In case you’re working out the door, my high decide is the Napier SportZ Truck Tent.
I don’t have to inform pickup truck homeowners about how helpful a truck will be – they usually’re simply as helpful relating to tenting.
Sleeping in your truck mattress is extra comfortable than sleeping on the bottom, you gained’t take up any further area on the campground and you’ll sleep wherever you’ll be able to park.
Sounds fairly candy, proper? Of course, sleeping in an open truck mattress simply gained’t do, so that you’ll want a truck mattress tent.
In this text, I’ll evaluation the very best truck tents for tenting on the go. Then, I’ll present you what to search for in a truck tent, and why it is best to get one.
The finest truck mattress tents are:
Best Truck Bed Tent: Our Top Recommendations
Also, make sure you see our total Truck Bed Tent Comparison Table and Scoring Methodology.
Napier SportZ Truck Tent
This is the gold commonplace of truck tents. Napier presents a number of fashions, and that is by far their finest one. And sure, it does are available a ton of sizes to suit each pickup truck.
As I discussed, the SportZ is Napier’s premium mannequin. It’ll be costlier than their BackroadZ mannequin (mentioned later), however the added options make it nicely value it.
The greatest characteristic is the awning. This awning means that you can unzip your tent when it’s raining with out water falling into your it.
You’ll keep dry and comfy inside irrespective of how a lot it’s pouring down. It additionally offers you a pleasant shaded place to kick your legs out of the tailgate, crack open a chilly one, and calm down.
I additionally love the window choices. First, there’s a window on the bottom of the tent. This means that you can attain into your truck’s cab through the rear window.
Next, the home windows open and shut with zippers. For no matter cause, many truck tents don’t mean you can open and shut the home windows. The solely method to shut the home windows is to throw on the rain fly.
Not with the SportZ tent. The home windows are absolutely zippable, so you’ll be able to have privateness with out attaching the rain fly.
If only a primary tent isn’t sufficient for you, Napier presents some cool add-ons. You can complement your truck tent with a 4-person room utilizing the SportZ Link attachment. Or, you should purchase this tent in camo, which is a superb possibility for searching lovers who wish to mix in.
Pros:
- Comes with an enormous awning which lets you hold water out when getting into or exiting
- 5’8” headroom offers most individuals loads of room to stroll round
- The sewn-in flooring makes it so that you keep clear from any dust within the truck mattress
- Color-coded poles and cushioned strap protectors make setup straightforward and secure
- The rear window means that you can enter your truck cab and seize any gear you want
- Awning retains you dry and supplies shade so that you can calm down in
Cons:
- The door doesn’t zip to the underside, which might make entrance annoying
- This tent’s price ticket could be too excessive for extra budget-conscious campers
Best for: critical outdoorsmen who desire a premium tent that’ll final for years.
Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent
Seasons: 4-season | Weight: 47.2 lbs | Inside Height: 60 in | Square Footage: Truck mannequin dependent | Setup Time: 30 minutes
Now I’ll combine it up and throw within the Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent.
All of the opposite tents on this evaluation are constructed with nylon. Nylon is a superb material, but it surely’s not excellent. It whips within the wind, is susceptible to rips, and may let water seep in typically.
To counter this, Kodiak crafted a truck mattress tent made with heavy-duty canvas. This canvas materials is thick sufficient to maintain you heat within the winter, however can be breathable sufficient to chill you off in the summertime.
The truck tent is out there in a number of sizes and has air flow home windows on each panel (together with cab aspect).
