Dog Transportation with Topper

I know it is not recommended to let a pet run free in the bed of a truck with a topper on but my dog seems to love it and has good air flow from the windows. Does anyone else let their pup roam free in the bed? I'm also curious to hear other methods like tying down a crate or dog seatbelt solutions.

 

Sounds like a headache in the making when you need to make a quick stop or swerve…

 

Only way to know for sure what’s it like for a loose dog in the back is for OP to try it out himself!

0p- the 4 corner tie downs can be used for securing the corners of a crate - also try using a strap going from the back hitch under the tailgate to the middle of the rear side of the crate.

 

In the back under my shell I use the biggest crate that will fit in there for my lab along with a fan. Not really comfortable otherwise. Most of the time though he rides in the back seat with a harness attached to a seatbelt leash (NOT a collar!). Used to have two Golden’s and they did the same.

 

I did this when I had my Evo Smartcap. Having a bed mat is a must imo so the dogs aren’t sliding around. The downside is the fur. When I removed my shell it was pretty nasty.


I would only ever drive my dogs to the vet like this, which is less than a mile away. Any longer trips and they were in the back of my wife’s rav4. I didn’t want to risk an accident since the bed isn’t crash rated and the dogs wouldn’t be tied down in any way, so they could easily end up injured in the road in a much more dangerous position.

As for options, a quick search should reveal a lot of posts of people who use hammocks for the back seats, or build dog platforms for the back that replace the seats.

 

Yeah that's why I'm looking into other options... I've really only used it for easy non-traffic drives so far.. I'm probably going to go with the tied down crate option in the future!

 

We've used these (

$40 URPOWER Dog Seat Cover, 100% Waterproof Hammock 600D Heavy Duty Scratch Proof Nonslip Durable Soft Pet Back Seat Covers for Cars Trucks and SUVs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093781XN5/) (or similar) in the backseat of our cars and trucks for years and the dogs generally seem to be contained and comfortable. Prior to using these, I had an episode where I needed to stop suddenly and one of the dogs slid, somewhat violently, from the back seat into the leg area and footwell. But since using hammocks, any sudden braking prevents this.

 

I made a 60/40 platform for ours. It originally sat on top of the folded seats but we’ve just finished a 8k mile road trip and for that I removed the rear seats and used the same platforms just resting on the frame. Seatbelt attached to harness and baby seat hooks.

 

Shame on you OP! Secure those dogs so they don't splat against the front of the bed when you have to hit the brakes to avoid a collision.

 

Dogs (and people) have been riding in truck beds (without toppers) for years and years and years. Do exactly what you want to do and call it a day. I'm not a fan of dogs in open beds, but I wouldn't hesitate to make any kind of trip with a pup in a topper and windows vented open.

 

People rode around without seatbelts for years and years.
Children rode around without car seats for years and years.
People rode motorcycles without helmets for years and years.

The examples go on and on. The cool thing about humanity is that we know more about the dangers posed to us today than we did a decade ago. Doing things “the way we always have” is not a valid defense of an idea.

 

It's like riding a motorcycle with no helmet. Here in FL the law says you can ride with no helmet as long as you're over 21 and have health insurance. I've seen people riding with no helmet and in shorts and flip flops. Personally I ride with a full face helmet, motorcycle jeans and protective boots and gloves. Everything is fine until something happens. When it does I really would prefer not to die from a head injury I could have avoided or leave my skin on the pavement unnecessarily. Everything will be fine with your dogs until something happens you don't expect. If and when it does remember you could have possibly avoided what happened to them. Hopefully it won't.

 

Exactly why I wouldn't ride a dog around in an open bed. Thats the beauty of free will though. We all get to make decisions for ourselves how we want to use information learned from the past. If OP feels comfortable riding them in a topper, so be it. If he prefers to crate them in the bed, or ride them up front, so be it. Whether anyone likes it or not, if there aren't laws dictating how dogs have to be secured for transport, people will continue doing it however they please.

 

Difference is the dogs don't get much say in the matter. If he loved his dogs (which I'm sure he does), he would put them in the most secure environment possible. Riding around unsecured in the back of a pickup truck doesn't meet that standard by a long shot

 

More to the point, saying “do what you want, you have free will!” when OP is asking for recommendations is not especially helpful.

 

OP asked "Does anyone else let their pup roam free in the bed?"
I answered I have no hesitations riding dogs in a topper, just as you gave your input (which also included photo evidence of your dogs riding in a topper..)
You have a weird way of playing moral police I guess

An enclosed topper is a step above an open truck bed. Just ask @ret42, he's done it a few times

 

Well, maybe a half a step above. But cap or no cap, I feel for those pups if he has to hit the brakes hard to avoid a collision. Just giving the OP something to consider.

Carry on!

 

I haven't argued re: dogs in beds with you. My point has been your laissez faire approach to offering advice. "We've been doing it since the dawn of time," is, more often than not, an indication of a broken line of thinking.

 

i love the intranets.