How To Install Truck Bed Tent 2021

Jed Silverlake
7 min readSep 11, 2021

--

Most Affordable Top Truck Bed Tents| Free Shipping Included

How To Install Truck Bed Tent Written by Jed Silverlake

Usually, most truck bed tents come with an instruction manual showing how to install it step-by-step, but it could be hard to follow especially when the instructions are unclear,

In this guide, we show the step-by-step plan on how to install truck bed tent for almost any campsite… let’s check it out!

Step 1: Finding the Perfect Spot to Park

Before we even begin setting up camp, looking for a good camping spot is one of the most overlooked steps,

The common mistake most beginner campers make is this, “Since I’m setting up the tent on top of a truck, where I park doesn’t matter.” But it does.

Finding a flat ground, where there is no steep incline or decline is the ideal way to set up camp. Just simply park your car in a stable area and now we’re ready to set up the truck bed tent!

Step 2: Turning Your Engine Off

First, turn off your engine and lower your truck’s tailgate. Once you’ve already parked comfortably, it’s time to grab your truck bed tent.

Step 3: Your Truck Bed Tent

Look for the front door of the tent, make sure to position this towards the outside of your car. (We don’t want to rush placing the straps and then find out that the tent is on the wrong side for all this time.)

Locate your tent side straps, depending on the manufacturer usually, there will be around 3 straps per side. Begin securing the straps to the bottom of your truck.

Connect the remaining straps to the front of the tent | Image by CARiD

Find the 3 tailgate straps that are located on the tent floor, slide those straps between the truck bed and tailgate. Connect the remaining straps to the front of the tent.

Step 4: Tent Poles

Gather all your tent poles and begin unfolding all the sections to make the process of placing them inside your tent much easier.

Locking in the velcro to fully secure the poles | Image by Globo Surf

Setting up the tent poles will give structure to your tent and form its shape, once installed finish with locking in the velcro to fully secure the poles.

Step 5: Rain Fly / Tent Fly

In this step, we already successfully setting up our home for the night. It’s time to install the final roofing to prevent rain from coming inside the tent,

Rain Fly / Tent Fly | Image by Redcamp

Secure the rain fly to your tent by attaching the rainfly clip to the respective clip for the tent. Now you’re all set and waterproof for the rest of the night.

If you are looking for a quality rain fly, the image above is from Redcamp. They have a multi-purpose functionality that can be used as a rain tarp shelter, shade tarp for the beach/park, for your hammock, picnic mat, and even a beach grassland blanket.

Type: Waterproof Tent

Color: Black

Customer Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars

View Product on Amazon

Get 10% Discount Coupon on Amazon:

Order Guide Gear Truck Tent, click here

How To Pick The Best Truck Bed Tent?

Here, we track the best tent that you can choose based on how many times you will use it.

Will this is a short one-night occasion per season or a weekly getaway with your friends?

Let’s find out.

1. The “For Tall Persons” Tent

The last thing you want is to buy a tent that is just too small and doesn’t fit your height,

It will be a real struggle climbing out of the tent and lying down at night to sleep and try to have a good night’s rest, this is why it’s important to find the truck bed tent that 6-feet people have the best tent experience in.

If you don’t believe us, here’s what a real customer has to say:

ok, I’d been doing extensive research on truck tents and was scared to death to pull the trigger on this one because of its low price. How could it possibly hold up? Decided to go for it and if it didn’t work out I was only out a small amount of dough!

I have a 2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

Well, first time I took it out, it rained, sleeted and snowed all day and night. It took me about 30 minutes to set up that first time. I had a little space heater with me and despite being in the 20’s, the tent heated to over 70 degrees in about 10 minutes!! And, most importantly I stayed dry all night!

Was also very impressed with the amount of room in this tent. I’m 6’ tall and had more than enough room for my gear.

I love this tent and have used it several times. Never once have I been disappointed. Feel like I got away with something because of the price!

-M. Seyer

Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent for Camping, Car Bed Camp Tents for Pickup Trucks, Fits Mattresses 79–81", Waterproof Rainfly Included, Sleeps 2
Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent for Camping, Car Bed Camp Tents for Pickup Trucks, Fits Mattresses 79–81", Waterproof Rainfly Included, Sleeps 2

Price: $119.99

Guide Gear Truck Tent turns your truck into a camper in just a few moments, providing a fast and comfortable shelter anywhere.

