Last Updated: April 14, 2022

Best Truck Bed Tent in 2023

Camping is one of the best ways to spend some peaceful time in nature and if you own a truck, there is an even better way of doing it. Have you ever thought, ‘man I wish I could just camp in the back of the truck’, well you can. With a trunk bed tent, you can covert the back of your truck into the perfect place to spend the night.

Our Top Picks

The best truck bed tent has great headroom, is spacious inside, and because you’re sleeping on your truck, you’ll never have to worry about uneven ground again. The benefits are huge. Another if you have a Tesla is to use Camp Mode, but that is for another article.

There’s no more having to find a campsite as you can camp anywhere you can park your truck, so you can really get off the beaten track and truly have the woods to yourself. You’re also camping high off the ground, avoiding any creatures that might bite or soggy ground that’ll get you wet in the night.

Not all truck bed tents are made equal though. Some are more durable, have different features, or handle the weather better than others. In this review, we take you through some of the best truck bed tents around so you can find the top one for you.

Top Product Overview

Canvas Truck Tent 6 ft.
  • Quality build with very durable materials
  • Super warm for camping in cold weather
SEE ON AMAZON →
Smittybilt Overlander Roof Top Tent - 2783
  • Includes a foam double/full mattress
  • Comes with a 1-year warranty for parts
SEE ON AMAZON →
Sportz Truck Tent Blue/Grey (Full Size Crew Cab 5.5-Feet Box)
Best On A Budget
  • Includes a rear access panel to the front cab
  • Quick and easy to pitch and store
SEE ON AMAZON →
Napier Outdoors Sportz Avalanche Truck Tent III,Gray,72' L x 72' W,99949
  • Color-coded and easy to pitch
  • Good at handling wind and rain
SEE ON AMAZON →
Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent for Camping, Camp Tents for Pickup Trucks, Fits Truck Bed Length 79-81', Waterproof Rainfly Included, Sleeps 2
  • Good headroom of 5.25 ft
  • Solid waterproofing to keep you dry
SEE ON AMAZON →
Rightline Gear Truck Tents
  • Fits two people comfortably
  • Has glow-in-the-dark zippers for night access
SEE ON REI →SEE ON AMAZON →
Rightline Gear 6-Person SUV Tent Attachment for Camping, 8 by 8 by 7.2 Feet
  • Includes a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
  • Super spacious with room for 6 people
SEE ON REI →SEE ON AMAZON →
Napier Backroadz Truck Tent, Grey/Green, Full Size Short Bed (5.5'-5.8')
  • Super easy setup, you can even do it alone
  • Great for all kinds of weather
SEE ON AMAZON →

Best Truck Bed Tent


Best Allrounder

Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent

Canvas Truck Tent 6 ft.

The Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent is a great choice for anyone who loves to camp out when it’s cold. It keeps you super warm no matter the weather but may get a little hot come summer.

The tent is made from Hydra-Shield 100% cotton duck canvas that is as durable as an outer tent material can get. It’s not just durable but also waterproof and breathable too. The tent also comes with a steel frame that is tough as nails and will handle strong winds with ease.

To pitch the tent is quite simple, just build the steel frame and clamp it to the rails of your truck bed. once you’re down, throw the tent over and strap it down to give you a spacious place to sleep for the night. It’s worth practicing this at home once or twice before you try setting it up at night when camping.

Once up it’s very roomy inside, perfect for two people. You’ll find some mesh pockets for gear storage plus 5 windows for light and ventilation. One of the windows is also aligned with the front can so you can access it with ease too.

The front door is large and sits over the tailgate. It’s simple to climb in through and it comes with YKK zippers that are some of the most long-lasting zippers around.

This is a floorless tent, meaning you can leave gear in the trunk if you need to, or add a tarpaulin if you don’t fancy sleeping on the dirty truck bed.

The tent fits quite a wide range of trucks too including the Ford F Series, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra, and Nissan Titan. You can buy it in two sizes as well to match whatever size truck you have.

The only real downsides to this truck bed tent are that it’s pretty expensive and that it can get a little too hot when camping out on hot summer days.

