tents, truck bed tents tend to be better due to their portability and thus, you don’t have to worry about taking your tent with you to the camp and setting it up. You will also be able to sleep above the ground, which apart from adding to your level of security, it will give you comfort and also you don’t have to worry about having to pitch a tent on the icy or muddy ground.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Truck Bed Tent

1. Type

There are two types of tents in regard to truck bed tents with one being able to fit on your truck bed while the other type will be able to attach at the back of your SUV. 

The type to choose will depend on the type of vehicle you have and the solution you are looking for. If you get one that uses your cargo space, then it will allow you to sleep off the floor and also have a part of the tent which is extendable which you can use for storage of your gear and get changed in. 

There are other types which will sit completely in the bed of your truck and allow you to have space which is more enclosed. This particular type will give you more privacy, but not more space. Your type of vehicle will dictate the type of tent that you will get for your truck.

2. Weatherproof

Apart from the tent offering you with protection and privacy from things such as the wind, it will be able to protect you from rain. For the tent to be able to offer you with weatherproofing, you will need one that has a material which is water resistant so that, no water is going to be able to get through it in case you get caught in a storm. 

The tent needs to have a rain fly, which denotes a second covering over your tent. This then acts as another layer for protection of rain but mainly, it stops the formation of any condensation which could form the inside of your tent so that, there is nothing inside your tent which gets wet.  

When you sleep in the truck, you have the ability to sleep off the floor, giving you extra protection from the rain as nothing can come in from the sides. If your tent extends out to the ground, then it could be great if get one which has a floor bathtub so that you get a higher level of rain protection which might be useful when there is heavy rain which will not be an issue if you are sleeping in the truck.

3. Storage

When you purchase a truck bed tent which has additional pockets for storage, it can be advantageous to you. this is due to the fact that items will be within your reach which then add to the convenience of the tent. Most tents have this feature and it could help in space which is normally cramped and locating thing can be difficult.

This is normally not the case with standard tents as you have your vehicle with you.  Meaning, most of your gear will be kept in the vehicle and thus, pockets are not necessary as compared to truck bed tents. 

4. Size

You need to consider the size of your truck in order to get the right size of truck bed tent. If you get a tent which doesn’t fit your truck bed properly, then chances are that it will be irrelevant. You have to first determine your truck size before going out in the market to look for the best tent.

The good news is that there are a variety of sizes in the market from different companies which will sort out your sizing issue. There are some products which tend to be more flexible as compared to others and thus, will be able to fit several truck beds while others are meant for specific truck beds. 

But when it comes to SUVs, size is less important due to the fact that this type of vehicles has a sleeve which is capable of fitting over your particular vehicle. With truck bed tents, the part which extends to the floor can be gotten in a various range of sizes which you can pick from depending on your personal preference.

5. Seasonability

When it comes to products of the tent, they are normally ranked according to how many seasons they are compatible with. The seasons are normally ranked from the warmest to the coldest in the order of summer, spring, fall, and winter. 

So if the tent is described as one season, then it might just be covering the summer season alone. Two season tent could be covering summer and spring while a three-season could be covering summer, spring, and fall.

Most of the products on the market describe themselves as tents for three seasons as they don’t have the capability to give you protection for the harshest environments but suitable for most of the year. so if you are looking for a tent which will protect you all seasons, then they are available and you will get them in canvas materials.

6. Length

If you are 8 feet tall and you get yourself a tent which is 6 feet tall, then you are going to have a problem. You have to purchase a tent which is at least long enough as you are in order to avoid cramping. But if you are someone who likes sleeping in a tucked position, then it will not matter much. When you are checking out the length of your tent, consider what else you will have in the tent with you.if you want a change of clothes or your gear with you, then it has to be considered. Get a tent which is at least a foot or two longer than you are but it can be down to your own preference. Check it out before you make your purchase.  

7. Material

When choosing the right material for your tent, you will need to strike a balance between its durability and is easy and light to use. Durability tends to be a very important factor as you will need to place your tent on the truck, which will wear it faster. If you will be dealing with a tent which rips or has zips that keep on breaking, then it can make your trip very uncomfortable.

