How to Choose the Best Truck Bed Tents for Camping

If you are planning to spend a night at a campground, it is recommended that you carry a tent with you. Why? Your stay must be as comfortable as you’d probably wish to. It should also be off the ground to keep you away from all sorts of dangerous animals.

This is where the best truck bed tents for camping comes in handy. With these tents, you can simply turn your truck into a comfortable room to spend a memorable night. How these tents are portable makes them ideal for any outdoor enthusiasts.

But how do you choose the most ideal truck bed tent from a pool in the market? What are some of the features you need to look out for in a truck bed tent? There has been a significant increase in the number of these tents in the market; some being top quality while others being so flimsy.

It is time to get it right from the word go! Take a look at these:

Important factors to be considered when buying truck bed tents.

Material

Truck bed tents should be made from durable materials. The material should, however, be lightweight to make the tent portable and easy to put up. Being that the tent will be placed on a truck, there is a high likelihood that it can get torn leading to some uncomfortable nights.

Besides, the material used should be highly waterproof to prevent unnecessary leaks during rainy or snowy seasons. There are tents made from fiber which are extremely lightweight but not so long-lasting. The most ideal material is ripstop nylon which is not only lightweight but also durable.

Just be sure that the material’s seams are properly sewn together to prevent cases of water leakages. For the records, ensure that the truck bed tent you are planning to buy is made from a material that is lightweight, durable and waterproof. If there is a rainfly, a second covering, over your tent, then it is a good one to buy.

The poles should also be made from lightweight but strong materials. Aluminum is usually preferred as it often provides these two most-important characteristics. Other commonly used materials in the construction of poles are fiberglass and steel. However, steel poles are too heavy despite being very strong. Fiberglass on the other hand is too weak but lightweight.

Size

The size of the tent is another important factor that you need to pay close attention. You get it wrong and you are doomed. Why do I say so? How are you going to install a tent that is bigger or smaller than your truck bed?

Always know the size of your truck before you head to the market for a truck bed size. Make sure you don’t work on assumptions as you might end up disappointed big time. The good news is that there are companies that have designed these tents in different sizes based on the sizes of different truck models.

By just giving correct details of your truck you will end up with the tent you need. There are even some more flexible designs that will definitely fit trucks of different sizes. On height, the product to go for should be slightly raised when fully installed to give some sufficient room for comfort.

The size of the truck bed tent to choose from also has an impact on the number of individuals to be accommodated underneath the tent. Generally, most truck beds do accommodate a maximum of two people. However, with quite larger trucks you can get more people having a space to spend a night very comfortably.

To accommodate more people, you can as well decide to go for slightly larger tents that overlap off the truck. This way you can get more space to store your camping items either.

Ease of installation

Are you going to the campsite on your own? If you are going to be alone, you probably would wish to go for a product that won’t consume most of your time installing. Even if you plan to be two or more, it is highly likely that there are times you’ll go camping alone with no one to offer an assisting hand.

Some truck bed tents are so complicated in design that can end up taking up much of your time so you better keep them off your list. Who really wants to spend little time camping while most of the other time being taken by assembling of camping materials?

Some of the factors that will affect your setting up time size, design and prevailing weather conditions. You are likely to find it rough putting up a tent on a windy environment. But I came to realize that the more time it takes to set up a tent, the stronger it is likely to be.

There are a couple of tents that are currently made with some aspects of color-coding, especially on pole pockets and tips, for ease of installation. I’d advise you to look for such models.

Apart from installation, taking it down should also be as simple and quick as possible.

Construction

An ideal truck bed tent should be well-built not only to be durable but also to prevent causing damage to your vehicle. The straps, for example, should be designed in a manner that they don’t cause any dents or scratches on the truck. The best tents do have straps built with paddings for protecting the truck when tied tightly.

A nice truck bed tent needs to be well-constructed so that no damages are incurred both on the truck and the camper. Still on construction, a recommended tent needs to be well ventilated for sufficient air circulation to bring in fresh oxygen and at the same time taking out bad smells. That way, you keep yourself cool, fresh and healthier.

A tent that has mesh windows will surely supply enough of oxygen for the occupants. The number of ventilations to look out for in a tent should be considered in regards to the kind of climate you are going to spend the night. The hotter the climate, the more ventilations you’ll need.

Floor type

Another important feature to be looked into is the type of floor the bed truck tent has. The truck bed tent can either come with a built-in floor or not. Products with built-in floors are easier to install as you don’t need to clear any materials or equipment from the truck during set up.

Additionally, the floor provides protection against unwanted elements. In case you have a lot of materials in your truck and you don’t see anywhere else to store them, it will be a good idea to settle for a floorless tent.

Access

Nothing is as important as an access route to any place. How easy you can enter and exit a tent is very key especially during occurrence of emergencies. Do you really want to purchase a truck bed tent in which you have to struggle to get into and leave?

Tents with large D-shaped access doors are the most suited for camping escapades. The bigger door increases your comfort levels as it also allows fresh air in large amounts. Always consider going for truck bed tents with relatively larger doors.

Other accessories

Things like additional storage pockets can be very handy when it comes to storage of camping items. With the pockets closer, you’ll be able to reach some of these items with a lot of ease. This helps provide additional storage space, especially in circumstances where the tents aren’t so big.

Some models don’t have the pockets so it is a choice you have to make between the pockets or not whenever you are shopping for these products.

A review of the 3 best truck bed tents for camping

Having looked at some of the factors to consider when buying truck bed tents for camping, it is now in order to have a look at the top 3 products currently in the market. In this section, we are going to loot at their features, merits and demerits.