“I have a 6.5′ bed and a camper shell that is wind proof and waterproof. I’m 5’10” and I can sleep in the bed. Should I invest in a truck tent?
You don’t actually ‘have’ to. It comes down to storage space and how comfortable you are in tight spaces. I’m also 5’10” and I’ve slept in the truck’s bed on many occasions, but most of those were pretty short trips. I put my pants on, same as anyone, one leg at a time. That is, until I’ve spent the night inside the topper, and then I put my pants on laying down, with lots of grunting, and maybe a few choice words. A cap with a raised roof would allow for standing up, albeit hunched over, but they’re not as sleek.
There are two main barriers regarding rooftop tents. Money is one, as most of these luxury pods start around $2,000, and climb from there. Still, it’s probably less than you’d need to spend on registering another vehicle, maintaining it, and paying the extra fees at campgrounds. The other issue is that you’d need to support the camper shell, as the majority of these caps weren’t designed to carry a load on the roof.