Pros

  • Quality build with very durable materials
  • Super warm for camping in cold weather
  • Very spacious inside
  • Fits quite a few truck models
  • Excellent in heavy wind and rain
  • Easy to access and has cab access too

Cons

  • Gets quite warm inside during hot weather
  • Quite expensive

Product Information

  • Packed Dimensions: 47.5 x 9.8 x 9.8 inches
  • Weight: 30 lbs
  • Height: 5 ft
  • People: 2
SEE ON AMAZON

Best Of The Best

Smittybilt Overlander Tent

Smittybilt Overlander Roof Top Tent - 2783

The Smittybilt Overlander Tent isn’t a truck bed tent as such, it’s more of a roof tent. But it does convert your truck to a tent at the end of the day and is more convenient as you won’t have to move any of your gear around. But, you do need a roof rack in order to use it.

The tent is made from a super tough aluminum frame with a 600D heavy-duty polyester waterproof top and rainfly. It can handle big weather like no other and if you’re caught out in a windy storm, this is the tent you want to be in.

The tent sits on your roof rack with a PVC cover that protects it from any dirty and UV rays. It also comes with a comfy high-density 92″ x 55″ foam double mattress that sits on the roof waiting for you as well.

Setting it up is simple. just open up the cover and the aluminum frames and hey presto, you have a comfy tent to sleep in. It’s not that easy, but it almost is.

Once up, you access the tent via the included telescopic ladder. Once inside it’s super spacious and full of useful features. There are shoe storage pockets on the outside, LED lights on the inside, a sunroof, and windows for great ventilation.

There is even a power adapter that you can connect to a 12V so you can charge your devices while you sleep.

There are two downsides to this tent, the first being it’s quite expensive, but it does come with a 1-year warranty if that helps. The second is that the rainfly pools water. No water gets in, but after a large amount of rain, you’re going to have to move it somewhere. Hint: make sure the truck windows are closed.

Pros

  • Includes a foam double/full mattress
  • Comes with a 1-year warranty for parts
  • Exceptionally durable and great in weather
  • Comes with LED lights, external storage for shoes, etc.
  • Quick and easy to pitch
  • No need to move any gear around

Cons

  • Need a roof rack for it to work
  • Quite expensive
  • Water pools on the rainfly

Product Information

  • Packed Dimensions: na
  • Weight: 48 lbs
  • Height: na
  • People: 2
SEE ON AMAZON

Best On A Budget

Napier Sportz Truck Tent

Sportz Truck Tent Blue/Grey (Full Size Crew Cab 5.5-Feet Box)

The Napier Sportz Truck Tent is an ideal truck bed tent for any truck that has a bed ranging between 5.5-8ft long, which is most of them.

It’s made from polyester with fiberglass poles and features a full-coverage rainfly to protect you from the elements. This tent also comes with a floor to ensure you stay warm, dry, and clean while you’re camping in the back of your truck.

Picking it is simple once you know how to. It takes less than 15 minutes but make sure you practice it first, as setting up a trunk bed tent isn’t the same as pitching a normal tent.

One pitched the tent is spacious inside. It has a ceiling height of 5.6 ft, that you can almost stand up inside. It also features 2 mesh windows and 2 ceiling vents to ensure you stay well ventilated cool or don’t wake up soggy from condensation. You’ll also find a gear loft in the tent plus a few mesh pockets for your valuables.

There are two things about this tent that make it one of my favorites, the awning at the rear access panel.

The awning goes over your tailgate and gives 16 sq. ft. for coverage for you and your buddies to hand out under. And, the rear access panel fits snugly over the cab window so you can access the inside of your car and use the power outlet if need be.

There are no major downsides to this tent, it’s pretty awesome altogether. There are some complaints about the zippers wearing out over time though.

Pros

  • Includes a rear access panel to the front cab
  • Quick and easy to pitch and store
  • Has a 16 sq foot awning for chilling under
  • Spacious inside with great storage options
  • Large mesh windows for great ventilation

Cons

  • Hard to set up the first time
  • Zipper wear out over time

Product Information

  • Packed Dimensions: 30 x 9 x 9 inches
  • Weight: 20 lbs
  • Height: 5.6 ft
  • People: 2
SEE ON AMAZON

Sportz Avalanche Truck Tent III

Napier Outdoors Sportz Avalanche Truck Tent III,Gray,72' L x 72' W,99949

The Sportz Avalanche Truck Tent III is the perfect truck bed tent for your Chevy. It’s made from durable materials including a polyester outer shell and fiberglass tent poles.

