Best Truck Tents of 2024: The Ultimate Guide

It’s rare that we should come across a good truck bed tent that ticks every box that needs ticking, but the Napier Sportz Truck Tent does just that.

This is one of the most livable models we reviewed. In addition to a 5′ 8” peak height and a spacious interior, it comes with multiple pockets, a huge gear shelf, vents to boost airflow, and an extendable awning under which you can stash your camping gear to free up interior space.

The NS TBT is also good to go in just about any weather. While its 1,200mm rainfly doesn’t offer the same level of weatherproofing as the Rightline Gear or Vevor, it’s more than waterproof enough to withstand all but the heaviest downpours.

In terms of features, the NS is head and shoulders above its closest competitors. While the most lovable non-standard “extra” is that extendable awning, its oversized canopy gear shelf, cab access window, the bounty of interior pockets, and duo of air vents seal the deal.

The Vevor Standard is a great option for occasional, unfussy campers who simply want a reliable waterproof shelter for nights in the sticks.

Considering how cheap the Vevor is, it has plenty to offer. It’s made with tough polyester fabric, has a fully waterproof rainfly, taped seams, and is quick and easy to assemble. It also provides plenty of headroom and has large viewing windows for stargazing and added ventilation.

While the Vevor lacks interior pockets, a gear loft, and a rear-access panel, this is fairly standard for tents in this price range.

The Rightline Gear truck tent is our top pick if you’re an all-weather kinda truck-tent camper.

The RG has a double-walled design so you can use the inner tent on its lonesome in dry, hot weather and then throw on the 2,000mm HH rain fly when the forecast calls for rain.

The RG is also one of the easiest tents to set up on our list. This is because it uses a floorless design so no need to remove anything from your pickup truck bed before setting up. It also has color-coded tent poles and pole pockets, which eliminates the guesswork in placing the poles.

Features-wise, the RG isn’t a standout, but it has enough add-ons to help make life inside a little more comfortable and convenient. These include a few interior pockets, a gear hook for your lantern or torch, and a huge sky-view vent that boosts ventilation and allows for more natural light and better views.

Napier Backroadz is one of the most expensive pickup-bed tents on our list, but it does a lot to merit inclusion nonetheless.

The Backroadz is made with extra-burly materials that are more durable than those used in lower-priced models. It also had an impressive peak height of 5’ 2”, a full floor sewn-in, storm flaps, and a full-coverage rainfly. Features-wise, it’s one of the top tents out there. It has two large windows, a gear loft, multiple pockets, and a handy lantern holder.

There are, however, a few downsides…

Given its price, we would have liked far superior waterproofing than the Backroadz’ 800mm rainfly offers. A rear-panel access window would’ve been nice, too.

The Guide Gear Full-Size truck tent is, in a few words, a low-cost shelter that offers just as much and performs just as well as many truck tents with a far greater price tag.

The GG’s a little short on features, lacking a few desirable conveniences like a gear shelf, awning, and air vents. However, it scores highly in every other important metric.

The GG is made with durable materials and uses a double-walled design, the second part of which is a full-coverage rainfly with an impressive 1,500mm hydrostatic head rating. That means you can use the inner tent alone to boost ventilation on warm nights and throw on the fly to stay dry in even heavy rain.

The GG also has a sewn-in floor, two mesh windows, and a large rear window for easy access to the cab.

If you’ve got money to burn and will only settle for the best of the best, the Overland Nomadic 3 is the shelter for you.

The Nomadic 3 isn’t going to win any prizes for affordability, granted. However, in return for your outlay, you’ll be getting an utterly “bombproof” rooftop shelter that truly elevates your car-camping game.

The Nomadic can comfortably accommodate three adult sleepers and has a peak height of 51”, which is above average for a rooftop tent. When not in use, it collapses down into a heavy-duty, waterproof transportation cover.

The tent itself is made with materials that will last a lifetime and weather any storm, specifically a marine-grade, 600D ripstop polyester and cotton canvas body and a 420D, 3,000 mm rainfly. In layman’s terms, this means it’s tough as nails and as waterproof as they come.

The Nomadic can also be fitted to any vehicle with a roof rack that can support its weight and can be set up in just a few minutes once installed. It comes with a 3-inch foam mattress, a heavy-duty base plate, tubular ladder, a duo of shoe pouches, and LED strip lights for cozy interior lighting.

The Smittybilt Overlander has been one of the top-selling roof-top tents on the market for the best part of a decade. And with good reason.

The Overlander is made with burly poly-canvas fabric that’s made to last at least a lifetime. It’s also fully waterproof and has extendable awnings over the mesh windows so you can enjoy the views and let in a little fresh air even when it’s raining.

Inside the Overlander, things are a little bit special. There’s a 12V power adapter, LED strip lighting, a shoe storage sack, an integrated travel bag, and a dense foam mattress for added comfort. Not that you’ll ever want to leave, but when you do there’s an extra-wide telescopic ladder to simplify your return to terra firma.

There are, in truth, no real downsides to the Overlander barring its price tag, and very little separates it from our other rooftop model, the Overland Nomadic 3. When push came to shove, however, we chose to hand the Nomadic 3 our top award on account of its cushier mattress and ripstop fabric. Given the Overlander’s lower price point, however, it’s well worth considering.