Traveling with dogs in the garage.

[Dub Dog]

Does anyone travel with there dogs in the garage of there motorhome, in a cage obviously. As ours is so big and has lighting, heating and tie down points it looks like a hotel room on wheels for them. They always travel in cages and always have. This is where there going to sleep at night and just wondered if there where any issues like fumes etc. Although our exhaust is about 6m further up the front I can't see any problems.

 

[Gromett]

I am not a Dog lover (quite the opposite). But when it comes to animals I work on the general principle if I wouldn't do it to a child I wouldn't do it to an animal.
So no I wouldn't put a Dog in the garage while in motion.

 

[Duck Truck]

I think I have just been added to the Tootles and Pyro popularity list

 

[busby]

Crash test on motorhomes i am sure is a farce.
The cab will be to spec
The rear seats unless a specific cab type seat wont be.

the seat belts are fitted to the chassis however most of the seats them selves ar made of chip board.
The walls of the van are glass fibre and polystyrene.
Its a bit like the protection you get wing walking. A harness (they do give you a warm helmet)
(no mucky comments)

So if your dog is happy in the garage. Then it's a happy dog.

I have seen a coach built motorhome rear ended at the tolls on a Spanish motorway. What a mess,,,no dog or human would have survived in the back half of the van..All their personal possessions were scattered over the road,,BUSBY.

 

[hilldweller]

Wains Wires was a member on here. They carried 4 terriers two in the garage two in the front if I remember correctly.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Neckender]

Don't worry it will be the fridge and the water tanks that kill you lol All safely screwed down with wood screws into a plywood floor

Followed milliseconds later by the staccato barage of numerous tins, cans and bottles

Followed by the bog.

John.

 

[Kool Kroozer]

Have seen it twice while touring around France, both German motorhomes, one with a German shepherd an another with two springers all kept in cages

 

[gus-lopez]

I've got one that likes peeping the horn ... she does it quite often!!!

Yes I had one like that. A Jack Russell & he'd wait for me to be doing something under the bonnet before he'd start blowing it.

 

[Dub Dog]

Hi Dub
Ia there a particular reason you would want them to travel in the garage?
An explanation of your situation may get you better advice
Kev

Hi Kev, the main reason is because I have 3 dogs and 2 of them being Staffys would be sat on my lap if they weren't in a cage, but the cage won't fit in the hab area. They all travel in the back of my VW van quiet happily with no windows and have done since pups, so I couldn't see much difference really. They would have lights on and the door to the hab area open. Not sure now I've seen the comments, but not sure what else to do. Any ideas

 

[32143]

Our three wear harnesses which allow them to lie on the floor behind the cab seats.
I wouldn't completely dismiss the garage idea. As mentioned before Land cruise have the roverhome, which is specially adapted. I'm sure there will be ways to adapt the garage to improve stability and comfort and safety.
I would imagine in even a minor prang the risk to anyone human or animal is a hell of a lot higher than a car given all the stuff held in cupboards which would fly open. A rear shunt would be the least of anyone's problems. It would be the beans, microwave, oven, etc that are likely to injure or kill in any type of accident yet all of us happily travel with them sat behind our heads.

Lin

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sdc77]

I find it impossible to sleep in the rear bedroom whilst on the move. Can't see the dogs wold like it in the garage below tbh. In any case they're part of the family and like to be with us. They also enjoy looking out of the windows.

 

[busby]

Our three wear harnesses which allow them to lie on the floor behind the cab seats.
I wouldn't completely dismiss the garage idea. As mentioned before Land cruise have the roverhome, which is specially adapted. I'm sure there will be ways to adapt the garage to improve stability and comfort and safety.
I would imagine in even a minor prang the risk to anyone human or animal is a hell of a lot higher than a car given all the stuff held in cupboards which would fly open. A rear shunt would be the least of anyone's problems. It would be the beans, microwave, oven, etc that are likely to injure or kill in any type of accident yet all of us happily travel with them sat behind our heads.

Lin

Have you ever seen a rear shunt on a coach build ? devastating,,they are just like matchwood. BUSBY..

 

[32143]

Have you ever seen a rear shunt on a coach build ? devastating,,they are just like matchwood. BUSBY..

No we have a pvc. But that's the point it wouldn't just be the garage effected it would be the whole thing, they are not designed to be shunted, knocked etc. If the op had a garage area reinforced and specifically designed it would hopefully be safer than the average garage. It's an option that he could look at.
Bit like a rally car used with a reinforced cage added internally.

Lin

 

[PhilG]

Anyone that buys a MH and worries about crash protection is a bit late to the party..

Dogs in a garage is fine, no different to horses in a Horsebox.

