Safe,healthy travel with large dog tips?

I have a 2020 access cab Tacoma and a 90lb German Shepherd. I would like to travel safely with him. My search of the forum was not fruitful I am afraid, maybe I didn't ask right question.

Questions:

1. Best ramp/stairs to get dog in/out of cab or truck bed. Truck is lifted. It is hard on the hips of large dogs to jump in and out of vehicles like mine. Brands/styles stairs/ramps that folks have had good experiences with.

2. Cheap sturdy set cover (I use an old blanket now).

3. Best way to secure dog to seat/seat belt. Ideally I'd like him to be able to both sit and lie down.

Dog is well trained but excitable. He can be trained to do most things with persistence on my part.

I would like to enable him to travel with me so he can have more fun as he is a good boy!

Me and doggers appreciate any tips, THANKS!

 

We use weathertech’s dog ramp. Sturdy, but can be cumbersome to handle sometimes. However, the ‘ol gal needs help as her hips are not what they used to be, so the ramp is the best for her. Although, my Taco is stock height. If you have sliders, that would work to lean against.

 

These stairs. I'd provide a link, but the links and brand names frequently change. It's on Amazon.

At least 5 treads, possibly 6. Pay attention to height range, try to target one that can reach both the tailgate and the seat. It folds up quickly and is compact enough to fit behind the driver's seat.

Generally though, I found that dogs adapt to stairs much easier than ramps. All of my dogs despised ramps.



For seating options, it depends. A number of people here have built dedicated platforms for access cabs. I'd look into those.

 

Thanks for info. I am seriously unhandy so building a platform not much of an option. It would have to be removable for when someone had to ride in back, attached securely to truck or seat for safety, carpeted, yada yada well beyond my skill level and my arthritic hands.

 

When we recently picked up a doggie at a private shelter we got one of these - nicely done AND it doubles as a
chime-killer when I'm out driving 5 mph down wooded dirt roads with my camera handy for whatever moves - ...
I can jump in/out without becoming tangled in the seatbelt AND I don't have to listen to that damn ding-ding-ding when
I'm driving super slow.

 

You might be able to get a family member or friend to build a dog platform for you. Here is a thread with lots of pictures and ideas.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/access-cab-dog-platform-udpate-pics.72761/

 

I bookmarked this thread a little while ago for when we eventually need a ramp for our two pups. No experience with it but another option for you to consider.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/foldable-dog-ramp-50.802860/#post-28821004

 

I purchased a Weathertec folding ramp like the one in another posting. Only problem is the surface is like sandpaper and tore up my GSD's feet. I scraped off the old surface and replaced it with
self adhesive soft surface stair treads I got on Amazon. Had to re-glue them down with Gorilla Glue. GSD "Santino" recently passed, I keep the ramp in my truck just to remember him by. Santino rode with me day in and day out 365 days a year for his daily ride. He loved to stand up and look out the back of my truck window as we cruised the neighborhood on the way to and from.

 

Have one exactly like yours, I scraped off the sandpaper like non-slip surface and replaced it with a softer material. The sandpaper non-slip surface tore up my GSD's feet.
GSD "Santino" recently passed. I keep his ramp in my truck bed anyway

 

I pick up and lift down my Golden she is 70lbs

 

My GSD weighed in at 110lbs. The only thing I lift at age 70 is a 12 pack of beer.

 

I remember seeing a young student wearing her dog’s collar who had passed away. She tried to explain, and I said “don’t worry, love him.”

Years later, I found myself doing the same for Zuma.

 

I will probably put his dog tag on my hiking stick so he can continue to be with me when I hike. My wife and I were just talking yesterday after walking the trails by our house and wondering
how many times he had been on the local paths during his 13 years.

 

my dog is 110# -
i need to get a ramp so he can get in/out easier as he is not a fan of jumping in the back [though he can jump, quite high.. so annoying]

i have an Access Cab - as long as I don't open the rear doors, he is trapped back there; he can stick his face out the back window and stick his face up front but he is too big to make it between the front seats and get out.. but he does drool all over the elbow compartment [boo]

i removed the rear seats and built a platform - which makes the space back there much more useful; when the seats were in, the uneven surface was hard for him to sit on/lie down/be comfortable so they had to go; it is not like anyone is gonna sit back there

i have tried using those teathers but it was a bust - he would get his legs tangled in the teather and i got afraid that if there was an accident, it would break his leg; i just stopped trying to 'restrain' him since the rear of the AC is a big crate for him..

 

Hear hear. That evening I put on his collar was a tough one. Shortly after his passing. I remembered that student I taught that day, and put it on. I tried my best to feel him.

Now whenever I take a wheeling trip, which he was nuts for, I take his collar to be with us.

 

I see no reason to not allow healthy full size working dogs get in and out of either the front or back seat. Have you seen working dogs at play? There is lots of running and jumping. Getting in and out of a pickup or trivial for them. Other dogs I would lift in and out of the cab.

Only in rare situations would I put a dog in the bed and I agree that a bed on a Tacoma could be a bit high for most dogs to jump into. There would be some lifting involved. Weighted squats are good for most people.

 

Cage would be the safest.... Police dogs are in a cage.

 

I may or may not have Bentley’s leash and collar still tucked under my driver’s seat. It’s all good.

 

Did the tool-box method described in one of the threads for making the AC area flat and more usable for dogs.
Then the best thing I did was buy 4-5 of those $6 packing blankets at Harbor Freight and made a pretty comfortable bed for Tucker.
They're tough, easy to shake out and make for great padding for my best buddy.

 

Dogs are the best. Couldn't live without 'em. The two pups we have now aren't as big as the ones we used to have, but this setup works great for us for big, medium and small dogs.

Ramp we use (like @Topanga Taco):

$133 WeatherTech PetRamp - Non-Slip, Portable Dog Ramp for Large Dogs to 300 Pounds, 67" x 15" - Traction Grip Ramp, Easy Access for Pets to Car, SUV, Truck, Bed, Couch & Other Home Areas

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JLRF5ZW?ie=UTF8

Waterproof seat cover:

$57 iBuddy Dog Seat Cover for SUV and Small Truck, Waterproof Car Hammock Heavy Duty Back Seat Cover for Dog with Mesh Window Durable Scratchproof Pet Car Seat Protector for Rav4 CR-V Jeeps

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y2PN6ZR?ie=UTF8

The seat cover comes with a seatbelt bungee, but the carabiner clip catches on their harness ring when I try to disconnect it, especially if they're excited and ready to get out. This one's smooth and much easier to snap onto their harness and easily disconnects:

$16 IOKHEIRA Dog Seatbelt, Updated Dog Seat Belt, Reflective Bungee Dog Car Harness, Multifunctional Pet Safety Belt with Hook Latch & Seatbelt Buckle, Swivel Aluminum Carabiner, Red

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088FJCGV3?ie=UTF8

Give 'em a pat on the head for us!

EDIT: Oh, see that you have an access cab. That cover might work, but you'd probably need some sort of platform. The wife made some bench seats using this thick foam padding. Firm but conforms to shapes (on top and on the bottom) and plenty comfy. Might be what you're looking for:

https://www.joann.com/airtex-5-high-density-foam/2162287.html