Top 7 Best Truck Bed Tents For Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, Jeep Gladiator (2021 Reviews)

The best truck bed tents are the ideal solution if you want to enjoy a peaceful sleep outdoors without having to lie on the ground like a bear. Seriously, with relatively low investment, you can turn your pickup or mini camper into a comfortable place to spend the night.

This skillful mix of comfort and mobility is extremely useful for any outdoor enthusiast. It is also a perfect choice for those who want to spend a few nights out sleeping under the stars.

Let’s have a look at our top 7 best truck bed tents for camping in the below section.

Top 7 Best Truck Bed Tents For Camping 2021 Reviews

#1 Best Overall: Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent

The Guide Gear truck bed tent features pockets for tools and a hook to hang the flashlight. They equip the windows and doors with mesh and rain covers. The tent also features water-resistant fabric with taped seams to keep you dry. Heavy-duty straps and nylon buckles do not damage the finish of your vehicle.

The sky-view opening lets in more light. It gives you a better view and promotes ventilation. The tent offers space for two adults. It also comes with color-coded poles and posts pockets for quick and easy installation and a bag with a stitched mounting rail.

Pros

• Large capacity for up to two adults
• Comes with tool pockets and hooks with rain covers
• Premium fabric for high durability in any weather
• High-quality heavy-duty straps and nylon buckles

Cons

• Bad stitches

Among the many best truck bed tents, Guide Gear truck bed tent has no floor and uses the van floor as a support base. It makes use of every centimeter of space.

#2 Best Truck Bed Tents For Tacoma: Napier Backroadz Truck Tent

Quick and easy to set up, Napier Backroadz Truck Tent comes with a practical carrying case. The large rear panel allows access to the cockpit for additional space, while the large front door, double mesh windows, and side vents provide optimal ventilation.

The awning offers ample shade and is large enough to cover tables, chairs, coolers, children, and pets while protecting them from the sun, rain, and wind. The tubular steel frame is sturdy and allows for years of use.

Pros

• Extra-large capacity for up to four adults
• Optimal ventilation with the front door, mesh windows, and side vents
• Durable steel frame for excellent protection

Cons

• The customer service is slow and unreliable

Napier Backroadz Truck Tent can accommodate up to four people and is designed with a stitched floor and awning

#3 Best Truck Bed Tents For Toyota Tundra: Reimo Tent Technology Tent

Reimo Tent Technology Tent is a compact rear tent. It is ideal for many mini hatchback motorhomes such as Caddy, Citan, Partner, and Toyota Tundra. Its assembly is quick and easy, with no support poles.

They mount it under the tailgate through straps sewn to the structure. The Velcro connections and the hermetic closure on the body make it practically waterproof. Once opened, it has an overall size of 138 x 137 x 203/170 cm.

We can use the rear panel as a door or sun visor. Thanks to the skylight window on the roof, light can filter inside even when the door is closed.

Pros

• Versatile applications for many car models
• Waterproof and weatherproof materials
• Comes with skylight window

Cons

• Flimsy frame

Reimo Tent Technology Tent is ideal for creating extra space on the mini camper or as a shower curtain or changing room.

#4 Best Truck Bed Tents For Honda Ridgeline: Rightline Gear SUV Tent

Rightline Gear SUV Tent is specially designed for rear and side attachment to minivans and vans. It has a variable lock that can be adapted to the most common cars.

The pre-entry is self-supporting and wind-resistant thanks to the additional storm ropes. Many ventilation options ensure a pleasant room climate and function as extraction hoods when cooking. Also, we have an inner tent available as an urgent case.

Pros

• Optimal ventilation for minivans and vans
• Optimal undercover for urgent options
• Practical design for all camping activities

Cons

• Expensive price

Rightline Gear SUV Tent is one of the top truck bed tents that offer many convenient features for daily camping.

#5 Best Truck Bed Tents For Nissan Frontier: Sportz Truck Tent

Sportz Truck Tent is ready in minutes and fits any standard car. There are mosquito nets to ensure undisturbed sleep and promote ventilation. We have tried zippers a thousand times and they are still operational after years. The open roof tent has a size of 245 x 145 x 126 cm.

The tent also comes with a large rear panel. It allows the user to have extra-large storage. Finally, this amazing product offers an entrance door, two mesh windows, and a side vent for high ventilation.

