Keeping the bed area cool with a cap

I just had a cap put on my Tacoma.

We're driving cross country next week with 2 Beagles in the back. We're concerned about the heat so taking a northern route but will still get hot.

I had the heavy duty screens put in so the dogs can't tear them apart, and bought a fan that fits perfectly in the rear slider to push cool air into the back.

Any other suggestions to help keep the back cool? Never had a cap so not sure how bad it will get. If it gets really bad we'll pull my wife's car off the trailer (I'm towing it behind a UHaul) and let them ride with AC, but already have 4 people in the Tacoma.

Obligatory pic of new cap.

 

Dogs will be fine in the back. I have spent a lot of time in the cap when growing up (good old days before double cabs and safety belts - kids rode in the back and nobody even though twice about it)
With the fan pulling air from the cabin you should not have to be concerned about anything.

 

So you have 4 people in the Tacoma and you are towing a car on a trailer?
First, that's a lot of weight and your Tacoma will likely do it, but it is going to SUCK A LOT OF GAS doing it!
I would suggest that you would burn less gas overall by letting the wife drive her car. Seriously, your Tacoma will suck more gas working harder than the car will by driving itself. And the pooches will be much, much, much happier being cool and closer to your wife.

 

Something else... some say that due to the vacuum created behind the truck when driving the exhaust gas can be sucked into the bed. With your rear slider open to the cab there is then the possibility of getting exhaust fumes into the cab, making you drowsy....
This is far fetched and I don't think there stick much truth in it, at least not enough to be really concerned about it, but I would say if you keep the cab slider open, just keep the fan on at all times to force air to the back and not the other way around.

 

x2. Plus he wouldn't have to pay for the trailer. Which is probably only $150 or so but still.

 

Congrats on the new cap! I like the look of your truck with it.

I'm going to read what you ask and not offer silly advice like not traveling with your wife! Your truck looks great with your new cap, but as you know, dark colors are going to just amplify any sun that you get.

Now I know that you may not want to paint the top of your brand new cap (and why should you? It will help make it warmer for winter camping) So, why not some contact vinyl from 3M or other manufacturer? You could get a do it yourself roll off of Amizon, or get a sheet installed by your local sign company that does vehicle wraps. This way you can trim it so it is just out of sight by those of us 6' tall and under, and if you want you can remove it just by peeling it off in the future.
My guess it will do a world of difference.

I've got a black truck, and even with my black tonnaue cover, the inside is cooler than with out it. It isn't hot to the touch like anything that hits the sun. NOT that I would try to have anything living in there.

Oh, and frequent water breaks for the fuzzy ones.

 

Make sure you have a couple of No-Spill water bowls for the doggies. As long as they have water and you keep them vented right I think you will be ok.

 

I had a cap on my other truck and it does get really hot in the summer, at least out here where it's 95+ And usually triple digits during summer. We were driving to the lake with my friends family last summer and by the time we made it to the lake their two dogs weren't doing too well and panting very heavily after being in the shell. I would use caution and just check how hot the back is when you stop for gas, maybe use some bins with ice or something like that to keep the back cool, and of course lots of water.

I drive frequently between California and Texas but luckily my backseat is usually open for my dog, good luck!

Edit: another thought is window covers to not let the heat in?

 

I have my boot turned in away from the cab so air flows in, crack the side windows and air flows through well, the dogs love it, except I get drool all over the back window of the cab.

 

I'm towing the car with a 26' U-Haul.

Four people and two dogs wouldn't be too comfortable crammed into the Corolla, so they're driving the Tacoma.

 

You could put one of these together and power it off of the bed outlet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSLbpAwibg

This will also keep you from having to keep the sliding window open.

 

I'm using an inflatable tube to seal off the gap between the truck slider and cap slider. My reasoning was to keep the A/C from bleeding out so the fan can blow cool air to the back.

I think the risk of exhaust entering the car is more an issue with rear windows like in the old station wagons. I watched a wind tunnel video a long time ago that showed that affect. And I'm not driving a Corvair....so I'm already at an advantage.

 

That's a great idea.

 

Mother-in-law will be in the truck with her. Aaaagggghhhhh!

 

That's a great idea. We're moving back to southern Cali so heat will always be an issue. Not enough time to order it now, we're leaving in a couple of days, but will definitely look into it when we get there.

And yep, we'll keep a close eye on the dogs. My wife bought a thermostat to keep track of the temperature in back and even a couple of temperature activated fans.

 

I painted my roof with bedliner and I rarely notice it myself. Maybe I'll go white when I need a recoat! Safe travels!

 

Why not just let your wife drive her car? I mean seriously just have a couple people ride with her and you can let the dogs ride in the cab with the AC

 

Get a light colored vehicle... makes a huge difference.

Other than that the home made ac thing in a bucket works well.

 

They make an inflatable boot that you can put between the cab and the cap. Leave the sliders open, put the inflatable boot between them and drive on.

http://centurydistributing.com/clearbootsbootrubber.html

The Ol' Leer 100R, had one of those on my 2006. Some advice.... put something across your tailgate where the rubber seal from the back window hits the tailgate or it will rub through the paint in short order. I removed my top cap of the tailgate, installed some 2" rubber electrical tape even with the door seal, reinstalled the tailgate cap, and all was well. I learned this the hard way.

 

They make an inflatable boot that you can put between the cab and the cap. Leave the sliders open, put the inflatable boot between them and drive on.

http://centurydistributing.com/clearbootsbootrubber.html

And yes, you're Tacoma is going to labor with 4 people towing car... I hope you're driving on relatively flat roads. Be prepare to buy gas often too.