Where do the pets ride when you're going down the road, especially in a 5th wheeler?
Gary and Linda said
11:43 AM Feb 22, 2015
We've decided a 5er will make the perfect home for us newbies but where do the pets ride when going down the road? We'll have a dual cab but for three dogs I think they aren't going to have enough room, therefore more stops on the way...
-- Edited by Gary and Linda on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 11:45:27 AM
el Rojo and Pam said
11:54 AM Feb 22, 2015
Truck. We also have 3 dogs. They get cozy.
Gary and Linda said
12:37 PM Feb 22, 2015
Thank you for the response. Boy are we sweating over this decision!!! All three dogs are large. Labradoodle, golden ret, and schnausador. Two are younger and one is an adult but all are large size. I'm so worried that they will be stuck in one position and not able to turn around. I think that because they don't have food or water available to them all day they won't be happy. Having to let them go would be like selling our human kids but we want them to be happy and we don't know if shutting them up so long everyday would not being their best interests.
BiggarView said
03:38 PM Feb 22, 2015
Are you in a hurry to get somewhere? You're planning on being fulltimers... You will have lots of time now ... supposedly. Surely you can stop at a truck stop or rest area and take a leisurely lunch, walk the dogs, do their business and reload for the next leg if you need to. Perhaps you could just not travel so far on any given day. One of the worst things any driver... and I repeat...any driver... can do is get a case of "get-there-itis". Take your time and arrive alive, rested and everybody onboard happy.
FWIW Brian
-- Edited by biggaRView on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 04:07:55 PM
el Rojo and Pam said
03:52 PM Feb 22, 2015
Our dogs do OK on 100 to 150 mile days. They are 25, 55, and 85 lbs. We crate one and the other two share the other half of the back seat. They can lay still for about 2 hours. Two of them are old. If we thought they weren't happy we would find homes for them. They can tell when were packing up and go stand by the truck.
Red
Gary and Linda said
04:19 PM Feb 22, 2015
Thank you for a valid response, you are FTing already and the pets are fine. This is what I want to know. Our dogs are about the same size as yours and they have never been in the back seat together so I want to be sure it's possible is all. Thank you
Jo and Ben said
04:56 PM Feb 22, 2015
We have two dogs, 50 lbs and 60 lbs. They love going for rides in the truck. They typically just lie down and go to sleep on long rides. Whenever we stop for potty breaks the dogs get walked. We feed them breakfast before we hit the road and dinner after we stop. We try not to do more than 300 miles a day, but sometimes more. We have been full-timing for almost a year now, but we have always had two dogs in the truck on camping trips for years. My suggestion would be to take them for a number of shorter rides in the truck to let them get used to it before you start on a longer journey. Also I wasn't sure if you have the extended cab or full back seat. We've had both. In the extended cab the seat can fold up or be removed to give them room on the floor. In the full crew cab with regular back seat they have plenty of room. Our dogs don't appear cramped, and they do move around and change positions. Although, one of them does sometimes deliberately sprawl out in the whole space and the other will look like a little kid wanting to say "mom, she's not giving me any room" lol.
Diana and Jim said
06:31 PM Feb 22, 2015
We built a platform on the back seat of the crew cab and put a thick carpeted cushion on top. We had our first two large Golden Retreivers back there on many, many long trips, and then it was Jenny's mansion for 10 years. The best part was that they could see out, and that helped them relax.
Jim
-- Edited by Diana and Jim on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 06:31:58 PM
Gary and Linda said
06:42 PM Feb 22, 2015
Wonderful to here it's easy for you. I'm just being an anxious furmom! Thank you so much. Think we're getting a full cab. Hubby hasn't narrowed that down yet. Seems like everyone or most everyone has a 350 or 450 and DD so he's not sure. But happy trails and stay safe.
Gary and Linda said
06:44 PM Feb 22, 2015
How wonderful, great idea! Thanks Jim. Happy trails and stay safe!
Gary and Linda said
06:51 PM Feb 22, 2015
No we will take our time. I'm just being an anxious mom. Worry about if they can adapt beings they are older. Maybe we'll get a toy hauler for them to run circles in lol I'll probably need sedatives more than them LOL
MarkS said
09:22 PM Feb 22, 2015
Not where they want to. There's no room on my lap. The poodle lays on the bunk and occasionally sings at the top of his lungs. He is used to traveling 10 to 14 hours a day. The shihtzu is more of a mommas boy. He likes to lay on the dash. He would prefer not to travel but he wants to be where we are so he tolerates it. In the big truck everyone has plenty of room to move around. They get nervous when I do it but I tell them not to worry. The cruise is set.
