So, you’ve just invested in a new Ford truck, having maybe sold your old truck to one of those Sell my truck companies, and are currently enjoying that new vehicle smell and getting used to the newness of it all. What’s more, your new truck is almost ready to go for your next adventure into the great outdoors. You’ve insured it, you’ve looked online for Ford F150 Truck Covers, and you’ve got all the accessories. But then it hits you, the cargo bed is the perfect place to camp for the night!
If you own a truck and love camping, or sometimes take a long road somewhere and need a place to sleep overnight that doesn’t cost you bed lice and a headache, it is best to invest in a truck topper. Besides, it can do wonders if you are on a romantic getaway trip (which might get a bit naughty with feeldoe or other toys) and would like the privacy very much!
List of Top-Rated Truck toppers for camping
A truck topper is essentially a canopy or tent that is designed to clip onto the back of a pick-up truck, and you use the bed of the truck as your actual overnight bed. Other options include longer toppers that connect to tents, and this provides you with even more space and a hard, dry surface to sleep on.
Well, enough said on accessories, let’s take a look at the five best truck topper for camping models.
The Best Truck toppers for camping Reviews
Contents
1. Bestop 76309-35 Black Diamond Supertop for Truck
This is the Bestop 76309-35 Black Diamond Supertop
Performance
The Bestop 76309-35 Black Diamond Supertop uses a heavy-duty, diamond-point grain, UV-protected mildew-resistant fabric that comes with tinted windows, rails, and hardware for a complete installation
This model folds forward for full bed access and comes with a quick bow release for easy removal. Installation is a cinch and uses a no-drill, four-clamp installation method.
This model comes with a high cab topper, with a front retainer bar that provides a better and tighter fit behind the cab. The side and rear windows can be removed as well as replaced.
The canvas used on this model is constructed using Industrial-strength thread and heavy-duty seams designed to protect you from the elements.
Features
- Ford Nissan Lincoln, 2006-2017
- Patented Belt-Rail Attaches System
- No Drilling Required For Fast and Easy Installation
- Stain and Mildew Resistance Durable Stretch Fabric
- Durable Black Powder-Coated Hardware
Recommendations
This is a high performance grade model; it comes with a hefty price since you are paying for quality materials and long lasting performance.
2. Rightline Gear 110730 Full-Size Standard Truck Bed Tent 6.5′
This is the Rightline Gear 110730 Full-Size Standard Truck Bed Tent 6.5′
Performance
The Rightline Gear truck bed tent is a carefully designed truck bed topper that comes with tent stylized lines and is made from a very durable yet lightweight fabric. This is more of a tent than a topper, and as such comes with 2 gear pockets, a lantern hanging hook, glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls, and a sky view vent.
The material used to make this model is a 2000mm PU 68D polyester with tape sealed seams and the roof is made from 68D breathable polyester.
The structure completely covers the tailgate, so you use every inch of available space. The windows and doors are made using no-see-um mesh and storm covers. The rainfly material is 2000mm PU 68D polyester with tape sealed seams, and all the straps are made from 1.3mm thick polypropylene
Features
- Floorless design
- Protective heavy duty straps and plastic buckles
- Color-coded poles and pole pockets
- Water resistant fabric with tape sealed seams
- Sky view vent for more light and ventilation
- For 6″ to 8″ bed trucks.
Recommendations
This is an exceptionally affordable truck topper, and while its price is so good, the integrity of the materials retain their quality and performance. This is a great seasonal camping cover for your truck bed, best suited for sprint to fall.
3. Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent
This is the Guide Gear Full-Size Truck Tent
Performance
When it comes to truck bed toppers, it is hard to beat the Guide Gear products. These are carefully engineered and designed to perform way beyond the standard norms.
These models come with sewn-in polyethylene flooring and provide you with a large interior area with 5.25′ of headroom. The material is a 190T polyester with 1500mm water-resistant coating, and it is lightweight and easy to set up, using only 4 shock-corded fiberglass poles, and tension straps to anchor the fitment to your vehicle.
There is a large D-shaped door, and the windows are mesh for ventilation, and there are 2 storage pockets.
Features
- 190T polyester shell with 1500mm water-resistant coating
- The large interior area with 5.25′ of headroom
- Large D-shaped door
- Sewn-in polyethylene flooring
- Mesh ventilation windows
- Fits most full-sized beds 79-81.”
- Sleeps 2
Recommendations
The ultimate for large bed trucks, price, structure, materials, functionality, all align themselves in this model and deliver the best top rated product of all time.
4. Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent
This is the Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent
Performance
This model is designed to fit Full-size Trucks (Short Bed) 5.5 to 6.8 ft., including the Ford F Series, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra 2016 or earlier, and the Nissan Titan.
The Kodiak is made from a very heavy duty Hydra-ShieldTM, 100% Cotton Duck Canvas. This is a durable, watertight and breathable material that keeps you off the ground, high and dry and is fastened using a sturdy, 3/4-inch, steel tube frame together with a tunnel-shaped design that maximizes interior space. The head height is exceptional; it gives you a 5 ft. ceiling height.
This model comes with 5 mesh windows that provide excellent ventilation, and it also comes with a cab access window. The model clamps on to the rails with ease, and there is a large D shoed door that comes with a YKK Zipper.
Features
- 100% Cotton Duck Canvas.
- 3/4-inch, steel tube frame.
- Tall 5 ft. ceiling height.
- Tailgate down design
- 5 windows.
- Clamp-on rails easily mount on the truck bed for a secure fit.
- Large D-shaped door with the top of the line YKK zippers.
- Covered entry.
- Two gear pockets.
- Carry Bag included.
Recommendations
The Kodiak is a beast of a topper and aptly named. If its head height you want, then the 5′ ceiling is excellent, and you will enjoy a wide, airy experience with this amazing rugged truck topper.
5. Guide Gear Compact Truck Tent
This is Guide Gear Compact Truck Tent
Performance
This is the smaller version of the Guide Gear Large Truck Tent, and just like that one, this model is hard to beat too. These are carefully engineered and designed to perform way beyond the standard norms.
These models come with sewn-in polyethylene flooring and provide you with a large interior area with 4.75′ of headroom. The material is a 190T polyester with 1500mm water-resistant coating, and it is lightweight and easy to set up, using only 4 shock-corded fiberglass poles, and tension straps to anchor the fitment to your vehicle.
There is a large D-shaped door, and the windows are mesh for ventilation, and there are 2 storage pockets.
Features
- 190T polyester shell with 1500mm water-resistant coating
- The large interior area with 5.25′ of headroom
- Large D-shaped door
- Sewn-in polyethylene flooring
- Mesh ventilation windows
- Fits most full-sized beds 72-74.”
- Sleeps 2
Recommendations
Just like its bigger brother or sister, this is the ultimate for medium bed trucks, price, structure, materials, functionality, all align themselves in this model and deliver the best top rated product of all time.
How to Pick the Truck Topper For Camping?
There are many options to choose from, so in order to not fall on the way to buying a truck topper, here are the options and features you need to consider when buying the best truck topper model for camping and sleeping out.
Fitment
Obviously, you need to buy a topper that fits your truck bed. This means that the dimensions have to be exact, and match the length and width of your truck as well as come with connectors that fit onto your bed’s rails.
Elevated Headroom
Covering a truck bed is not complicated, you can buy a tonneau cover too, but that isn’t a topper and doesn’t act as a camping cover. What you need is a topper that comes with headroom, and this means a topper that will let you either sit up fully in the bed, or in some cases even stand, although those options are very rare.
Basically, you want a truck topper that will let you sit up, so you are not limited in movement and can see clearly inside the bed and outside it.
Windows
Mesh windows are usually made with wires knit closely together, and among the many uses for wire cloth, these can protect homes with windows or doors from mosquitoes and other such insects. While the mesh used in tents might not be made of wire, they essentially serve the same purpose. A topper with clear windows is great, but you should not forget to consider meshes as an option. And if you have a topper that comes with mesh windows and covers, make sure it is mosquito-proof.
Carpeted Headliner
Always get a carpeted headliner topper, this feature is important since it absorbs the moisture and condensation that comes from sleeping in a confined and watertight area. This stops the condensation from forming above you and then dripping on your face as you try to sleep.
Clips not Velcro
Velcro might seem easier for some, but the constant opening and closing of Velcro takes its toll on the seams and linings. Clips are better and less damaging over time.
Materials
Yup, the best for last. There are many materials to choose from, but thick 300 plus denier composite plastics are the best for lightweight solutions. Heavier canvas is much more rugged and is a great military grade material, but if it’s not treated properly will not be waterproof, so make sure the canvas is treated and then it becomes the best material ever.
Apart from considering the topper, consider the accessories you would need to have a comfortable camping experience, remember you have a truck. This means you can add an AC DC inverter that lets you operate home appliances from the truck battery. This is a must-have accessory and adds to this a soft bed liner, some kind of roll-up foam for sleeping on, the truck bed might be solid but its metal and ice cold at night, you need to insulate and soften your sleeping bag experience.