Pros

• Easy to assemble and install to all vehicle models
• Ventilation’s promotion with convenient features
• Extra-large capacity inside out

Cons

• The tent arrives with some defects

Sportz Truck Tent is built for extreme use, thanks to the waterproof polyester roof and the insulating layer in the floor that protect it even in the coldest times of the year.

#6 Best Truck Bed Tents For Jeep Gladiator: Sportz Avalanche Truck Tent

Sportz Avalanche Truck Tent is one of the most compact bed tents on our list. It is perfectly suitable for the Jeep Gladiator. The tent can create additional space such as a shower curtain or dressing room. It can be installed quickly and easily with no support poles. You can mount it under the tailgate through straps sewn to the structure.

Thanks to the skylight window on the roof, the light can filter inside even when the door is closed. Together with the tent are many additional tools such as fiberglass rods, pegs, and bags.

Pros

• Easy to assemble and operate with no advanced tools
• Offer additional spaces thanks to large capacity
• Comes with useful additional tools

Cons

• There are some minor defects in the tent

The Velcro connections and the hermetic closure on Sportz Avalanche Truck Tent make it practically waterproof. It is ideal for creating additional space on the mini camper as a shower curtain or dressing room.

#7 Best Truck Bed Tents For Camping: Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent

There are no supports necessary when using Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent. But it is possible to transform it into a self-supporting structure by purchasing the additional module.

The windows with mosquito net and locks, one very large and the other round on the left side, ensure good ventilation and pleasant temperature conditions.

The tent has an enormous size of 48 x 10 x 10 inches and has a composition of 95% polyester, 4% PVC, and 1% cotton.

Pros

• Comes with premium mosquito nets for health protection
• Great ventilation thanks to the large and round shape
• Self-supporting structure with an additional module

Cons

• Hard to dismantle

Created for camping with a one-piece tailgate, Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent is quick and easy to assemble

Factors to Consider Before Buying A Truck Bed Tent

1. Durability

To have a structure that can withstand the elements, you must carefully test the construction material. The tent must not allow water to pass. Some models have an additional canopy that acts as a second cover.

This acts as another layer of protection against rain. But above all, it prevents condensation from forming inside your tent. It also prevents internal objects from getting wet. We must seal them to prevent water infiltration.

2. Ventilation

The number of windows varies depending on the model. If you plan to camp in a warm climate, then it makes sense to get a tent with several openings to help air circulation. Most often the windows are fitted with mosquito nets. It will help keep unwanted guests away.

3. Types

On the market, you can find models with original structures and sizes. The choice mainly depends on the car and the number of people who will share the tent with you.

Pickup tents allow you to transform your car’s cargo area into a sleeping area. There are also larger tents designed for minivans and those huge SUVs.

4. Price

If you are looking for an essential model at a cheap price, you can find it around $100. If you make a higher investment in the tent, you will receive greater performance of the tent in terms of habitability and resistance. The average price of a good quality brand proposal is around $250.

5. Seasons To Use

For certain products, they are often categorized by how many seasons they cover. But you may be a little confused when being offered a two-season curtain, as you may not know what times of the year it is suitable for.

It is useful to know that they classify the seasons in order from warmest to coldest, including summer, spring, autumn, and winter. If a product is one-season, then it is only suitable for summer. Otherwise, a two-season type is also suitable for spring. And a three-season offers adequate comfort even in autumn.

Most of the tents are of the three-season type. Therefore, they adapt to most of the year except for the most hazardous climatic conditions. When used in warm climates, structures with verandas can be pleasant?

6. Height & Length

The height of any RV awning is probably one of the most underestimated specifications, as you can forget how important it can be. Being in a strict environment can heavily affect your camping experience, as you may not even be able to sit down.

Also, consider the design of the tent. If it is high in the center but sloping at the sides, it probably will not offer a good level of comfort.

The length of truck bed tents is self-evident. If you are five feet tall but buy a tent that is five feet long, you cannot lie down completely unless you usually sleep curled up all the time. Also, people should consider the space needed to place the change of clothes. A model that is about one foot longer than you are is appropriate.

7. Tent Poles

Having color-coded poles can help with construction. Otherwise, having a minimal amount of poles will also be helpful. In terms of ease of use, having a large door will make it much easier to get in and out of the tent.

8. Mesh panels

For certain materials, we must strike a delicate balance between being as durable as possible. It should also be easy to use. In particular, for this specific tent, sturdiness is one of the most important factors as the positioning on the van could wear and tear the material.