Weight should not be a factor in your decision making since you will not be hiking with your tent and thus, no need to consider the lightweight thing. There are tents which are made from cuben fiber which is lightweight but not durable enough for your truck. 

Get a tent which is made from ripstop nylon which is a material that is quite lightweight as well as more durable and thus, you will avoid more problems. Ensure that the material you choose has been sewn together and the seams are sealed to make it possible for them to remain water resistant. 

8. Number Of People

Your decision on which type and make of tent to purchase for your truck will depend on how many people are going to use it. Apart from the capacity, there is more to this as it triggers down to the comfort level.  

If your truck tent will only cover your truck bed, then it means that it will limit you to the number of people to use it depending on your truck size. A normal truck bed can accommodate up to two people and thus, if you want more, then you will have to look out for other options.

Other options that you could have included in buying a tent which extends out beyond your truck where you will be able to accommodate more people and have places where you could store your other items. But if you are looking for a standard truck bed tent, then only a maximum of two people can be accommodated.

9. Installation

You want a tent whose installation will be a little bit simpler so that you get to set it up faster. There are those which are more complicated than others which will all depend on your itinerary and what you want from your camping experience. If every day you are going to drive in a different spot every day, then you would want a tent which is going to be easy to install and reinstall.

10. Access

At times it can be hard to enter and leave the tent as they tend to be cramped spaces and thus, you have to crawl in. Thus, if you have a tent which is easy to access, it will be good as you won’t have the struggle to get in and out. 

If the door is large enough and D shaped, it could be the best option for this and having a tent which is able to support a door which is large door can add to your comfort level. It has to be a tent which you will easily get down and into the floor easily. Having multiple access points for a tent which extends out from the truck could be a good idea.  And this, especially if there are few persons sleeping in the tent as they will not have to climb over each other to get out. 

11. Ventilation

Whether you are in a hotel, your home or in a tent, it is important that you have ventilation of high level to allow for proper oxygen circulation as well as taking bad smells, keeping you cool, and helping to stop bacteria from being able to form. 

With a truck bed tent, get one which is breathable so that it allows air to pass through which is important in a tent and also have mesh windows for additional ventilation which will allow air to go through in a more significant way. 

What you choose will depend on your preferences as well as the type of weather that you are going to camp in. If you will be in a climate which is hot, then you have to get a tent with more ventilation. And in case it is cold then you have to get more protection from the elements. 

12. Design

For a tent to be comfortable for your truck, there are a lot of things which go into it as it has to be both sturdy and lightweight.  The design of the tent is something which is of importance. There are designs which make some tents better than the others, while other designs are a matter of choice. 

One of the aspects of the design aspect is the floor, due to the fact that some tents have a floor sewn in while others tend to leave it exposed. When the floor is exposed, you have the advantage of not having to remove any equipment out of the way in order to fix the tent.

Another design aspect which is important is the ventilation with some tents having a lot of mesh windows than others. If you will be camping in an area which is hot, then you have to get a tent which has more ventilation with more storm slaps for your own privacy.

Other aspects to consider include how tall the sides should be, how well it will be able to connect to your truck, its overall size, and how many poles it is going to have. You will have to look at the design features and see which ones will be able to match your situation.

13. Height

The height of the tent is important and in most instances, it is the most underrated specifications due to the fact that people tend to forget how important they are. When you get cramped in a tent, it can heavily affect your experience during camping as you might not be able to sit up and you will be forced to struggle to get changed along with your other things inside the tent.

Unless you are small bodied, it is hard to get a tent which you can be able to stand in. But ensure that, you get one where you can be able to have enough clearance to be able to sit up when you are inside the tent, so ensure that you check the height measurements.  

At this point, ensure that you check the tent design as it might just be high in the middle but sloped sides which are not right and will be an inconvenient and thus, need to have a tent which is going to have high sides as well as a middle which is high. 

14. Ease Of Use

If you have ever gone camping, then you know how at times, tents can be problematic when setting up. This could be due to bad design, but at other times, it could be that the tent is going to be more stable and thus, you need to take that extra care to set it.

If your camping will be for a long time, then you should not be put off by a tent which will take more time to set up to allow for a bit more time so you can have a camping experience which will be fulfilled.

