The Best Truck Bed Tents for 2025

What Are Truck Bed Tents?

Truck bed tents are conveniently shaped outdoor shelters that fit within a pickup truck's bed. These tents are engineered for installing directly into your truck's cargo area, featuring a precisely-cut floor and innovative shape that accommodates wheel-well humps, tailgates, and other features. 

Why Install a Truck Bed Tent?

So long as the campsite is easily accessible by vehicle, truck bed tents are a superior solution to overnight stays in the great outdoors. With a truck bed tent, there's no need for leveling campsites, clearing brush, moving rocks, or any other time-consuming setup. Instead, these tents take advantage of the spacious, elevated platform nearby—your truck's bed. 

These tents can also keep your sleeping area safe against crawling insects, scavengers, unwanted critters, and excessive moisture, enabling you to get a good sleep no matter the surrounding conditions.

Truck Bed Tents vs. Roof Tents

Truck bed tents and roof tents are two sides of the same coin. While they both rely on your vehicle for setup, they do so in slightly different ways. 

Truck bed tents are nothing more than prototypical ground tents with precise dimensions to fit within a truck's bed. That means accounting for wheel well humps, bedsides, and tailgates. Truck bed tents don't require fancy rack setups or other accessories—so long as your truck has a conventional bed, you're good to go. 

Alternatively, roof tents rely on a compatible bed rack system for mounting, like the RealTruck Elevate Rack. Roof tents feature solid, flat bases and specialized mounts that clamp to a roof rack's crossbars. They typically feature hard shell or soft weatherproof cases, enabling them to remain installed in all weather conditions. 

Setup is a breeze with roof tents, as most pop open or unhinge, providing an elevated, comfortable sleeping area in minutes. Alternatively, truck bed tents are engineered like conventional ground tents, requiring additional time to organize tent poles, pitch, and affix to the bed.  

Other notable differences between the two tent styles include price, as conventional truck bed tents are far more affordable than most roof tents, and cargo capacity, as roof tents leave most of your truck's bed open for coolers, tool boxes, and additional cargo.

Best Truck Bed Tents

Here, we're ranking the top five truck bed tents on RealTruck, offering exceptional utility, comfort, and durability. We include conventional truck bed tents and roof tents for this comparison. 

RealTruck GoTent

Elevate your camping setup with the RealTruck GoTent—a durable, lightweight rooftop tent designed for overnight stays under the stars. Built with a stainless-steel frame and an aluminum hardshell, this tent offers exceptional strength yet weighs only 169 pounds. When opened, it provides a spacious 7-ft x 4.3-ft x 5.25-ft interior.

The waterproof Oxford fabric construction keeps you dry in any weather, while the synthetic fiber floorboard adds structural integrity. Inside, you'll find a two-inch high-density foam mattress, zippered mesh-screen windows, and convenient integrated storage pockets.

The setup is effortless, with stainless-steel hinges, gas-charged struts, and a sturdy telescoping ladder that ensures easy access. Plus, integrated T-slot rails let you mount essential overlanding gear. This tent can fit any crossbar system with the included universal mounting brackets.

Features: 

• Rugged stainless-steel frame with lightweight aluminum hardshell 

• Weighs just 169 pounds and measures 7 feet x 4.3 feet x 5.25 feet in the open position

• Waterproof Oxford fabric tent body

• Synthetic fiber floorboard adds structural rigidity 

• Two-inch-thick high-density foam mattress for undeniable interior comfort

• Windows include zippered mesh screens

• Integrated storage pockets on the inside

• Stainless steel hinges and gas-charged struts allow easy setup

• Sturdy telescoping ladder makes tent entry a breeze

• Integrated T-slot rails on the tent's exterior accommodate a variety of overlanding accessories

• Includes universal mounting brackets for installation onto any cross bars

Napier Outdoors Backroadz Truck Tents

Turn your truck's bed into the perfect campsite with the Napier Outdoors Backroadz truck bed tent. This tent is built to handle the elements, crafted from 68D 185T polyester taffeta with a puncture-resistant polyethylene floor. Durable fiberglass poles provide reliable support, while full rainfly and storm flaps in the windows and doors protect you from wind and rain.

Designed to comfortably sleep two adults, the tent offers a center height of 58 to 62 inches for ample headroom. It features two mesh windows and a large door for ventilation, plus interior touches like a gear loft, gear pocket, and lantern holder.

