Pick-up trucks are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam, not only for their powerful performance and versatility but also for the free-spirited lifestyle they offer. Instead of just being a means of transporting goods, pick-up trucks have become ideal companions for picnics and nature exploration. To elevate the camping experience, truck bed tents have emerged as an unmissable trend.
If previously, pick-up trucks were associated with construction sites or farms, now, we can easily spot powerful pick-up trucks cruising down the streets, with stylish camping tents installed on their roofs. What could be better than immersing yourself in nature, enjoying the fresh air, and waking up in a cozy space on a truck bed tent, leaving behind the noise and bustle of the city?
However, choosing the right truck bed tent is not easy amidst the myriad of brands and models on the market. In this article, Xe Tải Mỹ Đình will explore the important criteria to make the wisest decision, helping you find the perfect companion for your adventures.
Truck Bed Tent Size: How to Choose the Right Fit?
Size is the first factor to consider when choosing a truck bed tent. Currently, there are two popular sizes on the market:
- 2-person tent: Suitable for couples or solo trips.
- 4-person tent (2 adults + 2 children): Ideal for small families or groups of close friends.
4-person truck bed tent
2-person truck bed tent
With a 2-person tent, you can flexibly install it on the roof of the cabin or the rear of the truck bed. Meanwhile, a 4-person tent is usually installed on the roof of the cabin and extends to the truck bed to ensure comfortable space.
Previously, installing a tent on the roof was quite easy, but now, regulations on vehicle structure modifications are stricter. Installing a tent on the cabin roof may encounter difficulties during vehicle inspection. However, if you choose a 2-person tent and install it in the truck bed, you can be completely assured legally.
According to Xe Tải Mỹ Đình’s experience, a 2-person tent is a more reasonable choice for pick-up trucks, ensuring convenience, compactness, and compliance with current regulations. A 4-person tent may be more suitable for larger SUVs.
Truck Bed Tent Exterior Construction: Hard Shell or Soft Shell?
After size, the tent shell structure is the next important factor. Truck bed tents have two main types of shells:
- Hard shell: Usually made of composite or aluminum.
- Soft shell: Made of canvas fabric.
In terms of price, hard shell tents are usually more expensive than soft shell tents. This stems from the convenience and speed of opening and closing the tent with a hard shell. It takes less than 1 minute to open or close a hard shell tent, while with a soft shell tent, this time can be from 3 to 10 minutes.
In addition, hard shell tents also have advantages in terms of durability, dust resistance, ease of cleaning, and better aerodynamics. When moving, hard shell tents generate less noise and are more fuel-efficient compared to soft shell tents.
However, soft shell tents have an advantage in terms of ventilation, especially when camping in hot coastal areas. However, in strong winds, soft shell tents can generate more noise than hard shell tents.
Currently, there are many different truck bed tent brands on the market. Products from China are often more affordable, around 30 million VND/set. In the high-end segment, iKamper (Korea) and ARB (Australia) are world-renowned brands with outstanding quality and durability.
iKamper offers both soft shell tents (X-Cover) and hard shell tents (Skycamp) with prices of approximately 69 million and 76 million VND/set, respectively.
iKamper X-Cover truck bed tent
ARB is also a worthwhile option with the Flinders soft shell tent and the Esperance hard shell tent, with reference prices of 43 million and 52 million VND/set, respectively.
ARB Flinders truck bed tent
ARB Esperance hard shell truck bed tent
Truck Bed Tent Installation: Simple or Complicated?
In addition to the tent purchase cost, you need to equip additional tent mounting frames on the truck bed. The cost for this frame ranges from approximately 10 million VND/set. If you want to choose a more high-end and convenient product, you can refer to the Outpost frame from Yakima (USA), priced at around 22 million VND/set.
The Yakima Outpost frame allows you to easily remove the tent and frame when not in use, or when you need to carry bulky goods.
Yakima truck bed frame and iKamper tent
Above are detailed analyses of the size, structure, and brands of truck bed tents commonly found in Vietnam. Xe Tải Mỹ Đình hopes that with this information, you will have an overview and make the most suitable choice for your needs and budget, so that your camping trips with your pick-up truck become more complete and memorable.