There are other tents which are a bit easier to fix than others and there are some features which can help in this. Having poles which are color-coded it is likely going to help with the tent construction and also have a minimal number of poles which will be useful. In terms of being easy to use, getting one with a big door will make it easy to get in and out of your tent.

15. Construction

Apart from the construction is important to ensure that you will have a quality tent, it is also going to make it possible for you to avoid damaging your vehicle. If the tent will be placed on your vehicle, then there are chances that, it will be damaged.  But with the truck bed, it is rare for destruction to occur due to the fact that it will attach to the truck bed which is designed to take in some roughness. But for your tent to be more secure, it has to be attached to the truck. 

If the straps on your tent will cause dents and scratches to your truck, then it will be an issue.  Due to this, you will need to ensure that, whatever straps you get for your truck tent have padding which is enough to protect your truck when the straps are tied on it. Your tent construction has to be good enough so that you don’t have to worry about anything being damaged.

16. Built-In Floor

One of the key features that differentiate tents for the truck is whether they have a built-in floor or not. While it might create a strange feeling to buy a tent minus a floor, there are benefits attached to it as you don’t have to stress yourself over clearing the truck bed before fixing it. 

But as per your preference, you might be the type of person who doesn’t like leaving gaps in your truck bed, and thus, prefer the floor. If you don’t have anything blocking the tent on the truck, then it could be better to go for a built-in floor. All this adds up to personal preference.

17. Strapping

When you are looking for the best truck bed tent, then it has to be one that you can secure well in place. If it is a normal tent, you will be able to achieve this using the guide rope which extends out from the tent, secured in place using stakes which are then fixed in the ground.

But when it comes to a truck, the above cannot work as it will make your truck not to be portable and for it to keep up, the guide rope will have to go a long way. Use of strapping is the option for truck bed tent to be held on the truck.

Unless you find those which are well designed, there is a chance that they are likely going to damage your truck and thus, you need to ensure that the straps have the right padding so that you don’t have to suffer any dents or scratches.

If you go for an SUV tent, then the strapping will be less of an issue as there will be a sleeve which will go over the SUV and the tent will be able to get secured in place in the traditional way and there will be no need for additional strapping.

FAQs

1. Can You Drive With A Truck Tent?

If you mean while in the campsite and you want to move from one location within the camp to the next, then that is possible. But anything other than that, you will need to take down the truck tent as it is not designed for the high winds on highways.

2. Will The Tent Work With A Toolbox In The Truck’s Bed?

If you have several items in your truck bed then it will be best if you choose a truck tent that doesn’t have a built-in floor. When you do so, then you will not have to worry about taking anything from your truck as you will be able to build your tent on it.

It might be the best way or you can choose it due to the fact that it is better to remove any items so that you are able to have a floor which is a built-in if that is what you prefer.

3. Do Truck Tents Keep Mosquitoes and Bugs Out?

Truck tents are just like the regular tents and thus, you will have the protection that a tent provides together with a closeable door which you will find at the front of the tent.

With that in mind, it means that just the way a regular tent is capable of keeping bugs and mosquitos out, so will your truck tent do. It is possible that there are those bugs and mosquitoes which will get into the tent and you will have to take the precautions you take with any other tent such as avoiding internal light on while the door is open.

4. Can A Truck Tent Be Used On The Ground?

Not to full effect as it could be like using your ground tent on a truck bed, which is inefficient. The truck tents as the name suggests, are meant to be used on trucks, thus, not suitable for being pitched on the ground. But there are some options available which can be used on the ground.

6. Do It Yourself Truck Bed Tent?

Yes, you can get a truck bed tent which is easy to install and thus, you can do it yourself without the need for extra help.

Conclusion  

So long as you have the right air mattress, truck tent, and liner, you are assured of having great mobile camping using the facility of the truck tent. You should choose a tent which you will be comfortable with in terms of ease of construction, price, the ergonomics, and materials used. You can start with the 9 which I have listed in this article and find out if they will appeal and meet you at your point of need.  Rightline Gear Truck Tent is my top pick due to the fact that,  it is roomy, easy to set up, well designed has a lightweight design, and good ventilation.

Source:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck_tent

2. Rightline Gear Truck Tent Install