6 ways to set up a rooftop tent on a Chevy Silverado
23 Apr, 2025
I was driving a mid-size pickup truck not to be named going to a show in Cambridge Ohio. As I was climbing mountains pulling a trailer, I realized I was ready for a bigger, stronger full-size pick-up truck. The Chevy Silverado is more than just a workhorse—it’s a powerful, capable platform for off-road exploration and extended overlanding adventures. With an impressive payload, space, and towing capacity, it’s a fantastic basecamp on wheels. But to make your Silverado truly adventure-ready, you need the right tent set up. Here are 6 different ways to set up the Silverado for camping.
Ruben De Sousa is the owner of Autobruder with 20+ years of overlanding experience. From a family of outdoor enthusiasts that migrated from Madeira Island to the Americas, he grew up in Venezuela exploring beaches and farmland every weekend.
In 2001 he migrated to the United States, became a Mechanical Engineer and MBA working corporate jobs until getting the opportunity to enter the outdoor space by acquiring Autobruder.
Ruben lives in Southwest Ranches Florida where he enjoys many outdoor activities with his 3 kids including playing soccer, pickleball, beekeeping, and of course plenty of camping and overlanding.
Over the Cab
This is uncommon but might be the only option if the bed is used for carrying bulky loads like motorcycles, large appliances, construction equipment, etc. You can certainly put the tent on a rack over the cab. A low-profile rack is recommended to keep the height of the vehicle down. However, some models like my 2021 Z71 with the 3.0 Duramax Diesel do not have predrilled holes for fitting a rack which makes installation a bit cumbersome. There are load bar systems that attach in the door frame but those tend to have lower weight capacity. I went with a Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform for a higher weight capacity.
If you need to use the entirety of the bed, the tent will be pushed forward over the windshield. This could generate some noise from the wind breaking that you can hear from the inside of the cab. For this reason, it is recommended to push the tent as far back as possible.
Low Profile Bed Rack
This option is the easiest to operate as the tent will be at a height that makes it very accessible from the ground. You can even use the tailgate to get in and out of the tent without using the ladder. If you are looking for an easy to operate and easy to access set up, this one is ideal. It is the best set up for fuel efficiency. Tent can be installed facing forward backwards without affecting aerodynamics. The cons of this set up are:
– If you have the 5.5’ bed, the tent will extend from the back of the tent. It is not a problem, but some people may not find it aesthetically pleasing.
– With the tent being so low, it makes it harder to match it with accessories such as awnings. One consideration is to use a James Baroud Odyssey which has an option of an awning that attaches to the top shell of the tent.
Low rack Yakima Bedrock HD System.
PRO-TIP: Tonneau covers are a great way to keep your gear safe, however they also interfere with bed racks. If you are going to use a tonneau cover, make sure that it is compatible with bed racks. For instance Retrax PRO MX Manual tonneau cover is a really good product but not compatible with most racks. For $100 more you can get the RX model which has T-Slot Rails for bed racks. But if you did not do it and want to change it later, the cost for converting it to T-Slots rails is over $500.
Mid Height Bed Rack
It’s still easy to operate. This setting allows the top of the closed tent and cab to be aligned following the contour as if it was an SUV with a room to sleep in the back. The mid height rack leaves 10”-13” of room under the rack to mount other accessories such as water tanks and toolboxes even when using a tonneau cover.
Mid rack Yakima Outpost.
Tall or adjustable bed rack
This one refers to a rack that can be set up so that the front of the tent is forward from the rear window of the cab. This option is by far the most common. The Yakima Overhaul is one of the most common height adjustable set up. For a heavier duty system consider Trukd. The same crossbars used to hold the tent can be used to complement the camping set up with awnings, shower rooms or other accessories that enhance the camping experience. The con with this set up is that it increases the overall height of the vehicle by the height of the tent.
Yakima Overhaul with Retrax Tunneau Cover and a James Baroud Evasion over the bed.
Canopy
Like the tall rack, installing a canopy would allow the tent to be over the height of the cab. Canopies offer a lot of space that is protected from the weather and thieves. As the space is protected, it can be used for storage or also as another room to sleep. For a family of 4 or 5 you could accommodate them all with 1 tent and 1 canopy. A popular choice of canopy is the Smartcab that you can see in the photo below. To mount the tent you will need to add a minimum of 2 crossbars at least the width of the tent. In my set up below I used Rhino Rack Vortex 2 bar system. This set up is very versatile when it comes to installing accessories inside and outside of the canopy.
Smartcap with Rhino Rack Vortex Bars and Odyssey L Tent
2 tent system
There is enough space to place a tent over the cab and one over the bed. If we use a canopy there would be 3 sleeping areas and more can be added with awning rooms. So, the 5 people who fit in the vehicle while driving could have their own room to sleep.
Two tent set up with a Magma and Evasion tents.
PRO-TIP: Do not install any accessories to one crossbar in the cab and one crossbar in the bed. The bed and cab are independent and can flex in the opposite direction when on trails. This could break any accessory that gets fixed to both areas of the vehicle.
The Chevy Silverado would take any size tent. It is a matter of choosing how many people would be using the tent and the preferences of how tents look. In my set up with a Smartcap I like to follow the width of the vehicle which is approximately 55” which is the width of the M and L James Baroud tents. The Long Odyssey is my favorite choice.
Your Silverado already has the muscle to conquer wild terrain—don’t let your tent hold you back. With the right setup, you’ll be sleeping comfortably under the stars, ready to take on whatever trail lies ahead. Pick a tent that works with your build, your trip style, and your future upgrades. Wherever you roam, let your Silverado be the gateway to your greatest adventures.
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