Do you travel with your dog in your fifth wheel?

Go read some of the threads in other forums about trailers becoming detached from the tow vehicle, or in one case, the tow vehicle catching on fire and thus catching the 5th wheel attached to it on fire too.

I have no idea why anybody would want to risk their animal's life by putting it in a trailer while traveling, crated or not. I have a 40lb dog, a 55lb dog, and a 60lb dog, and manage to get them where they need to go in either vehicle we have. The 60lber is a 11.5 year old basset hound with a bad back. No excuses, sometimes it involves lifting him onto a overturned plastic bin, then lifting him again into the truck. If for some reason we couldn't get them into the truck, then we wouldn't bring them with us, or we wouldn't travel.

If it was my dog I would not take the chance AND I would miss his/her company. The dog would also not get to enjoy the travel.
You could stay put for 6 weeks if you do not want to buy/make ramps

AS suggested ..a ramp to get in/out f truck and 5th wheel

Our 78# Border Collie/Mix started having hip issues, None of the commercial available ramps would work...they were too wide for rear door of our Quad Cab
So I built one
Side boards......1" X 3" X 48" -----2 pieces----ends cut at 45*
Cross boards.....1" X 2" X 24" -----5 pieces
ramp floor...... 24" X 48"-----2 pieces of 1/4" paneling
Carpet Remanent to cover paneling
1 1/2" wood screws


As for riding in 5th wheel in a crate.
Crate would keep them from roaming around and somewhat secure BUT no pet f mine would be traveling in any TT or 5vr.
Slim chance of survival in the event of a crash



On Edit:

I was typing (very slow) as you posted.
See you have a 6' ramp already.

And I take it the extended cab truck doesn't have but 2 doors.
So dog has to enter passenger side then climb over into rear

Can you build a removable extension or hinged extension that would reach seat and still be easily stored?

BCSnob wrote:
How will getting in and out of the 5th wheel be any different (hard on your dog's back) than in and out of the tow vehicle? If it were my dog I would look into a dog ramp that can aid in getting in and out of both the 5th wheel and tow vehicle.

Mark

Thanks for asking Mark,

We do have a dog ramp for the fifth wheel but the ramp is too short 6' and the incline to steep to reach the truck seat.

We have an extended cab truck and we would lift her to the floor on the passenger side and she could jump into the passenger seat then walk over the flat console to the rear bench seat where her bed and safety harness are. Unfortunately she can no longer make that jump so we are trying to figure out how to transport her.

How will getting in and out of the 5th wheel be any different (hard on your dog's back) than in and out of the tow vehicle? If it were my dog I would look into a dog ramp that can aid in getting in and out of both the 5th wheel and tow vehicle.

Mark