The best truck bed setup for traveling with a German Shepherd?

So my dog currently is either rolling with me in the cab or hanging out in the truck bed underneath the camper shell when it’s not too hot or cold outside.

I’d really like to use my bed to put a dirtbike in on occasion while still have the functionality of keeping my dog covered whenever we’re out on the trails.

Anyone here think moving from a camper shell to a softopper or best top would be a downgrade for the doggo?

Any other options?

thanks!

 

You can see by my profile pic - GSDs are a big part of my life - have been for 20 plus years...I'll put 2 pics...one how my dog rolls with me or my son around our (horse farm) and the other how I travel with him on the road. In the pic of my truck - I have my back seat folded down, and I hook a climbing carabiniere/rope to his agitation harness (we were involved in Schutzhund):

 

I fold down back seat and have a thick padded yoga mat that fits perfectly across folded backseat.
Keeps him from sliding around and he is comfy.
when in bed, I hook his harness to very short steel lead under back window.

 

Great idea!
I also take my puppers everywhere and am really getting sick of cleaning the hair out of the cloth/carpet. I know there's no getting around it, but folding the seats down + a hammock style cover might alleviate this a bit.

on a side note can anyone recommend a good seat cover? I've had numourous cheapo ones, and finally bought a more expensive "ruffwear" brand one - it works great but is ever so slightly small for the back of the taco

 

that is a good fit, going to order one asap!

 

Rear seat delete, i got it just for the dog. Fabric crate, good to go.

 

The crate looks bent in the photo, it isnt, its just how the fabric is sitting. Contains all that wonderful shepherd fur too.

 

Fabric

Sold..

 

can that size crate be used without the delete?

 

I dont think so, the back of the rear seat takes up too much space. That crate i got JUST barely touches the back wall of the delete. Maybe a half inch of space. I wanted a crate big enough for the dog to not be amused into it.

 

FWIW I use that ‘hammock’ type of dog seat covering that gets suspended between the 4 head rests, 2 in front and 2 in the back. It is made of heavy duty condura fabric, with secure camping type web strap connections.

The sides also zipper & down on each end, so that there is fabric covering the door sills/window edge of the rear doors, so the dogs don’t scratch the door plastic.

This design uses the seats ‘as is’, no need to fold them down. It has neat designed ‘PVC tube handles’ that tuck down behind the seat to keep it in place. Add a foam or cushion dog bed and it is very comfy, as the hammock suspends his body weight really well.

My Australian Shepherd loves it! Once every few weeks or so, or say when doing dump runs, etc., I pull that out of the back of the truck. It un-snaps easily and quickly, then with a good breeze blowing I give it a good shake … and all the dog fur goes flying away … gotta love it.

 

I took out the rear seats.
Hes been from San Diego to TX and no problems

 

Had one of those for 5 minutes! My truck is brand new. I wanted to keep that hair out of the front. Speaking of that, i should go wash his crate pad now and vacuum the crate.

 

I have a GSD and a lab/GSD mix. Just built my own rear seat delete and put down some gym rubber on top for traction. Still need to seal the wood but so far so good. There’s so much more space for them now with the seats out.

Also kept the OEM backs so that I can put the seats back easily (I have yet to find a 60/40 seat delete that doesn’t remove the OEM back panels).

 

Obligatory dog in truck photo:
German shepherds are fur bombs. Like Hiroshima level. Get used to the fur. Love the fur. Live the fur. I have a hammock seat cover and still there is hair everywhere 5 minutes after the dog gets in truck. But he loves it so he makes the mess, I clean the mess. It is the way.

 

you sit on a thrown of lies

 

I buy these 20$ backseat dog hammock things off Ebay. Saves the seats, still get hair everywhere else though.

 

Also found this in the softopper thread. Really thinking of going this route