Softopper or bestop for dogs?

I’m debating getting a softopper or bestop for my taco. Main reason is for my two dogs, German Shepard and collie. They both can’t fit in the cab and without puking. Can anyone give me advice on this subject? Are soft tops even good for dogs?

 

for road trips as well ^

 

I've been wanting a softopper for a long time and it seems to be the better of the two for dogs. At least my comparative and research info up to this point seems to show it does.

 

Maybe try a static strap to stop the dogs from barfing (I hear it works)

 

One of my dogs gets car sick as well. We trained her to throw up in a vomit bag. It’s a small bag designed to throw up in. We tried to train her to just NOT throw up. But she gets nervous even if the car stays in park. NOW in the car when she start to heave and feel sick, she will actually wait for us to but the bag over her snout to throw up in. PM me if you want to know how we trained her.

Or just get the soft top!!

 

I choose a bestop over the softopper specifically because of my dog. I like having the side windows when it's cold outside or it's raining I have the windows attached and my dog can still look outside.

You should also consider security purposes, I park my truck in my garage so I'm not worried about someone looking through the side windows at night.

 

I had a softopper with the mesh rear panel.
Only used the front panel for winter camping so Pup got plenty of breeze in the back.
Even more when the panels were rolled up.

 

I don't think dogs wouldn't care whether it's a softopper, bestop, or hard shell. They will still have to be crated or secured in the bed for road trips. I like the look of ST vs the bestop. Having a softop on my TJ and dealing with scratched dull windows over time was a big negative and convinced me in going with the softopper. They also have much more resale demand than bestop.

 

Get a hard shell if you spend a lot of time at highway speeds. The soft toppers create a lot of drag and I imagine wouldn’t help a dog’s nerves being whipped around.

I had a Bestop and sold it within a few months. Mostly because when folded forward it still got in the way of my dirt bike tires so didn’t serve it’s intended purpose for me. But another major part was the drag at highway speeds.

 

I hate to suggest it, but you just have to let the dogs barf for a while. My experience is that dogs get over their motion sickness after successive trips in the vehicle. After a period of time they will become "immune"

 

Soft topper for the win.

 

We had a small breed dog for the last 14 years which was like having a cat .... lol .... now we are looking for a big dog, German Shepard or Golden retriever. With 2 kids in the back no big dog would fit. Would a Bestop be suitable protection for a dog to travel in the bed? I was thinking if I used a plastic animal crate to contain the dog would give more protection and safe place to lie down and in the winter I could add a shipping blanket for some insulation value. How does everyone travel with a big dog in the bed?

 

I would second a hard top mainly for side windows that open, with a soft top you’ll need to leave a side open or partially unzipped to get adequate air flow esp on hot sunny days.

 

Such bad "advice"

 

Been tossing around the idea of getting some screens for the bestop I’m going to see if they will sell me the channel inserts by the foot. But regardless it gets super hot back there get a tan topper

 

There are screens available for both the back and front for the Softtopper.

 

If you haul them around in hot summer weather inside a soft topper they may over heat and die. Dogs can’t dissipate heat like we can and can suffer heat stroke, organ damage and death in a very short time. It gets damn hot quickly in any type of camper shell whether soft top or hard in warm or hot weather. If you can’t have them ride inside then get 2 portable dog kennels for them to ride in in the back of the truck. Be sure to secure the carriers with straps or rope in the back of the truck. They’ll survive hot weather in the kennels and in the winter you can get waterproof, wind proof custom covers for the kennels to keep them warm and cozy.

 

We crate the dog under the softopper in a ruff ruff crate. If it's hot we open the sides of the topper. The rear window is always open. You can buy a digital wireless temp meter that works via Bluetooth. It pairs to a screen that it comes with. less than 40 bucks I think. That way I can see the temperature back there when I'm in the cab driving. If it gets too hot we make room for her in the cab

 

I have a thing that covers the back seat. It attaches to the headrests in the front and rear thus 'containing' the area for the doggos. It didn't cost all that much and dissuades the smaller doggos from jumping into the front seat. If they puke, you just take it off and spray it down since it is vinyl lined on the non-exposed side.

I keep my rear sits folded down most of the time and a little foam yoga-mat thing I found at Costco one day under it so nothing is sliding around. The dogs have a nice larger area in the climate controlled cab. It's pretty good. I have one that used to get sick but she just suddenly got over it and decided she loves going for rides.