It’s compact and lightweight, perfect to be kept in your car. It comes with a heavy-duty, weather-resistant polyester carrying bag that makes it very convenient for travel and storage

Design: Vehicle Mounted Tent

Occupancy: 2

Customer Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars

View Product on Amazon

Get $50 Off with Amazon Rewards Visa Card:

Order Guide Gear Truck Tent, click here

2. The “Anti-Claustrophobic” Tent

If you are someone who suffers from being in small spaces and struggling to gasp for fresh air every time, then your standard truck bet tent is not enough.

Searching for truck bet tents with high ceilings may just solve your problem and make your campaign experience more enjoyable.

FOFANA Truck Bed Tent Automatic Setup — Truck Tent | 6' Standing Height, Panoramic Windows, Full Coverage Weatherproof Rainfly | Sleep Off The Ground and Under The Stars
FOFANA Truck Bed Tent Automatic Setup — Truck Tent | 6' Standing Height, Panoramic Windows, Full Coverage Weatherproof Rainfly | Sleep Off The Ground and Under The Stars

Price: $249.98

FOFANA Truck Bed Tent offers high ceilings, the massive full height windows give you a panoramic 360-degree view and 180-degree celestial sky view.

You’ll have the best view of nature you can get from a truck tent, and zip the window flaps closed for privacy. Its cavernous interior with a 6-foot standing height gives you room to stretch and it makes changing a breeze.

Comfortably sleeps 2 adults. plus there’s a fully sewn-in floor to keep you dry and clean.

Design: Vehicle Mounted Tent

Occupancy: 2

Customer Ratings: 44 out of 5 stars

View Product on Amazon

Get $15 Discount Coupon on Amazon:

Order FOFANA Truck Bed Tent, click here

3. The “On-A-Tight-Budget” Tent

If you are looking to find the most affordable tent for a quick weekend getaway and tight budget, the best truck bed tent under $200 that we found Napier’s Backroadz Truck Tent.

Napier Truck Bed Tent
Napier Backroadz Truck Tent

Price: $155.99

Napier Truck Bed Tent was created with every truck owner in mind while being easy on the wallet. A quick and easy assembly creates the ultimate camp site in the back of your open-bed pickup.

Napier’s exclusive full floor design protects you from the elements while making the tent easy to set up and secure to your truck. It’s perfect to keep behind the seat for any unexpected adventures such as: camping, tailgating, fishing or even lounging at the beach.

Sport Type: Camping & Hiking, Outdoor Lifestyle

Occupancy: 2 Person

Customer Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars

View Product on Amazon

Get Free Shipping On Amazon Prime:

Order Napier Truck Bed Tent, click here

The Verdict: Are Truck Bed Tents Worth It?

Even if the benefits of truck bet tents are helpful, not everyone wants to have a truck bet tent — specifically people who want to feel connected to the earth while they sleep.

But at the same time, it could be a shock to your body when it’s your first time camping. The first night won’t bring you good sleep if you are not accustomed to sleeping into the hard dirt ground.

Overall, as long as the truck bed tent makes camping a fun & enjoyable process for you, then you can’t go wrong with it.

About the Author:

Jed Silverlake is a brand journalist & storyteller who has written SEO-driven articles that rank #1 in Google.

He has published and written articles for humble startups, e-commerce businesses, up to Fortune 1000 companies & private clients. For more content similar to his, you can follow his Medium profile.

Want me to write your story that ranks #1 on Google? Contact me and I just might write an article about you!

Amazon Partnership Disclosure:

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

To put it into simple words, there are affiliate links included in this article. If you happen to purchase through our link within 24 hours, we could earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you)

By doing that will help support my writing journey immensely. For that I’d like to personally say, Thank You.

-Jed Silverlake

--

--

Jed Silverlake

I help Startup Founders & Ecommerce Stores rank #1 in Google SEO. Want me to help your business grow? Contact me: linkedin.com/in/jedsilverlake