The polyester does a great job of keeping the rain out while the fiberglass poles are designed to flex in heavy winds in order to bend but not break. It’s a great tent to be stuck in if the weather conditions get a bit hectic.

Setting up this tent is a little tricky the first time but once you know what you’re doing, you can have it up in 15 minutes or less. We would recommend doing a few practice runs at home so you’re not caught short trying to set it up in a storm or at night for the first time.

Once up, the tent is spacious inside, there is more than enough room for 2 people. It has a 5.5ft of headroom which is excellent, and you’ll both be able to sit up at the same time with ease.

You’ll also find two mesh storage pockets and a gear loft in the tent for keeping any valuable close by plus some mesh windows that provide great ventilation.

Accessing the tent couldn’t be easier thanks to the large door by the tailgate. The tent also fits perfectly over the window to your front cab so you can access anything inside the car with ease.

One of my favorite features about this tent is the awning. At the back of your truck, the tent spreads out to create a 6 x 6 foot awning that’s great to sit under in wet weather or when you want some shade. It’s a great place to set up your breakfast table or to sit and drink some coffee and watch nature go by.

The only downside to this tent is that it’s made specifically for a Chevy Avalanche so it might not fit all trucks out there.

Pros

  • Color-coded and easy to pitch
  • Good at handling wind and rain
  • Easy access to the front cab of your truck
  • Good ventilation with the no-see-um mesh windows
  • Spacious and high inside
  • Has a large tail gate awning for chilling under

Cons

  • Made for the Chevy Avalanche
  • Tricky to set up the first time

Product Information

  • Packed Dimensions: 28 x 9 x 9 inches
  • Weight: 20 lbs
  • Height: 5.5 ft
  • People: 2
SEE ON AMAZON

Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent

Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent for Camping, Camp Tents for Pickup Trucks, Fits Truck Bed Length 79-81', Waterproof Rainfly Included, Sleeps 2

The next truck bed tent on our best-of list is the Guide Gear Truck Tent. This tent, unlike the one above, fits quite a lot of trucks including Chevy, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, and more.

The tent is made from 190T polyester with a polyethylene floor and fiberglass poles. The floor is super durable to handle the wear and tear of sitting on a truck, and the poles flex nicely in the wind to ensure you have a solid structure no matter the weather.

The 190T polyester offers full coverage and is waterproof to 1500mm thanks to the DWR (durable water-resistant coating). It’ll handle a major downpour with ease.

Pitching this tent takes a matter of minutes. There are only 4 poles and it goes up like most dome tents would, except for the tension straps that anchor to your truck.

Once up it’s spacious inside and will fit most full-sized 79-81 inch beds with ease. This tent also gives you an awesome amount of headroom with 5.25 ft. Inside you’ll also find mesh windows for great ventilation and 2 storage pockets for your valuables.

There is also a large porch area that features the front door. It’s easy to access and it great for storing items like shoes that you don’t want inside the tent at night.

The only downside to this truck bed tent is that the seams are a little delicate so you should be cautious when pitching it.

Pros

  • Good headroom of 5.25 ft
  • Solid waterproofing to keep you dry
  • Made from durable materials that last
  • Quick and easy to pitch
  • Includes internal storage pockets
  • Holds up against strong winds
  • Fits a lot of trucks

Cons

  • Seams can be a little delicate

Product Information

  • Packed Dimensions: 26 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches
  • Weight: 11 lbs
  • Height: 5.25 ft
  • People: 2
SEE ON AMAZON

Rightline Gear Truck Tents

Rightline Gear Truck Tents

The Rightline Gear Truck Tents come with a few features that others don’t to make truck camping a little easier. This truck tent has a floorless design, meaning the tent goes around the truck but you’ll be sleeping on the metal.

Some see the floorless design as a bonus because it makes set up a bit easier as you don’t have to remove your gear and so the tent doesn’t get dirty on the truck floor. I personally see it as a negative. Your mattress and gear will get dirty on the truck floor, plus you’ll probably be rubbing up against cold metal now and then while you sleep. But a lot of people love it.

