Top Pickup Bed Tent – Best Truck Bed Pop Up Camper
A truck bed tent is engineered to provide shelter for you and one other adult so that you can sleep in it when you are experiencing the outdoors. The main advantage of having a truck bed tent and using it while camping is that it gets you off the ground
The truck canopy is responsible for this. Truck bed tents tend to be easier to erect when the camping ground is hard and therefore difficult to insert the stakes of a regular tent in. this means that a truck bed tend, accompanied with the right truck bed air mattress can make your outdoor experience better.
While this product is by far the most convenient means of camping, it is advised that you practice pitching the tent a couple of times before you actually take on the wild. The reason is that they can be a little tricky especially if you don’t have an extra set of hands.
The fact that they strap down to truck beds means that there is some adjustability that needs to be done with regard to its fit. This means that even if you select the perfect fit for a tent, you might have to modify it for it to fit properly.
You may also want to purchase some form of cushioning. This can be in the form of a truck bed air mattress or a regular truck bed mattress. The cushioning should also be compatible to your truck bed in order for it to be more convenient.
In this article, we look at five of the best truck bed tents in the market.
① The Rightline Gear Truck Bed Tent **TOP PICK** | |
② The guide Gear Compact Truck Tent | |
③ The Guide Geer Full Size Truck Tent | |
④ The Napier Backroadz Truck Tent | |
⑤ The Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent |
① The Rightline Gear Truck Bed Tent
This truck bed tent is designed and manufactured by Right line Gear. The truck bed tent is a solid option if you are looking for a full-size standard truck bed. The practicality of the truck bed tent makes it one of the best brands in the market by far.
This product’s flaw less design allows for a set-up without removing gear from the bed. It features protective heavy-duty straps and nylon buckles. The tent is made of water-resistant fabric with tape sealed seams.
It has color coded poles and pole pockets for quick and easy set-up. This item seems like a solid choice if you want to camp in a dry truck bed, up off the ground. Generally, this product is well-designed and easy to set up. The added space also helps.
Pros
Pros
- It is well-constructed
- It is very easy to set up
- It features a lot of space
Cons
Cons
- Some buyers have had complains about the material
- The tent cannot handle heavy wind
② The guide Gear Compact Truck Tent
This 6-by-6-foot truck bed is a product by Guide Gear. The truck bed tent is a good option if you are looking for a compact truck tent. The functionality of this product is one of the features that most users find the most appealing about this product.
This product features a top-notch construction, mesh windows for excellent ventilation, sewn-in polyethylene flooring, water-resistant coating and large interior area with 4.75 inches of headroom. It is lightweight and easy to set up with 4 total poles.
The item comes with full rain fly to keep you totally dry. This compact truck bed might be a good choice for those who want a comfortable shelter that gets them up off the ground in minutes.
Pros
Pros
- The product fits perfectly
- It features a lot of room
- It is good for both rainy and windy weather
Cons
Cons
- Users complain about the confusing instructions
- The quality of the tent poles is wanting
③ The Guide Geer Full Size Truck Tent
This truck bed offered by Guide Gear is a good option for those who need a full-size truck tent. The fact that it is very functional makes it one of the most sought-after truck bed tents in the market. Hence its raving popularity.
This product can be set up in a matter of minutes in pickup beds, providing a fast and comfortable shelter. It features a large interior area with 5.25′ of headroom, water-resistant coating, sewn-in polyethylene flooring, large D-shaped door, mesh windows for ventilation
It also features 2 storage pockets and a fully enclosed space as well. Additionally, it fits well in most truck beds and is easy to take down at the end of the night. It can also hold its own during a rainy night and is very effective as well.
Pros
Pros
- It is very easy to put up and take down as well
- It fits perfectly
- It can stand its own during a heavy rain
Cons
Cons
- The instructions are not clear
- It is costly
④ The Napier Backroadz Truck Tent
If you are looking for a top-rated truck tent, you might want to consider this one offered by Napier Enterprises. This truck bed tent is designed to be very effective in helping the users stay off the ground during a night in the outdoors.
This product features a roomy 5’5 inches interior, sewn-in floor, 4 large windows and full rainfly. Its portable design assembles easily. This truck bed could be a good choice if you’re looking to use your vehicle’s cargo area for sleeping comfortably off the ground.
Additionally, this truck bed tent is very easy to set up and it also fits perfectly in different types and sizes of truck beds. It is also water resistant hence can be used during the rain. Finally, it is sturdy and very reliable.
Pros
Pros
- It fits perfectly
- It is easy to put up and take down
- It can withstand the rain
Cons
Cons
- It does not come with instructions
- The quality of the straps and the poles is wanting
⑤ The Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent
If you are looking for a good-quality truck bed, you might want to consider this product offered by Kodiak Canvas. The quality and functionality of the truck bed tent are some of the reasons as to why this brand of truck bed tents is popular.
This product is made with hydra-shield, 100% cotton duck canvas that is durable, watertight and breathable. Its five windows provide excellent ventilation and openness. If you are looking for a sturdy, steel tube framed truck tent, this might be a good option.
Generally, users are happy with the Kodiak Canvas truck bed tent. What they like in particular is that it is well-constructed, well-made and very spacious. It is therefore very reliable when it comes to providing shelter in the outdoors.
Pros
Pros
- It is extremely spacious and well-made
- It is sturdy and durable
- It is made from high-quality material
Cons
Cons
- The instructions are not clear
- Setting it up is not a walk in the park
The difference between the many brands of truck bed tents lies in the design and the materials that are used in their construction. The price is also one of the differences between the different brands of truck bed tents that have been discussed in this article and the rest as well.
