Dog platform

My Golden Retriever says that my 2003 Xtra cab isn't good for dog rides. She says that the space behind the seat is split into two levels, neither of which is big enough for her to lay down. When I let her ride shotgun, in spite of the bushels of dog hair that ends up in that seat, she complains that the seat isn't big enough for her to curl up on.

So, I made platform to make the back one level. It's two separate parts that can be taken out individually and tossed in the bed. When installed, which will be pretty much always, the back becomes a single level that the dog can lay down on if she wants.

 

awesome, my black lab mix agrees with your golden on the seating situation in the xtra cabs. got any more pics from underneath of how you built your platform?

 

I built pretty much the same thing but just for one side of the cab. The dog I built it for loved it. ill end up doing the whole back seat soon so that the new pup gets accustomed to not riding shotgun allll the time. and then when I can trust her she'll be given the whole bed to roam in.

 

All shots are of the passenger's side. The driver's side is a mirror of the passenger's, or at least as close as my crude skills allow.

This is just the half-platform flipped up. So, the top of the picture would sit right behind the front seat. The bottom of the picture sits against the back of the cab under the jump seats. The back half of the platform simply rests on the "shelf" of the cab. The part with the trap doors into the storage areas. Top center of the picture is a 7" tall foot that rests on the floor behind the front seat. Going clockwise there is a corner cut out to fit around the center console, then a 3.5" foot that sits on the transmission hump. Starting back at that center 7" step and going counter clockwise is a 6" foot that rests on a raised part of the floor behind the seat, then a notch for the front seat seatbelt, then a sort of a curved recess to go around the cup holders.


This shot is from the front shooting into the back. The platform is pivoted back down into riding position. You can just see the 7" center foot. On the left you can see the cutouts for the seatbelt and the cupholders.


Finally, this shot is the dog's eye view looking forward at the center console.


All in, I spent about 2 hours. I used lumber that I had on hand already which was a part of a 1/2" sheet of plywood, and a section of 2x10. I bought the carpet at Lowes. It's RV carpet and was about $20.

 

Bravo! I have something very similar for my German Shepherds, except mine is a single piece. I like yours better.

I'd like to find some type of fold-able feet just to make it really compact when you pull it out.

I'm also thinking about going to the craft store to find some foam padding (maybe 1" thick or so) and then covering it so it's nice and padded for my Shepherds. NOTHING is too fine for my Shepherds!



Ed

 

thanks for the extra pics, nice and simple. after i finish building a speaker box for a 10" sub i'm putting in the back then i'm going to build a similar platform for my dog too!

 

i should carpet mine...

 

This is a really good idea.

 

I can't trust my dogs in the cab. They are not that civilized.

 

OP, want to build one for me?

 

I can't trust mine in the bed. She'll see a squirrel and jump out after it.

It's not hard. You can do it. I think I spent $10 and two hours. I'll measure what I've got if you want, to get you jump started.

 

OP -
This is a great idea - my GSD would love this

I'd be happy to get the measurements if you have a chance to provide them, it would save me some time.

 

I don't currently have a dog but I like that idea just for stuff back there. My rear seats stay up and stuff falls off of the ledge onto the floor pretty regularly. It could be made with a piece of 2x2 on the front edge to contain groceries and other stuff.

 

On the boat we call that 2x2 a fiddle. In the truck I just made the platform go right to the backs of the seat.

I haven't forgotten the measurements, but I've been crazy busy with work. I'll get to it this weekend.

 

Thanks Matt
Greatly appreciated!

 

Make one out of cardboard as a template then cut the plywood.

 

Sorry this took me so long.

Start with 2 rectangles 22 1/4 x 25 1/2. I think the idea of making cardboard templates is a great one. Notch and trim until you can rotate the template up and out, then transfer to plywood and cut.

 

Thanks!
I like the cardboard idea as well …
Sounds like support feet per section at 7", 6" and 3.5" for each?

Thanks again, this is top on my list of to-do's.

 

I got an auto carpet roll at WallyMart for about $15 and cut it to fit and glued it in place. Works like a champ! The dogs no longer slide around back there.

 

That's right. I think I posted it earlier, but the 3.5" sits on the transmission hump. The 6" sits next to the seat belt anchor, and the 7" sits behind the seat.

Flynbyu - that looks different than the back of my truck? Is that a second gen, or a double cab?