 

[Minxy]

Saying that a coachbuilt MH rear end is no different to a horsebox does not make sense! The chassis in a horsebox extends right to the rear so will be a hell of a lot stronger than a coachbuilt ... horses weigh a LOT more than the stuff your average MHer carries! Many coachbuilts have chassis extensions but whilst sufficient to support the main structure/weight they are not gonna give much protection in a rear end shunt, even a lower speed one ... the rear will just 'squish' like a crumple zone in a car and anything in that area won't have any protection whatsoever ... especially a dog in a garage.

This crumbling could easily absorb the force so that those towards the front are not hurt so saying you should be more worried about baked beans, microwave ovens etc is more likely in a very high speed rear end shunt, not the more common lower speed ones IMV.

Relating them to PVCs is not comparing like with like - the chassis in a PVC runs the whole length and is stronger than a coachbuilt with an added chassis extension so whilst I wouldn't be overly worried about them travelling in the back of a PVC (or even a horsebox), there's just no way I would put them in the rear of a coachbuilt.

As for reinforcing the garage structure ... if it could be done the cost and weight implication would probably mean that there wouldn't be any payload left for the dog.

My view ... if you love your dogs please do NOT put them in the rear of a MH, either in a garage, or rear lounge etc, they should be in the middle/near you which offers the most protection from front/rear shunts and if you want then secure them there with harnesses or in cages.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[32143]

I'm not sure if the OP yet has a van? If not there are plenty of pvc which have a garage in effect at the rear with transverse beds above. Would have no problem putting ours in this area. As for coach build garages if the main criteria for buying one is to hold the dogs then I'm sure with research and careful consideration a garage could be modified.
We have been fortunate never to have been shunted in any vehicle. We have in many vehicles had to break sharply including in the van where it has resulted in cabinets emptying contents. The only safe place for our dogs would be in the cab, harnessed to a proper seat, but they wont fit so we take the risk by placing them in other places.

Lin

 

[Minxy]

I'm not sure if the OP yet has a van? If not there are plenty of pvc which have a garage in effect at the rear with transverse beds above. Would have no problem putting ours in this area. As for coach build garages if the main criteria for buying one is to hold the dogs then I'm sure with research and careful consideration a garage could be modified.
We have been fortunate never to have been shunted in any vehicle. We have in many vehicles had to break sharply including in the van where it has resulted in cabinets emptying contents. The only safe place for our dogs would be in the cab, harnessed to a proper seat, but they wont fit so we take the risk by placing them in other places.

Lin

The OP does have a MH already ... it's mentioned in the first post!

There is no way you could make a coachbuilt MH's garage strong enough to protect dogs in it ... it just can't realistically be done, sorry, but it can't - it would mean hell of a lot of structural work to get anywhere near being strong enough and there wouldn't be sufficient payload to do it.

As I mentioned before a PVC is a completely different thing and has a lot more structural integrity and strength.

If you find that when you brake sharply the contents of your cupboards come out you need to look at how they are kept closed in the first place ... I know some MHs rely on springs/hinges to keep the doors shut and therefore don't have proper catches that secure them in which case I'd investigate a way to put some on that you have to 'unlock' to open them, such as the usual push button ones.

 

[32143]

The OP does have a MH already ... it's mentioned in the first post!

There is no way you could make a coachbuilt MH's garage strong enough to protect dogs in it ... it just can't realistically be done, sorry, but it can't - it would mean hell of a lot of structural work to get anywhere near being strong enough and there wouldn't be sufficient payload to do it.

As I mentioned before a PVC is a completely different thing and has a lot more structural integrity and strength.

If you find that when you brake sharply the contents of your cupboards come out you need to look at how they are kept closed in the first place ... I know some MHs rely on springs/hinges to keep the doors shut and therefore don't have proper catches that secure them in which case I'd investigate a way to put some on that you have to 'unlock' to open them, such as the usual push button ones.

Ah wasn't sure as his profile says still looking, so though it might be one viewed.
If it's already bought and intended as a dog garage, then can only say make it as safe as possible if no other option, maybe contract Land Cruise see what if any modifications they make to theirs.
We've had both types of closure inc push button. It's only happened when braking like an emergency stop, not general driving function, I would fully expect them to pop no matter what fixing. Fortunately we have never been in a serious accident, in that case I wouldn't rate the dogs chances very high.

Lin

 

[Minxy]

Ah wasn't sure as his profile says still looking, so though it might be one viewed.
If it's already bought and intended as a dog garage, then can only say make it as safe as possible if no other option, maybe contract Land Cruise see what if any modifications they make to theirs.

