One of the most important aspects of truck bed camping is being comfortable while sleeping. I highly recommend not neglecting this aspect, but to get a quality truck bed mattress or truck bed sleeping pad. I’ve used a variety of setups over the years, both camping solo and camping as a couple. In this article we’ll discuss what has worked well and not so well for me over the years.
One of the biggest mistakes that I made when I got started with truck camping was neglecting my sleeping setup.
I set out from the PNW in the dead of winter and passed through Idaho and Utah (read: *really* cold in January).
I had a little 20″ wide inflatable backpacking air mattress and a memory foam pillow… Fun fact: memory foam turns hard as a rock in the cold.
I survived those early days but quickly realized that my initial sleep setup was not ideal… The pillow turned out to be fine, so long as the weather was above freezing. But the skinny little pad was not ideal for truck camping.
I’m a backpacker and alpine climber at heart so I felt like I could get by with what I had and what I’m used to–just roughing it, if you will.
But since I was out there full time, basically week after week of truck camping, I figured there had to be a better way. And let’s face it, I’ve got a truck, I’m not carrying all this gear on my back up a mountain, so size and weight isn’t the biggest concern (though it should be considered).
Truck Bed Mattress Choices
After a month or so on the road I quickly turned to REI and picked up the Therm-a-Rest Neoair Dream Mattress, a 25″ inflatable mattress with a thin foam topper and a nice fabric cover that zips on and off.
This mattress was a huge step up from the simple backpacker’s air mattress that I was using.
The chief benefit of the NeoAir Dream is the slightly wider size (5 more inches may not sound like much, but it makes a huge difference), the fabric topper (when sleeping in the heat I find the plastic-y material to be very uncomfortable), and the relatively small size (you could let the air out and roll it up into the size of a sleeping bag).
My sleep setup in the elevated position–things can be moved into the cab or positioned along side the mattress.
As a solo truck camper, I found the NeoAir Dream to be the perfect air mattress! Although the first one I bought did spring a slow leak within the first month of using, but thankfully I bought it at REI and they replaced it, no questions asked — which is I always recommend having an REI membership.
I would not recommend using a super big truck bed air mattress that fills the entire area of the wheel wells, those are generally more of a “neat idea” than something well made for truck bed camping in any and all conditions. Be sure to pay attention to the R-Rating of an air mattress, and be aware that the cheaper you buy, the more likely you are to find it spring a leak.
Truck Bed Mattress for a Couple
Later on, I would be joined by Andrea as we set out across the American West and into Mexico and beyond to South America. Unfortunately the 25″ wide NeoAir mattress would not work for the both of us. Why oh why Therm-a-Rest don’t you make an extra wide twin size version?
During our first trial run truck camping trips around the Pacific Northwest we just decided to use my two backpacker NeoAir mattresses (the All-Season and X-Lite) which are both 20″ wide. They were the perfect size for my truck bed and they wedged together nice and snug with no gaps.
During the cold weather camping they served just fine for the both of us. Though it did become somewhat tiring blowing up and rolling up the air mats every day. I also worried that the ultralight backpacker material would spring a leak with such frequent use, or get a splinter or something from the wood. It never happened, but I worried about it.
Ultimately, for the hassle of blowing them up and storing them, the concerns about durability, and the aforementioned plastic-y problem, I began looking for other options.
My truck bed has a space of approximately 39″ between the wheel wells when sleeping in Base Camp Mode, and there are surprisingly very few options out there with that size.
I would have loved the Therm-a-Rest Dream at those dimensions, but sadly that does not exist. All the cheap-o Coleman air mattresses which are twin-bed size are also ridiculously thick (6″ or 8″ thick) which is a no-go when you use the backshelf approach in Base Camp Mode.
What is the difference between a 3″ thick air mattress and a 6″ thick air mattress, Coleman? Nothing in terms of comfort, just more material and time to blow up.
Truck Bed Foam Mattress
The only ready made solution I could find that would meet my requirements was the Teton Sports Camp Cot XXL foam mattress.
It’s a 3″ thick foam truck bed mattress with a fabric topper. The dimensions are perfect width-wise, but it is slightly over 6′ long which is longer than my truck bed.
The pad is pretty comfortable though a little thin because it is meant to be used as a topper while sleeping on a cot and not meant to be used as a standalone sleeping pad.
