Truck Bed Tent vs...

[mixedgasdiver]

I've been digging around for a little while and noticed no one that I can find is using these truck bed tents:

http://www.tentsontrucks.com/size_chart_gray_oem.htm
http://www.tentsontrucks.com/conastoga-truck-tent.htm

I've been considering buying one for my full size chevy. Obviously, a RTT would be a better choice, but that would mean adding a rack or capper, which isn't conducive during the work week.

Aside from having to remove everything from your truck bed before using it and having to take it down before moving the vehicle, am I missing anything? Has anyone out there used these things with any degree of success? Or, if you bought one and don't like it, please let me know why.

Thanks,

Rob

 

[rusty_tlc]

The metal truck bed is a giant heat sink. Unless you have a good layer of insulation over it you will be cold even in summer. BTDT not with a tent but with a truck shell.

 

[ntsqd]

I have one of these tents for the times that I have the fiberglass shell off my Yota mini. I've yet to use it though. I set it up once and while it wasn't difficult to do, it wasn't easy either. Mostly that was because of the need to adjust it to fit my particular bed & locate the best points for the anchors.

I do not think that you have to remove everything from the bed, but obviously access will be hampered and objects with sharp edges will be a problem for the tent floor.

I have a piece of 1/4" plywood on the floor on my truck bed, with a piece of marine carpet over that. It is not a double walled bed. The two times that I've been the most cold were both at Eureka Sand Dune on successive T-Day weekends. The second trip had a 2.5 gallon jug of water in the bed freeze solid overnight. Stagnant cold air is usually less of a concern than high winds that are cold. High winds make the bed noticeably colder. Insulating the bed has been on the list, but it hasn't been bothersome enough to move it very far up that list.

 

[maximumrob]

I had a friend who used one on his Chevy shortbed. He had no complaints. I don't recall which maker, though.

 

[opie]

I have one made by camp-right.

Set up is easy. Almost enough room to stand up while its pitched and Im 6'3. We stayed dry in a 4 hour downpour/thunderstorm during 1 trip.

I have some 2x6 and a piece of plywood to use as a platform to get the mattress above the wheel wells. Fits a Queen size air mattress. While you do need to remove some things from the bed to set-up and utlilize the space, youd be removing things anyway to make camp. So you pack accordingly.