homemade truck bed tent

Super easy to build and put together and under $50

[@petuniaromania6294]

Tarps and PVC Pipe can create many great and safe structures :) Thanks for the video & ideas :)

[@americanflika1311]

This is funny to find like minds years later.. I built a little truck tent all by myself more than 20 years ago out of pvc, collapsible and quick to set up and down. The only difference in my design was I put my legs down to the ground for stability. Worked great in all kinds of weather. We spent a couple of weeks running around AZ, dry camping and having fun..

[@rentcda]

Excellent job! Thanks for the ideas!

[@Tsiri09]

I like this idea! Works and is very customizable!

[@joewoodchuck3824]

I made a tent like this for my utility trailer. The main difference in mine is there's a peak in the roof to shed the weight of snow and rain.

[@carolhewett3756]

Good idea. You could put a large mosquito net on first before the tarp to prevent them from sneaking thru the cracks. Plus it would lighten up the interior visually.

[@SVMSICE]

I like this but I would have went with electrical conduit instead, but I have a whole bunch of it lol. I haven’t priced it for a while but I wonder which is cheaper now a days. The pvc or the electrical conduit?

[@p2g1949]

I like it! Well done.

[@petuniaromania6294]

I has an idea to do a PVC frame build on a small utility trailer, something I could create to pull around w/an electric bike or riding mower, etc., that I could live inside of for awhile. Anyways, I'd probably cover the floorboard of the trailer w/something insulating, maybe rubber mats. I was also looking at those Insulated Ice Fishing Tents - have you ever tried using one of those in the bed of your truck? I had the idea of putting that type of insulated tent inside of a bit larger one.

[@thomaswhitten2537]

I've been thinking about doing something very much like this. Better than a tent and sleeping on the ground. Good Job!

[@dennix2009]

Took me about 2 hours to cut all the pieces and Assemble everything. Plus it's a lot cheaper than buying a tent that is made to fit into your truck bed around $300. Thanks!

[@vondahartsock-oneil3343]

(this is long, I'm warning you now lol) I've spent or should say, wasted the entire last year, searching online, looking at the auction, Thrifty nickel, garage sales etc... looking for something or some way to get or make a truck tent on a poor mans budget, yet be removable, to haul things, or load my cycle in it etc... PVC PIPE is EXACTLY WHAT I NEED TO USE. omg why I didn't think of that, IDK. My dad used it on something he fixed for us once. PVC is perfect, it's very strong and durable, yet you can cut it to size, add to it etc...I think what you built is great, and I'd use what you created. I bet it was more affordable to make than what I was thinking. AND AFFORDABLE. Which is what I'm thinking as well. I just love it!! y'day I almost bought an old enclosed pickup truck bed on a trailer. $280 was the asking price. The whole thing was painted white. My truck is black lol, I'd have to repaint it of course (when I say old, the tailgate, when I enlarged the pic to see what it said on the tailgate, as stated, also painted over in white, it said DATSON. That's OLD) I don't even think I've seen a datson pickup truck since the late 70's-early 80's Who puts an awkward price on something like that? It's a negotiate down price is what that is lol. I figured if I said ya I"ll take it. Show up with 200-250 cash, he'd take it. Then I noticed in the enlarged pic, pieces of plywood laying on the ground. It was just painted prob with spray paint. Therefore it's going to warp, leak at best etc....So It was enclosed with painted white plywood, and it had a top, 2 doors above the tailgate you could open. SO I was after the trailer really (I know you've seen the price of just a small utility trailer, with NO COVER at that. omg I can't find one in my area less than $400. Then I saw it was road rated for up to 45 mph. WUUUUUT? lol. NOPE. PLUS my truck is raised in the rear, so I would have needed to lower the ball hitch with one of those lowering kits. NOT CHEAP EITHER. I backed out at the last minute. Got back on the computer and did another search on youtube this time. FOUND THIS VID and thought YEHAW lol. Ya I'm an Okie Hillbilly. Like you said. You got a truck - you got a tent. IF weather hit, you got a dry place to go while camping. Obviously you have the cab if it gets to rough, but you know what I mean. From childhood, and I mean early 70's up til my dad passed away unexpectedly 2 yrs ago. We camped anytime we wanted. should say we camped all year round or whenever he had a spare minute. Get the boat and head to the lake where he kept a 5th wheel type RV. We started when I was about 3 with a brand new red ranger bass boat, and one of those slide into the bed truck campers. We went everywhere. He was a welder, so he made great money and as his pay got better and better and all that, he would upgrade our camping gear. We've had every kind and size of RV or the kind you have to pull behind your vehicle. BUT WE KIDS, we wouldn't sleep in it unless it was winter or something. We opened the truck camper shell and tailgate, threw a couple of reclining beach chairs and our sleeping bag and pillow in, and we slept in the bed of the truck. I kept thinking I wish I'd paid more attention to my dad welding, cuz I'm gonna need to weld some metal bars together to make a frame, but NO....I FOUND YOU. THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU LOL. It's not like I'm gonna live in it. Just put some comfy camping cots in, ice chest or some sort of cooler and we are out of the weather and other peoples sight. Hoping to not see other people where I go tho lol. But I'll be prepared. My only other concern was power. How am I going to get power in there. I know nothing about electrical stuff really. I installed a new thermostat but it's color coded, so you know..black goes with the other black, red, with red, etc...and I spliced speaker wires before. so thats about it lol. Yet you've shown me how simple it can be as well. You've done everything I want to do, and within a nice cheap budget. Your the best. Thanks again

