Tacoma Bed with cap climate control for dog concerns...

Dear Tacomaworld:

This is my first post! ...so, don't know if there is a better place to post this or not. I'll try to be concise as possible.

I'm selling my house and moving to the Spokane area for a job. I currently have a 2000 Limited 4Runner with 309,000 miles on it and I'm thinking about using some of my profits from selling the house on a down-payment on a new truck. I'm single, but I do have my best friend, Kona, a 90 pound Great Dane and Lab mix, who has basically messed up the interior of the 4Runner, and is why I'm looking into a new truck. I am currently considering (it changes daily) on the Tacoma Double Cab Short Bed with a cap or maybe another 4Runner (doubtful that I'll actually go that route). I am thinking DCSB over the Access cab as I prefer the extra space for friends, etc. Sleeping in my bed would be nice, but it's more about keeping dog, stinky stuff, and camping gear separate from the main cabin.

My question is about climate control for my dog in the bed with a cap. Here in Portland, the temperature year round is tame, but in the Spokane area it's colder in the winter and hotter in the summer. So...

How do you guys remedy climate control in extreme conditions for the dog in the bed?

I'm mainly concerned about 1+ hour trips in the hot summer. For cold weather, I would put her coat on and perhaps a heated blanket with that fancy outlet in the bed.

Thanks for your help!

Please talk me out of another 4Runner!

 

Open the side windows in the summer and shut them in winter?



Welcome to TW

 

I have the access cab and also a 90lbs lab. Trust me, there is not room inside for her to sit comfortably on long rides. I usually remove my passenger seat to give her room

 

TDRSurgie, naturally that would be the case. I just don't know how hot it would get in there for her even if the windows are open. Do you think she will be okay? I have a feeling I may be overthinking this, but I love my dog, and want to make sure she'll be okay in there if the temp is really hot and the sun is beating on her.

 

Yes, I've seen pics of the dog platform and such, but I know for a fact that my dog would hate it in there.

 

Cute dog, Cypher.

I'm a little concerned about not having the locking rear differential with the long bed. I'm not too into off-roading, but I sure would feel more confident going down muddy/snowy backwoods roads having it.

 

Interesting... I'm going to look into this.

 

Just get a double-cab and if it's too hot or too cold out, your dog will have plenty of room inside. I have 3 big dogs and they can all fit on the backseat if it gets too close to 0 or 100 outside.

 

^^^^^This.

I lived in Spokane for 2 years and now I live in Seattle. My dog (Lab/Mastiff) was just fine in the back of my truck WITH a canopy. When it was hot out, we took 2 plus hour trips, she was fine with the two windows open in the back of the canopy. In the winter, she was fine without a heater.

 

I wouldnt put my dog in a camper shell when its hot out, youll see in the summer that even with windows open it gets very hot inside my buddy put his dogs in the shell over summer and the dogs were overheating and panting pretty hard. This was with the windows open too.

 

you could modify your outlet in the bed to always have a hot connection so you could run a small fan in there during the summer, space heater in the winter?


Just a thought, not sure if this is possible or not

 

I wouldnt leave her in there while the truck is parked but if you're moving then plenty airflow will be moving. Make sure she stays hydrated. Wintrr time just have plenty blankets. Dont for get to have a pad in there for her elbows so she wont get pressure sores.

Its a good thought but the bed outlet cant support that much draw.

 

I have a mastiff and at Bernard, they ride in the back in the summer, I have a snug top super sport with no front window and the boot in backwards so it doesn't touch the cab. With the side window cracked open the wind really moves through the shell, you can also get a front window that folds down to get more air.

 

I'm glad I posted and asked. I'm REALLY considering the DCSB TRD OR now. They are growing on me more every minute. Originally I completely disregarded them, but after A LOT of window and internet shopping, looking at reviews, etc, I think it's exactly what I need out of a truck. Plus, if I'm not hauling many people and going to be on the road for a long time, I can put her comfortably in the back of the cab. I had my heart stuck on the AC, but after seeing how small the cab is, there is no way my big ass dog could be in there comfortably. I like versatility, and the DCSB looks like a winner.

I do imagine she will be in the bed for most of the year, but I had to hear from a few people with experience.

 

I ran into this same problem living in Savannah with a very hairy dog. I threw a cap on the back and put an inflatable ring (made for the purpose... can be found on ebay for $20) between the cab and cap in the rear window. This allows some A/C or heat to get to the back for the pup.

 

I don't know about options regarding sb/dc and locking differential and all that, but many people have installed ARB lockers (With air compressors) and much prefer those to the stock. So a lock bed dc would be worth a look if you are up for the extra fuel inches.

 

Why not get an SUV with the barrier so the dog stays in the cargo area? Plenty of room for people in clean seats, plenty of room for your dog in "his" space with controlled environment.

 

/thread

JK...

I live in Spokane and I have a 150 lb Great Dane and a 45 lb German Short-haired Pointer. All I have in the back with the dogs is a bed mat and the cap. Other than that it's a simple as TrdSurgie stated.

FWIW, my cap is not insulated and my dogs haven't had a problem and the pet screen is a must.

 

I had a 2012 Durango all of about 11 months before I decided to take a huge loss and trade it in on a 2013 Tacoma DCLB. I have an 150 pound Rottweiler and he absolutely hated not being able to stick his head out of the window and get some air. So I bit the bullet and haven't looked back. He rides in the back of my truck when the weather is nice and when it isn't, I cover the rear seat with a bed sheet and put him in the back of the cab. He loves it either way, as long as he gets to go for a ride. The things we do for our animals....

 

I have exact same setup as beavis, bed rug and snug top that's carpeted. I have two labs that I take nearly everywhere, I've never had any issue with the dogs being too hot or too cold. The summer here is 90-100 degrees, and it gets below freezing during the winter.