Posted 2007-03-05 8:29 AM (#56721) Subject: Truck bed Tents
Regular
Posts: 74 Location: IN
Has anyone ever used a tent that goes in the back of a truck bed? How well do they work? What are the best ones out there? What features should I get? Since current finances are making me lose hope that I'll ever get my gooseneck, I was wondering about these things. I hate tenting it, but maybe having it up off the ground would make it a little more bearable. Thanks!
Posted 2007-03-05 9:04 AM (#56722 - in reply to #56721) Subject: RE: Truck bed Tents
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 474 Location: White Mills, Ky.
Before we got our LQ we used the truck tent several times. It worked pretty well for us. We had a small freestanding canopy to set our chairs under and cleaned out the horse trailer to use for storage and a place to change clothes. If you are camping with electicity, take an electric blanket or fan (depending on the weather) to keep you comfy. A small set of steps (I used my 2-step mounting block) will make it easier to get up on the tailgate and crawl in.
I feel your pain. It was a while before we could save up enough for a decent weekend trailer. But I didn't let that keep me from going and you shouldn't either. It is SOOOO much fun and relaxing!
Posted 2007-03-06 9:59 AM (#56768 - in reply to #56721) Subject: RE: Truck bed Tents
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455 Location: Texas
Some friends of ours have one that they used before they had their gooseneck trailer. It seemed to work out well for them as long as the weather wasn't terrible. The only drawback I see is that you have to unload everything from the pickup box before setting up the tent. And that can be a lot of stuff when camping for a weekend if there isn't enough room in the front tack room in your bumper pull trailer. They used a lot of Rubbermaid totes.
My wife and I looked into them. I do not remember having too many options to choose from. Both brands I found seemed very similar--zipper door, screens, rainfly, etc. If it is an option, the rainfly that extends past the tailgate is nice. You can be out of the tent and still stand under the fly.
My wife and I bought a used 8' pickup camper instead. Paid $500--roughly double what the tent would have cost. But we have better protection in bad weather, regularly sleep up to four people, and don't need all the Rubbermaid totes, as most stuff just stays in its place.
Posted 2007-03-06 8:26 PM (#56797 - in reply to #56721) Subject: RE: Truck bed Tents
Regular
Posts: 74 Location: IN
Thanks for the info! That's one of my main concerns is weather. I've been camping before (slept in the back of the trailer after cleaning it out) and have been thankful for the solid roof above me MANY times! The camper idea sounds good, but I don't have anywhere I can keep it when it's not on the truck...and we can't keep it on the truck. I live in a subdivision and board my horse, so while they'll let me keep my horse trailer at the barn, I think they'll draw the line at a truck camper too. Hmmmmm....maybe I'll win that lotto and this whole subject will be moot! 52
Posted 2011-05-25 12:18 AM (#134343 - in reply to #56721) Subject: RE: Truck bed Tents
Member
Posts: 10
Originally written by Dunagain on 2007-03-05 8:29 AM
Has anyone ever used a tent that goes in the back of a truck bed? How well do they work? What are the best ones out there? What features should I get? Since current finances are making me lose hope that I'll ever get my gooseneck, I was wondering about these things. I hate tenting it, but maybe having it up off the ground would make it a little more bearable. Thanks!
I bought and used the Napier Sportz truck bed tent from JCWhitney's bed tents & chairs listing of the product. I can say its not the best one but the design was so cool that the edges of the tent slide over your pickup truck's bed rails, preventing anything (including rain water) from sliding down into the bed of your truck.
Posted 2011-05-26 8:13 AM (#134357 - in reply to #56721) Subject: RE: Truck bed Tents
Member
Posts: 46 Location: Wis.
We used the Sportz Truck Tent II for a few years too. It worked well for us, at least you are off the ground and the dampness. We actually used two sheets of plywood and made a platform that slid in the tent over the top of the wheel wells so you slept about the wheel wells and had storage for stuff underneath. We stayed in it through a couple pretty heavy downpours and stayed dry too. They pack up in a small bag that we were able to store behind the back seat of the truck, so it didn't take alot of space.
Posted 2011-05-27 5:57 AM (#134369 - in reply to #56721) Subject: RE: Truck bed Tents
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 474 Location: White Mills, Ky.
We also used a plywood platform to get above the wheel wells and the gooseneck ball. Most truck beds have grooves on the sides that accommodate 2X4 slats to support the plywood. If your truck does not have them, several milk crates will do the job.
Being above the wheel wells gives you more floor space inside the tent and also makes a good dry place underneath for shoes, suitcases, etc.
Truck bed Tents
