choose the best tent for truck bed with carrier upgrade guide with customer reviews

Best Tents For Truck Bed | Complete Guide With Reviews

Who would deny that the idea of camping is an adventure worth taking! Having to witness the beauty of the nature that the creator has painted, with fresh air or water bodies next to you, amidst both flora and fauna most certainly is an experience. However, daylight camping and nighttime camping both tend to give you a different feeling altogether. Look the best tents for truck bed if you plan to camp and stay out for the night and sleep beneath the sky filled with stars, it is a recreation in the lap of nature.

Tents have been used for such activities for centuries and with time the tents have evolved in their structure and utility. Not that it is not fun and peaceful to sleep on the ground with your camping tent pumped up, sleeping at night amidst the wilderness could sometimes be dangerous. With alternatives to regular camping tents available, it is advised to spend smartly into buy camper for truck beds. The concept of truck bed tents for camping came about in 1990 when the founder of Napier Enterprises, Roman Napier introduced the first tent for a truck bed in America.

With the outer look like truck bed pop up tents, roof tents, truck campers are found to cover all the utilities of a regular ground tent. And, in addition, it offers protection against rain, snow, shine, dew, dust and insects crawling on the ground because they are set up on the backside of your truck. Most truck tents come with a thick canopy with a ventilation passage. Conventionally, they offer sleeping space for 2-3 adult. Some tents are designed specifically for a fixed range of pickup truck models while few are sized to for a huge range of vehicle racks. If you count the advantages of a truck tent, the list would be pretty lengthy.

ImageProduct NamePrice
Truck Bed Tent By
Napier Backroadz
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Mid-size And Short Truck Bed
Tents By Rightline Gear
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Truck Bed Tent By Sportz
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Truck Bed Tent By
Kodiak Canvas
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Compact Truck Bed Tent
By Guide Gear
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Full Sized Truck Bed Tent
By Guide Gear
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The Best Truck Bed Tents Should Be :

  • Convenient to setup
  • Does not require much space to store
  • easy to adjust on the truck bed having straps and poles in its structure
  • One need not worry about the softest, most comfortable and safe ground space to set camp
  • Charging your electronics is handy as you are still in the truck.

Keeping aside these benefits, there is an obvious limitation of not being able to set up a tent anywhere in the campsite. Firstly, you can set your camper only as far as your truck can go. Moreover, at a few camp locations, vehicles are not permitted within a specified range. You cannot camp on a mountain or a river bed because such locations might not be well accessible by your truck or it would not be on stable on the ground. Some of the most popular varieties in the best tents for truck bed in America are Sportz by Napier, Kodak Canvas, Rightline Gear, Car umbrellas, Adventure truck by LLC, ENEL.

Factors to Consider When Buying The Best Tents For Truck Bed

If you are ready to bring out your adventurous side and experience camping first hand, you would want to spend in buying a tent that fits in truck bed. You would obviously want to spend wisely. Here is a buying guide to picking the best tents for your truck. These are the factors you must consider for the best tents for truck bed.

  • Size of the tent body:

    The bigger the better! The length and width of the camper would obviously be limited to the dimensions of your truck, but you can choose the one that offers a good height advantage. Some tents are manufactured to be compact which would be smaller than the full-sized tents. Some tents are long enough that they can take up the space of your truck's extended tailgate and provide additional room. The size of the tent is determined on the kind of flatbed you can set up inside. As a standard, a tent is spacious if it can comfortably adjust two people sleeping in it. If you want to use a mattress with you truck tent then you can check best fitting mattress options.

  • Ventilation Points In The Truck::

    You surely do not want to sleep in a giant plastic bag at the camp side, suffocating yourself. Hence, considering the ventilation factor is important. Usually, the best tents for truck bed come with mesh windows or vents or a combination of both for passage of air in and out of the tent. This would help make your camping experience a relaxation much needed.

  • Installation:

    Truck campers are not supposed to be a complex setup like ground camps. A majority of truck tents have a setup time of 0 to 20 minutes. You must however always avoid wind when setting up a tent. So cannot blame the product setup on a windy day.

  • Built-in Floor Options:

    Some tents come with a floor that is sewn in with the tent, while a few are floorless. Though both models are comfortable, you need to set your preference in this regard. It helps you to avoid extra dust on your truck if your tent has a floor. This will be an extra layer on which you lay your flatbed. But you will have to clear all obstructions like a toolbox on your truck rack before you can set up the tent. So both designs can be chosen as per your needs.

  • Availability of storage pockets:

    It is an advantage to have storage facilities for your water bottle, caps, cell phone, and other belongings inside the camper than to keep it on the floor of the truck.

  • Poles used in the tent:

    It is an advantage to have storage facilities for your water bottle, caps, cell phone, and other belongings inside the camper than to keep it on the floor of the truck.

