Best Truck Bed Tent for the Chevy Colorado (All Generations): 2026 Guide

The Chevy Colorado occupies an interesting position in the truck tent market. It is genuinely capable off-road; the ZR2 trim is one of the most capable factory mid-size trucks available, and the Colorado Trail Boss and Z71 trims have built a loyal overlanding following, but its bed dimensions create a sizing complexity that most truck tent buying guides handle poorly.

The fundamental issue: the Colorado’s bed configuration changed significantly with the third-generation redesign in 2023. The pre-2023 Colorado offered two bed lengths across two cab configurations. The 2023 and newer Colorado simplified to a single configuration, Crew Cab with a 5.2-foot bed, but the actual interior measurement of that bed is not what most tent sizing guides list, and getting it wrong produces a tent that does not fit.

This guide covers the Colorado’s specific bed dimensions across every generation, identifies the exact tent models confirmed for each configuration, reviews the three best options with complete honesty about their limitations, and addresses the ZR2 and ZR2 Bison-specific compatibility questions that Colorado owners in the overlanding community consistently ask.

Chevy Colorado Bed Dimensions: What You Actually Need to Know

Third Generation (2023 to Present): The Single-Bed Simplification

The 2025 Chevy Colorado features a standardized short bed configuration across its entire lineup, measuring 61.7 inches in length at the floor. The bed width at the floor spans 58.8 inches, but the practical sleeping width narrows considerably: the practical loading width narrows to 45.5 inches between the wheel housings.

This is the measurement that matters for tent fitment and sleeping surface planning: 61.7 inches of interior floor length, 45.5 inches between wheel wells.

The 61.7-inch floor length places the third-generation Colorado in the mid-size short bed category, not a true 5-foot bed, not a 6-foot bed, but a 5.2-foot bed that requires verification against each tent manufacturer’s specific fitment specifications rather than a generic “short bed” label.

With a spray-in bedliner: The factory spray-in bedliner option reduces the interior floor length slightly, typically by 0.5 to 1.0 inch depending on liner thickness. Verify your liner’s impact on interior measurements before purchasing any tent if you have the factory liner installed.

Second Generation (2015 to 2022): Two Bed Options

The second-generation Colorado offered two bed configurations:

Extended Cab (2015 to 2022): 6.2-foot bed. Interior floor length: approximately 74 inches. This is the longer of the two second-gen configurations and fits the mid-size long bed category.

Crew Cab (2015 to 2022): 5.2-foot short bed OR 6.2-foot long bed depending on configuration. The Crew Cab short bed at 5.2 feet is the most common second-gen configuration and shares the same tent compatibility considerations as the third-generation Colorado.

Colorado Generation	Cab Style	Bed Length	Interior Floor Length	Tent Category
2023 to present	Crew Cab only	5.2 ft	61.7 in	Mid-size short bed
2015 to 2022	Crew Cab short bed	5.2 ft	~62 in	Mid-size short bed
2015 to 2022	Crew Cab long bed	6.2 ft	~74 in	Mid-size long bed
2015 to 2022	Extended Cab	6.2 ft	~74 in	Mid-size long bed

The Colorado Sizing Problem That Buys Most Guides Get Wrong

The most common mistake Colorado buyers make when selecting a truck tent is searching for “short bed truck tent” and ordering whatever appears first, because “short bed” in most product listings refers to the 5.5-foot full-size short bed found on the F-150 SuperCrew, RAM 1500 Crew Cab, and Silverado Crew Cab.

The Colorado’s 5.2-foot bed is approximately 4 to 6 inches shorter than these full-size short beds. A tent sized for a full-size 5.5-foot short bed will not attach at the correct rail positions on a Colorado, will not seal the tailgate sleeve correctly, and will sag at the front connection point where the poles cannot reach their intended anchor positions.

The tent you need for a Colorado 5.2-foot short bed is specifically designed for a mid-size 5-foot to 5.2-foot bed, not a full-size short bed tent, and not a generic “compact truck tent” that may target even shorter beds.

