The 10 Best Tacoma Tent Models

Toyota Tacoma Tent Guide

You own a Tacoma, you are looking for a tent but you don't know where to start. All you know is you want to able to camp with your Taco, you know about a few brands and tent designs, but haven't made up your mind. The purpose if this guide is to help you out with that, we do an in depth review of 10 different Tacoma roof top tent models, which fit perfectly over the cab of any double can Tacoma, most work on a crew cab, and all work over the bed if you have a tall bed rack.

It doesn't matter if you own a 1st, 2nd or 3rd gen Tacoma, on this guide all tents fit all three generations. On top of that, we review hard shell and softshell roof top tents from the major brands as well as from up and coming brands you might not know. We even help you understand which things to look for in a tent to make your decision an easier one.

If you already have a better idea of what you want, use the menu below to jump directly to the section you want, whether that's a specific tent, or to all the products we offer. If you have any questions, call us: 844-200-3979.

Best Tacoma Tent Models

Wanaka Tacoma Roof Top Tent 

Wanaka RTT is an all-season, 3-person, soft shell roof top tent. This is a very sturdy and reliable tent that has been tested in some of the harshest conditions out there to make sure that it can withstand pretty much anything you put it up to. Its construction is strong enough to withstand even the strongest of winds and even provides a great during a rainstorm. It is one of the cheaper 3-person tents on the market right now and it also has more awesome features to offer.

The body of the RTT is made from 600D waterproof, ripstop, polyester oxford canvas that has taped seams and a PU coating. It also comes with a durable rainfly which is made of the same material as the tent canvas. 1” thick aluminum poles make up the construction of the tent as well as a diamond plate anti-scratch aluminum base. When not using the tent, you can pack it away and store it safely inside the heavy-duty 1000D PVC black travel cover that comes alongside it.

There are edge protectors on the base of the tent which protect the tent canvas from getting torn up. Inside the tent, you will find an extremely comfortable 3” thick, high-density foam mattress as well as an anti-condensation mat that creates airflow that allows moisture to escape and keeps your mattress in good condition. It also adds to the comfort of the mattress. Inside there is also an LED light strip that helps you illuminate the tent when needed.

Now a great thing about this Tacoma tent is that it comes with an annex. And a big one as well. The annex has a footprint of 100” x 100”. It is also 82” tall. You can use that annex room as an additional sleeping space for any extra campers that may come with you on your next overlanding trip. This annex has 3 entrance points that are covered with a see-through mesh and canvas that can also be used as an awning.

Both the RTT and the annex use YKK zippers which are one of the highest-quality zippers on the market right now. There are windows on each side of the roof top tent as well as a sky view window that lets in extra sunlight during the day and can be used for gazing during the night. This Tacoma tent also comes with 2 shoe bags to help you organize your tent and keep it clean. We also want to mention that it has a 1 Year warranty.

Tuff Stuff Alpha Tacoma Camping Tent

This is a big 4-person, all-season, hard-shell Tacoma tent which has been tested in harsh weather conditions to ensure that it will withstand everything you put it through. Like many other hard shell roof top tents this one is also not a budget-friendly one. However, with higher prices come higher quality features and this tent is no exception. So, let’s look at it and see what makes it so great.

The body of this Toyota Tacoma roof top tent is made of 280G poly/cotton rip-stop fabric and features a 210D polyester oxford rainfly that is PU coated. The construction is very sturdy and reliable, and it can withstand even the strongest of winds. The hard shell of this RTT is made of ABS plastic which is both durable and lightweight and it has a heavy-duty aluminum honeycomb pattern floor which provides even more insulation for those colder nights.

Since this is a 4-person tent it has a weight capacity of an impressive 1100 lbs while weighing only 176 lbs. It has 3 mesh window openings as well as a sky view window that lets light in during the day and lets you gaze at stars at night. It even has 2 side window openings that can be used as rain awnings. One of the cooler features that this tent has is the YKK zipper design which comes with custom para-cord pulls which reduce the annoying dinging sound in the wind.

Inside the tent, you will find a 2.36” thick foam mattress as well as an LED light strip which you can use to illuminate both the inside and outside of your tent when needed. Getting in and out of this Tacoma tent is easy thanks to the 7.5 ft tall, angled steps which can be stored inside your tent when not in use. There is also a storage bag as well as a shoe bag which will help you organize your stuff and keep your tent nice and tidy. This is a perfect roof top tent for you and your family so feel free to check it out!

