Buying guide
SUV Sleep Setup
Updated How we research
Turn your cargo area into a real bed. The page is split into four sections (SUV-shaped air mattresses; Sleeping pads for tight spaces; Best all-around car camping mattresses; Tents and shelters that attach to the tailgate), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 12 picks. Our scores range from 7.3 to 8.6 out of 10, across $$, $$$, See on Amazon price bands.
- Best overall:Kelty Caboose 4P Tent and Vehicle Awning Shelter. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Klymit Static V Inflatable Sleeping Pad 2.5 inch. Value score of 9/10, overall 7.7/10.
- Solid build:Sea to Summit Camp Plus SI Sleeping Mat, Tapered Regular. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Feature-rich:Klymit Insulated Double V Two-Person Sleeping Pad. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
SUV-shaped air mattresses
- Klymit Insulated Double V Two-Person Sleeping PadOur score8.4/10
- Sea to Summit Camp Plus SI Sleeping Mat, Tapered RegularOur score8.0/10
- Sea to Summit Camp Plus Self-Inflating Foam Mat LargeOur score8.0/10
- Klymit Static V Inflatable Sleeping Pad 2.5 inchOur score7.7/10
Sleeping pads for tight spaces
- Klymit Insulated Double V Two-Person Sleeping PadOur score8.4/10
- Sea to Summit Camp Plus SI Sleeping Mat, Tapered RegularOur score8.0/10
- Sea to Summit Camp Plus Self-Inflating Foam Mat LargeOur score8.0/10
- Klymit Static V Inflatable Sleeping Pad 2.5 inchOur score7.7/10
Best all-around car camping mattresses
- Pittman Outdoors AirBedz Pro3 Truck Bed Mattress Full Long BedOur score8.2/10
- Umbrauto Built-in Pump Air Mattress for 5.5-5.8ft Short Truck Bed, Inflatable Full-Size Pickup Airbed for Ford F150, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan Outdoor CampingOur score7.8/10
- Pittman Outdoors AirBedz Truck Bed Mattress Full Short BedOur score7.7/10
- Pittman Outdoors AirBedz Original Truck Bed Air MattressOur score7.3/10
Tents and shelters that attach to the tailgate
- Kelty Caboose 4P Tent and Vehicle Awning ShelterOur score8.6/10
- JOYTUTUS SUV Tent for Camping with Rainfly, Double Door Design Car Tent with Aluminum Poles, SUV Tailgate Tent with Waterproof PU2000mm Double Layer for 4-8 Person, OrangeOur score8.2/10
- GEERTOP Car Tailgate Awning 19 x 16 FT, Waterproof Vehicle CanopyOur score7.6/10
- Truck Bed Tent 5.5-6ft: Easy Set Up Umburato Pickup Truck Tents for Camping, Waterproof PU3000mm Canopy for Truck Camper, Portable, Spacious for 2 Person GreenOur score7.4/10
All 12 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1The Kelty Caboose 4P, a tent and vehicle awning shelter in one, made to link a sleeping space to the back of your car.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Combines a 4P tent with a vehicle awning, covering sleep and hangout space
- + Kelty build quality is a step above budget SUV tent attachments
- + Flexible setup works freestanding or connected to the vehicle
- - Premium option in this guide, so value depends on frequent car camping
- - More complex pitch than a simple hatch sleeve or truck bed tent
#2The Klymit Insulated Double V, a two-person sleeping pad with insulation for couples sharing a tent or cargo area.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Two-person width lets couples share one pad without a gap in the middle
- + Insulated build holds warmth better on cold ground than basic air pads
- + V-chamber design keeps the surface stable when one sleeper moves
- - Double width may be too wide for smaller SUV cargo areas
- - Inflating a large pad by mouth or pump sack takes some effort
#3Pittman Outdoors AirBedz Pro3 air mattress sized for full-size long-bed pickups, a roomy truck bed sleep setup.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Long-bed sizing uses the full length of a full-size pickup for taller sleepers
- + Pro3 is the upgraded AirBedz line, aimed at frequent truck bed campers
- + Contoured to work around wheel wells so the mattress sits flat in the bed
- - Only fits full-size long beds, so it is wrong for short beds and mid-size trucks
- - A large air mattress takes up real storage space when packed down
#4JOYTUTUS SUV tent attaches to the tailgate of SUVs, CUVs and minivans or stands alone, with a 7.7 x 7.7 ft floor, 6.9 ft height, aluminum poles and a full rainfly over 210D Oxford fabric.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Rear opening with elastic edging and four tailgate straps connects to the vehicle, or the tent pitches on its own
- + 210D Oxford fabric with a PU2000mm coating, a full rainfly and taped seams for rainy nights
- + Two opposite doors and three windows give a cross-breeze, with 6.9 ft of height inside
- - The 4 to 6 adult rating is generous for a 7.7 x 7.7 ft floor: expect comfortable space for a small family
- - Pole setup with four guylines and nine stakes takes longer than an instant pop-up shelter
#5Sea to Summit's Camp Plus SI in Tapered Regular is a 2.6 inch self-inflating foam mat with a 4.3 R-value, 72 x 22 inches and 2.4 lbs, with a 75D polyester face.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + 4.3 R-value and 2.6 inches of cored foam insulate against cold ground for camping in most seasons