But the biggest downside, of course, is the massive size even when rolled up. It takes up a lot of room in the back of the truck. One major plus is that you don’t have to worry about punctures, ever. It can take a lot of abuse.
It’s nice that it has the removable fabric topper, but it is quite difficult to take off and put back on since they put the opening along the narrow end of the sleeping pad.
All-in-all the Teton Sports Cot Pad is an affordable and viable option for those looking to maximize their sleeping space and don’t want to worry about the potential problems of an truck bed air mattress that can spring a leak.
The Perfect Truck Mattress
I’d still say that the perfect truck camping sleeping pad doesn’t exist.
Ideally, I’d like to see a cross between the Teton Sports pad and the NeoAir Dream. Perhaps something with the heavy duty blue foam pad on the bottom, a thin inflatable air mattress, and a super soft foam topper.
It would be the size of a twin bed (39″ wide by 6′ long) and include an easily removable and washable fabric topper like that which is currently on the NeoAir Dream.
Click here for more truck camping info and inspiration and don’t miss out on my favorite truck camping gear to get outfitted and get going.
How about you? What do you use while truck camping? Sound off in the comments below…
P.S. If you’re interested in truck camping, be sure to check out my #1 best selling Amazon book Big Travel, Small Budget which includes a chapter on overlanding and truck camping.
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Pickup Truck Camping Guide
Turn your pickup truck into the ultimate adventure mobile. This printable truck camping guide will help you through the process.
Tools
Essential Truck Camping Gear
- Teton Sports Foam Sleeping Pad
- 15 Degree Down Sleeping Bag
- Two Burner Coleman Stove
- Aeropress Coffee Maker
- Hard-Sided Water Container
- Collapsible Camp Chair
- 800W Power Inverter
- Cooler for Food Storage
Road Trip Essentials
Instructions
- Get a truck if you don't have one! 🙂 I've traveled all over the world in my 1991 Toyota Pickup. The bigger the truck bed the better. Short beds have workarounds but they are not ideal unless you are quite small.
- Find a new or used canopy for your truck. Read this guide on what to look for when buying a canopy. My top recommendation is to find an elevated canopy like the Leer 122 (what I use).
- Decide on what sort of truck bed sleeping platform you want to build. The two most common are an elevated sleeping platform or the backshelf (and side-shelf) approaches. I did a transformer setup for the best of both worlds, here is my step-by-step guide building the transformer style setup.
- Purchase essential gear to start truck camping which includes a sleeping pad or mattress, sleeping bag, two-burner stove, cooler, storage boxes, etc.
- Go on a test truck camping run at a free boondocking campsite without amenities to test your setup. Read more about finding free camping in the USA.
- Consider your electronics system and how you will charge devices while on the road. You could get an outside system like the GoalZero Yeti but I recommend using a dual battery and isolator under the hood.
- Join the Pickup Truck Camping group on Facebook for an amazing, like-minded community where you can ask questions and get answers from experienced truck campers. Be sure to pick up your #PTC stickers, shirts, and swag!
- Review the detailed truck camping gear and accessories (plus a packing list) and start planning your epic truck camping adventures. Might I suggest this national park road trip, the most scenic drives in the USA, or this west coast USA road trip? Here is more info on road trip planning for you, based on 10s of thousands of miles of adventures.
- Sign up for more truck camping tips, tricks, and info delivered straight to your email inbox from yours truly.
Notes
I hope this helped you get started with truck camping! I know it can be confusing when you are just getting started, which is why I started writing so extensively about it.
If you have any questions about truck camping, road trips, budget travel, or anything else shoot me an email at ryan@desktodirtbag.com.
(I love getting questions! That is how I get ideas for my blog posts and what to write about!)
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Ryan
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Comments 28
Aren’t the thermarest dream pads over 73″ long (77″ I think)? Do you just fold the end in to make it fit in a Tacoma bed?
Author
Yes, almost all the pads I’ve used have been too long for a standard truck bed. I just fold it up at the feet so it creates a nice padded wall along the back.
Thank you for this article! Never thought I’d get enjoyment in truck camping but here I am!
Any recommendations or experience with padding for bed boxes? I’ve got some custom bed boxes that were padded and upholstered at one point but the whole setup badly needs replacing. I’m thinking plywood with some kind of mold-resistant foam that I can then put some kind of camper fabric over. Just wondering if anyone has recommendations for something along those lines..