Skycamp Mini 3.0 Toyota Tacoma Tent Camper 

This RTT is an all-weather tent and it includes quilted insulation on the inside. This reduces condensation and as the temperature lowers it keeps you warmer. The body of this Tacoma tent also contains a thick 300gsm poly-cotton blackout canvas that shuts out light so you (or your kids) may sleep far past sunrise. It also includes a rainfly made of ripstop polyester with a DWR treatment that is environmentally friendly. It is also one of the lighter roof top tents available because when closed, it weighs only 125 lbs.

To keep you even warmer at night, the hard case's shell is made of a double-layered fiber-reinforced plastic with 1" of air insulation. The Skycamp 3.0 Mini has a modernized zipper and window design that enables you to simultaneously unzip the canvas and mesh windows. Y you can even use the outer canopy as blinds. A sky view window is also included, which provides additional light throughout the day and is excellent for stargazing at night.

A cozy 9-zone, 2.25" thick, insulated polyfoam mattress with a condensation-controlling design can be found inside the tent. This tent is most definitely not cheap and was not designed for low-cost camping trips but it does have some of the highest-quality features an RTT has to offer. This Toyota Tacoma roof top tent, on the other hand, is among the most modern models as previously mentioned, and was built to be as durable and reliable as possible to survive almost any weather situation.

You can deploy it in just minutes! This roof top tent comes with a 2-year warranty and is one of our top recommendations so feel free to check it out!

FSR High Country 3rd Gen Tacoma Tent

The FSR High Country V2 Mini is the newest roof top tent they have and let us tell you it’s impressive. We had the chance to see it in person and review it at the Overland Expo mountain West in Colorado in 2023, and we were surprised at the quality and adaptability. Let’s take a quick look.

First of all this it a 58” W x 48.5” L and 10.5” tall tent when closed, so it can fit a Tacoma double cab even a crew cab with a slight overhang, or perfectly fit over any bed rack. It has a sleeping footprint of 50” W x 90” L and a 2.25” thick self-inflating mattress. It weighs only 119 lbs. 

But what makes it so special? Besides the included crossbars it has over the base, in which you can carry Maxtrax, boards, gear and more, this tent comes with a special tri-layer technology to make it a proper 4 season tent. This tri-layered material is made of three sheets of 150D poly-oxford canvas with 90g/M2 poly-fil. It’s the best canvas for insulation in the market. Period. What about airflow? FSR thought of that too, adding larger air vents, which by the way can be sealed from inside if you want to do so during the colder months.

Finally, it comes with two shoe bags, as well as dump pockets to store other smaller items, an LED light strip and a telescoping ladder. Oh, and it takes just 60 seconds to open or close it

OVS Bushveld II Tacoma Pop Up Tent

Overland Vehicle Systems (OVS) is one of the most popular brands in America for all things overlanding. The Bushveld II has quickly become one of the best selling compact hard shell roof top tents in the market. Not only is it perfect to fit over pretty much any vehicle, but its dimensions are ideal to fit over the cab of a Tacoma, or over any bed rack, even the lower or mid height ones.

At 67” x 47” x 10” tall when closed, clearly this is a compact roof top tent which as said, weill fit double cab Tacomas, as well as any crew cab. On top of that, it literally takes 60 seconds or less to open and close it, and when open, it has a sleeping footprint of 84” x 64” with a height of 43” inside: perfect to comfortably fit two adults. Add to it the durable polymer hard shell combined with the long lasting double 600D rip-stop canvas and marine grade 304 stainless steel hardware, and you get yourself a 4 season roof top tent that should last a lifetime. 

Other great features about the OVS Bushveld II include a black diamond plate aluminum base which is great against scratches, provides better insulation and simply looks more elegant. Just in case, this Tacoma tent includes additional insulation in the base for those colder months. It also includes an anti-condensation mat to reduce the condensation when sleeping, and it comes with large enough windows as well as a sky light or sky window to provide good airflow, ventilation and even let you enjoy the view. 

