Softtopper and dogs???

Im sure this has been answered somewhere on here, but I cant find a direct answer. Anyone out there with a soft top keep their dogs back there? If so, what brand ya got? We have two huskies and when we go hiking (or in general) they are a bit...rambunctious. Id like to transform the bed into a part time space for them. Any info or advice is appreciated! Thanks!

 

i have a bestop that i put my dog in all the time, but only if the truck isnt moving.

Im not against having dogs in the back of the truck or anything, i just always have room for my dog so he rids in the cab with me. He also doesnt chew on things he is not supposed to... well other than his leash. lil turd

 

OP I'm I'm in a similar boat.

Last fall we adopted a German Shepherd and with two carseats in the cab there is no room for the dog other than in the bed.

Been thinking about getting a softopper and tying down a kennel inside it for her. But it feels cruel with the CA summer coming up. Occasionally we go to snow in the winter as well the cold is a concern as well.

Anyone have any experience with this?
BTW I really want to avoid a hard shell.

 

Hey man! I ended up buying a softopper. Gets delivered today. We are also getting the harnesses for the dogs to hook them to the bed and one of the oem rubber bed mats. Going to see how that works. Otherwise probably end up doing the cage idea.

 

My dog rides in my bestop but I’ve only had it during the winter. I am without a doubt it’ll be too hot for him in the summer unless I take a window out so he will go back in the cab.

 

I was borderline getting a hardtop with the sliders or getting a softopper. Ended up getting a softopper for now.

 

Like I said I haven’t had my bestop during the summer yet so I’m not sure how it’ll play out. At least the softopper you can roll op the sides a little bit right? Mine don’t fold or anything I have to take the window completely out

 

Yeah you can roll the corners up to get airflow with the softopper.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Please chime in once the weather gets hot. I hope they work well otherwise I may have to get an SUV or something.

 

Get crates for them in the bed

I have a hard shell, and it’s great being able to open the windows.

 

I'm shopping for a hard shell- but I wouldn't put my dogs in there w/o them being in a crate that was secured to the bed. One slam of the brakes and your dog goes flying. Just my .02.

 

Totally agree with you, I’m looking into buying two rough land crates for the bed.

 

I have a Ruff Tough medium double door.
They make accessories to bolt them down and sell a variety of cooling fans. Also, check out https://www.lcsupply.com/Ruff-tough-kennel-products/products/350/

 

I had a bestop on my old wrangler. The labs scratched the windows up pretty good on the inside. Never had any rips or tears though. I believe Bestop makes a tacoma soft topper right? I love my plastic crate. The petmate navigator has a door that opens either direction which is nice for moving it around.

 

I’ve had my dog out back in my softopper plenty of times.
I usually don’t use the fwd window and have mesh for the rear so air circulation is not a problem during warmer months.
In hotter weather I’ll roll up the sides and let her chill back there, or bring her in to the ac if too warm.
She’s riding out back at freeway speeds, but the sides and rear mesh are always secured. Free roam.

 

I am torn here. I have gone back and forth on a softopper.

I currently have a Bakflip MX4 tri fold tonneau that i really like and i really don't want to get rid of it.

I also worry about the heat living in the south(ish)

So i bout a bunch of 2x4s and am going to build a "crate" for the back that i can just tie down that the dogs can ride in.

The only reason i am doing this is that i have 2 full grown labs and they are just too much for the cab with all the jumping around they want to do going from window to window.

 

got any pictures of it installed?

 

do you use yours for 1 or 2 dogs at the same time? My problem has been finding 2 big enough that i can get into the bed at the same time.

 

You can fit two XL ruffland crates in the bed

 

Softopper is a brand.

Yes there are tons of people who keep their dogs back there. Only issue I see with Huskies is keeping it cool.