In this section, we provide you with a comprehensive guide on the factors to consider when choosing the best truck bed tent in the market. However, before we get into the factors to consider, we first need to gain an understanding into the meaning of a truck bed tent.
What is a truck bed tent?
In very simple terms, a truck bed tent is a tent that is pitched on a truck bed instead of on the floor. The upside to this type of tent is that it is raised from the ground. This means that it helps protect you from the weather.
For instance, if you pitch it in the rain, you will be sleeping off the ground instead of in a puddle. A truck bed tent can also offer you protection from wildlife owing to the fact that it is raised from the ground also.
The truck bed tent in addition to the solid sides of the truck itself makes it harder for smaller animals or bugs to attack your tent while you are asleep. Even the larger animals will also not be able to attack you in the tent when you have this kind of coverage.
The fact that it is raised from the ground also means that it is more comfortable as opposed to sleeping on the ground. If you are up in the air, it means that you are suspended on the suspension of your vehicle.
Additionally, this means that you will get the luxury of more comfort as you will be kept away from the cold on the immovable ground. It also makes packing up and leaving the camping site easy incase of any emergencies or accidents.
Different types of truck tents feature different types of interiors. This is in term of the finish and the design. It is true that even tents that have been manufactured by the same company will tend to have different features which will affect the appearance of the interior of the tents.
There are several features that affect the appearance of the interior of the tents.
Conclusion & What is the Best Truck Bed Tent
The materials that are used to make the entire tent is also a factor that you need to consider. It has been determined that aluminum poles are the to go material for poles. When it comes to the overall body of the tent. Most manufacturers use plastic.
This is the best material as it is waterproof. You can however opt to go for canvas as its is both waterproof and durable. You also want to go for a truck bed tent that comes with a built-in tent and one that features storage pockets.
The pockets may come in handy with regard to storing some items like a tooth brush and other personal belongings. This gives the tent the feel of a bedroom. The floor also attributes to this. The tent should also feature cab access, and some windows to make sure there is good ventilation.
In this article, our top pick is the Rightline Gear Truck Bed Tent (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE). This tent is well-designed, it is very spacious, it is easy to set up and it features a built-in floor and windows for ventilation. It is made from plastic and poles that can withstand bad weather.
Factors that affect the interior appearance of truck tents
The number of windows that the tent has
The number of tents that the tent design will greatly influence the interior appearance of the tent. Mostly, these come in mesh which are either single or double in layers. The more the windows are, the more the light.
The number of windows also affects how hairy the interior is going to look. The aim of the windows is to help with the ventilation so that if you are camping somewhere that is warm, it could be ideal in keeping you cool.
It is therefore a wise idea to look into a design that has plenty of windows. Even with the large number of windows, it is also effective in cold weather as the windows can be closed using a zipper.
This is also a feature that will determine the appearance of the truck bed tent.
The floor
A floor is also a factor that will determine the appearance of the interior of the truck bed tent. Most, but not all models on this article include a built-in floor. The floor helps to create a feeling of being secure in the tent.
This can also make it seem more comfortable. The fact that you are almost creating your own safe little bubble that you are climbing into is what makes the truck bed tent more comfortable.
With that said, let us now look into the factors that you can consider when determining what truck bed tent is the best.
Factors to consider when choosing the best truck bed tent
There are several factors and design elements that you need to keep in mind when considering which model of tent to go for. Some of these key factors are;
The ventilation points
These can either be windows, air vents or a combination of the two. Ventilation is a very important consideration. Without good ventilation, you are go to have a hard time when it comes to falling asleep.
Ventilation also has an impact on the comfort of the truck bed tent.
Strapping
All these items are going to employ strapping that is meant to ensure that the tent is securely fit in place. This will make sure that the tent is held in place even when it is windy. The placement of the straps will differ from one truck bed tent to the other.
This therefore means that you need to make sure you read the instructions of the truck bed tent manual in order to make sure that you know the exact strapping points. It is also important to look for a strapping that has been coated with softer material to protect your truck’s paint work.
Installation
Installation refers to the ease with which you can get up and take down the tent. Most people will be able to get a tent up in about ten to thirty minutes. This highly depends on the design of the truck bed tent, its size and the weather conditions at the time.
With regards to the installation, you need to be keen on some features the likes of whether the pole tips and pockets are color coded or not. This will assist greatly when it comes to the ease and how fast it will be to install the truck bed tent.
Size
This is looked at in terms of the length and the width. The size of the tent in the case of a truck bed tent will be determined by the size of the truck. On the other hand, the height is only limited by the design of the tent itself.
Compact truck bed tents tend to be smaller and therefore on the lower end of the price range. They are also often designed with poles that tend to cross to for the shape of the letter D. such tents tend to have smaller interior space as compared to the latter.
The height of these compact tents also tends to be smaller as compared to the more premium models. You need to keep in mind that the size of the tent you get will be determined by the number of people that will be in the tent and whether or not you suffer from claustrophobia.
The poles
Most tents tend to be made with poles that are fashioned form aluminum. This gives them a good middle ground of strength and a lower weight as well. However, you can also go for those that are made from fiberglass,
This material is also light and efficient. It may however not match aluminum when it comes to its ability to withstand certain elements of weather the likes of very strong winds. Poles that are made of steel are also an option.
The down side to steel poles is that they tend to be very heavy as compared to the other two materials. It is therefore unanimous that the best kind of pole for a truck bed tent is one that is fashioned from aluminum as it is strong and lightweight.