Best Truck Tents of 2023 For Camping and Adventuring

Best Truck Bed Tents

Interested in getting a tent for your truck but aren’t sure which one to buy?

My team and I have been using truck tents (and ground tents) for years now in our Toyota Tacoma Overland build (and past builds) and have tried lots of different tents.

Between our research online and our personal experience using the tents, here is what we believe are the best truck tents available right now! Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents (Click to Expand)

    Rooftop Tents vs Truck Bed Tents

    Before we share the best truck tent, we have to look at the types of tents available. When choosing a tent for your pickup truck, there are two options:

    • Truck Bed Tents
    • Rooftop Tents

    Truck bed tents, as the name implies, are erected in your truck bed. This means they take up the entire bed and don’t leave much room for storage space. However, these types of tents are also much cheaper than their roof top tent counterparts.

    Rooftop tents, on the other hand, go above your bed or above your truck’s roof. They require a roof rack setup and tent to be much more expensive than simple truck bed tents. That said, they are often higher quality and more convenient than bed tents, so you need to decide what’s best for you.

    Related Reading: What is Overlanding? The Complete Guide

    What Makes a Good Tent?

    When deciding which are the best tents to camp in your truck bed, we look at several things, including:

    • Tent fabric and build quality
    • Durability
    • Ease of use
    • Comfort
    • Style / looks

    There are so many options for truck camping setups. Having said that, let’s look at the best tents available right now!

    3 Best Truck Bed Tents

    First, let’s take a look at truck bed tents. Again, these are much more affordable, but come at the cost of storage space in your bed, as well as being a bit more difficult and time-consuming to set up.

    1. FOFANA Truck Bed Tent

    FOFANA Truck Bed Tent

    Coming in with six feet of standing height, large storage pockets, and plenty of tall windows for ventilation and views, the FOFANA truck bed tent is the best bed tent on this list.

    Pros

    • Sets up to a full standing height for most people
    • Very easy setup compared to others on the market
    • Large interior storage pockets
    • Fairly durable and decent for cold weather

    Cons

    • Some of the plastic buckles are weak and break easily
    • The rain cover is not quite long enough to stop rain
    • Somewhat weak stitching seams

    2. Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent

    Guide Gear Full Size Truck T

    This truck tent deploys in minutes, has 8 tie-down straps to securely lock in place while in truck beds, and has two mesh windows (one of the features we love so much).

    Pros

    • Built with strong aluminum poles and sturdy construction which ensures you’ll have this for the long run
    • Bathtub floor protects you from leaks and debris, keeping the inside of the tent clean and dry
    • Tent poles and 8 tie downs make for a quick set-up

    Cons

    • Some reviewers said the sizing is off (not suitable for an 8″ truck bed)
    • Some people have had issues with the rain guard not keeping water out of the tent
    • Might not be the best option if there are strong winds

    3. Quictent Waterproof Truck Tent

    Quictent Waterproof Truck Tent

    The Quictent truck tent is waterproof, has a removable awning, is easy to install (we’re talking less than 5 minutes easy), and can accommodate up to two people! It also has a lantern hook, rear access window, and storage bags inside.

    Pros

    • The 47”(L) x 47″(W) extra large awning can be used for shade or rain
    • 100% waterproof rainfly provides the ultimate weather protection for camping in extreme weather
    • PU 2000mm fully sealed floor keeps the room clean and dry

    Cons

    • Instructions aren’t the best
    • Some people have complained that the stitching isn’t the best

    Roof Top Tents: Hard Shell vs Soft Shell Top Tents

    If you’re more interested in getting a roof top tent, you have two options: hard shell and soft shell.

    A hard shell tent, as the name implies, has a hard shell on the outside. This comes with it’s own benefits, such as being much quicker to set up, better in inclement weather, and longer-lasting because the cover shields the material from rain, hail, wind, and whatever else you might experience. However, they are much more expensive and slightly heavier than a soft shell.

    A soft shell tent has a soft cover that you have to remove and store in order to set up the tent. They take longer to set up because they set up like a traditional tent, rather than having pistons that pop the tent open. The benefit, though, is that these tents can be thousands of dollars cheaper than their hard shell counterparts.

    Which you get depends on your personal preference. Consider the looks, weight, and price and decide what’s right for you!

    Related Reading: Are Rooftop Tents Worth It?

    3 Best Hard Shell Tents

    If you decided on a hard shell tent (our current favorite), here are the three best on the market right now in our experience!

    1. iKamper Skycamp

    iKamper Skycamp
    • Price: $2,999-$3,999 (depending on which style you buy)
    • Weight: 125 lbs – 160 lbs
    • Height When Open: 48”
    • Floor area: 83” x 51” / 29.4 sq. ft. – 83” x 77” / 44.3 sq ft
    • Sleeping capacity: 2 – 4 People

    The iKamper Skycamp series rooftop tents are our favorite tents. They look great, last a long time, are super easy to set up, and are extremely comfortable! Check out our Instagram page to see this tent in action.

    We’ve also written a full review of our iKamper Skycamp mini here.