This tent additionally makes use of a novel rail design to carry the poles up. Although it may be complicated the primary time you put in the tent, setup is a breeze when you study the ropes. You’ll be glad you probably did the work whenever you see how a lot width and headroom you get with this tent.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty canvas tents present a snug tenting expertise in any season
- The home windows are made with an excellent effective display – this blocks bugs from getting into the tent however nonetheless means that you can open them for air flow
- Like the SportZ, this tent comes with a truck cab window, so you’ll be able to seize gear out of your truck with out going exterior
- Large, heavy-duty YKK zippers mean you can open and shut the tent with out worrying about ripping the material
- Unique metal pole design maximizes truck width and supplies superior wind safety
Cons:
- Canvas is costly (however sturdy), making this tent much less inexpensive than different tents on this listing
- First time setup will be tough since it’s a must to work out the place to position the pole rails
- No flooring means your butt would possibly get soiled from sitting within the truck mattress
Best for: winter campers who desire a super-warm tent and aren’t nervous concerning the price ticket.
Napier BackroadZ Truck Tent
Seasons: 3-seasons | Weight: 14.25 lbs | Inside Height: 57 to 62 in | Square Footage: Truck mannequin dependent | Setup Time: 15 minutes
As talked about, that is Napier’s commonplace truck tent. It’s obtained the identical high quality of the SportZ (reviewed above), but it surely lacks among the premium options that make the SportZ my high decide.
This highly regarded tent comes with a full flooring and is out there in tons of sizes. It doesn’t have the SportZ mannequin’s superior awning, but it surely does include a detachable rain fly and color-coded poles (for simple setup).
This tent didn’t make my high decide as a result of it doesn’t have the awning or home windows that the SportZ has. Despite the value distinction, I believe the SportZ mannequin is well worth the improve. However, BackroadZ continues to be an awesome tent.
Pros:
- Setup could be very straightforward due to the easy pole design – shouldn’t take various minutes to have it pitched
- Super excessive middle top (5’6”) so that you don’t should crouch
- Features a gear internet on the roof of the tent to retailer your iPhone, keys, or pockets
- Great customer support – any points can be resolved fairly dang fast
- More inexpensive than the SportZ, however nonetheless a superb possibility for truck tenting
Cons:
- Windows don’t shut with out the rain fly, so air flow choices are restricted
- The flooring design means you’ll be able to’t have a toolbox in your truck mattress
Best for: individuals who need the long-lasting development of a Napier tent, however don’t want the extras that include the SportZ
Fofana Stand Up Truck Bed Instant Tent
Seasons: 3-season | Weight: 13.5 lbs | Inside Height: 72 in | Square Footage: Truck mannequin dependent | Setup Time: 5 minutes
Tall individuals rejoice! The Fofana Stand Up Truck Bed Tent will not be solely an prompt tent, so it may be pitched in beneath 5 minutes, BUT it is also made for tall individuals with a 72 inch or 6 foot arise top.
Also, as a result of it’s styled like a cabin tent, the within top is substantial all through the truck mattress.
Fofana is predicated within the US simply north of San Diego, and comes with a full rain fly.
Pros:
- Plenty of headroom with 6′ tall, mesh ceiling
- Instant setup in 5 minutes for 2 individuals or 10 minutes max for one
- Comes with a full protection rainfly
- Weighing solely 13.5 lbs, it gained’t trigger you any issues hauling it
Cons:
- The materials will not be the sturdiest on the market
- Due to the tall cabin-like construction, wind is usually a downside
Best for: taller campers, who need to have the ability to absolutely arise inside your tent.
JoyTutus Pickup Truck Tent
The JoyTutus Pickup Truck Tent gained’t win any awards, however is a stable worth tent none-the-less.
With a straightforward setup in simply 5-10 minutes, you’ll be able to camp very quickly.
Users rave concerning the customer support, so in the event you run into any issues with the fiberglass poles, relaxation assured that you simply’ll get the issue resolved.
Pros:
- A fast 5 minute setup with two individuals
- Lightweight at 8.88 lbs
- An excellent mixture of top at 67 inches and area at 39.5 sq ft
- Nicely priced
Cons:
- No rainfly, so you’re fully depending on the waterproof material
- Poles are fragile
Best for: winter campers who desire a super-warm tent and aren’t nervous concerning the price ticket.
Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent
I really like the Napier SportZ tent, however I perceive that it could be too expensive for some. So, right here’s essentially the most inexpensive truck tent I like to recommend: Guide Gear’s Truck Tent.
Despite being essentially the most inexpensive tent on our listing, it’s obtained an awesome monitor document serving to campers sleep sound at evening.
This is a primary, all-around high-quality tent. It doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles of the SportZ, however this tent will assist your truck mattress really feel like your house mattress.
Pros:
- Most inexpensive truck tent we reviewed (nice bang in your buck)
- Its easy design makes it extraordinarily sturdy, laborious to interrupt
- 1500mm HH water resistant coating and an added rain fly hold you bone dry
- The spacious inside and added flooring provide you with a calming tenting expertise
- Very light-weight tent (solely 10 lbs.), so it may be saved in your truck indefinitely
Cons:
- Only obtainable in two sizes
Best for: campers who wish to “test the waters” to see in the event that they like truck tents earlier than splurging on a premium product.
Check Price on Sportsman’s Guide
Rightline Gear Truck Tent
Seasons: 3-season | Weight: 8 lbs | Inside Height: Truck mannequin dependent | Square Footage: Truck mannequin dependent | Setup Time: 10 minutes
Last however not least is the Rightline Gear’s Truck Tent. I saved this one for final as a result of truthfully, there isn’t something magical about it. That being mentioned, it’s a well-rounded tent that gives an awesome tenting expertise.
It is available in a ton of various sizes, so each pickup truck proprietor can purchase one.
It’s light-weight so you’ll be able to retailer it beneath your seats for on-the-go tenting.
The solely characteristic that stands out is that it doesn’t have a flooring. The solely tents on this listing that don’t have a flooring are this and the Kodiak canvas. If you desire a polyester tent with no flooring (so you’ll be able to have a toolbox), that is the selection for you.
Pros:
- Removable rain fly so you’ll be able to open up the tent and see the celebs
- No flooring, so you’ll be able to nonetheless use this tent if in case you have a toolbox – it’s additionally good to haven’t any flooring if you wish to use your personal footprint (or tarp)
- Sizes obtainable for compact, mid-size, and full-size vehicles
- Price is middle-tier – lower than the Napier tents, however greater than the Gear Guide tent
- Lightweight (11 lbs.) so you’ll be able to hold it in your toolbox with out taking over a lot area
Cons:
- No flooring could be a downside for some individuals because the flooring could be soiled or moist – I recommend bringing a tarp or footprint simply in case
- Zippers should not the very best quality and will get caught
Best for: campers who desire a versatile polyester truck tent, however don’t desire a flooring connected.
Best Truck Bed Tents – Everything We Recommend
Truck Bed Tent Buying Guide
You’ve determined you desire a truck tent. Great!
Now, listed below are among the elements you’ll must keep in mind to be sure to decide the correct one.
Compatibility
The primary problem relating to truck tents is compatibility.
There are tons of vehicles available on the market they usually all have completely different dimension beds. You should double-check to ensure your truck tent suits your truck.
Most truck tents specify what dimension beds they match. Make positive you exit and measure your truck mattress and make sure it matches the tent producer’s specs.
Size
When you get your truck tent, you’re gonna be excited to open it up and get began. However, don’t rush out to the mountains simply but.
First, contemplate the scale of your tent.
Heed this warning – most truck tents are made to solely sleep two individuals. If you’re seeking to camp with greater than two, you would possibly wish to go for a family-sized floor tent. Or, get the Napier SportZ and add the Link tent.
Material
Most truck tents are product of both nylon, polyester, or canvas.
Each of those materials has their very own set of professionals and cons, so which materials you find yourself going for goes to come back down to non-public choice, and what your priorities are.
Nylon and polyester are artificial supplies which can be lighter than canvas and fast to dry, making them much less susceptible to mildew. That being mentioned, they’re not as sturdy or breathable as nylon.
