Insulating the composite bed?

Yeah, our dogs aren’t people. Our older dog is a rescue, and has anxiety issues when traveling, and will not shut up if she rides in the cab (actually does better in the bed). Our younger dog doesn’t give a shit, and lies down happily either in the cab or in the bed.

 

I like the "wrap a cheap comforter around the crates" idea, but I'd avoid down, which loses its insulating properties if it does get wet. Cheaper and more effective to go with a synthetic comforter, which will be much easier to wash, too.
For underneath the crates, get one/two cheap foam yoga mats. Safe travels!

 

Bedrug.

 

Please, no smoking within 25’.

 

Another vote for Bedrug. At night fill up glass bottle with hot almost boiling water and put it in a wool sock and then put it in their kennel. When I camp in the winter I always use that trick. I wake up every morning to the bottle still being very warm in my sleeping bag.

 

No need to go crazy and modify your truck. Some good bedding in a crate and cover it in an old wool blanket. It will hold in plenty of heat to keep the dogs toasty

 

Maybe I missed the obvious, but you have a canopy right? Our dogs, who are our kids, normally travel in the front with us when we're driving. But when we're stopped they stay in the truck bed. I've experimented with different kinds of kennels, beds, and padding for them. Currently my bed has about 1 inch of foam, a few blankets and big thick dog beds.

Not all dogs tolerate cold the same way. My two collies seem to really like it. They even generate their own heat. I just got done with a cross country winter road trip. We were on the road all of December. On most mornings that they slept in back, the temperature in the canopy was 5-10 degree warmer than the outside air temperature. I only brought them inside the hotel on two nights when it got below 20 degrees.

It's an interesting idea to insulate your truck bed. Let us know if you try it. But as other said, I suspect the best way to keep them really warm would be to insulated kennels. A dog will generate quite a bit of heat in the small area of a kennel.

 

What type of dogs are they?

 

ive used memory foam mattress toppers for cheap insulation and cushion when sleeping. Maybe try these.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-5-Zone-1-25-Hypoallergenic-Mattress-Topper/109773569

 

As an aside, where in MA are you heading to?

 

I agree with the insulating the kennels approach. I’d think that a sheet of rigid foam insulation laid out beneath the crates on the floor, with carpet over it to protect it, would insulate the floor quite well. Then perhaps Mylar emergency blankets wrapped over the top of the kennels. The smaller space would be orders of magnitude easier to keep warm.

Just make sure there’s a way for them to get adequate fresh air. A small opening near the bottom vs. the top. You know, because heat rises...

 

Yes get some rigid insulation board and cut it to size to fit into the bed of the truck.

 

Please no spray foam. You will ruin anything it touches, forever. It is highly flammable, even the flame retardant types burn quickly. I know, I use this crap at work. Most is sold as open cell. It WILL absorb moisture. Buy a portable dog kennel. Buy an insulating blanket that is built for the kennel/crate and goes on the outside of the kennel/crate. Your mutt will be warmer than you. It's how hunters transport their dogs. And some of those dogs (and the training costs) cost as much as some vehicles.

 

See, this is why I like this site, so much applicable knowledge. Yeah, definitely not going the spray foam route. Water absorption definitely isn't desirable, and yeah, don't want the bottom of the bed to catch on fire too easily. Currently, I figure I'll stick with some foam panels (figure I'll put one underneath the bed mat, should protect it pretty well), and then some blankets over the kennels. Something else I'll play around with between now and then is getting a wireless thermometer, and sticking it in the bed with the dogs, and seeing how cold they actually get (or not).

Mine is a female cattle dog mix, ~9 years old, 40 lbs. Girlfriend's dog is a male, 1/4 malemute, 1/8 each of lab/german shepherd/rottweiler, then the rest is some mix of Wolf/Coyote, shepard, terrier , ~ 2 years old, 70 lbs. Both rescues. She does ok with other dogs, but dislikes strangers (and tries to bite when she feels cornered/threatened). He loves people, but hates other dogs. Hence, why we try to take them with us, rather than board them or leave them with friends.

Winchendon

 

The heat from the exhaust pipe close to spray foam sounds like a good way to catch your truck on fire

 

I really wouldn’t worry to much about them. I keep my dogs kenneled during winter in sub zero temps and just good bedding is sufficient for my cattle dogs. We also have a high content wolf dog that stays outside with straw bedding no matter the temperature. Dogs are much better than humans at staying warm