Short bed, air bed

been looking around haven't really been able to find anything specific. I plan on buying a bed tent and would like to get an air bed to use. What would you guys that have had short beds before, use or do? I'm half tempted to get a couple 2x4's and a piece of plywood to get up over the fender wells. Unless there is an air bed made for the short bed like the long beds. Any thoughts?

 

2x4's and plywood would be a good start.

 

Sorry, I'm a long bed with a rtt but good luck with your search.

 

http://www.autoanything.com/truck-tents/60A5319A0A0.aspx

I have a long bed and used this one before i got a RTT and I loved it they make the short bed ones

I had no issues with the long bed one and would recommend going this route instead of the ply wood because if you raise the mattress then the bed tent won't fit

although I would recommend getting a Roof Top tent instead but they are a little more pricy

 

See I have looked at the airbedz and it only shows the standard box, not short. I have considered roof top tent but like you said pricey between the cost of the tent and a rack to mount it on.

 

That is weird I could have sworn I saw a short bed

I would say just hold out till you can do a rack/shell/bars and an RTT
I have an all pro rack I picked up off another TW member for 400 and then a Tepui Ayer For $875

it is by far my favorite mod to the truck Easiest tent I have ever set up and also quickest

I will never sleep in a ground tent again

Plus you can keep your bedding in it if you want and it still folds up nicely

and it keeps your bed free so your tent can be folded out without having to unpack the bed if you get to camp late

 

The rack cost is pretty insignificant next to the rtt. The tent costs the real money. But I can tell you that I'd honestly never want to camp any other way again since I got mine. An rtt is the last tent you will ever buy. Its not Ozark trail "ripstop", its real, heavy duty ripstop material. If it rips you can sew it up and keep on trucking. You can customize them (I put an LED light strip in mine on a dimmer switch). You can feel the breeze through the trees at night. I could keep going but I don't feel like this is what ur looking for here so I'll stop. But if u have the $$- go with an rtt. U won't regret it.

 

I completely agree

 

So do you guys just leave the tent on your rack? I just watched an install video and it seems pretty involved to install prior to heading out.

 

I just leave it on the rack 24/7

i know guys that take it off after each trip and its not that bad I just personally don't have place to store it other then on the truck

once the initial install is complete
it is just 8 nuts and then ideally two people lift it off and you're done I have done it solo before and it wasn't bad just not ideal

the initial install takes a while in comparison

 

Agreed. The initial set up of a brand new rtt takes some work but once it's assembled the on and off the truck is minimal. Plus setup/breakdown at camp is 10-15 min max. And that's alone. If ur married or have a girlfriend who camps with you and u two practice a few times together you could probably do 5 min each way. And I love not having to haul my sleeping bags and pillows in the cab or bed. Its a great space saver. Not to mention the saved space from not hauling a tent, air mattress and pump. I would consider that one of the biggest benefits over the bed tent/bed mat setup. I kept mine on my truck for 2+ years. I finally pulled it off but only because I have a 6 month old and I'm not going out 10-15 times/year right now. Leaving a rtt on all the time WILL wear on your leaf springs and screw your mpg a bit though. But I have a tepui Gran sabana (biggest model) and my sleeping bags and pillows live in there so its probably 200lbs. A smaller rtt wouldnt be as bad.

 

I have the ayer so it is lighter for sure

I timed myself and it took me 4 minutes and 23 seconds to set up alone (just at a normal pace not rushing)
and it took me 6 minutes 37 seconds to put away ( sat the same pace it takes slightly longer to put away because you have to zip up the case) but still nothing compared to the 10-15 minutes it took to set up my ground tent

you don't have to deal with those bungee poles or stakes

the RTT does have poles but they are not essential for the use of the tent its just if you want the windows open

This thread was to look at mattresses so I'm sorry for high jacking it to a RTT pros/cons

If you were asking me I would say hold off till you can afford an RTT

 

No I don't mind the hijacking! I am trying to figure out what's going to be best. Honestly my wife and I probably only go camping maybe a half dozen times a year. So I am not sure that an RTT is going to be worth it. I have been contemplating getting a small harbor freight trailer and boxing it in and putting a rack and RTT on top. That way it can also have all my camping gear in it and I can just hook up and go.

 

I appreciate all the input, keep it coming.

 

Designed specifically for trucks and they make a Tacoma specific model. There are a few companies that make these:
http://www.truck-bedz.com/

 

Bed bars for a RTT are pretty cheap. Check out Eddy at SOS concepts.

@EddyRRT

 

Yeah the RTT was originally an impulse buy as well as the bed rack I am thinking about going the trailer route

In the past i went camping maybe 3-5 times a year and only like 1-2 night trips
I bought the RTT in january and Ive gone on 5 trips and I'm going on 3 in the next month
The RTT makes it a lot easier to just get up and go making it more beneficial for the money

I have been thinking about going the trailer route and would love to do that my only problem right now is that I have limited space so would have to pay storage fees

I have been looking at trailers and the harbor freight looks like the best bang for my buck and I would end up boxing it up bout four feet with a water tank and propane tank built on fold out kitchen (nothing big just the essentials)
and then rack on top with tent mounted That way I can just hook up the trailer go to the store for food then be on the road
as of right now I'm at the point where i say "Fuck it I'm going camping" and from then it takes me about 45 minutes to get home get my bag go to the store and be on the road

Being able to get up and go makes it easier and in turn more fun to just get out more

My new years resolution this year was to get on one trip at least once a month
by the end of april I will have done 8 most of witch are multiple day trips not just an over night

 

Do they not make a 5 foot version of the Air Bedz?

 

Not yet, that I have seen or heard. If anyone has any new information please pass that on. What you pictured right here is exactly what I want but with the short bed.

 

One disadvantage of having a truck bed tent, RTT, etc., is if you're staying somewhere for a few days and need the vehicle to drive around, explore for your campsite you have to break down the text every time. I know these all have their own specific applications, advantages and disadvantages, etc., but I just stick with the regular old ground tent. Free's up the bed to be used for storing gear, etc. Plus it's way cheaper than buying a RTT, and better quality than a truck bed tent. With a truck bed tent you have to take all your crap out of the bed. If you're doing basic car camping just go to Costco and get a cheap big ass Coleman tent and save yourself a lot of hassle and money.