Canvas, then again, is a pure materials that’s powerful, breathable, weatherproof and environmentally sustainable. It is, nevertheless, loads heavier than nylon or polyester, and it dries slowly, so mildew can usually be a problem.
Season Rating
Unless you’re going truck tenting in extraordinarily sizzling or extraordinarily chilly climate situations, likelihood is you’ll find yourself getting both a 3 season or a 4 season truck tent.
Well, a 3 season tent is ideal in the event you plan on tenting through the summer season, and probably late spring and early fall.
However, in the event you plan on utilizing your tent through the winter months, in addition to late fall and early spring, then a 4 season tent is the best way to go.
Note: though it’s known as a 4 season tent, these tents should not very best to be used through the summer season when it’s sizzling exterior.
Water-Resistance
With any tent, water resistance has obtained to be a high precedence. After all, the very last thing you need in your tenting journey is to be caught in a rainstorm in a leaky tent.
To be sure to get a tent that may hold you dry in all types of climate, verify its waterproof score. The minimal score for a tent to be thought of waterproof is 1000 mm, however the larger the determine the higher protected you’ll be.
Also, make certain it comes with an excellent rain fly that covers your entire tent.
A bath flooring is one other good characteristic to look out for, because it prevents your tent from flooding throughout heavy rains.
If you wish to make double positive, deal with your tent utilizing waterproofings spray earlier than you head off in your journey.
If you’ve obtained a canvas tent, you’ll be able to season it as a substitute, or use waterproofing merchandise similar to you’ll with an artificial tent.
Ventilation
Other than the breathability of the supplies themselves, the home windows and vents on a truck tent are tremendous vital for sustaining good air flow, with sufficient airflow by the tent.
If there isn’t sufficient air flowing by your tent, condensation will type on the internal partitions and drip down onto you and all the pieces else that’s inside. This is true no matter whether or not it’s sizzling or chilly exterior.
Not to say, you’ll be feeling so stuffy and sweaty that getting an excellent evening’s sleep can be out of the query.
Make positive that you choose a tent with good, giant home windows with mesh screens to maintain the bugs out.
Also, search for vents on the edges or roof that enable air to flee by the highest of the tent.
Set-Up
You wish to be sure to get a truck tent that’s pretty straightforward to arrange.
Most importantly, know the best way to arrange your tent earlier than you hit the highway. Read the directions and arrange your tent at your own home so you already know what you’re doing.
You’ll shortly discover that establishing a truck tent is sort of completely different to a floor tent. While floor tents use guy-lines and stakes to maintain the tent tight, truck tents use straps that connect to the skin of your truck.
I’ve obtained two tricks to maximize your use of those straps.
Tip #1: be sure to don’t over-torque the straps.
It’s quite common for individuals to over-pull the straps to maintain their tent inflexible. However, you’ll discover that it’s straightforward to drag an excessive amount of and injury your tent.
Be cautious, and hold this in thoughts when strapping down your tent.
Tip #2: watch your paint job.
Depending on the setup, your straps (or ratchet) would possibly chip away on the paint on the skin of your truck.
You can forestall this by not over-torquing the straps, however it’s also possible to add some safety to your truck. A tarp, pad, and even only a towel will be positioned beneath your straps to maintain your paint job clear.
Additional Features
Finally, look out for added options like a built-in flooring, door flaps, cab entry, wire ports, storage pockets and a gear loft.
These would possibly seem to be minor factors, however they will usually make a world of distinction relating to staying comfy and arranged in your journey.
Keep in thoughts that in the event you get a truck mattress tent with a flooring, you gained’t be capable to have the rest behind the trunk whereas your tent is up.
Why Would You Want A Truck Tent?
At this level, you could be considering “hmm, I like the sound of these truck tents, but there are some alternatives that look just as good.”
Here are some explanation why a truck tent is best than a floor tent or a truck cap.
