Product Reviewed & Cost
Napier Backroadz Truck Tent (13022) : $189.99
Editor's Note: This product was provided at no cost for the purposes of a review. We only publish our honest opinions and give no consideration for the gratis product.
What is it?
A large full featured weather proof tent that securely sets up in the bed of your truck.
Tested On
2011 GMC Sierra All Terrain Extended Cab SLT
What’s in the box?
A rolled up and neatly packaged tent, canopy, collapsible pole set, and carrying bag about the size of a large duffel bag.
Setup and Installation
Make no mistake about it, setting up any tent is an interesting experience and is easier the more you do it. We recommend trying out your Backroadz tent before going out and using it. If you’ve set up a normal tent, this won’t be much different. However, there are a few specific steps that are unique to a truck bed fitting tent that you should be familiar with before needing to do them on site or in the dark.
The process of assembling this tent is fairly straightforward.
We first unrolled and laid out the main tent portion in the bed of our pickup with the opening facing the rear. Following the instructions, we attached the tent to the body and tailgate of the Sierra using nine individual straps.
We then assembled the three color coded poles that make up the Backroadz tent frame. They are inserted in a specific order, so it’s worth being familiar with the process.
We can then raise the frame of the tent to give it structure. We also took a moment to push out the floor of the tent into all four corners of the bed.
The last step is to attach the waterproof fly over the frame to keep the rain out.
The end result is a sturdy, well manufactured, high quality tent that has a lot of room and fits perfectly. We think with some practice, an experienced Backroadz user can set up the tent in under 10 minutes and break it down in under 5. We appriciated that Napier left some room in the front of the tent that was flexible in space. This left room for our Retrax Pro to stay on and the two never interfered. 
Our impressions
A tent that fits in the bed of your pickup presents some interesting benefits. Anyone that has camped before knows setting up your tent on a flat surface is key to being comfortable and safe. An elevated platform for tents is usually a feature you’ll find at some campsites and for good reason.
Being up and off the ground is a godsend while out camping. Isolating your tent and body away from bugs, dirt, moisture, and running water can be a life saving decision.
The Napier Backroadz pickup bed tent takes the benefits of a platform one step further. Now, anywhere we can park our truck, we can set up shop for the night in our tent. We’ll have access to power, close proximity to an enclosed structure, and the ability to move our camping quarters at a moment's notice.
Of course, the biggest drawback of a truck based tent is that by camping in the bed you eliminate it as a storage space. To set up your tent, you must unload everything first. While the tent is setup you have effectively immobilized your vehicle. You can move slowly but going on any roads is out of the question. Depending on your individual situation, that’s an inconvenience that may or may not outweigh the benefits of using your truck as a camping platform.
The Napier Backroadz truck tent offers an affordable way to securely camp anywhere you can park your Silverado, Sierra, Colorado, Canyon, or any pickup truck with a bed.
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