Tacoma Bed Tent

Toyota Tacoma might arguably be considered one of the most reliable pickup trucks ever made. Since 1995, Taco trucks have been a staple 4WD vehicle that can be utilized to suit whatever endeavor you want to take. Classified as mid-sized pickup trucks, the Tacoma truck bed can be used for anything, from carrying your cargo to accommodating a Tacoma bed tent for overnight camping. That may be why these off-road friendly rigs are the top choice for overlanding and perfect for multi-day travels.

Some may even be surprised to see a rooftop tent mounted on a Tacoma truck bed. Yes, you read it right. There are unlimited possibilities on how flexible your off-road rig is when it comes to mounting your RTT. Some may prefer mounting them over the truck cab, but let’s try to focus on those that are designed to suit your truck bed perfectly. 

Toyota Tacoma Bed Tent Guide

Plenty of Tacoma truck bed tents are available on the overlanding market, and you might wonder how you’ll make your purchase match your requirement. Sometimes it may feel like you are choosing between the same thing, but when you deep dive into each option, you’ll start to realize that the difference is quite astonishing. 

Truck bed tents are the most usual RTT types you can choose from. These are bed tents mounted over your Tacoma truck bed with the help of a bed rack system or even on top of a tonneau cover. These RTTs are more spacious and flexible as they can be designed to extend beyond the dimension of your Tacoma. On the other hand, a new emerging truck bed tent design is currently storming off the overlanding hobbyists. Truck bed tent campers don’t require any mounting mechanism; they just sit on your truck bed and utilize your tailgate and bed rails as the tent’s frame. 

In this article, we’ll help you expand your options and find the best Tacoma bed tent according to your preference. We already reviewed these rooftop tents, listed their pros and cons, and stated what we love about them. You’ll find these quick links handy in case you are in a hurry: 

Why Install A Tent On Your Tacoma Bed

We are confident that a Taco truck can accommodate a rooftop tent to be used as your gateway to multiple outdoor adventures. The question hanging right now is where you’d like to install them, and why would you put it there? Choosing your truck bed as the perfect spot for your rooftop tent has plenty of advantages. Here’s why: 

Ease of Usage

Installing a truck bed tent on your Tacoma may require less effort from its user. Having your RTT mounted on your Taco truck bed can also provide quick access to entering and getting off without needing telescoping ladders or other off-road accessories. Tacoma truck bed tents can also be adjusted depending on your height preference and chosen bed rack. You can place it higher above your truck cab or mid-way, according to your requirement.

Wind Resistance

Since truck bed tents are placed behind the Tacoma cab, wind drag is almost eliminated when cruising at a certain speed. They can help you maintain fuel efficiency at most times, as Tacoma bed tents don’t directly impact your aerodynamics when cruising on the freeway. Rattling and fast-speed noise may also be lessened when your truck bed tents are appropriately installed. 

Even Out Weight

Since truck beds are usually designed to carry out enormous loads while truck cabs are for passengers, placing your rooftop tent on the Tacoma truck bed can help you even out weight and strain on the front portion of your 4WD ride. Instead of RTTs mounted on the Tacoma roof, where the load is technically one-sided, placing them on the back of your Taco truck can help you spread the rooftop tent weight, especially those that are enormous and quite entirely on the heavier side.

Load Rating and Carrying Capacity

Would you believe if we told you that with the right roof rack system or tonneau cover, the weight of the truck bed tent could sometimes be disregarded? When you choose the appropriate bed rack system and install them properly, the tent’s weight can be obsolete and significantly supported by your bed rack or canopy. This is great news for those leaning to bring more camping gear and equipment on their next off-road adventure. 

The Best Tacoma Bed Tent 

Weighing the advantages of installing a Tacoma truck bed tent, it’s more reasonable mounting them over the other choices. Now we’ll present you the best Tacoma bed tents depending on factors. We also added some of our insights and reviews of these brands.

Wanaka 55” Best Truck Tent For Tacoma

Wanaka RTT is an all-season, soft shell roof top tent. This very sturdy and reliable Tacoma truck bed tent has been tested in some of the harshest conditions out there to ensure that it can withstand pretty much anything you put it up to. The Wanaka Tacoma truck bed tent construction is strong enough to withstand the strongest winds and provides safe shelter during a rainstorm. 

Wanaka 55” truck bed tent presents itself as family-friendly off-road equipment, providing a three-person sleeping capacity plus an additional annex space that you can utilize for another friend or family member. Depending on your preference, this truck bed tent brand for your Tacoma can grant you an extra storage space or a private changing room through the included annex. 

Tested in the harsh and challenging off-road trails of Costa Rica, Guana Equipment considered putting up durable and sturdy materials as part of its brand’s quality control. Fabric rip-stop canvas with a 600D thickness rating, one-inch thick aluminum poles for the bed tent’s framework, and an outstanding 3” anti-condensation mattress provides overall stability and comfort while car camping.