Weight is not a factor because you will not be hiking with your tent in tow. They commonly use fiber in standard tents. But it is not suitable for van tents as it is extremely light but not very strong. Better to opt for a Mesh panel because it is a fairly light material, but also very resistant.

9. Floors

Some tents have a stitched underneath structure while others lack one. The absence of a floor has its advantages since there is no need to move the equipment. You can sleep on a camping pad or an air bed.

10. Strapping

The construction of the tent must not damage the van. Make sure that any attachment straps provided on the awning are adequately padded to avoid the danger of scratching the bodywork.

11. Accessories

As you know, any object always comes with a set of accessories that complete its functions. And truck bed tents also come with a set of accessories. The quality depends on the price you pay and the profession of the manufacturer.

12. Ease of Installation

If you have camping experience, you know that some tents are much more difficult to use than others due to bad design. But sometimes, it can be related to the fact that it is a more stable structure and therefore takes a little longer to install.

If you are planning on camping for an extended period, we should not put off by a tent that will take time to set up. Some tents are much easier to set up, and some features can make set-ups quicker.

Top 4 Truck Bed Tent Brands

1. Guide Gear

Guide Gear is the leading outdoor production company. Guide Gear products are always trusted by consumers and their products (camping tents, lights, air cushions, and heat-keep ice boxes) are always sought after by customers.

2. Kodiak

Kodiak is a relatively new outdoor brand in the past three years. In the world of outdoor travel products market, they develop Kodiak from a reputable company specializing in manufacturing and processing.

3. Napier

Napier is a brand that has 20 years of history and is gradually becoming a favorite outdoor production brand in the tent market. Napier is famous in product groups such as tents, air cushions, picnic tables, and chairs.

4. Rightline Gear

Rightline Gear has a powerful passion for providing premium tents for customer’s camping trips. The products from Rightline Gear have multiple sizes that fit with all models of vehicles.

Truck Tent Vs. Ground Tent

A ground tent is a tent that appeared long ago. So many people will know about this tourist tent line. It is the type where the parts of the tent from the fabric layer, the tent frame, the pins, and the umbrella are separated.

And what we do is to link them together to form a tent by assembling frames, covering the canvas, driving pins, and tying parachute ropes for tents to increase stability. The assembly time is from 7 to 15 minutes depending on your skill.

However, it takes a long time to set up tents. Especially for those who are inexperienced, it can take from 15 to 30 minutes. Also, you can lose self-construction tent accessories easily. Therefore, the stakes, parachute rope, or tent frame are easy to lose.

Unlike the self-built tents, truck tents will save you the time-consuming stages. This camping tent is already assembled and sewn directly onto the tent fabric. Therefore, the time to set up your tent is only from 10 to 20 seconds. The highlight of this line of camping tents is its extremely fast assembly time. However, this self-extracting tent will be bulkier than the self-propelled tent because the fabric and the sewing frame are contiguous.

FAQs

1. Are truck bed tents worth it?

Truck bed tents have several interesting advantages. First, you can install it wherever you want without having to go to an equipped camping area.

Not sleeping on the floor also increases your comfort level and is healthier, because you are away from the cold and dampness of the ground. It also offers you excellent protection from rain and foul weather. You will never have to worry about pitching a tent on muddy or frozen ground.

2. Can a truck tent be used on the ground?

Yes. You can install the truck bed tent on the camping ground by using the ground extension.

3. How do you make a tent in the bed of a truck?

Each tent has a different finish and an original design. Even the tents that are manufactured by the same company often look very different in the interior.

One characteristic that makes a difference is the number of windows. The more windows there are, the more light and air will get inside. Windows also promote ventilation. So, if you camp for a long time, look at a design with lots of windows.

A floor also has a big impact on the interior appearance. It helps to create a feeling of security, making it seem more comfortable. And if you want to feel right at home, you can also equip yourself with a van awning.

4. What size air mattress fits in the bed of a truck?

The size of an air mattress depends on your vehicle model. A typical air mattress has a length of 8 feet.

Final Words

Enjoy life on the go with our seven best truck bed tents for vans and minivans. Once mounted, the tents for vans will allow you to increase the livable space. On some models, you can also use it as a bedroom by mounting the cockpit.

Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent is our winner because of its high efficiency, support features, and premium quality. If you need a cheaper option, the Sportz Truck Tent is a superb choice with compact size and high ventilation.

Bonus: Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent Installation

source https://automotivegearz.com/best-truck-bed-tent/