BiggarView said
09:25 PM Feb 22, 2015
Mark, you crack me up.
DebbieM said
09:26 PM Feb 22, 2015
Our dog is 50 lbs and rides in a crate that takes up about 2/3 of the backseat of our dually. He loves it. He has a cushy pad inside the crate. He is comfortable in the truck or the trailer with or without us in it (of course making sure the temperature is ok).
Gary and Linda said
09:16 AM Feb 23, 2015
Our dogs use the crates at night but they'd never fit in the truck. They'll have to squeeze in and find their spots. But I picture our brand new truck, stopped at a rest stop, going out to potty and the back seat has been someone's chew toy! lol
DebbieM said
09:57 PM Feb 23, 2015
Our new truck is all leather and we wanted to make sure that no tears were made by Hurley's nails, or occasional drooling happening or anything else. That's why he stays in the crate in the truck. But if you have 2, they do make a wire curtain so to speak that keeps them only in the back. Then there are all kind of seat liners, curtains and things to protect all other surfaces (sides, front seat backs etc). Maybe that would give your dogs the most room and comfort but also protect your truck.
BiggarView said
04:55 AM Feb 24, 2015
Debbie (and Steve), so you are saying... the truck has not been "Hurley'd", err christened, yet? This too shall pass Know what you mean about the furbabies and leaving those lasting impressions.
Brian
DebbieM said
10:02 PM Feb 24, 2015
If you mean a potty accident, no. He is well trained and in the crate with a few chew toys anyway
BiggarView said
08:14 AM Feb 25, 2015
Josie hasn't done that either, but then my Equinox with leather seats is 10 years old so few nail scratches or muddy paw prints are nothing after years of camping, and hauling stuff. Just sayin'
Melnal said
04:01 PM May 25, 2015
And what if you have a Class A? Where do you put your dog for safety? I had this brilliant idea to modify one of the cupboards - add carpeting and pads, and replace the doors with vented doors, so our little Doxy would have a safer place to stay while we traveled down the road. In less than 15 minutes on our very first morning she chewed through the door bars. That's $600 I'll never see again, but worth the cost for the lesson learned. Now we let her roam around in the RV as we're driving down the road, but I so worry about sudden stops or accidents. She's perfectly happy sleeping on the sofa, but is there a better way to "anchor" her?
Thanks in advance for any recommendations, suggestions, or comments. And sorry to the OP as I don't mean to hijack this thread!
Terry and Jo said
09:45 PM May 26, 2015
Mel,
I'd suggest finding a way to secure one of those plastic crates in the RV when traveling. When not traveling, those can be broken down and stored out of the way somewhere.
It might take a bit for the dog to adjust to not being free, but if you can secure the crate near you, she may be happy with that. If not, secure it in the back where she can't see you to see if she adjusts better there.
Terry
Ckerr said
07:59 AM May 27, 2015
Back when I had a 5th wheel, Sage rode in the back seat. We got a great seat cover that made a sort of hammock from Duluth Trading and also used a doggie harness that attached to the seatbelt to keep her in place in case of sudden stops.
Will do the same with Chuy if we end up with a bumper pull. If we end up in a MH, Chuy will be good to roam the rig...
BiggarView said
08:45 AM May 27, 2015
You should really secure your pets even in a MH. Loose objects including pets can be deadly missiles in a sudden stop. Heaven forbid your pet has to be put down because it was seriously injured as a result of falling or striking something unforgiving inside your rig in a panic stop or worse.
JMHO, Brian
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 27th of May 2015 08:46:28 AM
Ckerr said
01:11 PM May 27, 2015
Good point Brian. We will have to see with Chuy. He is less inclined to like the seatbelt than Sage was. Last long road trip he was good until the last day and then chewed through the seat belt in less than 30 seconds
Lucky Mike said
07:22 AM May 28, 2015
Nikki tends to ride on the passenger side dash.......or is back there curled up on the couch !!!
