Best Tow Vehicle (that I can afford)?
Hello Everyone, We are brand new to RVing and need some advice. We are planning to get a small travel trailer to haul to dog shows. While I understand that diesels are best for towing, we really ca...
Forum Discussion
We put 2 of our bigger dogs in crates in the back of the pickup truck. Here is my setup:
1. a cap of course
2. pass through windows on the cap and truck, we had both converted over, but when buying a cap, you can specify it has a pass through window
3. a BedRug, turns the back into a big trunk
then I put a clear "donut", "truck cap boot", one of these:
https://www.custompickup.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=178
in between seal any outside air out. then I crack one/both of the rear sliders just enough to allow air to flow out. with the fan running in the truck, the area of least pressure is out the opened rear sliders.
I run the A/C when it is hot and the heat of course when it is cold. You can stand back by the back of the truck and feel the air blowing out through the openings. The dogs stay warm or cool.
The downside to this arrangement is that the truck has to stay running. You cannot go into a store, etc for an extended period of time and leave the dogs alone unless the outside temps are such the dogs won't overheat, get cold.
We have a crew cab and this arrangement allows us to have the big dogs (115/125 lbs) securely crated. We put small crates inside the cab (lay the rear seat down) for the smaller dogs. I don't take a chance of a dog jumping out of the truck. We have one that will not get out until commanded to do so, but we are still careful with him.
You can also always take out a row of seats in another vehicle.
As one of the astute previous posters said, get a van. The long Yoder Loaders would work, as well as a cargo van. Have it carpeted at a minimum. Having it carpeted will prevent the crates from sliding on the metal floor, however a plastic,smooth bottomed crate will still slide.
Make sure that the rear windows will open. That is very important. You will need to get airflow through.
Additionally, if a dog gets excited and has an OOPS on the way to the show, you will be able to air the vehicle out. I used to show Dobermans. On the way to a show in another person's van (no back windows opened) one of the dogs had the runs. Needless to say it was not a very pleasant trip until we could get somewhere to stop and clean the crate out. It was a rolling gag mobile.
1. a cap of course
2. pass through windows on the cap and truck, we had both converted over, but when buying a cap, you can specify it has a pass through window
3. a BedRug, turns the back into a big trunk
then I put a clear "donut", "truck cap boot", one of these:
https://www.custompickup.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=178
in between seal any outside air out. then I crack one/both of the rear sliders just enough to allow air to flow out. with the fan running in the truck, the area of least pressure is out the opened rear sliders.
I run the A/C when it is hot and the heat of course when it is cold. You can stand back by the back of the truck and feel the air blowing out through the openings. The dogs stay warm or cool.
The downside to this arrangement is that the truck has to stay running. You cannot go into a store, etc for an extended period of time and leave the dogs alone unless the outside temps are such the dogs won't overheat, get cold.
We have a crew cab and this arrangement allows us to have the big dogs (115/125 lbs) securely crated. We put small crates inside the cab (lay the rear seat down) for the smaller dogs. I don't take a chance of a dog jumping out of the truck. We have one that will not get out until commanded to do so, but we are still careful with him.
You can also always take out a row of seats in another vehicle.
As one of the astute previous posters said, get a van. The long Yoder Loaders would work, as well as a cargo van. Have it carpeted at a minimum. Having it carpeted will prevent the crates from sliding on the metal floor, however a plastic,smooth bottomed crate will still slide.
Make sure that the rear windows will open. That is very important. You will need to get airflow through.
Additionally, if a dog gets excited and has an OOPS on the way to the show, you will be able to air the vehicle out. I used to show Dobermans. On the way to a show in another person's van (no back windows opened) one of the dogs had the runs. Needless to say it was not a very pleasant trip until we could get somewhere to stop and clean the crate out. It was a rolling gag mobile.
