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The GentleTent GT Pickup Is a Sturdy, Fully Inflatable Rooftop Tent for 3 Adults

Summer is nearly here, which means most of the world is already planning for extended outings and vacations. Since we’re not even close to seeing the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel with the international health crisis, this means the usual way of vacationing is not a very sound option. At least not at this point.
The GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adults 12 photos
Photo: GentleTent
The GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adultsThe GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2-3 adults
Last year’s increased interest in RVs, motorhomes, campers, and trailers will continue throughout 2021, as more people will turn their attention to a different way of experiencing the great outdoors since flying and regular vacations are still deemed unsafe. Depending on your budget and, naturally, on your inclinations, you have a very rich array of options to choose from. But what if you don’t want to spend tens of thousands on it?

If you’re not averse to camping, here’s camping with a twist and a bonus of convenience. GentleTent offers several inflatable tents, some of which can fit on top of your double-cab pickup truck, like the GT Pickup, better known as “Taco Tent.” The GT Pickup tent has been around for some three years now, and GentleTent has business both in Europe and the U.S., as well as Australia.

The GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully\-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2\-3 adults
Photo: GentleTent
The “Taco Tent,” GentleTent claims, is the only completely inflatable rooftop tent in the world. It’s not just easy to store and deploy, very light and compact, but incredibly spacious and durable. It is, in short, the perfect solution for short jaunts or even longer stays in the great outdoors—if you fit it with everything else you need to spend a comfortable vacation in the middle of nowhere.

The tent is designed for double-cab pickups with bed lengths of up to 63 inches (160 cm), and it’s “ideal” for Rangers, Colorados, Frontiers, and Tacomas. Packed away, it is incredibly compact, at 39x39x7 inches (100×100x18 cm) and just 60 pounds (27 kg), sitting over the cab. Once deployed, it can sleep up to three adults in two separate areas: the sleeping area is over the cab, and there’s a living area with an interior standing height of more than 7 feet (213 cm). Add the optional awning, and you can further extend the living space outside, creating a kitchen/dining room with shelter from the elements.

The GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully\-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2\-3 adults
Photo: GentleTent
The roof tent comes with an aluminum frame on the underside, which is mounted on the roof racks and offers stability. The tent itself doesn’t include a mattress, but the company offers an inflatable one, or you can use a camping mat. The bottom line is that the sleeping area is spacious enough and stable enough to allow for a full-size mattress.

Setting up or disassembling the inflatable camper is a one-man job that takes between 10 to 15 minutes. The package includes the pump and telescopic ladder, and GentleTent offers accessories as well, from kitchen stuff to storage solutions.

Moreover, the “Taco Tent” is said to be wind- and waterproof, as well as breathable thanks to options like windows with mosquito nets, ventilation inserts, or the option for a double-layer roof. The company says it’s also storm-proof (there’s a story about how one such tent withstood a very powerful storm last year and remained inflated for over three months). You can even use it in the winter with added heating because the polyester-cotton blend material doesn’t allow condensing but offers good insulation.

The GT Pickup tent or "Taco Tent," reportedly the only fully\-inflatable rooftop tent in the world, offers sleeping for 2\-3 adults
Photo: GentleTent
“We offer both: maximum freedom of movement and easy transport and storage thanks to compact dimensions,” GentleTent says. The “Taco Tent” can “transform your pickup into a cozy camper in minutes” and, to boot, it’s a comparatively affordable option. Speaking of which, the GT Pickup starts at $4,300/€3,189 with free shipping.

Of course, you have to add what you’ll spend on everything else you need for camping to that amount. But it can be an option worth considering if camping is your thing.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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