For the second time this year, we had the pleasure of camping out in one of the truck tents from Sportz Truck Tents. We had the opportunity to hook up one of these baby’s recently in the bed of a Ford full sized pick truck, and quite honestly we walked away impressed with this Napier Sportz Truck Tent III. Some people refer to these tents as tailgate tents. These truck tents or tailgate tents, whichever way you choose to call them allow you to use the room in the back of your truck, your pickup’s bed as a bed so to speak.
A fully enclosed truck tent, it keeps you totally protected from the elements and it is actually a lot roomier than one would expect it to be, with the two of us having plenty of sleeping room. This truck tent has practically six feet of headroom and a 6 x 6-foot awning that extends from the back of the truck which offers you some shade from the hot sun.
We had no trouble setting this up in about 10 minutes. It has a sewn in floor, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning out the floor of the pickup bed. There is also a couple of inside pockets for storage and a gear loft as well. The tent itself is made of a heavy-duty ripstop nylon, and there is two large no see um mesh windows for good ventilation. Poles are constructed out of a carbon fiber wrapped fiberglass for added strength.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sportz Truck Tent Blue/Grey (Full Size Short 6.5-Feet Box) | 263 Reviews | $269.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Sportz Truck Tent III Features and Specifications
| Manufacturer | Napier Enterprises |
| Brand | Napier |
| Weight | 26 pounds |
| Dimension | 30 x 9 x 9 inches |
| Is discontinued by manufacturer | No |
| Part Number | 57011-FORD |
| Special Features | Pole: Durawrap fiberglass and steel poles, Bed size: 96″-98″ (7.9′-8.2′), Full rain fly to protect you against the wettest weather, Interior pocket keeps your gear organized and off the floor, 4′ x 4′ awning extends off the tailgate providing shade, with no need for guide ropes as the poles secure directly to the tailgate., Sleeps: 2, Includes an expandable carrying bag for storage |
- Patented sewn in nylon floor
- Color coded pole and sleeve system allows for easy setup
- Over 5.5 feet of headroom
- Two large no-see-um mesh windows (38″ x 18″) and ceiling vents for great ventilation
- Full rain fly is tape seamed
- 6′ x 6′ awning with adjustable poles
- Two interior pockets and gear loft for storing items off the ground
- Access sleeve lets you run cords from the cab to inside the tent
- Inside support pole adds strength to the tent
- Convenient carrying bag included
- Frame composted of Shock-corded, carbon fiber wrapped, fiberglass poles
- Sleeps 2 comfortably
Our Thoughts On The Sportz Truck Tent III
There were only a few reviews that we could track down from owners of these truck tents and overall the ratings were quite favorable. The comment that stood out the most from what we saw was the comment that the floor could have been more padded. While somewhat in agreement with the idea of a more padded floor, I don’t recall ever camping out anywhere where the floor was padded. If that’s a concern, then we suggest bringing some air mattresses along with your sleeping bags to solve that problem.
As for our reflections on this truck tent, we really enjoyed the time that we spent with this truck tent. It served it’s purpose with no hiccups, even in the rain. There are various models from Sportz Truck Tents that will fit just about any pickup or SUV. These tents are model specific so if you are going to be purchasing one, make sure that it’s the right match for your truck or SUV.
For about the same price as a night in a decent hotel, you can have your own personal hotel room on wheels sans (a fancy term for without) the bathroom facilities. Bottom line, we liked the Sportz Truck Tent and highly recommend it.
Camping Tents: Type, Installation and History
We all know that camping tent is the most important gear when it comes to camping. But what to consider when choosing the camping tent? Go through our blog to skim through the most important aspects that can help you chose the right tent for you.
BEGINNERS GUIDE: What to consider when buying a camping tents?
Camping Tent is the Most Vital Equipment when it comes to Camping Outdoors.
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It is always important to understand that the money you will be spending will be on the most important equipment for the outdoor camping. Hence, always consider that while looking at the price of the equipment. A few dollars more or less will not matter in the long run. You will be better off with the right camping tent with a few extra bucks rather than saving a few bucks and getting something that you would eventually not feel comfortable in or need to change later. Make the right investment, and get the camping tent that fulfills your requirement.
You can follow the Wikipedia collection of list of camping related gears and accessories that may help you out too.
Types of Camping Tents.
There are several types of camping tents available but 4 most common types to choose from. If you are new to camping, we highly recommend to go through our blog to understand which type of tent suits best for your needs. Honestly, as far as a tent meets your requirements, it does not matter as much as to what type of tent it is but its always good to know what the types are so it will help you easily search for the right product. Follow our blog below for details:
BEGINNERS GUIDE: Types of camping tents?
Tent Setup / Installation
If you are new to camping and have never setup up a family camping tent, you can follow our blog with a quick demonstration for setting up a basic camping tent.
BEGINNERS GUIDE: How to setup a camping tent?
Note: Each camping tent setup is slightly different and we recommend you follow the general instructions provided with the camping tent package.
The New World of Family Camping Tents
One of the best family bonding experiences is backwoods camping, and with the variety of family camping tents available nowadays, it can be inexpensive and great fun for everyone.
Dome tents nowadays considered family tents rather than just tents. Coleman arch rock dome tent series would definitely grab camper’s attention.
Family vacations are the stuff of which long lasting memories are formed. A tent set up under a canopy of lush, green trees; a crackling, fragrant campfire, perhaps the sound of waves lapping against the shore of a crystal clear lake; the perfect setting for a fun family camping adventure. Add to that activities such as hiking, canoeing, swimming, biking and more and an ideal vacation experience has been created.
Some parents shirk at the thought of their entire family being uncomfortably closeted in the cramped confines of a tent. These are the tents of the past, however. Although small dome tents are still available for those who require such accommodations, great strides have been made in the development of family camping tents. Tents have expanded in size; extending from the single one man tent to those now featuring multiple rooms within the same structure. Dividing walls are able to separate the interior space into individual rooms when needed for sleeping arrangements, and then have the capability of being tied back to open the space during the day. This roomy atmosphere gives the tents more of a “homey” feel, and has a more inviting feel.
Another drawback to camping in a tent is the fact that our society is much more dependent upon the conveniences of life, such as electricity, and has a hard time spending even one weekend away from television, computers, hair dryers and such. Many campgrounds offer family camping sites that provide electricity; however, the sites are at an additional cost and are surrounded by other campers. The ambiance and serenity of the backwoods atmosphere are lost, unless one of the newest features in family camping tents is used. Certain family tents are equipped with power packs and 12 volt plugs to enable families to camp in the wilderness yet still enjoy the amenities to which they are accustomed.