The price is incredibly affordable for what a hard shell roof top tent offers, possibly one of the best in the entire industry. When you also throw into the mix a 4 year warranty, the Bushveld II kind of becomes one of the best if not the best option for a compact hard top Tacoma tent.

Nosara 55” Tacoma Rooftop Tent 

This is yet another all-season, 3-person, soft shell roof top tent which is reasonably priced and very sturdy and reliable. This tent can be used during some harsh weather conditions such as heavy rainstorms, snowstorms, or even during some strong winds. It comes with an annex that can be used as a sleeping quarter by a camper or just extra storage space. There are a lot more amazing features to this Tacoma tent so let’s get to it.

This RTTs body is made of 420D waterproof polyester oxford with taped seams and PU coating. It also has a 600D waterproof polyester oxford rainfly with a special silver coating underneath it for better insulation as well as light protection. This Tacoma roof top tent has a 1” thick aluminum pole construction which makes this tent as sturdy as it is. Its base is made of a black diamond plate anti-scratch aluminum base with an edge protector that prevents the tent from getting torn up.

When not in use, this Tacoma tent can be stored inside the heavy-duty 1000D PVC black travel cover that comes alongside the tent. Inside the tent, you will find a comfortable 2.75” thick high-density foam that comes with its own washable cover as well as an anti-condensation mat underneath it that allows moisture to escape, and this keeps your mattress in good condition. This Toyota Tacoma roof top tent comes with 2 shoe bags as well as 1 utility net on the base of the tent which adds more storage room.

There are windows on all sides of the tent as well as a sky view window on the roof of this RTT which lets you enjoy the scenery around you. The annex that is included has 2 canvas and see-through mesh openings, one entry point, and one window. The annex floor is included and once set up, you can enter the vehicle from the annex itself. This is one of the best Tacoma roof top tents out there so feel free to check it out!

Autana 3 2012 Toyota Tacoma Tent

This is a 3-person, soft-shell, all-season Thule roof top tent. They are and always will be recognized as one of the leading manufacturers of off-road equipment. This is a very durable and reliable roof top tent as it has been tested in some of the harshest weather conditions to ensure that it can withstand pretty much anything. Now let's discuss why this tent, as well as many of their other models, are so fantastic.

The most durable roof top tents available are in their ruggedized series, which includes this RTT. This Autana tent's body is constructed of 360g polyester cotton canvas with a 600D ripstop fabric that is water-resistant ventilated and has dual-stitched taped seams that are also UV and mold-resistant. A 420D polyester oxford rainfly with taped seams and a PU coating is another characteristic of this RTT. Additionally, a 1000D PVC cover is included with this tent to prevent damage when not in use.

The internal frame of this Tacoma tent is made of ¼" aluminum tubes, while the base is made of a heavy-duty aluminum tube frame with diamond plate cap sheets. A high-density 2-12" foam mattress with a detachable cotton cover is located inside the tent. There are also storage pockets inside the tent that you can use to arrange your camping supplies or personal items and keep the interior of your tent nice and tidy.

For more privacy and to prevent obnoxious insects from entering your RTT, all the windows have mesh covers. There is even a sky view window that lets the light in during the day and is great for star gazing at night. Thule created the entry point that is accessible from the underside of the tent to provide more privacy when entering and exiting the tent. Additionally, this tent even comes with an annex that can be used as sleeping quarters by other campers or for storing extra supplies and equipment.

It won't take you more than a few minutes to set up this Toyota Tacoma roof top tent. It also has a 2-year warranty! Overall, if you decide to get it, this tent is fantastic to have and would make a wonderful addition to your car. So, feel free to check it out.

Kakadu Birdsville Toyota Tacoma Roof Top Tent

Kakadu is an Australian off-road and outdoors brand with a few decades of history, knowledge and experience. The Birdsville 1400 is a lightweight 3 person soft shell roof top tent that fits perfectly over any Tacoma double cab and crew cab, as well as over any Tacoma bed rack system. At only 157 lbs, made of durable and reliable 280gsm rip-stop polycotton canvas, you get yourself a 4 season roof top tent. 

One of the best, if not the best features of the Kakadu Birdsville are the included cross bars over the base of the tent. When you close this tent and it’s mounted over your Taco, it has two crossbars over it to carry additional gear or cargo, from surfboards, to kayaks or fishing equipment. These crossbars weigh only 7.71 lbs, look good with the tent, barely make any noise, and do give you that flexibility to carry more gear. Just keep in mind, they aren’t built for heavy cargo, but boards, kayaks and such are fine. 

