The Honda Ridgeline is the most fitment-misunderstood truck in the tent market. Buyers search for ‘truck tent for Ridgeline’ expecting the same answer they’d get for a Tacoma or F-150 — but the Ridgeline’s bed is fundamentally different from every other pickup on this list. The composite bed, the in-bed trunk, the unibody construction, and the bed dimensions that match no standard tent sizing make fitment a unique process that deserves its own guide.
This article explains exactly why the Ridgeline is different, maps both generations to their fitment options, reviews every confirmed-compatible tent, and gives you a buying guide built around the Ridgeline’s specific quirks. If you own a Ridgeline and want to camp in it, this is the only guide written specifically for you.
Why the Honda Ridgeline Is Different From Every Other Truck.
| Unlike body-on-frame trucks (F-150, Tacoma, RAM), the Ridgeline uses a car-based unibody. The bed is integrated into the frame rather than sitting on top of a separate ladder frame. This changes how tension loads from tent straps transfer into the structure. Composite bed floor: The Ridgeline’s bed floor is a composite material (not steel), which means it flexes slightly differently than a traditional steel bed. This does not affect tent attachment but can affect how the tent floor sits on uneven loads. In-bed trunk, every Ridgeline has a lockable in-bed storage trunk under the bed floor. The trunk lid takes up approximately one-third of the bed floor surface. Tent designs with a full floor must accommodate this lid, it creates a raised panel that can push up against tent floors and cause an uneven sleeping surface. 5 ft bed that is NOT 60 inches inside, the Ridgeline’s bed is listed as 5 ft (60 in), but the actual inside measurement varies by generation. More critically, the composite bed walls are thicker than steel, reducing the usable interior width. Many tents designed for 5 ft beds sit slightly tight on the Ridgeline’s narrower interior. Bed rail attachment point, the Ridgeline’s composite bed rails have different attachment geometry than steel-rail trucks. Hook-based tent systems designed for steel rail profiles can slip or fail to seat flush on Ridgeline rails. Strap-based systems are more reliable. |
Honda Ridgeline Generations: Bed Dimensions & Fitment
| Generation | Years | Bed | Tent Notes |
| 1st Gen | 2006-2014 | 5 ft (composite) | Rightline 110730 confirmed. Napier 57 reported working by owners but not officially verified. In-bed trunk affects floored tents. |
| 2nd Gen | 2017-present | 5 ft (composite) | Napier Sportz 57 officially verified for 2017+. Rightline 110730 universal confirmed. Best-documented generation for tent fitment. |
| No Ridgeline was produced in 2015-2016 — Honda discontinued the 1st gen and relaunched with the fully redesigned 2nd gen in 2017. If you have a 2015 or 2016 Ridgeline, that truck does not exist. |
The In-Bed Trunk Problem: How It Affects Tent Selection
The in-bed trunk is the single biggest practical consideration for Ridgeline tent camping. Here is how each tent type handles it:
| Tent Type | How It Handles the In-Bed Trunk |
| Floored tent (Napier 57) | The trunk lid creates a raised panel under the tent floor, resulting in an uneven sleeping surface. Fix: place a sleeping pad directly on the trunk lid before setting up the tent, creating a level floor. This is documented by multiple Ridgeline forum users as an effective workaround. |
| Floorless tent (Rightline 110730) | You sleep directly on the bed liner, which means the trunk lid surface is part of your sleep surface. With a quality sleeping pad, the slight height difference between trunk lid and bed floor is minimal. Many Ridgeline campers prefer this for exactly this reason. |
| RTT (rooftop tent) | The in-bed trunk is irrelevant — RTTs mount above the bed on a rack. The truck bed (and trunk) remains fully accessible. RTTs are the cleanest Ridgeline camping solution if payload and budget allow. |
Best Truck Tents for the Honda Ridgeline: Full Reviews
Napier Sportz 57 Series (2017+ verified) BEST OVERALL — 2ND GEN RIDGELINE
The Napier Sportz 57 is the only tent on this list with official Ridgeline fitment verification in Napier’s published database — a meaningful distinction in a truck category where most tent manufacturers do not test or publish Ridgeline fitment data at all. For 2nd-gen Ridgeline owners (2017+) who want the certainty of manufacturer confirmation before spending $200, that verification is worth more than any spec comparison.
The hook-based attachment requires one additional step on the Ridgeline compared to steel-rail trucks: because the Ridgeline’s composite bed rail has a different profile than steel rails, the hooks need to be positioned carefully to seat flush rather than at an angle. Napier’s support team has a Ridgeline-specific attachment guidance document available by request. Once correctly set up, the tent performs identically to its performance on any other 5 ft bed. Trunk lid workaround: lay a sleeping pad flat on the trunk lid surface before setting up the tent — it creates a near-level sleeping floor inside.