What We Love About Wanaka 55 Tacoma Bed Tent:

• YKK zippers partnership to ensure that the best Tacoma bed tent gets the most secured protection
• Annex inclusion on every order
• Suitable accommodation for family and friends traveling in group
• Multiple storage spaces and pouches for your accessories and other stuff 

Toyota Tacoma Short Bed Tent

OVS TMBK Tacoma 5ft Bed Tent

When you have a shorted truck bed variant for your Tacoma, Overland Vehicle Systems’ TMBK three-person truck bed tent is one of your best options for your 4WD truck. Since Tacoma short beds measure around 60 inches or 5ft, getting something a few notches shy from this measurement would exceptionally fit on your truck bed. The OVS TMBK measures 57 inches long; may it be open or closed.

Having the OVS TMBK Tacoma bed tent provides comfortable shelter for up to three persons with its 60mm high-density foam mattress placed on top of a heavy-duty aluminum insulated base with matching anodized aluminum poles for a sturdy tent frame. A waterproof 600D polyester canvas partnered with 420D rainfly of the same material completes the lineup of this Tacoma truck bed tent’s material composition, making it a four-season accommodation for your outdoor adventures.

The best thing that the OVS TMBK Tacoma bed tent features is its compatibility with any aftermarket rack you may have. Whether you installed a bed rack or a truck bed canopy, the OVS TMBK can definitely fit in and give you the nicest shelter for your multi-day camping. 

What We Love About OVS TMBK Tacoma Short Bed Tent

• Straightforward installation and effortless takedown that can save a lot of time
• Adjustable 81” square sliding ladders with steel hinges
• Cool and comfortable truck bed tent with multiple wide windows with mesh protection
• Does not require drilling or additional modification on your Tacoma truck

Smittybilt Overlander Tacoma Short Bed Tent

A smaller version RTT from Smittybilt can also be mounted on your Taco bed in case you have the short bed variant. The Smittybilt Overlander, specifically the 2-3 person tent, can fit well on your Taco truck without worrying too much about the size. Smittybilt has been one of the well-known brands for 4x4 accessories, providing high-quality off-road gear and equipment for over 60 years. 

The Overlander series of Smittybilt was made in consideration of the user’s comfort and safety, giving extra-mile features like multiple large window panels with mosquito screens, a 60mm high-density mattress that can provide a good night’s sleep, and an added canopy design for additional shade against sunlight or protection against light rainfall. 

Smittybilt Overlander Tacoma bed tent is one of the lightest short bed tents available, producing a compact yet heavy-duty RTT that can withstand extreme weather systems. This four-season truck bed tent comprises waterproof, polyurethane-impregnated rip-stop canvas with a 600D fabric rating, partnered with anodized aluminum poles with steel hinges and an inch-thick aluminum/polyurethane base combination, all enclosed in a heavy-duty 1000D PVC cover when not in use. 

What We Love About Smittybilt Overlander 5ft Tacoma Truck Bed Tent

• Load capacity of up to 300 kgs or 661 lbs, perfect for three persons
• Innovative features such as LED strip lights, sliding aluminum ladder, and multiple shoe pouches
• Aerodynamic and breathable design with multiple window panels and skylight design
• Perfectly matches the short bed tent measurement of your Tacoma truck

Tepui Kukenam 3 Tacoma Bed Tent

Previously called the Tepui Kukenam Ruggedized Tent, the Tepui Explorer Kukenam is a four-season Tacoma short bed tent compatible that can provide a cozy sleeping space for three pax. Backed by the world-renowned Thule brand, the Tepui Kukenam soft-shell truck bed tent has superb features that make overlanding worthwhile.

Speaking of the importance of time, the Tepui Kukenam 3 is a quick-set-up Tacoma bed tent. Requiring only a little effort to pull the ladder, this tent can easily be assembled in a few minutes, even by yourself. Kudos to the innovative design of the aluminum base and fabric style by Thule Tepui; installation does not require strenuous effort from multiple people, and taking them down would mean a few seconds and off you go. 

The A-frame design of the Tepui Kukenam gives its patrons plenty of sleeping space, with a 2.5-inch high-density foam inviting you to cap off the night. But if there’s plenty of energy left for stargazing, two sky panels are strategically placed to give you an extraordinary experience and a wonderful view. Plus, large side window panels will entice cool wind breeze to flow continuously inside your truck bed tent. 

What We Love About Tepui Kukenam 3 Tacoma Bed Tent

• Outstanding material composition from the interior to exterior accessories
• Multiple storage solutions for other off-road gear and tools
• Diamond base-plate and anti-condensation mat to avoid molds
• Four-season, all-year round truck bed tent

Tacoma 6Ft Bed Tent

Eezi-Awn Stealth 6ft Bed Tent

The Stealth series from Eezi-Awn can be described as a heavy-duty truck bed tent that can match any off-road trails and overlanding adventure that you may want to create precious memories from. Made with a durable hard shell and top-notch material quality, the Eezi-Awn Stealth suits perfectly your Taco truck, especially those that prefer the longer bed variant. Though this hardshell tent can still be used with those with a shorter truck bed, the Eezi-Awn Stealth is still the best Tacoma 6ft bed tent to mount whenever you need one.