Truck Tent vs. Ground Tent
Truck tents aren’t practically as in style as regular tents (that arrange on the bottom).
I’m undecided why, but when I needed to guess, I’d say it’s as a result of vehicles aren’t as in style as vehicles or SUVs (which can be utilized for SUV tenting). My analysis reveals pickup vehicles make up solely 15-20% of American vehicles.
My take is… their loss! Trucks are superior and are made even higher with truck tents.
The main advantage of utilizing a truck tent over a floor tent is that you simply don’t should sleep on the bottom. Depending in your terrain, this is usually a main perk. A truck tent means that you can park on any rocky, swampy, or bumpy floor with out having to sleep on the bottom.
Truck tents mean you can camp anyplace you’ll be able to drive. That’s an awesome cause to select a truck tent, in my view.
Truck Tent vs. Truck Cap
You’ve determined you wish to camp in your truck, however possibly you’re tempted to get a truck cap (often known as a truck topper) as a substitute. These caps are put in on the mattress of your truck to offer everlasting protection.
The profit to a truck cap is that it’s long-lasting and ensures rain safety. The damaging is the price.
Depending on the scale of your truck and the fabric you select, a truck cap may price anyplace between $750 and $2,200. Compare that to a truck tent, and the tent is trying fairly good!
Our Truck Bed Tent Rating & Review System
New in 2022, Wilderness Times has rolled out a wholly new tent score and evaluation system.
We’ve already been using our personal private experiences, different campers we speak to, on-line critiques and some other piece of content material we are able to get our palms on from YouTube movies to Amazon video critiques, and so on.
But now in 2022, we’ve constructed out a new scoring system and algorithm powered evaluation course of. What goes into this? We grade every tent on a wide range of metrics:
- Space and Comfort
- Quality and Durability
- Value
- Weather Resistance
- Ease of Use
- Intangibles (distinctive options and key promoting factors)
- User Reviews
Depending upon what you’re searching for in a tent, you’ll wish to pay roughly consideration to every particular merchandise.
Overall Score
All of the above metrics are factored into our algorithm to create an Overall Score. The Overall Score goes to be the very best for tents which can be high notch in each class accordingly.
Therefore solely a tent that gives nice all-around worth, climate resistance, prime quality supplies, together with intangibles AND nice consumer critiques will rating higher than a tent that’s particularly made for 4-seasons, however can be extraordinarily costly.
Or maybe you’re searching for an awesome tent at an awesome worth? In this case, your tent will not be rated the very best, as a result of it will not be utilizing the very best of the very best supplies, however it would absolutely have the very best worth to cost ratio.
So whereas the Overall Score is vital, it’s not all the pieces.
Space And Comfort
When you’re tenting in a truck mattress tent, you’re working in restricted area based mostly on the truck you personal.
But even so, there are nonetheless some variables within the truck mattress tent design that make this one value trying into. The greatest of which is probably going going to be the peak of the tent.
The last item you wish to do is be hunched over making an attempt to get into your truck with none headroom. Here are the truck mattress tents by top:
Clearly, if you’re a tall particular person, or just wish to have some head room, the Fofana Stand Up Truck Bed Instant Tentgoes to be your finest wager with 6 ft of clearance.
Other contenders for area are going to be the Napier SportZ Truck Tent and the JoyTutus Pickup Truck Tent.
Quality And Durability
This metric is fairly easy. We price the tents based mostly on their precise supplies and the standard of the development.
We additionally get suggestions from tent homeowners who put it their tents the check over an extended time frame.
Many tents make the most of a mix of the identical polyester or nylon supplies, however their development will be simply as vital. This all will get factored into the standard and sturdiness rating.
Also factored within the Quality and Durability rating is the guarantee.
While most tents have some kind of Limited guarantee, many have Lifetime Limited Warranty’s, and a few none in any respect!