- + Reversible multi-function valve handles inflation, one-way deflation and fine-tuning of air pressure
- + Packs to 11 x 6.3 inches and includes a stuff sack, a field repair kit and PillowLock patches
- - Tapered shape narrows toward the feet, so it gives less room than the rectangular version of the same mat
- - At 22 inches wide and 72 inches long it is a snug fit for broad-shouldered or tall sleepers
#6The large size of the Sea to Summit Camp Plus self-inflating foam mat, giving bigger sleepers extra length and width.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Large size gives more room to sprawl than the regular Camp Plus
- + Foam and air combo stays comfortable for side and back sleepers
- + Durable fabric handles rocky tent floors and cargo areas alike
- - Bigger footprint may not fit two side by side in a small tent
- - Heavier and bulkier to roll than the regular version
#7Umbrauto's air mattress is cut for 5.5 to 5.8 ft full-size truck beds and has a detachable cordless rechargeable pump that inflates or deflates it in under 3 minutes.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Shaped for 5.5 to 5.8 ft beds on the F-150, Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, Ram 1500, Tundra and Titan
- + Built-in rechargeable pump works at the push of a button with no car outlet or external power needed
- + Internal straps hold the top and bottom layers flat, with a flocked top and a grid fabric base for the truck bed
- - Does not fit mid-size trucks such as the Tacoma or Ranger, and longer beds need a different size
- - Air-only PVC construction with no insulation value listed, so plan on a blanket underneath on cold nights
#8Klymit's Static V inflatable sleeping pad, 2.5 inch thick with V-chamber baffles, a light pad that also works in the car.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + V-shaped chambers limit air shifting, so you roll around less at night
- + 2.5 inch thickness keeps hips off the ground or a hard cargo floor
- + Packs very small, so it doubles for backpacking or hike-in sites
- - Narrow backpacking width feels tight next to car camping mattresses
- - Uninsulated pad, so it runs cold on frozen ground in shoulder season
#9The AirBedz truck bed mattress cut for full-size short-bed pickups, turning the bed into a flat two-person sleep area.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Short-bed shape matches the most common full-size pickup configuration
- + Wheel well cutouts let the mattress spread wide instead of sagging at the sides
- + Pittman has made truck bed air mattresses for years, so the pattern is refined
- - Check whether a pump is included, or budget for a separate inflator
- - Air mattresses lose warmth to a cold metal bed without insulation underneath
#10GEERTOP's tailgate awning is a 19 x 16 ft tarp-style canopy in 210T polyester with two telescoping poles (72 to 83 inches) that buckles onto SUVs, vans, Jeeps and trucks.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + About 215 square feet of shade, far more covered area than a compact tailgate canopy
- + Three setups: single-pole A-frame for privacy, dual-pole awning for maximum shade, or freestanding tarp shelter
- + Buckle attachment system and two height-adjustable poles are included for connecting to most vehicles
- - A 19 x 16 ft tarp needs far more open ground than a compact tailgate canopy, so it can be too big for tight sites
- - Open-sided 210T polyester tarp is water resistant but has no walls, floor or bug mesh
#11Umbrauto's truck bed tent fits 5.5 to 6 ft full-size beds and sleeps two, with 210T polyester rated PU3000mm, color-coded poles, two mesh windows and a roof vent.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + PU3000mm waterproof coating on 210T polyester for rain protection over the truck bed
- + Color-coded poles, clear instructions and a carrying bag are aimed at quick setup
- + Full-size entrance door, two large mesh side windows and a roof vent move air through the tent
- - Fits only 5.5 to 6 ft full-size beds: measure first, as mid-size and long-bed trucks need another size
- - Budget-priced tent from a lesser-known brand, and the bullets do not state pole material or packed weight
#12The original Pittman AirBedz truck bed air mattress, a long-running basic option for sleeping in a pickup bed.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Original model has a long track record with truck bed campers
- + Simpler design keeps it one of the easier AirBedz options to set up
- + Shaped to fit around wheel wells so the bed floor is used efficiently
- - Confirm the bed length variant matches your truck before ordering
- - Older design lacks the upgraded fabric and features of the Pro line
Popular right now
- Fall Car Camping: How to Plan and What to PackArticle
- Keeping Cool When Camping in Hot WeatherArticle
- Best Portable Camping Sinks for Car CampingBuying guide
- Tailgate tent explainedGlossary
- Safety Tips for Sleeping in Your CarArticle
- Best Camping Cookware SetsBuying guide
Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.
Car Camp Picks curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.