Softtopper and dogs???

I don’t see anything wrong with having the dog in the back on trails away from Public roads, going slow. That’s a call you’ll have to make. I’ll gladly put my dogs safety above everything else truck related.

 

well my dogs won't go into a plastic crate. They have been so conditioned to using a wire crate that it is all they will go into.

any safety issues with a wire crate as long as it is tied down?

 

Only things I can think of would be collar getting stuck in wires or fingers/toes getting stuck or smashed or pinched on harsh stops, turns, etc

 

Where are you located?

 

Do you have a mesh window? I have a dog that works with me but isn't on cattle all day every day. He has lots of downtime in the truck if I'm on a chainsaw etc. I'm wondering if he will be alright with a mesh window even with the sides down.
Thanks for any info.

 

Love the soft topper weight and idea.

 

I don't have the mesh window so I can't speak to it. I've thought about it but we've been good running w/ no front or back window in the summer so we never purchased it.

 

It really comes down to your comfort level and your situation. My comfort level was high since I came from a Jeep and the dogs were used to riding in the open air. They like the truck bed better w/ all the room they have to stretch out and my son likes it better because he has the backseat all to himself.

 

OP I see you live in Utah which is mostly desert or simi desert. Late Spring, summer and early fall it will be too hot for dogs in a camper, soft or otherwise. Dogs can die in minutes in hot enclosed places. You need to ether board them when you go places or have them ride in the cab. Even in 80 degree temps in an enclosed area like a camper or vehicle a dog can succumb in a short time.

 

Northern Michigan.

I have issues with dogs loose in the bed of trucks. I watched a cattle dog get launched out of a truck with no topper in the middle of traffic when I lived in WY. The last thing I would want to do is injure my dogs by launching them into the walls of the bed or top.

Presently, they live on the backseat in my truck as I haven't found a used topper to my spec- which is to have window on the front for are flow along with side windows with screens that vent also. In the warmer months I intend on putting battery powered fans on their crates. But once it's above a temp I wouldn't want the AC on for myself they will stay home or ride up front with me.
But when I do find one, if they ever go in the bed with the top, they will be in crates that are secured.

 

I asked because I have one in grey and there's a chance I'll be selling it, but not until November. It hits your specs, and has Thule roof bars. Keep me in mind if you haven't found one. I have a granddad in Michigan I can visit, but a big construction contract slated to run until then.

 

Assuming TCMI means Traverse city area??? Nice! I’m pretty jealous. I have a bunch of friends from TC and always went up there during the summer to visit when I lived in MI (I’m from Saginaw btw, and went to Ferris State).

 

I’ll probably get a soft topper and the only one available for my 1st gen double cab is the Softopper brand. They don’t do any kind of sales and finding a used one, even state wide is hard. Right now it’s about $800 shipped for my truck.

I installed a tie down system on my truck bed and have my dogs attached to that from a harness. We just started trying this out since they are both 1 years old now. So far it’s been working and hopefully they’ll learn when to be up on the side of the bed and when to bed down on the bed. The leash are just long enough for them to move around but not jump out of the bed.

With the soft topper I can have them back there during the summer drives with the sides rolled up. If it gets too hot I can put them in the backseat with us. If we stop somewhere that dogs aren’t allow we can leave them in the truck bed with shade. I rather do that then leave them in the car or in the truck bed with no shade.

 

So far from what I have heard, they are a good option if you can find them for a reasonable price. I also have a husky and I think it would be a better choice to have him in the bed than in the cab.

 

Correct!

 

After talking with a couple trainers and vets, i have decided to go with trying out a harness and seatbelt option first before going with a topper. they all seemed to echo that it's not very safe for the dogs to be in the back, whether in a crate or in a topper. One had a dog die in the back of a truck.

I guess if we need to have the whole fam in the car, then we'll go with my wife's SUV with the 3rd row.

 

Can anyone confirm if a large ruff land kennel will fit under a soft topper?