Is your dog happy traveling in the back seat of an Access Cab?

There's tons of posts talking about how to build dog platforms in the double cabs and even access cabs, but nobody really comments on how well it works for your dog? Can a medium size dog ride comfortably on a dog platform in an access cab? Let's say for a 4-6 hour trip. I'm trying to decide on an access cab or double and the key criteria is whether the dog in back is happy and comfortable? In my case, the dog is an Australian Sheppard.

 

Yes! I have an Aussie and an English shepherd (55 and 45lbs respectively) and the both of them rode in the back of the cab on a straight shot from Seattle to Moab last July (~15hrs). My English shepherd is good at car rides and curls up in a little ball most of the time. The Aussie is a disaster and won’t sit still. Constantly up and down and pacing (as much as he can in the limited space). He’s this way in my truck and my partner’s Jeep so I know it’s not an issue with the truck itself. On the way home from Moab he did actually sleep for a few hours and they were both able to fit comfortably curled up on either end.

I think your Aussie riding solo would be just fine. I have a dog platform in my truck and can take a photo of one or both of the dogs in it if you’d like. When I had one dog I was totally satisfied with the access cab, it wasn’t until we got a second dog that I started wondering if a double would have been better. However if your dog really likes hanging out the window, then a double might be the way to go.

A bad photo from above. This was coming back from Moab. And some random time our Aussie was in the truck alone. And a shot for size reference. That was back in June so he’s even bigger now…he was probably 50lbs there.

 

I have a 45 lb cattle dog that can turn around fully and lays down on on the platform we built.


I have since removed the head rests and added a foam pad. In my opinion access cabs are sized for dogs, not people. 2 dogs could fit but I don't think they'd be comfortable on long trips.

 

Front seat or in my lap for my Black lab )

 

My 110 lb Rhodesian Ridgeback was quite comfortable in the back of my '06 TRD OR - once he got used to it. I had added a carpeted platform that completely covered the rear fold-down seats right up to the back of the front seats. This way he had plenty of room to turn around and move from side to side.
My only word of caution involves what happens when you have to make a really hard stop (i.e. just short of skidding). We experienced that once - his paw got wedged between the console and the platform as he slid forward during braking. I had to deal with him literally screaming AND watch the mirror for oncoming traffic behind us. It was not pretty. Appropriate restraints should be considered IF your canines can adapt to them.
EDIT:

 

My Aussie is happy to travel in the back of anything, but the AC does the job great!

 

That's extraordinarily unsafe for the dog. Air bags are made for people, not canines. In the event of an accident your dog is in for a bad time (ejected through the windshield, crushed by the airbag, crushed by YOU, etc.). At the very least you should harness them into the back seat with a full chest harness and seatbelt clamp.

Read: https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/5-reasons-your-dog-should-always-be-in-a-safety-harness-or-secured-carrier-in-the-car#:~:text=Your dog can be killed by the airbag&text=It's not safe for dogs,the steering wheel or airbag).

"
Your dog can be killed by the airbag
Airbags save lives, but they explode with so much force that they can severely injure or even kill lightweight front-seat passengers. That’s why children 12 and younger are not supposed to ride up front. This rule applies to dogs too. It’s not safe for dogs to ride in the front seat (especially not in the driver’s lap, where they can be crushed by the steering wheel or airbag). Some newer cars have weight sensors in the front passenger seat that override the airbag if the passenger is under a certain weight. If your car doesn’t, be sure to manually turn off the airbag when your dog rides in a harness on the passenger seat. If you can’t turn the airbag off, keep your dog safely restrained in the back seat."

 

I need to build a platform for my 100# rott/cane mix -

but

I really have a question about appropriate restraints -
Every time I try a restraint method [harness + tether], said dog winds up twisting/getting twisted in some of the restraint material = me freaking out he is gonna break a limb if there is an accident so I wind up not restraining him.
I don't like doing this but it seems like the least risky strategy..
Thoughts?


baby boo

 

This is a great picture!

 

For short trips, this is what we do with the back seats down (we have a double cab): harness her in the back seat with a full chest harness and seatbelt clamp.

For longer trips, we put her in a crate in the back.

 

You must be on America's Most Wanted lol

 

without a platform my 40lb corgi-lab mix was okay but not the happiest in the rear access cab area with the jump seat folded up (jump seat itself is too small for him to sit on comfortably)
I used to shove duffels and such on the floor to give him a roughly level area and then tossed his bed on top so he doesnt fall through the cracks.

after making a platform, he loves jumping in and happy to look out his window.


and also decided he likes to do this.

 

ok point taken and I bet you never rode in the back of a truck )

 

Ive done it and now I have a fucked up knee from the driver going around a turn to quick.
Stupid ass way to prove your a real man.

My pitbull and jack rusell were a little cramped in the access cab. I bought a double cab so there was more room and they could stretch out.

 

Dude I was so confused for a minute then I was like ohhh, the blacked out face! That’s my partner, not me. He doesn’t even like having his photo taken so I figured he’d probably prefer to not have his face shared here.

 

Your dog will be completely fine. I built a platform in the access cab for my boxer puppy (70 lbs) and he rides great. He’ll either sprawl out along the whole platform or rest his head on the cup holders behind the arm rest. Having a platform makes it easier for them to jump in the front seat, so preventing that might be something you’ll have to train. Only took a week or so and now he’ll stay back there even if I run into a store.

 

AC are larger than folks thing.


Just whoring an old photo:

 

Entire backseat of my doublecab belongs to the pooch, seatbelt clip attached to his full harness. Hammock style seat cover.

Seems like he only sits right behind my wife's seat though so I might be able to scale down to a 1/2 size cover.

Cool to see options for the accesscab, but even the double gets cramped sometimes.

 

I put my Husky/Aussie in the back of my old Ranger access cab. He hated it until I built a platform so he could see better.

There wasn't enough room for two when we got a second one. The other one rode in the front passenger seat with the airbag off. This meant if the dogs came with me the wife couldn't or vice versa. It was the catalyst for getting the Tacoma double cab.