The tent comes with all the bells and whistles, besides the crossbars you get an included LED light with Lumos technology, an anti condensation mat, roof panels or windows, and a canvas shoe bag to store your shoes when you’re ready to take them off and have a great night of sleep. The mattress itself is a 2.36” thick memory foam mattress with a flannel cover, comfy for you to sleep like a rock, not too thick to make the tent too bulky. 

Finally, a 3 year warranty gives you that much needed peace of mind, knowing you’re making a long lasting purchase. Or better, you’re making an investment on a tent that can make any family holiday or weekend trip a much better one.

FSR Aspen Tacoma Tent Topper

One of our favorite clamshell roof top tents: the FSR Aspen is the definition of a premium roof top tent, and one of the best options for a Tacoma or any truck. It can fit both on the cab of a double cab Tacoma, with some overhang that can be left over the bed (with or without a bed rack), or it can go over a tall bed rack with the overhang sitting over the cab. You are looking at an 80” L x 58” W and 7.5” H tent when closed, and a 78.5: L x 52.5” W and 64” H sleeping footprint.

Let’s see what makes it so special: it has a 3” thick inflatable mattress which is now considered the best type of mattress in the industry (search around, you’ll see). It can also be deflated down to 2”, which gives you extra space to close the tent and have an even lower profiled tent than the rest. When the mattress is deflated, this tent has an impressive 3” space to store bed sheets and other gear, allowing you to carry stuff even when closed at just 7.5” tall!

Just like most FSR tents, it has a tri-layer canvas technology, which is the best in the world and guarantees a truly 4 season roof top tent. It also has really large windows on three sides that allow a great air flow and ventilation to keep you cool and fresh during the warmer months. Add to all of that the LED light strip and internal storage pouches, and you can sleep in comfort and glamour , even when you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Weighing only 110 lbs, is one of the lightest hard shell roof top tents in the world, hence why it’s so recommended for any vehicle. As all FSR tents, it comes with a 2 year warranty which. The quality of the materials, and the 2 year warranty guarantee you’re getting a durable high quality tent for your Taco. 

C6 Tacoma Overland Tent

We first discovered the C6 Rev Scout tent at the Overland Expo West in Arizona back in 2022. We were mind blown about it, it was one of the smartest designs we had ever seen. Why? Well, this is a roof top tent as well as bed tent, you can essentially use it over any roof rack, but you can in a way consider it a modular tent, in which you can detach it from the aluminum platform and turn it into a pick-up bed tent if you prefer to. Or even a ground tent for that matter.

Weighing literally only 84 lbs, you get the lightest roof top tent in the world. Yet you’re not compromising quality or dimensions. As a matter of fact, the tent when open has a sleeping footprint of 47” x 81” and 38” of height, which accommodates two adults easily. It is made of 210D oxford canvas, with an inner tent material of 68D 210T ripstop and breathable ply. It has all the mesh screens you want to keep the bugs away, a comfy open cell foam mattress and a strong and firm aluminum base. A true 4 season tent.

And what else? Well besides the fact that it’s possible to assemble it quickly, you get all the needed guy lines and tent stakes if you want to transform it into a bed or ground tent, it includes a leather carrying bag which can be attached over the tent for additional storage without taking any room inside your vehicle, and a cable port for solar and charging cables. Yeah, it’s a great, great tent.

How To Choose A Tacoma Roof Top Tent?

This is a very valid question, and a decision based a lot on budget, needs and personal choice. We will narrow it down to type of tent, size and fit over the cab.

Type Or Style Of Tent

As you may know by now, there are two types of tents: softshell and hardshell roof top tents. Any of the two are perfect Tacoma tents, which can go over the cab or the bed. However, for the sake of this guide we’ll focus on those that go over the cab.

Hard shell roof top tents tend to be more expensive as well as a bit longer, therefore taking more space than soft shells. The good thing is that the industry has improved and new hard shell tents have come out which are great for two people and fit perfectly over the cab of a double cab Tacoma. Such tents are the Bushveld II, Skycamp Mini 3.0 and the Alpha II by Tuff Stuff. Larger hard shells can also fit the cab, just keep in mind they might have an overhang, which can be left over the bed without issue, but it might not look as nice. 

