5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Truck Bed Tent Camper

Camping and overlanding are undoubtedly among the best ways to spend free time. The open road, fresh air, and beautiful scenery are ideal for recharging your batteries, while the opportunity to explore near and far opens up possibilities for experiencing all the beauty the world has to offer.

For many of us, camping and overlanding involve ground tents, rooftop tents, trailers, or RVs. All have their advantages, but each has distinct disadvantages, too…

On the one hand, ground tents require a lot of work and rooftop tents present difficulties with ingress and egress. On the other hand, trailers and RVs are often big and cumbersome (and time consuming to set up).

So, that brings us to another option - a truck bed tent camper.

This setup blends all the good things about other types of camping shelters while minimizing the disadvantages discussed above. But before you buy a truck bed tent camper, it’s important to evaluate whether it’s truly the best option for your needs. To do that, you should consider the critical questions discussed below.

Will a Truck Bed Tent Camper Fit My Rig?

First and foremost, you need to consider the size of your truck and whether a tent camper will even fit. Fortunately, there are just as many sizing options for truck campers as there are makes and models of trucks, so the chances are you can find an outfit that works for your situation.

A good example of this is the Kit ‘N Kaboodle from Skinny Guys. We currently have three of these truck bed tent campers in stock, and each one is a different length: 5 feet, 5.5 feet, and 6.5 feet.

The 5-foot model is made specifically for the Jeep Gladiator’s bed, while the 5.5-foot model will fit everything from a second- or third-generation Toyota Tundra to Chevy and GMC models from 1989 to present to Dodge Rams dating back to 1994. Add the 2003-2022 Nissan Titan to the list, too! If you need a truck bed camper for F150, this will fit your truck, too!

The 6.5-foot model fits the same models from Toyota, Nissan, Chevy, GMC, Dodge, and Ford. So, whether you want a mid-size truck bed tent camper or the biggest in the lineup, Skinny Guys has you covered.

Can I Get a Truck Bed Camper With a Bathroom?

Every truck bed tent camper is a little different. While some are pretty basic without many features or amenities, other brands like Skinny Guys elevate the truck bed camping experience with plenty of options - including a bathroom.

For example, each of the three Skinny Guys models we currently have in stock have a Primo Loo toilet. This isn’t a dry flush or cassette toilet, either - it’s a plumbed flushing toilet that gives you all the comforts and functionality of the toilet you have at home.

But it gets better - Skinny Guys incorporates the Primo Loo toilet with a heated wastewater storage tank, so even if you’re camping in the dead of winter, you don’t have to worry about the unfortunate occurrence of the tank freezing up. As good as it is having a toilet in your truck bed tent camper, having one that won’t freeze into a solid block is even better!

Is a Truck Bed Tent Camper Comfortable Year-Round?

The next question you should ask before investing in a truck bed tent camper is whether it’s comfortable year-round. Again, not all truck campers are made alike, so the true answer is that it depends.

Some lower-tier truck bed campers don’t offer the features you need to use them year-round. Sure, you have shelter from the wind and snow in the winter and the sun and rain in the summer, but beyond that, you might be on your own in terms of adding the amenities you need to be comfortable.

Higher-end truck bed campers are a different story, though…

Let’s use the Skinny Guys Kit ‘N Kaboodle as an example once again. For starters, these campers offer enough interior head room that you can stand up straight. That alone makes it a more comfortable camping experience than many other options!

Beyond that, you’ll find comfort-related features like space to sleep two adults, a dinette for eating, and a functional kitchenette with a cooktop, sink, and a 12-volt refrigerator. You can even add a Truma Combi Eco 14,300-BTU furnace with an integrated hot water heater and heated fresh water storage systems to make your Skinny Guys camper all the more comfortable.

There’s another element to comfort here, too - this truck bed tent camper collapses into a form factor that’s the same height as the roof of your truck cab.

Not only does this lower the camper’s center of gravity, but it also makes your driving experience far more comfortable. There are no big, broad sides to catch crosswinds or bulky overhangs to impede your view in the mirrors. Instead, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the drive!

What Amenities Come in a Truck Bed Tent Camper?

If you opt for a Skinny Guys camper, you’ll find amenities top to bottom, inside and out. For example, each of the three models we currently have in stock comes with an extensive power system that includes a RedArc Manager 30 battery management system, a 1000-watt inverter, an interior GFCI receptacle, and an exterior solar panel.

That means you can keep your battery topped off, use battery power to charge and run 110-volt devices, and keep the lights on whether you’re just a few miles from home, deep in the wilderness, or somewhere in between.

You can also add features like an in-floor drain for an interior shower, an onboard 5-gallon propane tank, and a basement slide that gives you space for storing gear under the living quarters. Moreover, since the Kit ‘N Kaboodle sits on the rails of the truck bed, there’s empty space below it, so you can still use and access the truck bed. Nice!

But one of the best amenities with a truck bed tent camper like this is that it’s so easy to set up. Undo a few latches, push the top of the camper open so it folds out toward the back of your truck, add the rear supports, and you’re good to head inside for a few more steps. 

Honestly, the setup of these campers couldn’t be simpler. And since you can set this thing up in just a few moments, there’s less worry about getting to camp at a reasonable time. Instead, take your time on the road knowing that when it’s time to pull over for the night, you can have a comfortable tent to sleep in without much effort.

Is a Truck Bed Tent Camper Built to Last?

Again, the answer to this question is “it depends.” You can get a bargain-basement truck bed tent camper that will last a few seasons and then begin to show the wear and tear from camping in tough environments. Alternatively, you can invest in a high-quality rig like the Kit ‘N Kaboodle and have something that will give you long-lasting durability.

But why is a Skinny Guys camper so durable? Well, that’s simple - it’s the build quality!

This tent camper has an aluminum exoskeleton body that protects it from wear and tear without being an overly heavy addition to the bed of your truck. Heck, even the interior benches and storage use the same .125 aluminum sheets.

The tent is made of Aqualon Edge tent material that’s purpose-built for use in challenging environments. It’s wind-resistant, water-resistant, and resists tears, too. And when the wind blows, the stainless steel tent bows keep the tent’s shape without blinking an eye.

Add in marine mat flooring, powder-coated and CNC-cut components, and stainless steel hinges, hardware, and fasteners, and you have a recipe for a truck bed tent camper that might just outlive your truck!

So, with all that in mind, is a truck bed camper the right choice for you? There’s only one way to find out! Give us a call at 888-323-5902, and we’ll be happy to answer any other questions you have. We want you to have a better camping and overlanding experience - that’s why BTR (pronounced “better”) is in our name!