Always verify using Napier’s vehicle fitment tool at napieroutdoors.com before purchasing. Enter your specific Colorado year, cab style, and bed configuration. The confirmed model number for your configuration eliminates the guesswork that costs campers return shipping fees and a camping trip delay.

ZR2 and Off-Road Trim Specific Considerations

The Colorado ZR2 and ZR2 Bison are the configurations most associated with overlanding and dispersed camping, which makes them the configurations where truck bed tent questions come up most frequently.

Factory suspension lift: The ZR2’s 2-inch factory suspension lift raises the truck bed height relative to standard Colorado configurations. A bed tent designed for standard Colorado dimensions still fits the ZR2 bed correctly because the lift affects wheel height, not bed interior dimensions. Tent attachment straps accommodate the standard bed rail profile regardless of suspension height.

Rock sliders: Factory rock sliders on the ZR2 Bison and aftermarket sliders on ZR2 models extend below the door sill and do not interfere with tent bed rail attachment. Tent straps attach at the bed rail position above the slider profile.

Bed rail accessories: If your ZR2 runs an aftermarket bed rail system, a Molle panel setup, a bed rack, or side-mounted storage, verify that the tent’s strap attachment system can route around or past these accessories. Strap-based tent systems are more compatible with accessorized bed rails than hook-based designs.

The 3 Best Truck Bed Tents for the Chevy Colorado

1. Napier Sportz 57 Series: Best Overall for Colorado

The Napier Sportz 57 Series earns its top position for the Colorado through three specific advantages: Napier has had a dedicated fitment confirmation for the Colorado in their vehicle database for years, the 57 Series was sold through Chevrolet’s own accessories program (GM part number 19329820 for the short box version), and the 57 Series’ feature set is the most complete available in the mid-range price category for a mid-size truck.

The Sportz Truck Tent is the premium option, featuring upgraded materials, more windows for ventilation, additional storage pockets, and an awning. The built-in awning, a 4-foot by 4-foot extension that attaches directly to the lowered tailgate without requiring separate stakes or poles, creates a covered entry zone that keeps rain off the tailgate sleeve and provides a sheltered space for removing boots and gear before entering the tent. No other tent at this price point includes a built-in awning.

The rear cab access panel, the zippered connection between the tent interior and the truck’s rear window, is the feature most valued by Colorado campers who use the truck’s 12V outlet for heating or charging overnight. A power cord run from the truck’s interior through the access panel to a heated blanket or portable power station changes the shoulder-season camping experience meaningfully.

The Napier Outdoors Sportz Truck Tent is a crowd-pleaser. It’s easy enough for even the most novice camper to set up and sturdy enough to provide a pleasant shelter through almost any night, almost anywhere. The color-coded pole and sleeve system means the setup process is learnable without memorization: match the colors, connect the poles, tension the straps.

The 2,000mm PU waterproofing with taped seams handles three-season conditions reliably. The bathtub-style sewn-in floor keeps ground moisture and insects out from below. Both features together make the 57 Series the most weather-complete tent in the Colorado category at its price point.

Truck compatibility: Confirmed for Colorado 5.2-foot bed (Crew Cab, 2015 to 2026). Verify through napieroutdoors.com for your specific year. For the 6.2-foot Colorado Extended Cab and Crew Cab long bed, a different Napier model number applies; verify separately.

2. Rightline Gear 110765 Mid-Size Short Bed Tent: Best for ZR2 and Loaded Colorado Beds

The Rightline Gear 110765 earns its position specifically for Colorado ZR2 owners and any Colorado camper who runs a loaded truck bed and does not want to unload before tent setup.

The Rightline Gear Truck Tent is a convenient floorless option that doesn’t require you to empty your truck bed of any other cargo before setup. The design leaves the entire truck bed open as sleeping or storage space, and mesh panels on the sides and roof provide a great breeze and a view of the stars.