Softshell tents are more affordable, they will always fit over the cab of your Taco, and have the advantage that they can be more spacious, you can easily get a 4 person roof top tent from brands such as Guana Equipment, Thule, OVS or Tuff Stuff and mount them over the cab without any issue. Downsides of the soft shells? They do take slightly longer to set up or pack back again. However, if not in a rush, they are a great choice and last forever.

Size

As briefly mentioned above, size or the dimensions of the tent are a factor to consider. A long hard shell tent such as the Eezi-Awn Stealth or a Skycamp 3.0, will certainly have some overhang at the back. Therefore, some folks prefer to mount said tents only when they have a bed rack. We recommend you getting any tent that is doesn’t have more than 10” of overhang out of the roof rack. 

Fit Over The Cab

Again, this is all related, but a better fit over the cab of your Taco is a tent that is similar in dimensions to that of your cab. Most softshells or smaller hard shells tick this box. Softshells tend to have more of a “square” or “brick” design when closed, therefore they can create more wind resistance and even noise (not much to be honest). Whilst a hard shell is slimmer and more aerodynamic, therefore not offering as much resistance. In the end, that fit comes down to you.

Tacoma Tent Comparison Chart

Tacoma Roof Top Tent FAQS 

Can you put a rooftop tent on a Tacoma?

Definitely, you can put any roof top tent over a Toyota Tacoma as long as you have the right roof rack that can support the weight of the tent. Normally, you want a roof rack with a dynamic weight capacity that is equal to or more than the weight of the tent that goes over it. Additionally, make sure the dimensions for the tent you are mounting are similar to those the rack can carry.

Can I install a Tacoma roof top tent over the cab?

Yes, you can! You need to have a roof rack to do that. You do have to keep an eye on the weight capacity of that roof rack as well as the weight that the roof of your vehicle can withstand before deciding on that. If your vehicle can withstand the weight of the roof rack with a mounted roof top tent you can safely do it.

Is it better to mount the tent over the cab or over the bed of my Tacoma?

That depends on a few things: what you want, what tent you want and what rack you have or want. If you prefer to have the tent over the cab, it’s just as safe as over the bed, however, be aware you need the right roof rack or bed rack to mount it either over the cab or bed. Then, if the tent is larger, such as hard shells, it might have some overhang as it’s longer then the cab, in which case it’s recommended to have it over the bed so the overhang goes slightly over the cab and not protruding out from your Taco.

Will a roof top tent fit a Tacoma 5ft bed?

Yes, it will. With a 5-foot bed, you can install a 60” roof top tent. Just be sure that before acquiring your desired roof top tent you check the dimensions of your bed to not get a bigger tent than your truck bed can handle.

Is there a 1st gen Tacoma roof top tent?

Any tent that fits the dimensions of your vehicle can be installed on it. Now if you have a single cab your best option is to mount a bed rack and then install a roof top tent over it. If you have a crew cab or double cab, you can install a roof rack and mount a roof top tent over it.

What do I need to mount a tent on a Tacoma?

In order to mount a roof top tent on your Toyota Tacoma you would need a rack. That can be either a roof rack or a bed rack. Just keep an eye on the weight capacity of the said rack so that you can be sure that it can withstand the weight of the tent itself as well as the people that will be using it.

What is the mpg impact of a tent over my Tacoma?

There are a couple of factors to consider when it comes to that. Those would be the size and type of the tent. Hard-shell roof top tents are more aerodynamic than soft-shell ones. Also, the heavier your tent is the more impact it will have on your MPG. Some studies have shown that the vehicle’s fuel efficiency drops by 17% when you have a roof top tent mounted.

How much weight can you put on the roof of a Tacoma?

Stick to the racks weight capacity. If you install a high quality roof rack, it will be able to sustain around 600 or even 1,000 lbs of weight when the Tacoma is parked. Your Taco won’t have any issues with handling such weight on the roof, as long as it’s a quality rack that is not stressing it in any way.

Is there any other accessory I should get with my tent?

A Tacoma air mattress as well as a Toyota Tacoma awning can be good fits for any roof top tent or simply to improve the use of your vehicle.

All Tacoma Tents For Sale