Bed tents

got it mounted. My driveway looks steeper than it really is.

 

Looks good! I like how the rightline matches the inferno much better than the other tents on the market (blue or neon green)

 

What do you recommend?

 

I looked into truck tents for a while. I just couldn’t find a compelling reason that made them better than a ground tent.

 

I've always thought they should make these for the inexpensive Carry On 5x8 trailers.

They would sell a bundle of these if it was for that trailer.

$600 350lbs trailer plus $250 tent at 20lbs makes a nice fit for Jeep, Subaru, even pickups.

 

It's really not an easy answer - it depends on your situation. If you have the ability mount/ dismount and store an RTT - I would recommend that because it gets you off the ground, and preserves the truck bed for other uses. If you're like me, and getting the RTT on/off the truck is an issue (I usually prep for our trips alone AND I can't have a hoist in the garage) then I would get a truck bed tent with a floor, and put my gear on a roof rack over the cab. It's a little hassle, but again - gets you up off the ground. So really - it's the surrounding factors that I would consider - not just the tent.

On one of our tent-camping trips, we got COMPLETELY flooded out - several inches of rain overnight. Those are the perils of a traditional tent on the ground. For portability and flexibility of cargo - they can't be beat, but MAN are you at the mercy of the elements! Water was above the floor tub of this tent:

 

LOL... here are 2:

 

Yikes! Did they mention that your spot was a waterfront site when you checked in?

 

Yikes. In all my years of camping I've never had that happen.

 

They needed this.........

 

I have this tent. I bought it because it is probably the easiest tent to set up by myself than I've ever seen.

https://youtu.be/e5sK3AHhaG0

I also plan on buying this to attach to my awning:
https://youtu.be/987X_xT5snQ

I have two dining canopies. A 10'x10' and a 8'x15'

Finally, I have a ARE MX cap on my truck (yes, I own a utility trailer for hauling tall things or larger loads).

Worst case scenario, you arrive at your campsite and it is already raining. I would set up the two dining canopies and put my folding tables under them and unload the rest of my gear, putting things that need to stay dry on the tables. Then cover it with tarps. Set up my sleeping area in the bed and hope the rain stops overnight. I might get a little rained on but my sleeping are is dry. I have battery operated fans to help with the humidity.

I have a Coleman oversized cot (40" wide) that has an attached air mattress. I can use the air mattress in the bed of the truck if need be. The cot, a chair, portable toilet, and a small table and clothes storage all fit in the Gazelle tent. The Awning room doubles as a screen room, second tent for fowl weather and also provides quick access to the inside of the truck.

I originally wanted a RTT but like @Paulndot my garage is too low for a hoist to remove it. If I had the disposable cash I would have a overland trailer/camper with a queen bed, A/C, shower/toilet, galley, TV etc. A lot of the things I have I already had so my costs were over time. I had a softopper on the truck and liked how it looked cool and the versatility but wanted the added security for our things on vacations to different places if we arrive early and have to wait to check in to unload. Example, going to the beach for a week. We take a lot of stuff. Coolers, beach toys, fans, etc.

I also looked at the bed tent and definitely appreciate the cost, ease, and climate security.

 

There really isn’t one best tent. I’ve spent nights snow camping with just a tarp under and over my sleeping bag. I’ve slept in a hammock hanging on the side of a cliff While climbing. Woke up to a river flowing threw the tent from rain. Woke up to a family of skunks in the tent. Floor, no floor it’s all what you need.

I’m getting older and building a platform to support a queen size air mattress so I didn’t want a floor and I was almost ready to buy one with the floor then I thought about it.

look for a quality build and you’ll be fine.

 

I agree. Everything I have right now is minimal/primitive compared to some setups. I'm actually going to build a waterport for showers. That will be the extent of my creature comforts. I use to hunt/camp when I was younger and now that I am older I need comfort! LOL

 

I looked at these! SOOO TEMPTING!! Here in Everglades National Park, they have "Chickees" out on the water all over the place, basically, 1 or 2 platforms with either a port-o-let in between them or if one platform - at the end of the "dock". You can set up a ground-tent, a cot, or pretty much anything you wanna sleep in. This reminds me of a portable chickee - looks awesome for river camping.

 

I wish I had pictures of our disaster. Coolers floated away, kitchen canopy folded like aluminum foil...good times. Here in Florida, we have 2 seasons (it's always hot) wet and dry. Man, in the wet season it rains every single day in some areas (like last week). You could set up camp under crystal clear skies and then not be dry for the next 3 days. LoL. Most campsites (especially in the nat'l parks & nat'l forests) are as "natural" as can be, so higher, level ground is hard to come by. If you're backcountry camping...LoL... GOOD LUCK!

 

Check this out. I just got one and it works great!
https://www.joolca.com/

 

That's nuts!!! I bet it's fun though. Please tell me the honey pot doesn't double as an ice fishing shack in the winter !!

 

I actually considered one of these (along with some other options). I plan on building a waterport that I had it originally designed like a bunch that use pressurized air. I even have a Viair automatic compressor. Then a friend hooked up a RV pump to one he built and I realized that is the way to go. Installing a tankless propane heater is a no brainer.

What is your water source?

 

IDK, if you are only using it a few times a year and need to use your bed for actual truck stuff most of the time I would take a bed tent over the others. Also I wouldn't get a camper shell to sleep in with a 5 foot bed - the bed tent will give you the length you need to lay down while keeping the mosquitos out.