Truck Tents are a great way to enjoy the outdoors without worrying about bugs and rain. They are also more affordable than many of their counterparts in the RV market, making them ideal for young families on a budget.
Plus, you can take your Truck Tent with you easily, so it is perfect for camping trips or long-term travel. If you’ve been looking for an easy way to get outside and explore the world around you, truck tents may be just what you’re looking for!
What Is A Truck Tent?
In case you’ve ever wondered how to fit a camping tent on your truck, wonder no more. It’s called a truck tent, and it’s exactly what it says it is.
A truck tent is a specially designed tent structure that attaches to the bed of an pick-up truck. It gives you and your family a mobile home, anywhere you travel.
Truck tents are also known as truck cap shelters because they can be mounted on top of a truck. They typically cover the entire bed of the pick-up and provide additional sleeping capacity to campers.
Truck tents have been shown to withstand high winds of up to 80mph, making them an excellent choice for off road enthusiasts with larger trucks who need extra shelter from bad weather like a hard shell RV when camping outdoors in their vehicles.
Is a Truck Tent Worth It?
Truck tents offer a great way to spend extended amounts of time out in the wild. These tents are designed to fit over and secure around a truck or SUV, providing ample floor space and a big doorway for easy entry and exit.
I’ve had my truck tent now for 10 years and it’s been with me on many adventures both here in the United States as well as abroad.
It has seen it all: the heat of Arizona summer monsoon rainstorms, bitter cold winds off Mt. Kilimanjaro, sweltering jungles and deserts – not to mention countless hours driving through snow storms while wearing just my underwear!
5 Best Camping Truck Tents
1. Napier Backroadz Truck Tent
This compact truck tent from Napier is definitely one of the cheapest we’ve found on the market although it still manages to impress us with its many great features.
For example, this model comes in a variety of colors including green, blue, and brown so you’re sure to find the one that suits your needs!
This unit also comes with one doors and two windows so that you can get plenty of natural light inside even if it’s raining outside.
It also includes a rainfly which makes it ideal for those who want to be assured knowing their belongings are safe while they sleep or leave their camping area unattended for an extended period of time.
Pros
- Large Windows
- Easy Setup
- Rainfly Protection
Cons
- Not Very Good Insulated
2. Rightline Gear Truck Tent
We really like this option from Rightline Gear Truck Tent because of its relatively lightweight design. This makes it ideal for those who own a small car or truck.
We also love how stylish and modern this unit looks; you’re sure to impress all of your friends if you decide to take this truck tent out on your next camping trip.
The aluminum poles feature a rust-resistant coating so you can rest assured knowing that your tent won’t be falling apart while you’re out there enjoying nature and all of the beautiful sights it has to offer.
If you do decide to set this unit up in wet weather, however, you should make sure that no rain is hitting the roof because it could potentially leave stains behind before they dry!
Also, the tents are very heavy, especially without any help from others while setting them up or taking them down.
Pros
- Quick Assembly
- Powder Coated Poles
- Glow in the dark Zipper
Cons
- Price
3. Gear Guide Full Size Truck Tent
The sidewalls roll up and allow natural light to enter the living area. There is also enough space between the roof and walls that you can lay down in bed without hitting your head on either one or having your feet stick out through the bottom!
What makes this truck tent so excellent is that it even comes with an attached ground sheet, making it double as an awesome indoor shelter in case of rain or bad weather while still being bug free.
There’s also a large, zippered door on the front of the vehicle tent. This is great for easy access to your truck bed and makes it much easier than having to walk all around your truck just to get in or out and vice versa.
Pros
- Price
- Great Construction
- Storage pockets inside
Cons
- Design
4. Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent
Pros
- Canvas
- Large Windows
- Awning Included
- High quality fabric
Cons
- Price
5. Quictent Waterproof Truck Tent
This affordable option from Quictent is ideal for those who want a good solution at an excellent price. The tent setup takes about 10 minutes to assemble before you’re ready to rest comfortably in your own personal space.
Thanks to the rain fly and awning included with this unit, you’ll be able to enjoy dry camping weather even if it starts raining while you’re out in nature!
It’s also worth noting that this vehicle tent can hold up to 4 people thanks to its generous size, which is more than enough room for most families or groups of close friends.
Pros
- Big Inside
- Expandable Awning
- Easy Setup
- Price
Cons
- Only For Selected Trucks
What To Look For In A Truck Tent?
The best advice anyone can give for a truck tent is to make sure that it fits your truck bed. Truck beds come in different shapes and sizes so the only way you’ll know if it works with your truck, is to go down to your local outdoor store or borrow one from a friend and try it out.
