Camper Shell for Dog
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 229
Likes: 5
Camper Shell for Dog
Getting a lab puppy and now looking to switch from the Diamondback SE cover to a Camper Shell. Any recommendations from those of you with dogs. Tips and tricks for dogs in the back. Do any style shells/caps work better for ventilation? It’s a big expense, so want to get it right. Already going to take a hit trying to get rid of the Diamondback Cover.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 82
Likes: 30
From: MO
Having trained bird dogs in the past, an individual smaller kennel is safest for your dog in the bed. I secured those kennels with bolts and straps in the past, both work.
Ventillation on most full toppers are poor at best.
Ventillation on most full toppers are poor at best.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 158
Likes: 30
Depends on how you set the tooper up. On my ARE with Windoors and front sliding window ventilation is quite good. As a bonus I have easy access to everything in the bed but can be locked up. Most retriever hunt testers and field trailers get ARE toppers with Windoors and front slider window. The center portion of the windoor is a sliding window that can be left open going down the road. Put a windoor on both size and you have lots of ventilation. Carpet option also stops the dripping condensation on cold days when dog is in topper.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 0
From: Virginia beach, VA
Is it a hunting dog that is going to get muddy? If not just put it in the back seat. I have one of those hammock things like Section179 posted, and I also have covers for the door trim panels as well.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
I was in your same situation a year ago. I’ve got two dogs that used to ride in my backseat. When my wife got pregnant I started researching caps to move the dogs to the bed. They’re each in their own crate back there. My cap is a Ranch Sierra and has sliding windows on the sides and against the cab. It is very well made and suits most of my needs. I can say that when I get my super duty I’ll be looking for a cap with a roof rack for kayaks and a canoe.
My dogs are family dogs 75% of the year and bird dogs the rest. They get dirty 100% of the year.
Just a word of warning: when I brought up dogs in the truck bed on the GM forum I got a lot of crap from the PETA police. Apparently dogs are supposed to be in the back seat and buckled in with seatbelts...
My dogs are family dogs 75% of the year and bird dogs the rest. They get dirty 100% of the year.
Just a word of warning: when I brought up dogs in the truck bed on the GM forum I got a lot of crap from the PETA police. Apparently dogs are supposed to be in the back seat and buckled in with seatbelts...
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New User
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: ATL
I ran a Snugtop Super Sport but didn't have a sliding rear window in my truck. I would open the front slider on the cap and open the rear pop outs and it was Ok for my dogs on short runs. I was concerned about the heat inside though when temps got hotter, and also the potential CO2 from exhaust as it definitely did not have enough ventilation. I'd put a rubber mat in the bed too if you don't crate him/her.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 737
Likes: 13
We're a family of 4 that used to travel with our 85 lb Weimaraner and our Boston Terrier in the cab of my 1/2 ton, and now two Boston Terriers in the cab of the F250 (the Weimie passed a couple of years ago). My brother-in-law travels with his family of 5 and their Weimaraner in the cab of his F150. It is possible to do. I'm not opposed to dogs riding under a cap either, but if you don't want to take that wash on the Diamondback right now, you could give it a try and see how it goes for the first few months while the pup's still growing.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 21
From: Western MA
When you get the cap...... get the bed rug as well. I put a bed rug in and the bed rug "pad" as well and it's quite comfortable in there now. I'm constantly crawling around and it plenty soft on my old beat up knees so a dog would be very comfortable. I have a leer cap... I'm sure the ventilation options are quite similar throughout the brands. The best ventilation is going to be the sliding windows with screens as it opens a large portion of the window up. The front window can pop out of mine completely or slide open a small center window that lines up with Fords rear window. So between the front window and the side slider you get a decent airflow. I got the 12 volt power supply installed with the cap and we run a small fan in the window when camping. I'm sure it would work great for a dog as well for some added airflow if you end up in slow moving traffic or city driving.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 87
From: Olympic Peninsula
I have 2 labs that either ride in Rufftuff kennels strapped down under my Leer canopy, or in Rufftuff kennels in the back seat on a platform if we have our truck camper on the truck, or if it is too hot or cold under the canopy. These are hunting dogs that go everywhere with us! We are less than 3 weeks out from our female from having her first litter. Needless to say, we take very good care of our dogs. I have had the unfortunate opportunity to be involved with 2 DUI accidents on freeways back in the Mid West in 2002. The first one I had an older lab and a 12 week old puppy in crates in the back of my Excursion. 65 miles per hour broadsiding a car that came through the median would have killed the dogs if they were not secure in their crates. The other accident was a guy running from the cops in a stolen car doing 95. Thank heaven I was in a 3/4 ton truck as mass wins every time. We all walked away, the first driver was DOA and the second was in a coma for a month, but recovered, it was her 4th DUI..... Driving without a license in her parents car....
I also have a carpeted interior and bedrug for insulation and pet screens and the front slider. I added 12 volt plugs for fans for the crates, which helps on hotter days.
Best of luck with the pup!
I also have a carpeted interior and bedrug for insulation and pet screens and the front slider. I added 12 volt plugs for fans for the crates, which helps on hotter days.
Best of luck with the pup!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 121
Likes: 1
have more info on the door trim panels?
