Considering something for the Ram, need some opinions...
Thread Starter
Dysfunctional Veteran
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,105
Likes: 321
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Considering something for the Ram, need some opinions...
Does anyone have any input on these:
http://www.autoanything.com/hitch-be...A4695A0A0.aspx
Any experience, or any insight to add? What I am looking for is something I can cover my truck bed with, that is easy to remove, and store, but that will also give my dog the freedom of riding in the truckbed...without getting rained on. Tonneau Cover's wont work because, well, he cant stand up, and hard shells are $$$$ and a pain in the *** to take off and to store. We take alot of road trips (my 2009 Ram has 62,000 miles on it already), and having a 110lb Chesapeake Bay Retriever riding in the back seat of a 4 door pickup is just not fair to him. This is MUCH cheaper than trading in the truck an a Lexus GX which is the only other vehicle I would consider to replace the Ram. Thoughts?
http://www.autoanything.com/hitch-be...A4695A0A0.aspx
Any experience, or any insight to add? What I am looking for is something I can cover my truck bed with, that is easy to remove, and store, but that will also give my dog the freedom of riding in the truckbed...without getting rained on. Tonneau Cover's wont work because, well, he cant stand up, and hard shells are $$$$ and a pain in the *** to take off and to store. We take alot of road trips (my 2009 Ram has 62,000 miles on it already), and having a 110lb Chesapeake Bay Retriever riding in the back seat of a 4 door pickup is just not fair to him. This is MUCH cheaper than trading in the truck an a Lexus GX which is the only other vehicle I would consider to replace the Ram. Thoughts?
Last edited by ArmyofOne; Nov 20, 2011 at 06:45 AM.
Thread Starter
Dysfunctional Veteran
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,105
Likes: 321
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Not much more you can do I suppose. As it is he only rides back there on sunny days, and short trips. Not to many of the former in Western WA. LOL
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,629
Likes: 280
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Why not just buy (or build) a portable dog-house of water-resistant materials big enough for him, slip the dog-house in and out of the bed as needed for long trips, and let the dog just step inside of it and lie down when it is raining? You'd have to design the door-opening, of course, so a flap or cover above it wouldn't allow rain and wind to blow into the opening and get him wet.
Depending on how big and heavy the dog-house is, though, getting it in and out of the bed may take more than one person. It would have to be secured tightly to keep it from moving around. You'd also, of course, have to keep insects, mice, and other pests out of it.
Depending on how big and heavy the dog-house is, though, getting it in and out of the bed may take more than one person. It would have to be secured tightly to keep it from moving around. You'd also, of course, have to keep insects, mice, and other pests out of it.
Last edited by mmarshall; Nov 20, 2011 at 08:24 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,810
Likes: 15
From: MI
^^^
Mike, it's a dog. If left on his own, there's no way he'd be inside of a dog house while the vehicle was moving - no matter what the weather. He doesn't care if he arrives at his destination soaked and covered in road grime.
Josh, what you need is one of those slide-in bed campers. That way the dog can have a nice bed to sleep on, a TV to watch, and a fridge.
Mike, it's a dog. If left on his own, there's no way he'd be inside of a dog house while the vehicle was moving - no matter what the weather. He doesn't care if he arrives at his destination soaked and covered in road grime.
Josh, what you need is one of those slide-in bed campers. That way the dog can have a nice bed to sleep on, a TV to watch, and a fridge.
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Trade in for the Lexus GX 
Nah j/k! In your situation, sounds like the item in the link you posted is a pretty effective situation. Haven't seen one like that before, but sounds promising!
Nah j/k! In your situation, sounds like the item in the link you posted is a pretty effective situation. Haven't seen one like that before, but sounds promising!
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Thread Starter
Dysfunctional Veteran
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,105
Likes: 321
From: Van Alstyne, TX
^^^
Mike, it's a dog. If left on his own, there's no way he'd be inside of a dog house while the vehicle was moving - no matter what the weather. He doesn't care if he arrives at his destination soaked and covered in road grime.
Josh, what you need is one of those slide-in bed campers. That way the dog can have a nice bed to sleep on, a TV to watch, and a fridge.
Mike, it's a dog. If left on his own, there's no way he'd be inside of a dog house while the vehicle was moving - no matter what the weather. He doesn't care if he arrives at his destination soaked and covered in road grime.
Josh, what you need is one of those slide-in bed campers. That way the dog can have a nice bed to sleep on, a TV to watch, and a fridge.
That whole road trip, some 750 miles round trip...I never got over 8mpg. Not once. And this is normally a 21-23 mpg hwy pickup truck. I was filling up about every 235-240 miles...and I have a 32 gallon tank. No thanks LOL, at over $100 to fill from E, its cheaper to stay in hotels.
NEW IDEA:
Put dog in front seat with me, put wife on cable in truck bed. Problem solved.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,432
Likes: 380
From: Las Vegas
I sometimes miss our cap that we had on our F350 for years, we finally took it off in favor of a ladder rack. It had been on the truck without ever being removed for 11 years. It's nice to be able to get into the bed from the sides now, and to be able to stand up all the way, but it sucks having tools and stuff in plain sight and exposed to the weather, plus having to tie a tarp on everytime I haul garbage to the dump.
I'd go with a cap, but that's my personal preference.
I'd go with a cap, but that's my personal preference.
Out of Warranty
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,925
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From: Houston, Republic of Texas
Now, if you can convince your wife that it's for the dog, you get a camper without the hassle. See? Ol' Marv is good for more than blaming unintended gas escapes on!BAD DOG!
Who, ME??
Thread Starter
Dysfunctional Veteran
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,105
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From: Van Alstyne, TX
He wants to stick his head around the cab, let the breeze tickle his ears, snort and blow at the wind up his nose, and drool. It may not appeal to you and I, but to a dog, that's heaven!
Now, if you can convince your wife that it's for the dog, you get a camper without the hassle. See? Ol' Marv is good for more than blaming unintended gas escapes on!
BAD DOG!
Who, ME??
Now, if you can convince your wife that it's for the dog, you get a camper without the hassle. See? Ol' Marv is good for more than blaming unintended gas escapes on!BAD DOG!
Who, ME??
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