The Bear II said
09:11 AM May 29, 2015
Since we hate hot weather, most of our travels were along the coast or in cooler weather if we traveled inland.
I built a dog kennel at the front of the pickup bed. I cut a piece of plywood to make a wall about 10 inches in front of the 5th wheel hitch. In this wall I cut out a rectangle window about 1 foot tall by 3 feet long and used wire mesh to cover the window opening. This allowed the two dogs to look out and provided air flow as we traveled.
I built a lid for the enclosed area using a top made out of plywood and four sides using 1X2 pine. This lid rested on the pickup bed rails and I used a piano hinge to secure it to the front bed rail of the pickup bed. This allowed the lid to swing up and rest against the cab when I needed access to the kennel area. I used two locking hasps to hold the lid down at the wall. I added a Fantastic Vent to the lid to provide air flow for the dogs when needed.
I cut a piece of 1 inch plywood to make a floor for the kennel and then placed two cedar and foam filled dog beds. A non spill water bowl and dog toys. Our two medium sized dogs had plenty of room to move around in the kennel area.
The only drawback was that I would have to lift each of the 35 pound dogs in and out of the kennel.
If we happened to travel when the outside temp was above 80 the dogs rode in the backseat of the crewcab.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 29th of May 2015 09:15:35 AM
NWescapee said
09:27 AM May 29, 2015
We travel with a cat, not a dog, and she basically roams the truck cab as she pleases with the exception of the driver's lap and the dash while we're driving. Most of her time is spent sleeping in either her travel crate or her bed in the center console. Before FT'ing we had a TT and tried to let her travel in there and that was not a good plan, she was terrified in there so we've never tried it with the 5th wheel. She's happy to ride in the truck and keep an eye on her slaves
manycats said
08:08 PM May 29, 2015
Our cats used to travel in the 5th wheel (mostly on the bed) and seemed to be OK. Obviously they wanted to go out and explore as soon as we parked but didn't seem to be worse for the wear. Now we have two that have never traveled so we'll see how that goes. We're hoping our old Sheba, who used to go everywhere with us, will tell them it's all right...
We've decided a 5er will make the perfect home for us newbies but where do the pets ride when going down the road? We'll have a dual cab but for three dogs I think they aren't going to have enough room, therefore more stops on the way...
-- Edited by Gary and Linda on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 11:45:27 AM
Thank you for the response. Boy are we sweating over this decision!!! All three dogs are large. Labradoodle, golden ret, and schnausador. Two are younger and one is an adult but all are large size. I'm so worried that they will be stuck in one position and not able to turn around. I think that because they don't have food or water available to them all day they won't be happy. Having to let them go would be like selling our human kids but we want them to be happy and we don't know if shutting them up so long everyday would not being their best interests.
Are you in a hurry to get somewhere? You're planning on being fulltimers... You will have lots of time now ... supposedly. Surely you can stop at a truck stop or rest area and take a leisurely lunch, walk the dogs, do their business and reload for the next leg if you need to. Perhaps you could just not travel so far on any given day. One of the worst things any driver... and I repeat...any driver... can do is get a case of "get-there-itis". Take your time and arrive alive, rested and everybody onboard happy.
FWIW Brian
-- Edited by biggaRView on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 04:07:55 PM
Red
Thank you for a valid response, you are FTing already and the pets are fine. This is what I want to know. Our dogs are about the same size as yours and they have never been in the back seat together so I want to be sure it's possible is all. Thank you
We built a platform on the back seat of the crew cab and put a thick carpeted cushion on top. We had our first two large Golden Retreivers back there on many, many long trips, and then it was Jenny's mansion for 10 years. The best part was that they could see out, and that helped them relax.
Jim
-- Edited by Diana and Jim on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 06:31:58 PM
Wonderful to here it's easy for you. I'm just being an anxious furmom! Thank you so much. Think we're getting a full cab. Hubby hasn't narrowed that down yet. Seems like everyone or most everyone has a 350 or 450 and DD so he's not sure. But happy trails and stay safe.
How wonderful, great idea! Thanks Jim. Happy trails and stay safe!
No we will take our time. I'm just being an anxious mom. Worry about if they can adapt beings they are older. Maybe we'll get a toy hauler for them to run circles in lol I'll probably need sedatives more than them LOL
Mark, you crack me up.