  • Material of the tent:

    Last but not least, the most important factor in the best tents for truck bed is to check the material of the camper. The fabric must be breathable and should not retain moisture in. It must be water resistant because the weather is not always your friend when you are camping. The structure of the tent must also be sturdy so that it does not blow off when there is a strong wind. The fabric quality must be durable as well because you would not want to purchase a new tent every time you plan a camping trip.

1) Truck Bed Tent By Napier Backroadz

napier backroadz are also a good truck bed tents for camping with superior quality product range

With price varying along with the size of the bed, all Napier BackRoadz truck campers are designed and manufactured taking a diverse range of pick-up trucks in mind. They take care of the price from the customer’s point of view. By providing full floor coverage, this truck bed tent offers a great way of camping on the rack of your truck.

Not only is it easy to set up, but it is also protective of weather changes. So, next time you plan to go for finishing or camping or any other adventure, this truck bed tents for camping could be your worthy purchase. Pack it on the back of your ride and you are set for comfy camping.

Key Features :

  • It is available in different bed sizes ranging from short to regular to compact to long; this truck camper gives you a full floor cover so you don’t have to get messy with truck floor and other dust elements.
  • It comes with an adept roof that protects you from rainfall, snow, sunrays and other weather conditions.
  • The tent weighs approximately 14.25 pounds.
  • The interior is large and has a headspace of about 5 feet 6 inches, which is fair.
  • The assembly is quite simple because the poles and sleeves are color coded.

Pros.

  • The design is a good match for a lot of pickup trucks even compatible with ones with attached toolboxes or bed liners.
  • The camper is very weather friendly.
  • It is easy to set up.
  • The broad and thick canopy offers good protection at night from insects as well as from the harsh sun rays.
  • It comes in several size choices – something for everyone.

Cons.

  • The product is not associated with the warranty.

Customer Reviews :

  • The average customer rating of this truck tent is 4.3 stars out of 5.
  • Customers have found the assembly very simple and hassle-free.
  • The rainfly is leak-free and very useful.
  • There have been complaints about the quality of the poles, body fabric and zippers in the camper.
  • Napier customer service is good and their replacement policies are fair.
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2) Mid-size And Short Truck Bed Tents By Rightline Gear

mid size truck bed tent by rightline gear have good quality fabric material and it is most popular truck bed tents for camping.

This truck bed tent by Rightline Gear has the floorless design that lets you assemble the bed of your choice on the truck rack. Without additional complications of stakes, tarps or guy lines, this truck bed tent gives you the safe camping experience you have been looking for. You can easily take down this tent without having to remove the bed you lined inside. The tent has fittings of sky view vent, two rear pockets, zippers that glow in the night and a hook to hang your lantern. This truck shelter is your go to for the next camping trip and is available in different sizes to fit your pickup truck.

Measure the size of the back of your truck with tailgate up and you can decide if this excellent product by Rightline Gear is your next purchase for all your camping needs. Without the complication of setting up a shelter with ropes and knots on the ground, you can sleep in a dry bed all night on your truck back.

Key Features :

  • Fabricated in nylon mix, this truck tent is water resistant and hence offers good protection against changing weather conditions. The body is tape sealed at seams and heavy-duty straps structuring the tent body keeps the fabric from damage.
  • The product pattern is floorless so one can set up their bed of choice.
  • The tent is a comfortable sleep for two individuals.
  • To avoid extra time for setup, the floorless design of the tent will help you set up without having to remove gear from the bed.
  • The structure of the shelter has steel straps and buckles made of nylon that makes sure the finish of your truck is not damaged with scratches.
  • The tent comes with a sky view vent which enables good view at day/night, offers more ventilation when needed and permits better light.
  • The shelter offers adequate room for two grown-ups.
  • The installation procedure involves color-coded poles and end sockets. It also comes with a set-up guide.
  • The product weight s approximately 7.5 pounds.
  • The packed dimension is 23.3 x 14.2 x 14.2 inches.

Pros.

  • The fabric and design of the product is sturdy.
  • This truck bed tent is easy to step.
  • The tent is available in a variety of sizes – 5 ft, 5.5 ft, 6ft, 6.5 ft and 8ft. Hence it will set up well in a lot of pickup trucks.
  • The tent comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.
  • Additional ventilation facilities due to the air vent is a plus point.
  • It is weatherproof – rain or shine.

Cons.

  • No bedding is available if that is indeed your preference in truck bed tents.

Customer Reviews :

  • This truck tent has been rated 4 stars out of 5 by customers.
  • Customers have said that the tent remains steady and dry as promised, even in strong wind and storm.
  • The fabric quality is good.
  • The installation is found pretty simple by users.
  • People said that the camper sure keeps you dry even after a rainstorm. So the water resistance is good.
  • The 5 feet size is too small to fit usual bedding so one needs to think and with bigger sized beddings there is a possibility of rip in the tent while setting it up.
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3) Truck Bed Tent By Sportz

napier is the perfect choice for best truck bed tents.