Key Features
- Fabric: 190T polyester, taped seams
- HH: 1,500mm
- Poles: Fiberglass
- Verified: Honda Ridgeline 2017+ (2nd gen)
- Weight: ~18 lbs Capacity: 2-3 people
- * Napier’s fitment database explicitly lists 2017+ Honda Ridgeline as compatible
- * 190T taped-seam polyester; full-coverage rain fly extending well past the tailgate door
- * Napier customer support can guide the trunk-lid sleeping surface workaround
- * Most documented tent on Ridgeline owner forums for the 2nd gen
- * Replacement parts available directly from Napier
- * Better weather performance than Rightline at similar price
- * Hook-based attachment requires more care on Ridgeline composite rails than on steel-rail trucks — test attachment carefully before your first overnight
- * In-bed trunk creates uneven sleeping surface — use sleeping pad on trunk lid as a shim before setting up
- * Not officially verified for 1st gen (2006-2014) Ridgeline
Rightline Gear 110730 BEST UNIVERSAL / 1ST GEN RIDGELINE
For 1st gen Ridgeline owners (2006-2014), the Rightline 110730 is the default recommendation. Napier’s fitment database does not officially cover the 1st-gen Ridgeline, and the composite bed rail design of the 1st-gen differs enough from the 2nd-gen that hook-based fitment is less predictable. The Rightline’s cam-buckle strap system attaches to the rail web regardless of the exact rail profile — a design that has been independently confirmed working by multiple 1st gen Ridgeline owners on dedicated forums.
The floorless design is particularly well-suited to the Ridgeline. Without a tent floor, the in-bed trunk becomes a non-issue: the trunk lid is simply part of the sleeping surface. Place a quality sleeping pad across both the trunk lid and the adjacent bed floor, and the slight height differential disappears entirely. Many experienced Ridgeline campers specifically prefer the floorless design for this reason.
Key Features
- Fabric: 300D ripstop polyester
- HH: 1,500mm
- Floor: None (truck bed liner)
- Fits: Ridgeline 2006-2014 (1st gen) and 2017+ (2nd gen)
- Weight: ~17 lbs Capacity: 2-3 people
- * Universal cam-buckle straps confirmed working on 1st gen (2006-2014) and 2nd gen (2017+) Ridgeline by owner community
- * Strap-based attachment distributes load along the rail web rather than point-loading on a single hook position — more forgiving on composite rails
- * Floorless design means the in-bed trunk is less of a sleeping surface complication — sleep directly on the bed liner with a pad
- * Lowest price option for the Ridgeline at $150-180
- * Simplest setup: under 10 minutes
- * 300D ripstop — lighter fabric than the Napier 57’s 190T taped-seam design
- * No floor — trail debris enters from below; use a bed mat on dirty sites
- * Fiberglass poles
Napier Sportz Camo 57 (Ridgeline verified) BEST FOR RIDGELINE HUNTING USE
The Honda Ridgeline is a genuinely capable hunting truck: the dual-action tailgate opens both downward (for loading) and swings 90 degrees to the side (for side access), the in-bed trunk provides secure lockable storage for valuable gear, and the unibody’s car-like ride makes it more comfortable on long highway pulls to remote hunting areas than most body-on-frame competitors. The Camo 57 suits this use profile.
Hunters who use the Ridgeline specifically for its dual-action tailgate access should note that the tailgate needs to be in the down position for tent setup (the attachment straps cross the tailgate). The side-swing feature is not accessible with the tent set up — plan gear access accordingly. Store hunting gear in the in-bed trunk before setting up the tent rather than planning to retrieve it after.
Key Features
- Fabric: 190T polyester, taped seams
- Pattern: Realtree Edge camo
- Verified: Honda Ridgeline 2017+ (2nd gen)
- Weight: ~18 lbs Capacity: 2-3 people
- * Same Ridgeline 2017+ fitment verification as the standard Sportz 57
- * Realtree Edge camo pattern for hunting camp concealment
- * Honda Ridgeline’s dual-action tailgate (swings out or drops down) works well for hunting access alongside this tent
- * Napier parts and support available
- * Popular among hunters who use the Ridgeline for deer and turkey camp
- $20-30 premium over non-camo Sportz 57
- * Same hook-on-composite-rail care required as the standard Sportz 57
- * In-bed trunk workaround applies identically
Honda Ridgeline Truck Tent Buying Guide
Step 1: Which Generation Do You Have?