The floorless design is the defining feature for loaded Colorado beds. A ZR2 running recovery gear, a refrigerator, a tool storage system, or any bed-based overlanding setup can be sleeping under a fully deployed Rightline tent without removing a single piece of gear from the bed. The tent walls drape over the bed rails and seal at the tailgate; the floor is the actual truck bed, with whatever is in it.

For stargazing use, one of the specific advantages of truck bed tent camping covered elsewhere on this site, the RightLine’s mesh roof panel with the rainfly removed provides an unobstructed sky view that walled tent designs cannot match. The Colorado ZR2’s typical dispersed camping terrain in the Southwest and Rocky Mountain region is precisely where dark sky camping is most accessible.

This is definitely a three-season tent. While the material itself is waterproof, the seal between the truck bed and the tent isn’t tight, and depending on the model of your truck, you may get some gaps near the tailgate.

This is the honest limitation that comes with the floorless design; cold air can enter from below in cold-weather use. For three-season camping in mild to moderate conditions, this is a manageable trade-off. For cold-weather camping below 40°F overnight, the Napier Sportz 57 Series with its sewn-in floor provides better thermal performance.

Critical model number note: The Rightline 110730 is the full-size universal model designed for 5-foot to 8-foot full-size truck beds. The 110765 is the mid-size short-bed model for the Colorado’s 5.2-foot bed. Ordering the 110730 for a Colorado produces a tent that does not fit correctly; verify the model number before purchasing.

Truck compatibility: Rightline 110765 is specifically listed for the Chevy Colorado short bed configuration.

3. Napier Backroadz 19 Series: Best Budget Option for Colorado

The Backroadz Truck Tent offers the same elevated camping experience in a lightweight, budget-friendly design that’s perfect for occasional campers or first-time truck campers. For Colorado owners who want to try truck bed tent camping without the Sportz 57 Series investment, the Backroadz 19 Series is the honest starting point.

The Rightline Gear and Napier BackRoadz are budget-friendly yet still reliable and durable enough for overlanding or camping. The Backroadz uses the same Napier fitment verification and the same color-coded pole system as the Sportz 57 Series, with the key differences being the removal of the built-in awning, the absence of the cab access panel, and a lower waterproofing rating at 1,500mm versus the Sportz 57’s 2,000mm.

For three-season camping in mild to moderate rain, the 1,500mm rating is adequate. For the Pacific Northwest, mountain environments, or any sustained heavy rain situation, the 2,000mm rating of the Sportz 57 Series provides meaningful additional protection.

The Backroadz includes a sewn-in floor, the same bathtub-style floor construction as the Sportz 57, which maintains the cold-weather performance advantage over the floorless Rightline design. For first-time Colorado truck campers who want the full enclosed tent experience without the Sportz 57 price, the Backroadz 19 Series is the entry point that still delivers genuine truck tent camping capability.

Truck compatibility: Verify the specific Backroadz model number for your Colorado year and bed configuration through napieroutdoors.com. The mid-size compact variant covers the Colorado 5.2-foot bed.

The Decision Framework for Colorado Owners

For most Colorado campers, 3-season use, wanting the best feature set: Napier Sportz 57 Series. The awning, cab access panel, sewn-in floor, and 2,000mm waterproofing are the complete feature set at the mid-range price. The Chevrolet accessories program endorsement (GM part 19329820) is a meaningful signal for Colorado-specific fitment confidence.

For ZR2 and overlanding-configured Colorados where the bed stays loaded: Rightline Gear 110765. The floorless design is the only practical option for campers who do not want to unload a loaded overlanding bed for every overnight stay. Ensure you have the 110765 mid-size model, not the 110730 full-size.

For first-time Colorado truck campers testing the format: Napier Backroadz 19 Series. Same Napier fitment verification, same sewn-in floor, at a lower entry price without the premium features. The right tent for discovering whether truck bed tent camping suits your camping style before committing to the Sportz 57.

Frequently Asked Questions

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