Need tent for the bed

I am going to Camp Juniper, Cheraw, SC from June to July.
Looking for advice for hot weather camping. I have seen tents for truck beds. How are they?

I am going to Camp Juniper, Cheraw, SC from June to July.
Looking for advice for hot weather camping. I have seen tents for truck beds. How are they?

Check out http://www.campready.biz/truck_tents_softopper.htm
http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts.aspx?brandid=0&categoryid=25&partfamilyid=185&subcategoryid=265
and http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/tents/tp/aatrucktents.htm they have a five tent shoot out.

The one we saw at the SEMA Show was awesome!! Here's a photo.
Keep us posted as we are thinking about getting the same solution for our Ridgeline. Thanks,

Ron (5S Dude)

I saw something similar at a Toyota dealer yesterday. Definitely a neat idea except for the fact that if you need to use your truck to go somewhere you can't. I think it makes more sense to have a traditional tent instead so that you won't be "tied" to the pickup truck or owning one for that matter to use your tent.

I can't imagine trying to sleep in a bed as short as the RL's! I've over 6 feet tall, so I imagine I wouldn't be able to lie down in the bed without something hanging out the back of the tailgate.

I can't imagine trying to sleep in a bed as short as the RL's! I've over 6 feet tall, so I imagine I wouldn't be able to lie down in the bed without something hanging out the back of the tailgate.
On our post-Katrina trip to Mississippi, one of my 6+ ft. buddies slept in the bed of my Ridge and, in order to avoid a fetal position, he required the gate to be down. He also longed for a decent pad because the ridges in the bed were very uncomfortable. Even more than a pad he wanted my surplus military cot. ;)

On our post-Katrina trip to Mississippi, one of my 6+ ft. buddies slept in the bed of my Ridge and, in order to avoid a fetal position, he required the gate to be down. He also longed for a decent pad because the ridges in the bed were very uncomfortable. Even more than a pad he wanted my surplus military cot. ;)I suppose 1 person lying diagonally would fit, but with 2 people you wouldn't be able to do that...which I was assuming 2 people min on a camping trip. Then again, I'm not much of a camper either! ;)

I suppose 1 person lying diagonally would fit, but with 2 people you wouldn't be able to do that...which I was assuming 2 people min on a camping trip. Then again, I'm not much of a camper either! ;)
I'm glad that it was only one person on this occasion or I would have been forced to prohibit male spooning in my Ridgeline. ;)

I'm glad that it was only one person on this occasion or I would have been forced to prohibit male spooning in my Ridgeline. ;)Brokeback Ridge! :eek:

Sorry, I couldn't resist. :D

Brokeback Ridge! :eek:
Good one but :eek: indeed! :)

Sorry, I couldn't resist. :D
Even with all the hype and clamor, I've resisted the Brokeback craze. <shrug>

There are a couple of other similar threads on this topic but as far as I can tell no one has yet purchased one of the bed tents and tried to use it in the RL. On websites that offer the tents you select your bed style to get the right fit. I would assume you would use the full size short bed option. The question is will it attach properly given the slant from the cab to the bed in the RL design.

If any one is the guinea pig to try this out let us know how it goes.

In reality the bed of the RL is not much different then the dimensions of a typical 2 person backpacker tent. For instance the popular tent from MSR the Hubba Hubba has floor dimensions of 7' long by 4'2" wide. Of course backpacker tents are designed to provide maximum strength and minimal weight so close quarters for occupants is a given.

I just wrote Napier Enterprises an e-mail asking them whether they have tested a Sportz III tent on a ridgeline. Hopefully, their customer service department will be good enough to get back to me. I spoke to a sales person at one of the dealers and she told me she "thought" the compact truck model would fit the Ridgeline, but I am hoping for a more definite answer before spending the $.

Black RTL wrote:

<<<<I just wrote Napier Enterprises an e-mail asking them whether they have tested a Sportz III tent on a ridgeline. Hopefully, their customer service department will be good enough to get back to me. I spoke to a sales person at one of the dealers and she told me she "thought" the compact truck model would fit the Ridgeline, but I am hoping for a more definite answer before spending the $.
Reply With Quote>>>>>

Any reply from Napier? I, too, am interested in a bed tent.

I can't imagine trying to sleep in a bed as short as the RL's! I've over 6 feet tall, so I imagine I wouldn't be able to lie down in the bed without something hanging out the back of the tailgate.
You could get a 4x8 sheet of ply hinged in the middle with a piano hinge for when you're not using it. The would let you stretch out and close the tailgate. Might impede the trunk a little though.

