Our two labs are too big to have in the Dodge quad cab with us four humans. I love my truck, but that back seat area isn't THAT big :-)
I also do not have the heart to put the dogs in the trailer. Not sure how they would fare from heat, bounce, and possible collision aspects. Not that they would fare well in a crash from the bed of the truck either, I suppose....
Our dogs ride in the truck bed, just behind the cab, not in crates. I tie their leashes off on the cargo cleats so that they are comfortable, but can't really take a flyer over the side of the bed, should they choose to. I haven't tried it, but I don't think their plastic travel kennels would work with the 5'er swinging around back there.
Loading them is fairly comical, actually. We get all hooked up, then have to physically lift them onto the tailgate, then coax them to duck under the overhang up to the front of the truck bed.
Holmesb wrote: ...
Here's the 1st question:
For the RV'ers with big dogs, do you travel with them in the truck bed (crated) or in the camper? Is it illegal / safe to have them in the camper while going down the road?
Bryan
It can get pretty warm in a RV while towing, I don't suggest you keep your dogs in the RV legal or not.
1. I have 3 boys + me & my wife + 1.2 lb. Chihuahua + 2 Golden Retrievers + Crew Cab Ford F250 Short Bed = Not enough room in the truck for 2 Golden Retrievers. Like Mtn. Lvrs I tether my dogs to the front bed of the truck. Tried the crates but they are too big to work with the fiver. Been doing this for a long time without the first incident. (knock on wood) The little dog stays in the cab of course, if I had my way her but would be in the back with the other two dogs. If my dogs have to ride in the back why can't hers!
2. I tied into my gas line on a old TT at the rear of the unit one time. Big dissappointment when I found out the hard way that like the previous post stated grilles need HP gas. Good luck.
2004 F-250 FX4 CC PSD, P3 Brake Controller, Valley Hitch w/ slide
2007 Wildcat 32QBBS, 1 1/2 bath
Camping world "Stay awhile" adapter comes with hoses.
Installed in line before the 5W regulator. Run hose to BBQ grill down and out the bottom of propane compartment to BBQ regulator. Works great. No more replacing the little bottles. Never have had a problem with it leaking.
While I am attentive to the leak possibility, propane does weigh more than air. So it will not rise into the camper. This is the reason for the law making sure propane compartments are open at the bottom.
* This post was
edited 06/06/08 04:23pm by Vulcaneer *
2006 F350 V10 4X4 SC SB SRW 4.30 22,500 GCWR
Keystone Sprinter 33'9" 12,500 GVWR
Pullrite Super Glide 18K
Super Duty, Super Cab, SuperGlide
SEE RV.net Classified for Vette Description
With three growing kids in the backseat, there's just no room for a 100 lb. German Shepherd. I can't put her crate in the back of the truck, because it's too big for me to be able to make a turn. Maddie rides in her crate in the 5er. Her crate is just above the axles in the galley. It's a VERY smooth ride where she sits. I know this for a fact. I've left things on the counter that could have/should have spilled all over the place while driving, and they didn't even move. My 10 year old left a half-open can of soda in the fridge and didn't tell us about it until we were on the highway in the middle of Chicago and couldn't stop. The soda was still there when we stopped at the first rest area in Indiana.
We don't travel with Maddie when it's very hot out, so I don't have any information on how hot it may get inside, but is something I'd certainly think about.
First, have to say how great this forum is and it continues to amaze me on the ability to find information on most everything you want to know. We are trying to decide whether or not to take our dog with us to Charlotte. It is about a four hour drive pulling the camper. This will be the first time that all of us (me, DW, DS, grandson, and granddaughter) will be riding together. Normally the dog rides between the grandkids in the backseat and since all our trips so far this year have been close to home we have taken two vehicles. We are debating on crating her in the 5er. I had thought over the axles would be the smoothest ride so we would put her there. The heat is the thing that bothers me. We leave the vents open since we have the vent covers. I was told not to travel with the windows open (ours crank out). Would it hurt to open the windows in the bedroom and the rear one part of the way to get some ventilation through the camper while moving?
97 2500 CTD, US Gear Exhaust Brake, Prime-Loc, Silencer Ring removed
02 Jayco Eagle 305BHS
"For those that fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know!" Semper Fi
We crate our dogs in the TT all the time - but, being in the northern tier of states it is unusual that heat is an issue. We stop regularly for bathroom breaks and fresh water. In 12 years no problems at all.
For the propane, easiest way was posted about with an adapter and extended hose. If you're mechanically inclinded it we be an easy (of course easy is relative) job to add some black pipe to your system to make a permanent outlet. Once installed and it passes a pressure test (just as you would for a house install)you're good to go with no worries about leaks. I reality you're only talking about adding a Tee, a couple of elbows, probably 6 or 8 feet of pipe, a shutoff value and the fitting.
To complete the job you could rent a pipe threader to fit the pieces on site or just do a good job with your measurements and have Home Depot cut and thread for you, a little pipe dope and your done - good afternoons job I would think.
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If my dogs have to ride in the back why can't hers!
Good luck.