    Pros

    • Very lightweight for a hard shell tent
    • Extremely easy to set up and take down (takes less than 30 seconds)
    • Comes with a comfortable mattress
    • Decent weather-proofing and stays fairly warm
    • Lots of accessories available to expand your tent, make it warmer, and more

    Cons

    • Expensive
    • Underneath mattress attracts condensation (but this can be fixed with a simple mod)
    • Some of the logo stickers came off right after we bought it

    2. Roofnest Condor XL

    Roofnest Condor XL
    • Price: $3,495.00
    • Weight: 160 lbs
    • Height When Open: 74″ by 93″
    • Floor area: 93″L x 74″W
    • Sleeping capacity: 3 – 4 People

    The Roofnest Condor XL is known to be one of the most compact truck tent when closed (which is perfect for smaller vehicles or truck bed racks). Sleeping bags aren’t needed with this truck tent, it has a built in foam mattress and a spacious interior that fits up to 4 people comfortably.

    Pros

    • Roomy interior
    • Has a skyview window
    • Pops up in under a minute
    • Built-in 6 cm foam mattress

    Cons

    • Expensive compared to soft shell tents
    • Overkill for solo camping
    • Challenging to install

    3. Roofnest Falcon

    Roofnest Falcon
    • Price: $3,795.00
    • Weight: 140 lbs
    • Height When Open: 60″
    • Floor area: 88″L x 48″W
    • Sleeping capacity: 2 People

    With the Roofnest Falcon, truck camping has never looked cooler! With 60″ of headroom and a three inch thick waterproof pad to sleep on, it’s easy to see why this truck tent is so popular!

    Pros

    • Easy installation on all vehicles
    • Super durable and waterproof
    • Sleek, aerodynamic design
    • Accessory channels on 4 sides for attaching awnings, recovery gear, etc
    • Now featuring integrated LED lighting

    Cons

    • Expensive
    • Only sleeps 2 people
    • Some reviews state that it takes two adults to secure the metal clamps in place (difficult to set up alone)

    3 Best Soft Shell Tents

    Still want a rooftop tent but prefer to save a few bucks? Soft shell tents are probably the perfect pick for you. Here are our top 3 soft shells:

    1. Vagabond Rooftop Tent by ROAM

    Vagabond Rooftop Tent by ROAM
    • Price: $2,199.00 – $2,399.00
    • Weight: 130 lbs
    • Height When Open: 52”
    • Floor area: 56” x 96”
    • Sleeping capacity: 2 – 3 People

    The Vagabond Rooftop Tent is a great option for couples and families of 3. It makes truck camping a breeze, can be installed on a roof rack, includes a telescoping ladder, and is pretty lightweight compared to some other models!

    Pros

    • 3” high-density foam mattress
    • Dual sunroof
    • Skylight windows in rainfly
    • 7.5’ telescopic ladder

    Cons

    • Noisier when there’s heavy wind
    • Taller footprint on top of your car
    • Expensive

    2. Smittybilt Overlander

    The Smittybilt Overlander truck tent is quite possibly the lightest truck tent out there. With a sunroof mesh window, telescopic ladder, interior LED strips, and so much more – this tent is perfect for a camping trip!

    Pros

    • 600D heavy-duty waterproof top and rain fly
    • Easy to set up and take down
    • All-season use
    • The cheapest rooftop tent on our list!

    Cons

    • Some people had complaints about the ladder breaking after a few uses
    • People have had problems with Smittybilt’s customer service
    • Some have said that the stitching wasn’t good (tears easily)

    3. Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3

    • Price: $1,999.95
    • Weight: 130 lbs
    • Height When Open: 52″
    • Floor area: 56″ x 96″
    • Sleeping capacity: 3 People

    If you’re looking for a convenient tent for your pickup truck, the Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 is a perfect option! This comes with a comfortable high density 2 1/2″ foam mattress with a cotton cover and sets up in no time!

    Pros

    • Includes a stock 8ft-6in telescoping ladder
    • Universal fit
    • Durable canopy

    Cons

    • No entrance awning
    • No added accessories

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Here are some common questions we get about our truck tent:

    Are truck bed tents worth it?

    If you’re looking to save money and not get a rooftop tent, then yes!

    But if you have the budget and are more interested in getting a roof top tent, we recommend that simply because they’re much more comfortable. However, truck tents can be used on their own or as an add-on to your roof top tent.

    Are truck bed tents easy to set up? How long does it usually take?

    It’s pretty easy to set up, but it does take some practice. The hardest part is putting on the rain fly that goes over top of your tent, since you have to tie bungee cords around your truck bed.

    How do truck bed tents work?

    The tent attaches to the side of your truck bed with straps and then poles pop up to hold the tent open. It’s very easy to use, even if you’ve never set up a tent before!

    How can I make my truck bed tent more comfortable?

    There are a few things you can do to make your truck bed tent more comfortable. One is to put an air mattress or sleeping pad inside the tent. Another is to use a foam pad under your sleeping bag for extra insulation and comfort. You can also buy cots that fit in the truck bed, which makes them even more like a regular tent!

    Can a truck bed tent be used on the ground?

    Yes! It’s not advisable to do this often because it makes the tent harder to clean, but if you’re in a pinch then it works great.

    Final Thoughts

    A truck tent is one of the best ways to start overlanding and adventuring without spending a fortune on overlanding gear. We hope this guide helped you pick the perfect truck bed tent for you!

    If you’re not quite set on adding a rooftop tent, there are always other awesome options like a truck bed camper or a truck bed cap. Both can make great shelters from the elements as well. If you rock a smaller truck, check out our guide to the best short-bed campers for the Toyota Tacoma, these options are great for all 5 foot beds.

    Want to learn more about truck bed camping? Check out some of our other guides:

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