I have a 2009 Ranger XL with the 7 foot bed. Have been searching without luck for a truck tent that will fit the bed. Has anyone tried a compact truck tent on their 7 foot bed? I realize that such a tent wouldn't reach the tailgate, but I can't see how else to deal with the issue. Just hoping there is way to jury-rig a tent for the longer bed.

 

All the one's I'm finding online are for the 6' bed... And boy are they pricey! Sheesh...

I think if it were me, I'd stick some 2x2's down in the stake holes and cover them with a tarp or canvas - make your own tent - that way you'll know it fits your truck and it will cost less...

 

I guess I was hoping that there would be a solution that would provide the benefits of a tent--keeping out bugs for one. Hoping that there is someone who actually modified a compact truck tent to fit the 7 foot bed. Maybe there is no one who has done it.

 

I bought a truck tent for my long bed ranger a few years ago, but can't remember the web site i bought it off of. I'll do some reseach, I'll let you know...

 

Sounds great. Sure hope you can find the source!

 

the brand I have is a SPORTZ, and I searched the net and it seems they don't have for Ranger LB anymore, and I cannot find the receipt, so I could give the model # to you. Maybe someone out there knows more, or a dealer that has one leftover...

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to research the tent. It does seem odd that the tent makers have discontinued the long bed tents, but I suppose the L B is fairly rare.

 

Auto Anything lists several Ranger tents -all for 6' beds. However, I wonder if at least some of them will work with a 7' foot bed. Give them a call to see what they say.

 

Thanks, I'll do that and post results. There may be more of us L B Ranger owners wanting to some truck tenting.

 

Talked with Auto Anything, who looked at the Sportz website. Man i spoke to said I was out of luck, that no one makes a tent to fit a Ranger long bed. Guess i will have to sleep on the ground.

 

Do you have a cap on your bed? While traveling to Alaska a few years ago, I saw a fellow who had a cap on his PU bed. He made a sliding shelf that rested on the floor of the truck bed that he could pull out to access camping gear and clothes. He also had a bed set above the wheel housings with a mattress and his sleeping bag. Ha had screens on the windows as well as curtains. Looked like a neat idea and way to travel.

 

Thanks for your description of your friend's cap arrangement. I don't have a cap on my Ranger, just a tonneau. I don't plan to do a lot of truck camping, maybe just 2 or 3 times a year, so I am hoping that someone will see a way around the long bed issue, maybe someone who has modified a tent for a 6ft bed so that it will fit a 7ft bed.

 

I think a cap would be a good option.
Certainly more secure if bears are around!!!

 

Did you look at the specs on a truck tent for a F-150???Maybe might be worth a look???

 

I will do that, but I suspect that the F-150 tent will be too wide for the Ranger.