Dog Folks - Dog Carrier for Rear Truck Bed / new product?

Hi folks.

I’ve looked all over for what I have in mind before hacking together myself. But first - a use case.

I prefer my dogs in the bed (with camper shell) and not in the cab. Kid, groceries, gear, etc. But I also prefer the dogs not all over the rear bed. Maybe I’m just picky, but dogs shed, and when you have a dog in the bed with other stuff, that stuff inevitably gets covered with dog hair. So I wanted the dogs to be contained inside the bed somehow.

I looked all the existing products on the market and it seems like they can be broken into three categories - dog beds, dog kennels, and the hammocks that go in the rear seat. So I took a hammock that went into the rear seat, and modified it. I put grommets in, set tie downs on the rails, and rigged it up with rope and carabiners to get tension.

This is of course v.1 - a rough prototype with existing things in the market. It keeps the dogs where I want them, keeps hair contained, and mostly works. With v.2, which I will have a friend sew, I’ll make it easier to tension, and have better string and rigging for the grommets, as well as using a really tough cordura type canvas. Right now, it takes about 2-3 minutes to take it out, and same to put it back in. With v.2, I bet it takes a minute. I’ll also have integrated leash points.

In the images you see, the bed is packed, so there’s no room for the dogs to move around, but typically I have them leashed to the bed stiffeners on short leashes so they stay in the pen.

My question is if anyone else has this use case? Is this a product folks might be interested in? Or is there a product out there that’s already dialed in that I couldn’t find?

happy holidays folks!


Edit: I don’t really care one way or another if other folks want one, I have a business that does just fine, and I’m just curious if other folks have come across this use case. To actually bring a real product to market is not something I’d be interested in, but to make a few for folks on the forum once I got the design details worked out is what I was thinking about.

 

What problem is this attempting to solve? In other words, why would I spend money on this?

 

I mean I don’t think I’d stick a human back there in an open bag while driving with a bunch of unsecured cargo, so I wouldn’t do the same to my dog. At least not on a public roadway. Perhaps on the trail.

 

The use case is as described - sounds like it doesn’t apply to you.

 

Having a dog in the back seat in one of those hammocks is the same thing, and arguably worse as that dog is going to bounce around the cabin and possibly impact a human. No one seems to have issues with the hammocks. I’ve carted dogs around with those in our family car, and unless you’re buckling your dog in, dogs are projectiles and loose in the cab or in the bed.

 

No, I guess I just can't imagine doing this to my dog. Good luck with your product development efforts.

 

Always buckle your dog!

 

My dog does fine in the back seat. No hammock. Just lays down and chills

 

I will personally never have my dog anywhere but in the back with seats folded down and some nice foam padding, mostly due to his seperation anxiety. He is my passanger prince, so I wouldn't have a need or use for this.

But for your purposes, it looks like you've made a good V1. I think some additional stuff you could think about is some sort of seperate net to keep the cargo secure and from falling down. It would seperate the rest of the bed from the dog area.

The other thing is that you could do some sewing onto each end of the hammick to attach some tie downs and do away with the gromits entirely.

You could also look into modifying a soft kennel to give you more portability. Then it can be used anywhere whether in the bed or next to a tent site.

 

He’s got a point, I don’t see the dog going anywhere if this wasn’t used. Especially if you use a leash, the leash is keeping them in place, not the hammock

A hammock on a back seat extends the floor over the feet area and protects the upholstery. What does this do that not having it doesn’t?

 

I just have a crate I keep wedged in the corner and have it strapped to keep it from tipping or sliding. I agree, I don’t like my dog in the truck or his hair every where so he’s always in the bed…he’s almost 100 pounds so he’s also bigger than both my kids combined lol.

I’m actually going to build a platform or my version of Bam Beds, that way I can put his crate on top with larger items and also have storage underneath for other things. I also keep several of those collapsible crates they sell at Costco. I typically use those for groceries or to organize for trips.

 

with what youre trying to achieve by transporting and safeguarding the interior of the camper shell...get a crate as suggested.

and your argument about the backseat and truck bed being the same is somewhat valid, but youre forgetting the most important safety precaution to utilize the seat belts to restrain the pups. and please use a harness when using the belt system.

if you still want to utilize your plan using a hacked pet carrier...what if you added heavy duty velcro to the sides that would attach truck bed side walls for a more form fitted look...then add a hitch point to a bedrail and attach a leash and harness setup. to further hair proof your items maybe adding screen velcro'd to the pet carrier to the interior carpeted roof that acts as a barrier to trap the pet hair. maybe for a more secure fit what if you found some heavy duty bungee cords that would fit prefectly side to side between the bed rail, just fish the bungee through the holes like you have them now. and as a nicer look i dont think youll need to keep the wall up that would be right up to the rear tail gate...again i would utlize heavy duty velro and just attach it directly to the rear tailgate and the pet carrier...each time you open the tailgate itll be just the pet carrier so now youre somewhat protecting the plastic as well if thats important to you.

and yes as suggested if you travel with the pup in the back with the other items please make sure the other items are secured down. remember that scene in toy story when woodys stuck in the back of the yellow yota. lol. youre probably fine, but why risk it. safety...safety first.

happy holidays!

 

$7 Art3d 16 Sets Hook and Loop Tape Sticky Back,1 in.x 4 in. Double-Sided Adhesive Strip,Heavy Duty

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B58FGF8H
these are the velcro i used for my rear seat delete pet carrier.

look at the top of the rear panel for the velcro


here what it looks like with the carharrt rear seat pet carrier

 

Charlie rides in the backseat. Safest place imo. I usually put a sheet or comforter down to minimize the hair, but he adjusts everything the way he likes it anyway. A lilly brush from Amazon helps with dog hair clean up and the rough country seat covers are washable.

 

Unfortunately, dogs become projectiles if not seat belted in.

They do make them. They make some that attach to a dogs collar around the neck, but that is a horrible way to hang himself, or snap his neck.

(Not my dog)

 

Thanks for the notes and replies folks. I’ll update this in the coming weeks with images of the second iteration.