Creating a spacious and comfortable sleeping area at the back of your truck in less than 10 minutes, this product by Sportz company is one of the best tents for truck beds and a must-have camping accessory for all your adventures. The flooring that is attached in this tent takes away the pain of cleaning your bed before using it. This is a perfectly restful sleeping shelter for two adults. You no longer would have to camp on regular ground tents and expensive RVs with this easy to install the truck bed tent. Although a little pricey compared to other truck tent alternatives, the comfort and fit it gives to the back of your truck makes it worth purchasing.

Key Features :

  • It is available in size varieties ranging from 5 feet, 5.5, 6, 6.5 and 8ft.
  • Sportz claims to be one of the best tents for the truck bed that come with sewn flooring.
  • It enables a headspace of 5.6ft after setup.
  • It comfortably fits 2 people.
  • The rear access panel is large, so you can utilize the entire truck space for additional storage.
  • The entrance is magnified and ventilation is ensured by two mesh windows and side vents.
  • It provides 4 feet x 4 feet roof shade.
  • The poles and sleeves are color coded which makes the installation process easy.
  • The packaging includes a set of strap protectors and expandable carry bag. The protector will protect shield your truck against frictional damage from the camper strap.
  • The product weighs 25 pounds.
  • Its packed dimensions are 29.5 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches.
  • It is available in two color options – blue & grey.

Pros.

  • The entrance is wide and not sneaky, unlike most tents.
  • The setup is simple.
  • Ventilation is enabled in the tent with vents and mesh windows.
  • It is available in a wide range of sizes to fit most of the pickup trucks.
  • With the shade available and flooring is sewn in, without any external rope setup, this tent can be used for camping outside the truck as well.

Cons.

  • It is pricey compared to other alternatives.
  • No warranty available.

Customer Reviews :

  • The customers have rated this ram truck tent 4 out of 5 stars, averagely.
  • Customers have found this tent to be very airy, hence no feeling of suffocation inside the tent.
  • The roof saves from rain but cannot withstand very strong wind.
  • The setup is found to be easy by users.
  • Most customers have remarked this tent to be an improvement in the design with the attached floor.
  • Few customers think it is disappointing for the price.
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4) Truck Bed Tent By Kodiak Canvas

kodiak canvas is best tent for truck bed and it fits very well with short bed trucks

Manufactured in 5.5 up to 6.5 feet and 8 feet variations, these are one of the best tents for the truck bed to fit the narrow trucks like Chevrolet K2500. However, it would not justify fitting in broader trucks like Toyota Tacoma due to its narrow bed size. There are few brands having good options for toyota tacoma truck bed tent. The tent is made in a very sturdy fabric which is breathable as well as water resistant. This product too is a bit expensive but with its quality and features, it is a worthy expenditure. After all, truck bed tents for camping are investments made to cover at least 3-4 years of your adventures.

Key Features :

  • Fabricated in 100% cotton duck canvas, this truck tent offers durability & water-resistance. Additionally, the material is very breathable and water-tight.
  • The design is tunnel-shaped which maximizes room and tailgate down pattern expands your usable space.
  • After setup, it offers a ceiling height of 5 feet.
  • The entrance is large, D-shaped and provided by zippers for safety.
  • 3-4 inch steel tube frame helps you mount the bed in a sturdy fashion as it connects to the clamp on rails.
  • There are 5 windows in the camper for making it airy.

Pros.

  • The structure of the tent offers a lot of ventilation.
  • It is a fit for most seasons except when it snows.
  • The material is durable.
  • The tent is compatible with most the vehicle models like Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford F Series, Nissan Titan, GMC Sierra & Toyota Tundra.

Cons.

  • It is expensive compared to most other truck tents.
  • No warranty in the package makes it a difficult buying choice.

Customer Reviews :

  • The average customer rating of this truck tent is 4.3 stars out of 5.
  • Customers have found the assembly very simple and hassle-free.
  • The rainfly is leak-free and very useful.
  • There have been complaints about the quality of the poles, body fabric and zippers in the camper.
  • Napier customer service is good and their replacement policies are fair.
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5) Compact Truck Bed Tent By Guide Gear

if you are looking for compact truck bed tents for camping then truck bed tents by guide gear is the perfect choice.

Giving you a whole new perspective towards overnight camping in the safety of your ram truck above the ground, this budget-friendly truck tent by Guide Gear will make you love your camping trips. The excellent construction with good ventilation and durable fabric are the key selling points of this must have. If you have not camped in your life before or haven’t tried trucking camps and do not want to invest hugely before trying this adventure to realize how fun it could be, you will be comfortable buying a truck tent that speaks well to your wallet. This compact product is the best tent for truck beds as it fulfills all your camping needs. What is better than this!