The tent is made from fiberglass poles and a polyester outer shell. The outer shell is waterproof to 2000mm in order to keep the rain out, and the poles are sturdy in the wind.

Setting up the tent is easy thanks to the color-coded design, and the fact you don’t have to unload your truck with the floorless design. It’s best to practice at home first though, especially If you have never pitched a truck bed tent before. You have the choice to add the rainfly or leave it off to look at the stars at night.

Once up, it covers the whole back of the truck to the tailgate and it very spacious. There is a large door for access, 2 gear pockets inside, a lantern hook, and glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls which is a handy feature if you need the bathroom in the night.

My favorite thing about this tent is that it comes in 7 sizes to match a lot of trucks out there. Just measure the back of your truck and then take a look at the size guide to find your match.

The downside to this tent is that the seams are a little weak, and when under a lot of tension it can cause damage to the tent. Be sure to set it up carefully and not too tight.

Pros

  • Fits two people comfortably
  • Has glow-in-the-dark zippers for night access
  • Can be used without a rainfly to watch the stars
  • Soft buckles that won't damage your truck
  • Comes in 7 sizes to match your truck
  • Includes a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty

Cons

  • Not very durable build

Product Information

  • Packed Dimensions: 23.3 x 14.2 x 14.2 inches
  • Weight: 8.40 lbs.
  • Height: 5 ft
  • People: 2
SEE ON REI
SEE ON AMAZON

Rightline Gear SUV Tent

Rightline Gear 6-Person SUV Tent Attachment for Camping, 8 by 8 by 7.2 Feet

The Rightline Gear SUV Tent is a normal tent that connects directly to the trunk of your SUV. This allows you to use the trunk as a sleeping area combined with a large 4 person tent. It’s ideal for large groups of families and friends a lot more practical too.

You still get to sleep off the ground with this tent if you want to, and when you want to leave you tent where it is but go fro a drive, you don’t have to take the whole tent down, you just disconnect it from the SUV and off you go.

The tent itself is made from water-resistant polyester that is waterproof to 2000mm and features bathtub floors to give you extra protection from bugs and any wet ground. It also features fiberglass tent poles that handle the wind well.

Setting up this tent is a piece of cake. It’s like any normal dome tent and takes about 5 minutes if you know how. Once it’s up, just open the SUV attachment point, and strap it in to combine it with your trunk space.

Once inside you’ll find some mesh pockets for gear storage and a large mesh window plus roof vents to keep you cool at night. The tent is roomy inside and has enough space for 4 people to sleep comfortably, and the front door is also huge for easy access.

The fit is universal with all types of large vehicles that have a hardtop, so if you own one of those, this is a great tent for you.

The downsides of this tent are few. The annoying one is that the zippers tend to catch easily so be careful when using them as you might rip something. The other is that it’s not the warmest tent in the world and you might get cold inside towards late autumn and early spring.

Pros

  • Includes a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
  • Super spacious with room for 6 people
  • Ideal for camping with family or friends
  • Good in bad weather
  • Easy to set up
  • Great for being able to drive away from camp

Cons

  • Zippers catch easily
  • Not that warm for cold camping

Product Information

  • Packed Dimensions: 26 x 10 x 10 inches
  • Weight: 19.8 lbs
  • Height: na
  • People: 6
SEE ON REI
SEE ON AMAZON

Napier Backroadz Truck Tent

Napier Backroadz Truck Tent, Grey/Green, Full Size Short Bed (5.5'-5.8')

The Napier Backroadz Truck Tent is another great truck bend tent and the thing that sets this tent apart from the others is how easy it is to set up. You can even do it solo in under 10mmiuntes once you know how to.

The tent is made from water-resistant polyester and comes with fiberglass poles. Both are excellent in heavy weather and have handled storms exceptionally well. They are also durable too and should expect to use this tent for years to come.

Setting it up is about as easy as it gets. The tent is color-coded to ensure you put all the right things in the right places and it comes with very simple to read instructions.

