There are many different styles and designs of tents available for camping use and convenience. There are even some more unconventional tents available such as truck tents. A truck tent, or truck bed tent, is a tent that was designed using water-resistant material that can be quickly set up in the back of a pickup truck, creating the perfect camping outdoors… without the possibility of getting wet on the ground.
Most truck tents offer enough space to accommodate up to two people comfortably. They also allow for headroom so that you will be able to move around a bit more easily. A truck tent, unlike a traditional tent, will also lift you up and off the ground so you do not have to contend with creepy crawler visitors or the unforgiving terrain that may be riddled with rocks and sticks. Along with an air mattress or something similar, a truck bed tent offers a spacious and safe space to camp in without the hassle of clearing the ground or dealing with water seeping into the bottom of the tent.
How to Find a Truck Tent
If you are ready to purchase a truck tent, then there are a few things you will have to keep in mind and know prior to selection. First, sizing is crucial for a truck tent because you want to make sure that the tent you choose will fit the year, make, and model of your current pickup truck.
- A full-size long bed truck is typically 8-feet long and includes an extended cab and long bed
- A full-size standard bed truck is typically only 6 ½-feet long and has what is considered a standard bed size for most trucks
- A full-size short bed truck only runs about 5 ½-feet long and is referred to quite commonly as a short bed or crew short bed
- A mid-size long bed truck is around 6-feet long and can have what is called a crew cab, access cab, or a tall bed
- Shorter trucks at only around 5-feet long are more compact
Once you know what size you need, you can narrow down your search to the best tent for your specific truck. To find the size yourself, measure the inside of your truck bed length while the tailgate is up. You can then go online to compare your measurements to a sizing guide to ensure that it is suited to your trucks year, make, and model and confirm that the measurements are the same as the guide suggests.
How to Setup the Truck Tent
Once you have purchased your truck tent, you can then begin the process of setting it up. A truck tent package will include everything you need to assemble your tent including the tent poles, a pole bag, rain fly, and a sack with a guide providing you with the instructions.
Step One: Open the tailgate of the truck and lay the tent in the bed of the truck, making sure that the mesh window side of the tent is facing up. You can then slip the tent over your tailgate and then run the tailgate strap underneath it.
Step Two: Pull the tent so that it covers your truck bed. Ensure that the front corners of the tent have the split seams and then carefully attach the C straps to the bottom outside lip of the truck bed.
Step Three: Find and open the door of the truck tent and then thread the remaining straps through the gap of the tailgate. The gap of the tailgate will be located between the actual tailgate and the truck bed.
Step Four: Put the tailgate down and pull on the straps you pulled through to make sure each of the tent clips stops against the back of the tailgate. If this does not happen and they are not secure, you may have to pull the threads through again and fasten them instead to the bumper of the truck.
Step Five: Tighten the straps and make sure the seams run properly along the outer edge of the truck bed rails. Assemble the tent poles and insert them into the proper sleeves. Once all the poles are in place, you can then slip them into the pole pockets in the order specified by the instruction manual.
Step Six: After raising the poles and slipping them into the pole pockets, you can then raise the marked gray pole that should be included in the same way as the other poles and then attach the clips to that pole as well.
Step Seven: You can now position all the inner flaps of the tent on top of the rails and under the other straps and pull to tighten and eliminate any slack. Finally, adjust all the straps again now that everything is in place and again make sure that the inner seams are running along the top and outer edges of the bed rails of the truck.
Keep in mind that these are just generalized instructions and each truck tent manufacturer will have their own step-by-step instructions included for the correct setup of your particular tent model and truck.
After the tent is set up, you can then attach the rain fly per the instructions. To take the truck tent down, simply release the pole clips, take the poles out of their pockets, and lower the tent so that you can easily begin to remove each pole. The poles can then be folded and placed back into the carrying bag. Then you can begin to unstrap each clip, loosen the remaining straps, and tilt the tailgate to remove each strap. The tent can then be carefully and compactly rolled up and placed back into its case.
The following is a review of one of the best-selling truck tents available on Amazon:
Napier Backroadz Truck Tent
The Napier Backroadz Truck Tent is one of Amazon’s best sellers and is a well-known and very common brand of truck tent. This tent features a sewn-in floor and provides you with a quick and easy setup. The four windows and door allow for proper ventilation. It is a three-season tent so it can also stand up to certain adverse weather conditions.
| Product Dimensions | Varies but offers a spacious 5’5” interior |
| Product Weight | Approximately 14.2 pounds |
Pros
- Improved ventilation and includes a full rain fly
- Includes four shock-corded fiberglass poles for easy setup
- Can fit two people comfortably
- Storm flap enhances privacy
Cons
- May not fair well in heavy winds
- Rain fly may need to be secured to prevent flapping
Final Thoughts
When purchasing your truck tent, be sure that the model you choose is compatible with the size of the truck you have and carefully follow all instructions when setting up the tent and taking it down.
Truck tents are a great way to offer an off the ground camping experience to keep you safe, dry, and secure for the duration of your trip.