Our dog is 50 lbs and rides in a crate that takes up about 2/3 of the backseat of our dually. He loves it. He has a cushy pad inside the crate. He is comfortable in the truck or the trailer with or without us in it (of course making sure the temperature is ok).
Our dogs use the crates at night but they'd never fit in the truck. They'll have to squeeze in and find their spots. But I picture our brand new truck, stopped at a rest stop, going out to potty and the back seat has been someone's chew toy! lol
Our new truck is all leather and we wanted to make sure that no tears were made by Hurley's nails, or occasional drooling happening or anything else. That's why he stays in the crate in the truck. But if you have 2, they do make a wire curtain so to speak that keeps them only in the back. Then there are all kind of seat liners, curtains and things to protect all other surfaces (sides, front seat backs etc). Maybe that would give your dogs the most room and comfort but also protect your truck.
Debbie (and Steve), so you are saying... the truck has not been "Hurley'd", err christened, yet? This too shall pass
Know what you mean about the furbabies and leaving those lasting impressions.
Brian
If you mean a potty accident, no. He is well trained and in the crate with a few chew toys anyway
Josie hasn't done that either, but then my Equinox with leather seats is 10 years old so few nail scratches or muddy paw prints are nothing after years of camping, and hauling stuff. Just sayin'
And what if you have a Class A? Where do you put your dog for safety? I had this brilliant idea to modify one of the cupboards - add carpeting and pads, and replace the doors with vented doors, so our little Doxy would have a safer place to stay while we traveled down the road. In less than 15 minutes on our very first morning she chewed through the door bars. That's $600 I'll never see again, but worth the cost for the lesson learned. Now we let her roam around in the RV as we're driving down the road, but I so worry about sudden stops or accidents. She's perfectly happy sleeping on the sofa, but is there a better way to "anchor" her?
Thanks in advance for any recommendations, suggestions, or comments. And sorry to the OP as I don't mean to hijack this thread!
Mel,
I'd suggest finding a way to secure one of those plastic crates in the RV when traveling. When not traveling, those can be broken down and stored out of the way somewhere.
It might take a bit for the dog to adjust to not being free, but if you can secure the crate near you, she may be happy with that. If not, secure it in the back where she can't see you to see if she adjusts better there.
Terry
Will do the same with Chuy if we end up with a bumper pull. If we end up in a MH, Chuy will be good to roam the rig...
You should really secure your pets even in a MH. Loose objects including pets can be deadly missiles in a sudden stop. Heaven forbid your pet has to be put down because it was seriously injured as a result of falling or striking something unforgiving inside your rig in a panic stop or worse.
JMHO, Brian
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 27th of May 2015 08:46:28 AM
Since we hate hot weather, most of our travels were along the coast or in cooler weather if we traveled inland.
I built a dog kennel at the front of the pickup bed. I cut a piece of plywood to make a wall about 10 inches in front of the 5th wheel hitch. In this wall I cut out a rectangle window about 1 foot tall by 3 feet long and used wire mesh to cover the window opening. This allowed the two dogs to look out and provided air flow as we traveled.
I built a lid for the enclosed area using a top made out of plywood and four sides using 1X2 pine. This lid rested on the pickup bed rails and I used a piano hinge to secure it to the front bed rail of the pickup bed. This allowed the lid to swing up and rest against the cab when I needed access to the kennel area. I used two locking hasps to hold the lid down at the wall. I added a Fantastic Vent to the lid to provide air flow for the dogs when needed.
I cut a piece of 1 inch plywood to make a floor for the kennel and then placed two cedar and foam filled dog beds. A non spill water bowl and dog toys. Our two medium sized dogs had plenty of room to move around in the kennel area.
The only drawback was that I would have to lift each of the 35 pound dogs in and out of the kennel.
If we happened to travel when the outside temp was above 80 the dogs rode in the backseat of the crewcab.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 29th of May 2015 09:15:35 AM
We travel with a cat, not a dog, and she basically roams the truck cab as she pleases with the exception of the driver's lap and the dash while we're driving. Most of her time is spent sleeping in either her travel crate or her bed in the center console. Before FT'ing we had a TT and tried to let her travel in there and that was not a good plan, she was terrified in there so we've never tried it with the 5th wheel. She's happy to ride in the truck and keep an eye on her slaves