Key Features :

  • The camper comes with polythene flooring that is sewn into it.
  • The interior is largely giving you headroom of 4.75 feet.
  • It is fabricated in 190T polyester which has a 1500mm waterproof coating.
  • With 4-end poles setup, installation is easy.
  • It weighs 10 pounds.
  • The packed dimension is 26 x 7 x 7 inches.
  • The door structure is D-shaped and meshes windows are designed to offer ventilation.
  • Tension straps and shock-corded poles of fiberglass are anchored to the truck.
  • It is a comfortable sleep for 2 people and it can fit most standard size beddings – 72 to 74 inches.
  • The structure is fully enclosed and comes with two pockets for storage.
  • For packing the tent, an additional carry bag made of heavy-duty, water-resistant polyester is provided.
  • It fits well over truck bed mat installed on your pickup’s bed.

Pros.

  • There is proper ventilation in the tent.
  • The structure which is anchored to the truck body is shockproof against jerks in the driving range.
  • The product has a rainfly that keeps you dry when it rains.
  • It is very lightweight and has enough room for a comfortable sleep.
  • It is a good fit for pickup truck like Ford, Nissan, Chevy, Toyota, GMC and few more although fit may vary a little in each truck.
  • The price of the truck camper is very customer friendly.
  • The setup is simple.

Cons.

  • The product does not come with any warranty.
  • The material though water resistant but it is not very thick to protect against harsh weather.

Customer Reviews :

  • The tent has been rated 4 stars out of 5 in reviews.
  • The assembly is quite easy –one can do it standing on the truck rack without having to move to the ground for setup.
  • A twin size mattress fits well in the tent.
  • The tent is not adapt to breathing moisture out so in case of rain, the inside of your tent might retain some moisture causing discomfort.
  • The zippers are not very smooth and long-lasting, but it is something you can compromise for the price.
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6) Full Sized Truck Bed Tent By Guide Gear

This is the best truck bed tent by guide gear with full sized length.

The best tent for truck bed under a considerable price is this product manufactured by Guide Gear. I am sure you would have multiple doubts when considering buying a truck camper that is inexpensive. Will I have to compromise on the quality? Will the tent last long? What if it does not fit? Will it be a waste of money? Will you be surprised if I said, certain good things do come at a reasonable price? This is an opportunity to camp in the way it is super fun, yet not giving pressure to your pocket. You do not need any setup accessories for this shelter. What more could you get!. Useful DIY truck bed tent Stuff.

Key Features :

  • It weighs 11.4 pounds.
  • It offers a roof height of 5.25 feet.
  • The shelter material is in polyester which a thick water-protection coating.
  • The camper makes a room for 2 adults comfortably sleeping.
  • You can adjust a full sized bed of 79 to 81 inches comfortably inside the tent.
  • It is attached with a rainfly, offering resistance against rainfall.
  • Its dimensions when packed are 26 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches.
  • The camper is available in the color green.
  • The door is D shaped with mesh windows and two storage pockets in design.
  • The camper has polyethylene flooring sewn to it.

Pros.

  • It is lightweight to carry and easy to set up.
  • The price of the tent is one of its major plus points.
  • The camper is a perfect fit for most full-sized ram truck, be it a Chevy, a Nissan, a Toyota or Ford or GMC.
  • The installation is on four poles and is very simple.
  • There is a rain canopy that is very useful.

Cons.

  • It is not suitable for extreme weather conditions.
  • Product warranty against damages is not included.

Customer Reviews :

  • Customers have liked this product and have given it 4.3 stars out of 5.
  • The product has been marked comfortable, durable and convenient in usage by many customers.
  • The inside of the camper offers a huge space as per users.
  • It is friendly in the rainy season or against dew at night.
  • The camper has been given 4.2 for its ease of assembly, and 4.1 on its durability.
  • Few customers have found complaints with the poor stitching of the camper at some places.
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  • Few Final Thoughts

    This camping season gets off your home on your wheels and experience nature and its beauty first hand. In the article above, the listing is not in any order of preference. These are the best tents for truck bed and all products are reviewed for you to select based on your requirement inclination.
    A truck camper is worth spending money as it is always preferred over ground tents and will make sure you have amazing and safe camping. Some truck tents with good flooring can also be used as a regular ground camper as well. With usual setting up time being less and installation procedure being simple, truck tents are your camp friend. Now that you have a good idea on the benefits of the truck camper and the ways to make a smart choice, your love for outdoor has found a way.

John Watson
Trucking Enthusiast

I am passionate about writing-related trucks, trucking accessories, my experiences and so on. I have travelled around USA with my trucks. And I am trying to share my all experiences throughout my blog.