Thanks!
Hi second the “Paco pad”. Bulky, but can be pulled out and I like sleeping on the ground when appropriate and it can be stored up on the rack, because it is so tuff freeing room inside when driving.
Personally, I would prefer to bring a truck bed mattress for truck camping. Thank you for sharing us such nice tips.
Author
If you mean those big inflatable truck bed mattresses that have the wheel-well gaps, then that is definitely a bad idea if you plan to use it more than once a blue moon.
Yeah, I can attest to this… Unfortunately, more often than not, these deflate with holes and temperature changes.
>Fun fact: memory foam turns hard as a rock in the cold.
Wow, good to know… hah. And yeah getting something better than an old air mattress is definitely a must, if you plan on getting any good sleep at all that is.
I just ordered this one in the largest size. It is very comfy with a very durable outer covering.
Author
Looks like a pretty solid sleeping pad, I’ve never heard of that brand before, but it looks cozy. Wish they had a straight 72″ long version though so it would fit right into the standard length truck bed.
Paco pads are a favorite of the rafting crowd. They are virtually indestructible, made in the USA, can be used for floating, self inflating, and pretty darn comfortable. You can also get them in wide, truck width size or even custom size AND THICKNESS RANGES FROM 2″ TO 4 “. They don’t pack down very small though (but smaller than the one in your pic), and they are not cheap. However, they are about the same price as a neo air. http://www.jpwinc.com/pages/photo-pacopads.html
Author
I haven’t heard of these Paco Pads, so thanks for mentioning them. They do appear to be crazy expensive though, much more expensive than a Neo Air, unfortunately. I’m still waiting for that perfect sleeping pad at an affordable price…
The best bed I’ve made for myself is 3″ or 4″ medium to heavy density foam
that is sold for cushions, benches and mattresses. There are shops that will
provide the foam in any size required. Very comfortable. Those inflatable
mattresses are just a hassle, between punctures and the air inside getting cold
The foam bed feels just like the bed at home. Try it!
Author
Yeah, inflatable can be unreliable, especially with regular use. I do prefer something more portable than a thick heavy density foam mattress when I am traveling long-term, but if I were going out on shorter trips and had a home base it sounds ideal! Thanks for your perspective Patricia.
Hey Ryan. Thanks for the great article.
http://truckairbedz.com
The blue one …
Hey Ryan. Thanks for the great article.
I’m quite lazy and personally prefer self-inflating mattresses when backpacking
Hi Ryan thanks for valuable suggestion.
Wow, nice car camping setup. I was travelling Australia in my 4×4 Mitsubishi Pajero a year ago and waste some of my money for bad camping mattresses, because after a few days they are most likely losing air. It is really crucial to have a proper camping mattress if you go camping, or even have some spare place for a camping mattress in your car.
Anyway, I agree on your choice of NeoAir Mattresses. They are really good. I´ve set up a Website myself, for people who don’t not know what to look for when buying a camping mattress. The NeoAir is included as well and is one of the best. Check out the website to prevent disappointments when buying a camping mattress 🙂
Cheers
Id go with a portable mattress coz i’ll be able to sleep more comfortable.
Author
Which one specifically?
I always leave it to my spouse to shop for mattresses. I never seem to choose/buy the “right one”. 🙁
Author
Haha yeah, can be tough coming to an agreement on some items while camping or traveling.
Personally, I would prefer to bring a sleeping pad because it’s more portable and it’s lighter compared to mattresses. Mattresses technically are built specifically for houses and some are very intact with it’s shape.
Author
Sleeping pads are definitely lighter and smaller, but they have their drawbacks if they leak or can be punctured. I’ve been pretty happy with the sleeping mattress I’ve been using this year, it is fairly portable and quite comfortable–meant for camping of course.
i think the perfect car setup (and is what we currently use) is a thermarest neoair camper with a foam padding. you can get a large swatch from either a craft supply store or home depot and size it perfectly to your setup. then the other thing that totally made things easier was an outlet pump like this bad boy (http://www.coleman.com/product/quickpumptrade-12v-pump/2000017846?contextCategory=pumps#.VeYCLPlVhBc) fits pretty snug over the thermarest valve so you don’t have to blow it up each night.
Author
Which Neoair is it that you use (most of their air mattresses have the name Neoair)? Those little pumps are definitely handy for an air mattress! Thanks for the comment, Don.