Setup is a breeze with color-coded poles and sleeves, getting you ready to camp in just 10 minutes. The tent zips up when not in use and packs neatly into its included carrying bag. Plus, Napier plants a tree through its Trees for the Future partnership with every purchase.

Features: 

• 68D 185T polyester taffeta with a polyethylene floor

• Durable fiberglass tent poles

• Sleeps two adults with a center height between 58 and 62 inches

• Full rainfly and storm flaps in windows and doors

• Includes sewn-in floor and carrying bag

• Two mesh windows and one large door

• Includes gear loft, gear pocket, and lantern holder

• Color-coded pole and sleeve assembly for a 10-minute install

• Zips up when not attached to the vehicle

• With every Backroadz tent purchase, Napier will plant a tree with its Trees for the Future Partnership

• One-year warranty

Rugged Ridge Roof Top Tent

The Rugged Ridge rooftop tent is engineered for extreme off-road explorations. Constructed with a heavy-duty waterproof fabric outer and a sturdy aluminum frame, this tent is tough enough to handle any adventure.

This tent offers a spacious sleeping area with a comfortable two-inch-thick foam mattress, ensuring a restful night under the stars. Large mesh windows provide exceptional ventilation while keeping bugs out, and a full rainfly offers extra protection against the elements.

Setting up the Rugged Ridge rooftop tent is effortless thanks to gas-assisted struts and a telescoping ladder, enabling you to set up camp in minutes. Integrated storage pockets help organize your gear, while universal mounting brackets allow secure installation on most roof racks.

Whether tackling rugged trails or setting up basecamp for the weekend, the Rugged Ridge rooftop tent delivers unmatched convenience, durability, and all-weather performance for your next overlanding adventure.

Features: 

• Durable 600D poly-coated polyester construction

• Strong aluminum base for stability

• Sleeps three with 660-lb. load capacity

• Built-in door and window flaps with mosquito netting

• Strong layered aluminum base

• Waterproof 600D poly-coated polyester shell for travel

• Includes a three-inch-thick high-density foam mattress

• Rainfly cover included for keeping contents dry

• Extra-wide extending ladder offers stable tent access

• 95 inches W x 56 inches L x 51 inches H

• Limited five-year warranty

Pittman Outdoors EZ-UP Truck Bed Tent

Truck bed camping has never been EZ-er with the Pittman Outdoors EZ-UP truck bed tent. Built from heavy-duty, UV- and water-resistant fabric, this tent is designed to handle the elements, ensuring you stay dry and comfortable no matter the weather forecast.

With the EZ-UP installation system, setup is quick and hassle-free. The sewn-in flooring keeps dirt and moisture out, while the detachable rainfly provides extra protection on rainy nights. Need shade? The color-coded sun awning poles make setup simple.

For added stability, guy lines and stakes are included for windy days. When it's time to pack up, the tent stores neatly in its included carrying bag, which features a sewn-in owner's manual for quick reference. Plus, with a limited 2-year warranty, you can camp confidently, knowing your gear is built to last. 

Features: 

• Heavy-duty, UV- and water-resistant fabric construction

• EZ-UP installation system

• Detachable rain fly

• Sewn-in flooring

• Color-coded sun awning poles for easy setup

• Included carrying bag with sewn-in owner's manual

• Guy-line and stakes for high wind days

• Limited 2-year warranty

Thule Basin Hardshell Rooftop Tent

The Thule Basin hardshell tent combines durability and convenience for the ultimate overnight experience. With space to sleep two people, this tent is the perfect addition for solo overlanders or outdoorsy couples. Its hardshell construction offers superior protection against the elements while ensuring long-lasting performance.

With a 600-lb. weight capacity, this tent is built for strength and stability. A removable cover lets you quickly convert it from a tent to a cargo carrier, adding extra versatility. Inside, you'll find mosquito screens, a telescoping ladder for easy access, and internal pockets with cargo netting to keep your gear organized.

Setup is quick and hassle-free, so you can spend less time setting up camp and more time enjoying the outdoors. Thule backs each Basin hardshell tent with a 2-year limited warranty. 

Features: 

• Two-person tent

• Hardshell design for maximum durability

• Removable cover Included

• Includes mosquito screens and telescoping ladder

• Internal pockets and cargo netting for extra storage

• Up to 600-lb. capacity

• 2-year limited warranty