Truck Tent

The right truck bed tent depends on how you camp. Match your trip below, then confirm the fit with the size guide.

Weekend campgrounds and state parks

Campsites are rarely level, and a rainy night turns the ground to mud. Sleeping in the bed keeps you up and out of it, and an awning gives you shade or cover for a chair or cooler. 

• Best pick: the Pickup Truck Tent with Removable Awning, an aluminum-rod design built for base-camp weekends.

Late arrivals and one-night stops

Pulling in after dark, or sleeping a few hours between fishing, hunting, or trailhead days? Setup speed is what counts. Automatic and semi-automatic designs skip most of the pole work, and an inflatable frame removes rigid poles altogether. 

• Best picks: the Automatic Instant Setup Truck Tent, the Semi-Automatic Truck Bed Tent with Awning, or the Inflatable Truck Bed Tent with Awning. 

Rain, wind and shoulder seasons

For wet weather, look for a double-layer build, a rainfly, a stated waterproof rating, and enough ventilation to limit condensation. 

• Best picks: the Waterproof Pickup Truck Tent for Camping (PU2000mm, double layer) or the Pickup Truck Bed Tent with Rainfly. In gusty conditions, use every stake and guy line provided.

Shade and extra living space

A truck bed tent sleeps two, but the awning is where camp happens. An awning extends the tent into a shaded spot for a camp chair, a cooler or wet gear after rain. Look at the awning models above if you camp for more than one night in the same spot.

Your first truck camping setup

If you camp a handful of weekends a year, a simple two-person tent with a rainfly is hard to beat. The Pickup Truck Bed Tent with Rainfly and the Waterproof Pickup Truck Tent both start at affordable prices. Add a truck bed mattress later; the bed floor is hard and has wheel wells.

Four checks before you buy

• Bed length: Joytutus tents fit beds from about 5.0 to 6.7 ft, so measure yours first.
• Open bed: a truck bed tent needs an open bed, so remove a tonneau cover or camper shell.
• Floor and vents: check for a sewn-in floor and mesh windows.
• Parked use only: pack the tent down before you drive.