Value
All tents should not created equally, and never all tents are priced equally both. JoyTutus as an illustration produces an awesome funds tent, whereas Kodiak produces a superior canvas tent that may face up to the weather. These tents won’t be priced anyplace shut to one another:
As you’ll be able to see the Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent is the very best priced, however if you’re seeking to go winter tenting in your truck mattress tent, then the Kodiak Canvas tent is for you! That will present superior worth, even at it’s present value.
Coming in under $100, the Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent is a superb funds tent. However, it doesn’t come with out it’s dangers because it has mid-range headroom and restricted climate resistance.
That is why we in the end love the Napier BackroadZ Truck Tent for its superior worth.
Weather Resistance
Weather resistance is an easy metric.
Does the tent let in water, or does it not? Does the tent face up to excessive winds, or collapse onto itself? Does the tent have good air flow through the summer season months or does it get too sizzling and stuffy? This is what issues to us once we price a tent for climate resistance:
The Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent once more proves that canvas is king. However, lots of the different truck mattress tents that we checked out all had favorable rankings for wind and rain.
The Napier SportZ Truck Tent reveals why it’s an general nice tent, and the Fofana Stand Up Truck Bed Instant Tent could not maintain up the very best in excessive winds, however retains water out nicely.
Ease Of Use
How quick can a median consumer pitch this tent? How straightforward it’s to take down and/or make the most of further options?
Also, how a lot does the tent weigh? A tent weighing 47 lbs goes to attain barely decrease than light-weight truck mattress tent that weights 8 lbs whole that may be pitched in the identical period of time.
So right here is all the knowledge that goes into this score:
You can see that the Fofana Stand Up Truck Bed Instant Tent and the JoyTutus Pickup Truck Tent will go up the quickest – each in 5 minutes with two individuals.
On the opposite hand, the Kodiak Canvas Tent has a steep studying curve. But you gained’t go fallacious with any of the others as usually truck mattress tents appear to be fairly easy.
Intangibles
These are the distinctive options or promoting factors of every particular person tent that give it a leg up on the competitors.
Does the tent have two doorways? Perhaps the tent has a big vestibule for storing gear? Is the tent is a two-room tent with a particular area for the kiddos or a canine? Maybe the footprint is included within the value?
This ALL will get factored into the intangibles rating.
User Ratings
Last, however not least are consumer critiques!
We can get plenty of nice suggestions from consumer critiques, however they aren’t excellent. The common tent proprietor gained’t ever go away a evaluation, so critiques are usually left by customers who both have a very favorable or unfavorable expertise.
Of course even that’s nonetheless good info, as a result of if 90% of tent homeowners go away a optimistic 5-star evaluation, then that’s actually saying one thing. So we mix critiques collectively from varied sources and give you a median consumer score rating. Here is how they shake out for truck mattress tents:
The Kodiak Canvas is available in with the very best User Rating rating by a stable margin, however don’t sleep on the Napier BackroadZ Truck Tent which as we noticed earlier supplies superior worth and clearly customers love.
But a lot of the different tents we checked out rated fairly nicely. The Rightline Gear Truck Tent rated the least extremely, and as you’ll be able to see is the bottom rated tent that we’ve got checked out.
Even so, we don’t merely belief the general consumer score on Amazon. We undergo and browse the critiques. We learn the nice, we learn the unhealthy, after which we issue within the amount of critiques and calculate all of into our ultimate User Rating rating.
Our Verdict
In conclusion, utilizing a truck tent is an superior method to get exterior. Camping in your truck mattress means that you can sleep on any terrain, offering glorious consolation and safety. You won’t be capable to discover truck tents at your native out of doors retailer, however that doesn’t imply they aren’t an awesome alternative for tenting.
There are tons of truck tents available on the market. Out of all of these, I believe the very best truck tent is the Napier SportZ Truck Tent. It may need a premium price ticket, but it surely’s jam-packed with so many options that I believe it’s nicely value it.
Either manner, all the tents on this article will give you an epic tenting expertise.