I e-mailed Napier about 2 weeks ago and they replied the next day that they do not have a tent that will fit the Ridgeline. We purchased a Columbia Cougar Flats 10x15 with screen room.

I bought one of the Sportz Track III truck tents from autoanything.com. Their site indicated it would fit a Ridgline.

I did a pre-trip setup and it's a very poor fit. Maybe they sent me the worng model but what I received is too big for the Ridgeline bed.

I'm sending it back!! :mad:

I see that the posts on this thread are mostly from 2006. I just purchased a RL (August 2008) and am wondering if anyone has found out about any tents that fit the RL? Seems a shame to have such a wonderful truck and not have any tents available for it. Thank you.

I see that the posts on this thread are mostly from 2006. I just purchased a RL (August 2008) and am wondering if anyone has found out about any tents that fit the RL? Seems a shame to have such a wonderful truck and not have any tents available for it. Thank you.

Nope... I don't think anyone has found anything that would work yet...
Most companies don't see the demand for a ridgeline tent which is unique and would not fit the "other" standard beds.

:)

you are looking for the bed for your tent, ah maybe try to search through internet there are lot of site to see and related to your problem,





_________________
Pop up tents (http://www.buyshade.com/)

The one we saw at the SEMA Show was awesome!! Here's a photo.
Keep us posted as we are thinking about getting the same solution for our Ridgeline. Thanks,

Ron (5S Dude)

Ron,
I don't see a pic of the SEMA truck tent on this post.
I'm interested in finding a truck tent that will fit the Ridge. I don't think a Napier or Camp Right will fit. Those are the two I have considered.
I've consided purchasing a Camp Right for the Avalanche, but I'm not sure if it would fit closely enough. Keep me posted of any updates!
Thanks,
Steven (tscdc)

___________

Bump this to the top.....anyone find a tent yet?:confused:

I've looked for ANY type of tent that fits a Ridgeline - the ONLY thing I've found are custom tent/campershell things on eBay - they appear to be made by a startup company and will fit on the truck with the tailgate UP - not a good option for most of us as we'd prefer to have a tent that works with the tailgate DOWN.

Keep the posts coming!!!

Really nothing yet? I thought for sure by now we would have at least a decent option...how frustrating...

Lucky to get any parts of your truck at the dealership when needed let alone a camper.:rolleyes:

Honda Ridgeline Truck Toppers at:
http://www.softopper.com/Honda.aspx

There's also one on Ebay for $639.00

What about the one for the Element??? I wonder if it would work...

http://www.handa-accessories.com/elementext.html

http://www.handa-accessories.com/viewer.html?pic=element/elementcabana.jpg

I have the Sportz Truck Tent. I bought it from JC Whitney and it works great.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/SPORTZ-TRUCK-TENT-III/GP_2010361_N_111+2006+200732396+600001003_10101.jc w[/URL]

I have the Sportz Truck Tent. I bought it from JC Whitney and it works great.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/SPORTZ-TRUCK-TENT-III/GP_2010361_N_111+2006+200732396+600001003_10101.jc w[/URL]

Have you posted any pictures on the forum? I'm curious to see how well it fits.

Have you posted any pictures on the forum? I'm curious to see how well it fits.


I'll second that. I looked at the site but I am interested t see how it fit on the Ridgeline. Thanks-in-advance

Here's a member (ElDiablo) with pictures for the SportZ III.http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26275&highlight=sportz

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27903&highlight=tent

you might one or more of these also . I use them on my pontoon boat like ceiling fans.

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/coleman-cool-zephyr-tent-ceiling-fan-and-led-light

hate to burst your bubble but according to this site if you look under tents not available for the following and then click the drop down box the ridgeline is listed . but on the plus side you can add it to your shopping cart reguardless:rolleyes:

http://www.tentsfortrucks.com/SelectItems.php?fragment=TailgateTentIII

this is cool also

http://www.camping-gear-outlet.com/camping-gear-51388.html

they make a tent for the ford sport trac maybe that would be a better fit ?

http://www.camping-gear-outlet.com/camping-gear-41334.html

:confused:

Truck bed tents are cool, BUT only if you do not need to move your truck! Otherwise is might be wise to just buy a good tent. Look for color coded poles, a sealed floor, and a large rainfly, plenty of windows, vents, and built in storage compartments. And ofcourse think about height, it is a lot easier to dress standing up. If you don't need to worry about the cold most light weather tents are very reasonable $100-$200. A lot more tent for your money (6-8 people). Most truck tents hold two people and your gear go's on the ground, uncovered. Think about it!