Shape
Because truck beds come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the accompanying tents must also be available in a variety of sizes. There are several truck tent shapes to choose from:
- Umbrella-Shaped Truck Tents
- A-Frame Truck Tents
- Truck Tents in the Shape of a Dome
- Tents for Hatchback Trucks
Setup
If you are going to be sleeping in the back of a truck, all by yourself with everything else stowed inside, then this might not matter as much, but if you have backseat passengers, fishing nets strewn around or other gear cluttering up the rear end of your vehicle this may become an issue again.
Construction
A cheaply built tent that isn’t taut or waterproof will leak in your truck bed, which can be dangerous. Bedliners are not watertight, and any holes could cause water to pool in your bed and eventually all over you while you sleep.
This might also pose problems if your truck is taller than a standard pickup truck, as water tends to run down hill. If the fabric of the tent doesn’t have much elasticity it may make sense to make sure where else on the roof of your vehicle you can tie something down just incase it gets windy at night.
However, high quality tents such as those made by Pro-Series Truck Tents rarely have this problem because their seams are sealed with an adhesive that is as waterproof as the fabric it’s glued to. So long as you don’t get any leaks, your bed will stay dry inside.
Weight
How much weight a truck tent can handle depends on many factors but the most important ones are height and width of truck bed, number of poles used in order for the tent to be erected properly AND material quality itself.
No matter how well built a truck tent is if the materials aren’t up to snuff they’ll break easily under the pressure.
For instance, some models may come with 12 guylines (ropes or lines) which should suffice for securing them in high winds when strapped down via ratchet straps, but some tent manufacturers also include a separate set of poles that can be used for windy conditions.
Required guylines and/or stakes may vary depending on the brand, so it’s important to know this before you buy.
If your truck is dedicated to camping then take into consideration how much weight a tent will add in addition to everything else you’ll be packing inside along with other gear you’ll use while out under the stars, such as camp chairs, propane tanks etc.
Although there are stronger models than others not all trucks can handle over 1 000 lbs or 500 kilograms if fully loaded with passengers and gear so make sure to check if they’re rated at least 5-10% higher than your payload just incase something breaks which is quite common.
Materials
The materials used on tents also play a big role in determining if it will be able to withstand prolonged use.
Polyester fabrics are the most commonly used, but reinforced nylon is what’s usually implemented on heavier duty models and stronger polymers are incorporated to keep them waterproof and rip-proof so they don’t tear or stretch easily when put under strain.
What kind of truck tent should you buy?
While it may seem like there are thousands of brands out there, not all truck tents are created equal and some might work better for your needs than others.
There are two main styles – pop up and drop down – that can accommodate different truck bed sizes (or lack thereof). The choice of which one depends entirely on how much you want to spend and how you plan on using the tent.
When it comes to trucks, size matters and if your truck is standard sized or smaller then choosing a pop up model will be more convenient as bigger tents are difficult to fit without modification.
This isn’t an issue for larger pickups though as they can handle any type of tent with ease so long as it has enough guylines included that are sturdy enough to do their job when needed. If you can, take into consideration the height of your bed cover too, but most models will work regardless unless your truck is taller than 6’6”.
However, if you have plans on traveling long distances and don’t feel like sleeping in the cab of your truck every night then consider buying a drop down model as it will be easier to get in and out of your tent at night when you don’t want to crawl over sleeping gear.
Some people like them because they’re easy to put up, but this is only true if you have a truck that has a large enough bed cover or the right size for most tents.
It’s always better to buy something bigger than what you think you’ll need just incase it doesn’t fit without modification.
You may also need extra anchors such as tie-downs depending on the type of tent which can add even more cost onto an already expensive purchase so take into consideration how much weight the anchors are rated for before getting anything too strong as it could come back to haunt you later on.
Difference between Three-Season Tent and a Four-Season Tent?
Three-season tents are designed to be used during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Their walls are thinner than those of four-season tents, which are designed to be used in all four seasons, including winter.
Four-season tents are typically thicker and heavier in order to withstand cold weather and snow.
Can a tent fit in a truck bed?
This is a question that I get asked all the time so I figured it was about time to do a write up on it. In my opinion, it really depends on what kind of truck you have and the layout of your tent.
The type/size of truck bed also matters when considering if you can fit a tent inside.
Why Use a Truck Bed Tent Instead of a Camper?
Traveling with a truck bed tent is budget friendly and allows you many more options when it comes to camping. You won’t have the restrictions of staying in designated campgrounds, boondocking off-the-grid is an option, and you can put your tent anywhere on your truck that’s acceptable.
If you have a pickup truck camper or fifth wheel trailer , you are limited to using it at campsites approved for those types of units.
Conclusion
Truck tents are an excellent way to enjoy the great outdoors while still feeling safe and secure in your vehicle because they can be installed, removed or packed up with ease.
They’re also a cost-effective alternative to staying at motels when you want more space than what’s available in your car camping trailer or truck camper shell.
As such, if you’ve been looking for a lightweight tent that has easy installation and removal features as well as plenty of room inside, then these may just be the perfect choice!
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