2012 4runner Rear Bumper Fix for Dogs

[buzzface]

Had a recent experience which I hope no other dog owner has to go thru. My lab was jumping into the back of the 4runner just like she has been doing for the last few years and caught a hind nail on the rear bumper. Ripping it off. Yelp, blood..., vet bills... I was sick.
Looking for some ideas from others who may have experienced this to somehow put something on the rear bumper to prevent future injuries. May be as simple as covering with the cargo mat. Anyone with ideas. Commercial products?
Thanks

 

[roktoy]

How about a hitch step

 

[Antman]

Had a recent experience which I hope no other dog owner has to go thru. My lab was jumping into the back of the 4runner just like she has been doing for the last few years and caught a hind nail on the rear bumper. Ripping it off. Yelp, blood..., vet bills... I was sick.
Looking for some ideas from others who may have experienced this to somehow put something on the rear bumper to prevent future injuries. May be as simple as covering with the cargo mat. Anyone with ideas. Commercial products?
Thanks

Man that's terrible!

Honestly though, I seriously doubt your dog will let that happen to herself again. Just like humans, live and learn.

Good luck.

 

[Omar RVA]

That sounds brutal! Like Antman said, chances are your lab will be a lot more careful getting in and out of the back from here on out. But in case she didn't learn anything...

Where exactly did her nail get caught? A description/picture of the area would help in gathering solutions. Your answer could be anything from a bit of weather stripping to plug a gap to some 3M protection film just to cover/smooth over a seam. I use a generic cargo liner for the inside. It catches a lot of hair and eliminates some of the gaps caused by the cargo tray so he has less things to get caught in. It sounds like you're describing more of the exterior area than the interior though.

OA

 

[buzzface]

How about a hitch step

Thanks, That's a possibility. They actually make them just for dogs.

 

[buzzface]

That sounds brutal! Like Antman said, chances are your lab will be a lot more careful getting in and out of the back from here on out. But in case she didn't learn anything...

Where exactly did her nail get caught? A description/picture of the area would help in gathering solutions. Your answer could be anything from a bit of weather stripping to plug a gap to some 3M protection film just to cover/smooth over a seam. I use a generic cargo liner for the inside. It catches a lot of hair and eliminates some of the gaps caused by the cargo tray so he has less things to get caught in. It sounds like you're describing more of the exterior area than the interior though.

OA

Yes its the exterior. Can not specifically point to an exact spot on the bumper that caused the issue. What I believe is that the exterior bumper is rather smooth (Limited edition). No traction. Considered coating the top of the bumper with some type of spray coating (undercoating of something similar) to provide more traction.

 

[Stifler]

Pet Ramp? :shrug:

 

[philsey]

This has been discussed (similar) before. Try the Google search up in the stickies.

 

[tH1e swiN1e]

I have a dane and a lab and pick them both up to put them into either of our SUVs. My gf gets them to put their front paws up then she lifts their rears as they walk in.

 

[Mikefj40]

Had a recent experience which I hope no other dog owner has to go thru. My lab was jumping into the back of the 4runner just like she has been doing for the last few years and caught a hind nail on the rear bumper. Ripping it off. Yelp, blood..., vet bills... I was sick.
Looking for some ideas from others who may have experienced this to somehow put something on the rear bumper to prevent future injuries. May be as simple as covering with the cargo mat. Anyone with ideas. Commercial products?
Thanks

I just put in some budbuilt rock sliders. They are angled up and slippery when wet. I can just see my dog breaking a nail or even breaking a leg (100 lbs of golden retriever. He's 8 and not jumping any higher). I think a ramp is the way to go. Especially after a 3" lift.

 

[Jtwo]

Man that's terrible!

Honestly though, I seriously doubt your dog will let that happen to herself again. Just like humans, live and learn.

Good luck.

Hopefully, my boys always seem to keep finding that lone porcupine......:frusty:

 

[nabcracker]

We lay a beach towel over the bumper for my old dog. It gives him a little more grip when he jumps up and it works great. He slipped on bumper one day with wet paws and took a hard fall. The towel has worked great for his safety

 

[Antman]

This has been discussed (similar) before. Try the Google search up in the stickies.

Here's the thread "Pops"^^^ is talking about. Has some solutions buried throughout...
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/139312-my-dog-needs-more-traction.html#post1347811

 

[Bino9905]

Where did the nail get caught? I can't picture it......I have seen it happen on a 4wheeler with homemade racks with grating......dog was hanging by rear leg....it was bad

 

[buzzface]

Where did the nail get caught? I can't picture it......I have seen it happen on a 4wheeler with homemade racks with grating......dog was hanging by rear leg....it was bad

Not really sure. I suspect the hind nail caught the lip of the cargo area, which she pushed off, snapping the nail, OR it snapped when it caught the slippery part of the top of the bumper.

What I am doing now is pulling the cargo mat to overlap the rear bumper to eliminate the edges and slippery bumper. Pain in the A**.

Plan on getting a rubberized back carpet, installing some grommets, and tie down to the tie downs so I can just flip it up and down. Also plan on spraying nonslip coating on the top of the rear bumper just in case.

I do have a ramp, but to be honest its a pain to carry around all of the time.

Thanks to all for the input.

Buzz

 

[FERAL 4R]

My 90+ lb Lab would jump up into the back as well. Not only has he not made it a few times, meaning his back legs slammed the bumper or slipped off add in the scratches his claws make on the bumper itself. What I've started doing as stated earlier, is lay a towel over the bumper cover and now only have him put his front legs up, then I lift his ass end into the back. It works and it's much safer for him.