Help me organize my family!

adaml

adaml

New member
Guys - I need some help thinking outside the box here. I've got myself, my wife, my six year old son, and my eight year old German Shepherd Dog. We like to get out and about. When it's just the humans, space is abundant in the car because we can use the whole rear cargo area. I'm having troubles though when we take dog with us. I bought a crate for the back of the car and it fits in there perfectly but it takes up almost the entire rear cargo area (fits perfectly between the wheel wells and has only a few inches to spare next to the hatch). I thought about putting one side of the backseats down and sliding his crate more into the cabin area but it's just barely too wide. There are narrower crates out there and he could be fine in a smaller crate (this is just for riding in the car) but if I went the smaller route and slid it forward, I wonder how he would get in and out without unloading the car.

To .Ake this all worse, I can't put a skybox or anything on top because I'll have a RTT in a couple days. Down the road, I plan to get a full rack which will afford me she storage on top of the vehicle but I'm not sure what to do in the meantime.

Main things we need to store are backpacks and other hiking equipment (like snowshoes, poles, etc).

Any ideas?

And as a bonus question, when you go camping with your dog, where does he/she sleep? Previously we've had a backpack tent and a "family" tent. If we take the dog, we take the family tent and he sleeps with us. Now, well be in the RTT and I'm not getting him up there with me. Do I let him sleep in the car? On the ground? Tied up to something?
 
Register to hide this ad
adaml said:
Guys - I need some help thinking outside the box here. I've got myself, my wife, my six year old son, and my eight year old German Shepherd Dog. We like to get out and about. When it's just the humans, space is abundant in the car because we can use the whole rear cargo area. I'm having troubles though when we take dog with us. I bought a crate for the back of the car and it fits in there perfectly but it takes up almost the entire rear cargo area (fits perfectly between the wheel wells and has only a few inches to spare next to the hatch). I thought about putting one side of the backseats down and sliding his crate more into the cabin area but it's just barely too wide. There are narrower crates out there and he could be fine in a smaller crate (this is just for riding in the car) but if I went the smaller route and slid it forward, I wonder how he would get in and out without unloading the car.

To .Ake this all worse, I can't put a skybox or anything on top because I'll have a RTT in a couple days. Down the road, I plan to get a full rack which will afford me she storage on top of the vehicle but I'm not sure what to do in the meantime.

Main things we need to store are backpacks and other hiking equipment (like snowshoes, poles, etc).

Any ideas?

And as a bonus question, when you go camping with your dog, where does he/she sleep? Previously we've had a backpack tent and a "family" tent. If we take the dog, we take the family tent and he sleeps with us. Now, well be in the RTT and I'm not getting him up there with me. Do I let him sleep in the car? On the ground? Tied up to something?
Click to expand...

You should have bought a Tundra. Maybe get yourself a trailer and put the RTT on that. Store some gear in it and then you have the entire roof to store stuff.
 
I would try a hitch rack and possibly put some things on it! It won't hold a lot like a full size roof rack, but it will clear out your cargo area a bit. Also, as far as having your dog with you and sleeping, I would definitely not tie him/her up. Too many critters, etc. out and I like my dog to have the option to fight or flight, not just fight because she's tied up. If I'm in a RTT, I always just pitch a 2 person tent that I had used for backpacking onto the ground by the vehicle and toss some blankets in there for warmth. Ya'll will be close enough to the dog where it should be fine and he/she is already used to a tent. This is what I do! Hope it helps!
 
Last edited:
Do you need to crate your pup while traveling? You could use a harness system that won't take the near the volume of a crate inside your vehicle. We camp often with our pup and found that all of us, including him, sleep better with him in the back of the 4Runner. Otherwise he ends up being on point too much throughout the night.
 
Zonie Taco said:
You should have bought a Tundra. Maybe get yourself a trailer and put the RTT on that. Store some gear in it and then you have the entire roof to store stuff.
Click to expand...