Having a simplistic design, the Stealth RTT is easy to maneuver. It enables its user to operate the tent single-handedly, requiring minimal effort to release the latches and push the tent open through assisted gas struts. An innovative scissor-style aluminum mechanism supports the Stealth’s framework, providing a sturdy structure during camping when there’s harsh wind. When not in use, the Eezi-Awn tent gives a low-profile clearance that provides better aerodynamics when driving fast.

Talking about the rooftop tent itself, the Tacoma-compatible Eezi-Awn Stealth has insulated upper and lower shells that provide additional protection from the creeping cold and keep condensation from occurring inside your sleeping stage, specifically on its queen-size quilted mattress. The Eezi-Awn Stealth can house two adults comfortably on its 3.5-inch built-in bedding, which gives a cozy, homey feeling even when camping outdoors. 

What We Love About Eezi-Awn Stealth Tacoma Truck Bed Tent

• Low-profile, aerodynamic design that provides less wind dragging while driving
• Thick, high-density comfortable mattress that is built-in within the rooftop tent
• Easy to install, setup, and takedown
• Includes ladder XKLUSIV upon purchase

3rd Gen Tacoma Bed Tent

FSR Odyssey 3rd Gen Tacoma Bed Tent

When looking for a reliable bed tent for your Tacoma 3rd Gen trucks, you’ll definitely hear a few good feedback from this RTT. Through the years, Freespirit Recreation has provided quality off-road products and equipment, establishing its brand for most overlanding enthusiasts. Their FSR Odyssey, one of the most known bed tents they offer, best suits your Tacoma 3rd Gen 4WD. 

The FSR Odyssey is a side-open hardshell tent that provides a remarkably outstanding outdoor camping experience through secured accommodation and comfortable sleeping space. First, the tent’s body is constructed with 190G rip-stop polycotton with a polyurethane coating, giving off incredibly efficient protection against elements. Odyssey’s base is made with an aluminum honeycomb plate partnered by a hardshell infused with tri-layer technology that limits scorching heat or freezing weather from penetrating the interior.

Aesthetically, the FSR Odyssey Tacoma bed tent exudes a pleasant view when mounted on your tub. A premium black hardshell tent, seamed with white accent and huge window panels on the side. Function-wise, the same Odyssey pickup tent can also carry up to 250 lbs of additional cargo weight, provided you have a compatible rack system. 

What We Love About Odyssey FSR Tacoma Bed Tent

• Patented aluminum gas strut-assisted frame for easy installation and takedown
• Compatible with any Toyota Tacoma variant as well
• Low-profile style providing better aerodynamics
• Lightweight hardshell tent when worried about load limit

Toyota Tacoma Bed Tent Camper

Napier Truck Tent Tacoma

These recently emerging off-ground tents are making a buzz for many overlanding enthusiast, giving sleeping provision without the need of any roof rack system mounted on your Tacoma truck. The Napier truck tent utilizes your Taco tub’s railings and tailgate as a foundation of the tent itself. This off-road gear can be installed in a few minutes like your usual ground tent, but instead, it uses the entire truck bed space as your sleeping area. 

Multiple tie-down options are strategically placed to secure this bed tent, giving enough resistance against strong wind. Aluminum flexible poles, which are usually color-coded, serve as additional framework structure and provide stability to your truck bed tent. The Napier Tacoma truck bed tent gets more of your bed capacity and turns them into sleeping spaces suitable for two adults.

The tent's interior includes mounting points for lamps and multiple pouches for other accessories, providing illumination and easy access to your stuff. Two window panels and a large entrance door with mesh screens complete the truck bed tent’s design.

What We Love About Napier Truck Tent Tacoma

• Off-the-ground tent that utilizes your Tacoma tub as a mounting point
• Does not need roof rack system to mount
• Keeps you safe from elements and other wild animals
• Rainfly and flaps are included, giving protection from heavy downpour of rain

Tacoma Bed Tent FAQs

Can you camp in a Toyota Tacoma?

Definitely yes. Utilizing your Toyota Tacoma truck bed to mount your off-road tent is recommended as it brings more advantages over installing RTTs on your truck cab. Your truck bed tent enables you to access your camping accommodation quickly and evens the weight distribution when mounted on your Taco truck. 

What do I need to do to install a tent over the bed of a Tacoma?

Truck bed tents usually require a truck bed rack in order to accommodate a bed tent. However, there are instances when a tonneau cover or a truck bed canopy can possibly mount your chosen truck bed tent.

What Tacoma bed tent rack is recommended?

Numerous aftermarket brands specialize in truck bed racks, but we recommend checking out those made by Front Runner, CBI Offroad, or RCI bed racks. 

How much weight can the bed of the Tacoma handle? 

The load capacity of your Tacoma truck is indicated on your user’s manual. It’s best to check the total payload rating of your truck, determining the total allowable weight that your Tacoma can handle, including the cargo and passengers’ weight on top of the curb weight of your off-road vehicle.

All Toyota Tacoma Bed Tents For Sale