[@timlarson7228]

Very nice. Thank you for sharing.

[@tankfirewalker5774]

Looks good for a first time build just needs a little improvment for instance the addition of more structureal support piping added to the framing structure So the tarp won't collapse under the weight of the Rainwater and will have much higher weatherisation qualtiy and greatly inproved wind resistance

[@tS-sn7jt]

Home about seeing the tent !

[@rhondaclark716]

That’s a good idea , how you rigged that up. , enjoy your fishing day !

[@tednugent8210]

You can't ever find a tent you can use while keeping your toolbox in the bed. Nice job dude!

[@dennix2009]

Right? That's exactly why I made this one.

[@rhondaclark716]

That’s a good idea , how you rigged that up sir , enjoy your fishing 🎣 & camping ⛺️.

[@jp3eku]

Use galvanized steel conduit for more strength and durability... thank you for sharing your video

[@belowfray5251]

Real good!

[@presbyterosBassI]

Get a grommet kit from Harbor Freight, and make your own tying points.

[@scandaliez]

Excellent

[@drennonkeller7262]

Flat roofs hold water , that is why I made a ridge roof , trial and error for me

[@9thGenerationCajun]

Get you a Aquaquest Defender tarp! Less noise and has a 2 year warranty.

[@MaryJosephrobi]

How does it perform in the wind and rain

[@dennix2009]

It did great in the wind and was good in light rain, but never used it in any type of down pour or storm.

[@MaryJosephrobi]

@@dennix2009 I'm looking to build a tent with pvc pipes for ground use. Have you tried this and is it a good idea?

[@dennix2009]

@@MaryJosephrobi just a few times, it worked great.

[@ronjohnson5070]

Nice

[@petuniaromania6294]

Water Pipe foam insulation may be good for covering PVC or maybe pool noodles - not sure really.

[@brianj123458]

That's awesome I was wondering did the bungie cord scratch the side of the truck at all? The reason I ask is I'm wanting to do something like this but I have a new truck and I dont want to scratch up the paint if I can help it lol. Great job and God bless you

[@dennix2009]

No, get the ones with the rubber coating over the hook part just to be on the safe side.

[@brianj123458]

@@dennix2009 ok will do thank you and will be watching

[@tonitouchberry894]

Big mistake sleeping on air mattress in cold weather! The mattress air temp will equalize with the surrounding "cold" air! I had that very unpleasant experience with our group of six! We all piled into one tent. Gathered all our blankets, bags, etc. and snuggled into a heap and still were freezing! Never again! Misery is being cold!

[@Tsiri09]

I lived in a tent when I was homeless and had an air mattress. First night, I found out the air mattress was COLD. I then put an old blanket under my sleeping bag and eventually got a packing quilt from harbor freight- worked great to insulate me from the cold air mattress.

[@dielaughing7200]

Get an insulated pad, problem solved. I've slept on the forest floor with just a pad and bag no problems.

[@dwelsh15]

Where did you get those black clips on the sides of the tarp? What are they called?

[@dennix2009]

Just at your local hardware store. I don't remember what they are called but you can find them on Amazon. www.amazon.com/dp/B07SJVC7RN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nrceFb36WDYJG

[@emmaenglehart3131]

What size pipe did you use?

[@dennix2009]

I used 3/4"

[@panpan_arpanjidwijaya]

1 inch your pipe bro?

[@dennix2009]

I think so.

[@sihunter2920]

Were did u get that power bank?

[@dennix2009]

Amazon.

[@oldschooldiy3240]

One little problem, that cheap tarp is NOT waterproof! First good rain and you'll be swimming to get into the cab of the truck......

[@dennix2009]

It has held out the water before, and still does.

[@БаринНепьющий]

Чьёрт, нерусский! Ты по-русски можешь говорить? Ни фига непонятно, о чём толковище твоё.

[@dennix2009]

Нет, я не могу говорить по-русски. Извините.