Haha thought about it actually. Well, I really thought about a Tacoma but the 4Runner just seemed like the better all around vehicle for and my family (and I still believe that to be true)

4runnin4mylife said:
I would try a hitch rack and possibly put some things on it! It won't hold a lot like a full size roof rack, but it will clear out your cargo area a bit. Also, as far as having your dog with you and sleeping, I would definitely not tie him/her up. Too many critters, etc. out and I like my dog to have the option to fight or flight, not just fight because she's tied up. If I'm in a RTT, I always just pitch a 2 person tent that I had used for backpacking onto the ground by the vehicle and toss some blankets in there for warmth. Ya'll will be close enough to the dog where it should be fine and he/she is already used to a tent. This is what I do! Hope it helps!
Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea on either count. I'll have to check these hitch racks out. I've seen them before. And I like the idea of a small "dog tent". I could even get a little kid tent for him. Great idea!

KidVermicious said:
Cargo tote on a swinging hitch carrier, like this: https://www.amazon.com/StowAway-Car...28572&sr=8-5&keywords=swing+out+hitch+carrier

If that's not enough room, put the RTT over a 3/4 or full length rack and you should have enough room for a cargo bag in front of it.
Click to expand...

I'll definitelty have to look into that. And eventually this will be solved when I get a full length rack. One thing at a time though. My wife is slow to get on board with all of this but shes moving in the right direction.
 
kiecker said:
Do you need to crate your pup while traveling? You could use a harness system that won't take the near the volume of a crate inside your vehicle. We camp often with our pup and found that all of us, including him, sleep better with him in the back of the 4Runner. Otherwise he ends up being on point too much throughout the night.
Click to expand...

What is this harness system you speak of? He doesn't necessarily have to be created and he was only created when he was a puppy (now he just sleeps on a cot). I really just got the crate because I wanted to be able to leave him in the car while we go do something (not all day but something like run into a store) and I won't have to worry about him scratching/slobering/sheeding everywhere when someone walks by.
 
Does your roof top tent have an annex? I would get a rtt with an annex and put the dog in there. Or just have another tent for the dog like already mentioned. As far as more storage a hitch rack is a good idea. After that a small utility or adventure trailer will be the ticket.

Here is a good harness system for the pup.

Sleepypod® Clickit Utility| Top performing Dog Harness | Dog Safety - Sleepypod® | The safest pet company | Dog Carrier | Cat Carrier | Dog Harness

Sounds like you and your family are in for a lot of fun. Enjoy.
 
When we sleep in the RTT, my GSD sleeps on the back seats.
I've got a standard Petsmart barrier in place that prevents access to front seats (though soon to be replaced by a Raingler net).

Works well for us. Only issue with him staying in the car is of course hair getting everywhere.
But you knew that already, owning a German Shedder. :)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I have a boxer, a wife and a 9 year old.

I don't use crate.

I installed a Canvasback as well as one of these.

https://www.canvasback.com/index.php/products/toyota-liners/4-runner.html

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013VPZTAQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That combo should work for when you leave him in there.

Then add the hitch mount cargo carrier (get the swing out / fold up one).

There is a Rainer net GB going on. Calculate if you'll have any room left with the RTT and get the small front net to use with some.small.bins).

Or do what I do and go camping by yourself LOL

I hope this helps
 
Hitch Cargo Carrier

and

Keeper roof cargo bag along with some sort of mat like this to prevent scratching the roof

I have a similar setup and the Keeper roof bag and both help expand cargo capacity considerably.. You can even get the folding style hitch carrier which folds up against the rear hatch when not in use.

For real long trips you could consider a small cargo trailer (like the ones you can rent from Uhaul) as an option as well. The smaller ones aren't too difficult to maneuver around town either
 
I use a cargo carrier with a water proof box that locks that I got from Home Depot for small trips and found it to be tight when I am planning on being away for 3 + days with gear, kid and pups in tow. I have two Bull Terriers, but they both equal one of your pup. I ordered the Gobi after two years of piss moaning and complaining about the cost. With a water proof bag and tie straps, it should suffice for longer trips. You could also get the separation barrier to divide the cargo and back seat, use some of that space for storage and if you secure it well enough, it's the same as a crate for the pup. Think about better ways to use the vertical space, good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 577 (members: 4, guests: 573)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,113
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top