I borrowed my father-in-law’s truck for the longest time when I took my family camping, but when my wife and I started to get into truck bed tenting, he got a little nervous.
He was worried the truck bed tents would scratch his truck.
I did what I could to reassure by talking with different campers, and boy am I glad what I found was correct.
Truck bed tents do not scratch your truck even if high winds if attached securely and correctly. Specifically-made truck tents secure the best and are designed to avoid hurting your truck. DIY truck bed tents are the ones to watch out for.
Keep reading for more tips and info on keeping your truck safe.
Prevent damage to your vehicle by buying the best truck bed tents with AC and heater capability (click the link to check out our picks).
Scratches With A Specifically-Made Truck Bed Tent
By “specifically-made” truck tent, I’m referring to a tent made for the sole purpose of being used in the bed of your truck.
For this reason, it’s designed to avoid causing harm to your vehicle.
The poles don’t stick out as harshly as with standard ground tents and are typically covered at the bottom with protective material.
The ratchet straps you use to secure the tent to the truck itself are tight and covered to prevent scratching a truck’s paint.
A tight fit may seem like it’s not what you want because the parts are right up against your pickup, but this is precisely what you need to prevent damage.
The most notable instances of scratching happen when there is some give to the straps.
As you move around the truck tent or it gets windy, loose straps and connectors move back and forth.
This rubbing is what often causes scratches.
Bad weather is worse because high winds cause a lot of movement in a short period.
But for most people with truck bed tents, the weather will do nothing to truck at all.
It’s more likely to get scratched from falling branches than any tent part.
Scratches With Alternative Truck Tents
The same is not true for all truck bed tents.
Some people save money by using pop-up tents in their truck beds (or other tents intended for ground use).
While it’s possible to use these, they aren’t designed to avoid scratching a truck.
Read more in our article answering the question: Can you put a tent in the back of a truck?
If using a truck bed pop-up tent, take some precautions by covering the ends of poles with something soft yet tough and wrapping any straps you use with a towel.
You may also want to put some blankets or a tarp on the sides of your truck.
The same is true with DIY truck bed tents.
If coming up with one on your own Kodiak canvas truck bed tent (which is a cheap and creative idea that often works just fine), do what you can to ensure any hard pieces like poles or straps are covered and tight.
Tips For Avoiding Scratches With A Truck Bed Tent
For those who want to avoid scratching their truck with a tent (which I’m assuming is all of you since you’re reading this article), check out these general tips to keep it as protected as possible:
- Cover the ends of the poles: The pole ends (if they stick out) may rub on the bottom of your truck, so cover them with rubber tips or furniture pads.
- Drape something over your truck sides. Prevent damage from tent rubbing on the inside and straps rubbing on the outside by using a long blanket or tarp over the sides.
- Tighten straps down, so there is no give. Don’t go as far as to buckle the outside material of your truck, but keep the straps tight so they don’t rub back and forth during motion or windy weather.
- Use a specifically-made truck bed tent. Truck bed tents are designed to fit your truck bed and avoid hurting your vehicle.
- Get the right size for your bed. Truck tents come in different lengths and sizes, so measure your truck and match it up as closely as possible.
- Watch the weather and avoid storms. If you’re extra worried about hurting your truck, keep an eye on the weather and avoid storms and wind to avoid the chance of rubbing and scratching the paint on your vehicle.
Interested in learning more about truck tents? Check out our article: Are truck tents comfortable?