| Your Ridgeline | Best Tent Choice |
| 2006-2014 (1st gen) | Rightline Gear 110730 — best choice; universal straps work on composite rails. Napier 57 used by some 1st gen owners but not officially verified. |
| 2017-present (2nd gen) | Napier Sportz 57 (officially verified) or Rightline 110730 (universal, always works). Choose Napier for better weather; choose Rightline for simpler setup. |
Step 2: How Will You Handle the In-Bed Trunk?
| Approach | How It Works | Verdict |
| Floored tent (Napier 57) | Place a sleeping pad flat on the trunk lid before setting up the tent. This acts as a shim and creates a near-level floor. Many Ridgeline owners do this every trip. | Recommended |
| Floorless tent (Rightline) | Sleep directly on bed liner + sleeping pad across the full bed width. Trunk lid height difference (~1 in) is absorbed by the sleeping pad. | Easiest approach |
| RTT (rooftop tent) | Trunk is irrelevant. Mount tent on a bed rack above the bed. Full bed and trunk accessible. | Best if budget allows |
Step 3: Ridgeline-Specific Setup Tips
Based on documented Ridgeline owner experience across multiple forums:
- Hook attachment on composite rails: Seat hooks parallel to the rail direction before rotating them into position. Do not force hooks perpendicular to the rail as on steel trucks; the composite rail has less hook bite. Test tension by hand before relying on the tent in rain.
- In-bed trunk lid: Close and latch the trunk before setting up the tent. The tent floor or sleeping pad should sit on top of the latched lid, not inside the open trunk.
- Dual-action tailgate: Keep the tailgate in the standard down position during setup. The side-swing feature cannot be used with the tent attached.
- Bed rail protectors: If your Ridgeline has factory or aftermarket bed rail protectors/caps, verify that the tent hooks clear the cap profile. Some thicker aftermarket caps raise the attachment point by 0.5-1 in, which can cause hooks to seat at an angle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What truck tent fits a Honda Ridgeline?
The Napier Sportz 57 Series is officially verified for the 2nd-gen Ridgeline (2017+) and is the top pick for this generation. The Rightline Gear 110730 universal works on both 1st gen (2006-2014) and 2nd gen, using a strap-based attachment that is more forgiving on the Ridgeline’s composite bed rails. No 5-ft mid-size tent works perfectly on the Ridgeline out of the box; both require minor setup adjustments specific to this truck.
Does the Honda Ridgeline in-bed trunk affect tent camping?
Yes, but it is manageable. For floored tents (Napier 57), place a sleeping pad flat on the trunk lid surface before setting up the tent to create a near-level floor. For floorless tents (Rightline 110730), the trunk lid is simply part of the sleep surface; a quality sleeping pad spans the slight height differential. The trunk does not affect rooftop tent setups at all.
Is the Honda Ridgeline bed the same size as a Tacoma?
Both are listed as 5 ft beds, but the Ridgeline’s effective interior dimensions are slightly different due to the thicker composite bed walls. More importantly, the rail attachment geometry differs significantly — tents verified for the Toyota Tacoma truck are not automatically compatible with the Ridgeline. Always check Ridgeline-specific fitment rather than assuming Tacoma-compatible tents will work.
What tent fits a 1st gen Honda Ridgeline (2006-2014)?
The Rightline Gear 110730 is the safest choice for 1st gen Ridgelines. Its universal strap-based system has been confirmed working by multiple 1st gen owners on dedicated Honda Ridgeline forums. Napier has not officially published 1st gen Ridgeline fitment — if you use a Napier tent on a 1st gen, test the hook attachment carefully before relying on it overnight.
Can I put a rooftop tent on a Honda Ridgeline?
Yes. The Ridgeline can accommodate a rooftop tent on a bed rack, though payload capacity must be checked. The 2nd gen Ridgeline has approximately 1,500 lbs of payload capacity — adequate for most RTT setups. The advantage of an RTT on the Ridgeline is that the in-bed trunk remains fully accessible. Check the specifics in our rooftop tent guide.
Final Verdict
The Honda Ridgeline’s composite bed and in-bed trunk make it the most unique fitment challenge in the truck tent category. For 2nd-gen owners (2017+), the Napier Sportz 57 is the right choice — it is the only officially verified tent for this truck, and its taped-seam weather performance is the best in the price range. For 1st gen owners (2006-2014), use the Rightline 110730 — its universal strap system navigates the composite rail challenge without the fitment uncertainty of hook-based systems.
The in-bed trunk is a feature, not a problem, once you understand it: it provides secure lockable storage that no other truck in this size class offers. With the right tent setup, the Ridgeline is a genuinely capable camping platform.