Once up, it’s spacious inside with more than enough room for 2 people and it has over 5ft of headroom too. The tent features two large mesh windows for ventilation and you’ll find a large gear loft and pockets for any valuables plus a lantern holder.

Accessing the tent is easy through the large front door that sits on your open tailgate.

The tent comes in 5 sizes to match a wide range of trucks and for every purchase, a tree is planted which is great for the health of the earth.

The only downside to this tent is that if set up wrong the poles can snap. You have to ensure the straps are loose so you don’t put too much pressure on the poles. If you follow this simple tip, they will be good for years.

Pros

  • Super easy setup, you can even do it alone
  • Great for all kinds of weather
  • Every purchase plants a tree
  • Excellent windows and ventilation
  • Good storage options inside
  • Comes in 5 sizes to match a lot of trucks

Cons

  • Tent poles can break if you set it up wrong

Product Information

  • Packed Dimensions: 29 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches
  • Weight: 8 lbs
  • Height: 5 ft
  • People: 2
SEE ON AMAZON

What To Look For In A Truck Bed Tent

Durability

Truck bed tents aren’t cheap and the last thing you want is for yours to fall apart after just a year of use. Look for quality materials like fiberglass poles and polyester or canvas for the tent. These materials are great in terms of longevity and will ensure your tent lasts a long time.

Fit

Not all truck bed tents are universal so you must make sure that the tent you choose fits your truck The best way to do this is by measuring your truck bed with the tailgate closed and then checking the size guide of the tents you’re looking at. Some of the tents in the review come in up to 7 sizes, so don’t worry, you’ll find one that matches your tuck quite easily.

Set-Up

Spending time in nature isn’t about wrestling with your tent to get it up, it’s about having fun. Make sure you pick a tent that is known to be easy to pitch. We’d also recommend practicing setting it up at home so you’re ready and to pitch it in minutes once you’re out camping.

Weather Resistance

There isn’t much point in having a tent if you’re going to wake up cold and wet in it. All the tents in the review can handle strong winds and rain but it’s worth checking out. Look for string piles likes fiberglass, aluminum, and steel and water-resistant coatings and materials like polyester, canvas, and nylon.

Our Favorite Truck Bed Tents

Best Of The Best

The best truck bed tent is the Smittybilt Overlander Tent. This tent sits on your roof so there is no need to move your gear around. It’s durable, easy to pitch, spacious, and great in heavy weather. It also comes with a double mattress, in-built LED lighting, and loads more handy features.

Smittybilt Overlander Roof Top Tent - 2783
635 Reviews
Smittybilt Overlander Roof Top Tent - 2783
  • Standard size tent (sleeps 2-3) with high-density 92" x 55" foam double/full mattress and 661 lb. max load
  • 600D heavy-duty waterproof top and rain fly; sunroof; side windows with mosquito netting; anodized aluminum tent frame poles; telescopic ladder; interior LED strips and many more features

Best Allrounder

The best all-rounder is the Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent. This truck bed tent is warm for camping all year round in and it’s made for exceptionally durable materials so it’ll stand the test of time. Inside it’s spacious and welcoming plus it’s super easy to pitch that you can even do it solo.

Canvas Truck Tent 6 ft.
478 Reviews
Canvas Truck Tent 6 ft.
  • Made with Hydra-Shield, 100% cotton duck canvas that is durable, watertight and breathable. Compatible models include the Ford F Series, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra, and Nissan Titan.
  • Tunnel shaped design maximizes interior space tall 5 ft. ceiling height.Tailgate down design expands useable space

Best On A Budget

The best on a budget truck bed tent is the Napier Sportz Truck Tent. It’s roomy, durable, great in heavy weather, easy to pitch and it has a rear access panel that you can connect to the front cab so can charge devices and get to things you might need with ease.

Sale
Sportz Truck Tent Blue/Grey (Full Size Crew Cab 5.5-Feet Box)
1,055 Reviews
Sportz Truck Tent Blue/Grey (Full Size Crew Cab 5.5-Feet Box)
  • This roomy tent sleeps 2 people with over 5.6 feet of headroom and offers the reliability of a sewn in floor
  • Large rear access panel allows you to access the truck's cab for additional storage while the large entrance door, 2 mesh windows and side vents allow for great ventialtion