Lin

I've just had a look Landcruise and they have quite a few which are 'pet friendly' which just means they allow pets in them, and one with a 'dedicated dog area':

• Link Removed

The modifications they've made to create this 'dedicated dog area' seem to be:

• bottom bunk removed
• a wooden 'push fit' baby gate has been fitted between the garage and the hab area

That's it ... nothing on the garage opening itself to keep the dog in, not even a securing point in the garage for a harness/lead etc for when the door is open; no strengthening, nowt, nada, zilch ... no way would I put my dog in it for travelling!

 

[sewinlynne2]

Crash test on motorhomes i am sure is a farce.
The cab will be to spec
The rear seats unless a specific cab type seat wont be.

the seat belts are fitted to the chassis however most of the seats them selves ar made of chip board.
The walls of the van are glass fibre and polystyrene.
Its a bit like the protection you get wing walking. A harness (they do give you a warm helmet)
(no mucky comments)

So if your dog is happy in the garage. Then it's a happy dog.

I won't make the obvious joke then about being able to suggest plenty of dummies for crash test purposes!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[32143]

I've just had a look Landcruise and they have quite a few which are 'pet friendly' which just means they allow pets in them, and one with a 'dedicated dog area':

• Link Removed

The modifications they've made to create this 'dedicated dog area' seem to be:

• bottom bunk removed
• a wooden 'push fit' baby gate has been fitted between the garage and the hab area

That's it ... nothing on the garage opening itself to keep the dog in, not even a securing point in the garage for a harness/lead etc for when the door is open; no strengthening, nowt, nada, zilch ... no way would I put my dog in it for travelling!

Never seen them to be honest. As he's already bought it not much he can do now.
If it's a scooter garage allowing 100kg for the dogs, if it were mine (not that I would buy a coach build ) would get a crash cage built around it using remaining payload.
Or change the van

 

[bellabee]

Or he could get harnesses for his dogs, and plug them into the seatbelts, making sure that the leads were short enough to prevent his dogs climbing on his lap.

 

[TheBig1]

i wont say too much, but there was a post on here 18 months or so back. a motorhome carrying 14 dogs home from a dog show broke down on the hard shoulder was just clipped by a hgv. 2 dead dogs some injured running terrified on the hard shoulder with distraught owners trying to catch them.
could you live with that?

far better that you buy proper harnesses. my 3 staffies wear them clipped to chains attached to the seatbelts

 

[Minxy]

Below are the news articles about the motorhome accident involving the dogs ... don't read them if you're gonna get upset!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...er-motorhome-crash-allows-dogs-to-escape.html

Link Removed

 

[jnn]

You'd not want to be a dog in that dedicated dog area in teh rental in even a 30 mph crash. They've not even done anything about the proturuding end on bits of wood

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Dogs in garages or clipped on harnesses in the motorhome in rear shaped lounges will get crumpled , within the crumple zone. Along with everything else. I'd clip a dog to a seat in a rear shaped lounge . For safety. But wouldn't put a child's car seat in there. I must be evil.
I love our dog , lots . But he's a dog not a child. I wouldn't have a dog on a dash board either.
I would , put a big dog in a garage. To travel( unless it would stay on the floor behind the cab seats ) and put it in a garage to sleep. If it had heating .

Our dog is a border terrier . He sits on his mat behind our seats , we've a PVC.
He's a useless traveler. Very stressy . Unlike our previous dog Ruby , who slept as soon as we set off. Buster stays awake , no matter how long the journey. Then crashes out once we stop.
He'd much rather be on my knee working his way up my chest so his bums on my shoulder. Head out of the window. But he's a dog , not a child. And he's ginger, and my clothes aren't. So he doesn't.
Plus all our children were strapped in regardless of being happy in the car seat or not , for their own safety .
So he stays where we say. We've made a board and covered it with veltrim , that we clip to the back of our seats to stop him walking through to the front. After doing the 3 week NC 500 trip. He soon got the message. Albeit sulkily !
I suggest the op does what he thinks is right for his own pet. I'm sure his dog is loved and will be well looked after.
There wouldn't be much left of a coach built if rear ended by anything bigger than a normal car anyway .
I've seen videos of seatbelted passenger seats in the rear falling through the chassis . That's with passengers in them. Fridges and microwaves flying through the air into the cab . So you take your chances on every trip.

 

[Dub Dog]

Thank you for all you opinions on this. A great variety I must say. I love my dogs more than most things in my life and I understand harnesses are a good idea. They only thing bothering me is just having forked out near on 80k on my brand new dream motorhome decked out with nice light upholstery, I'm not sure after a walk across the moors or beach I fancy them clambering all over my seats covered or not.
I also totally get were your coming regarding accidents but if you lived life worrying or waiting for an accident you probably wouldn't do anything. The garage on ours and I'm not blowing my own trumpet here is massive. Probably 5' tall by 4' deep and the width of the MH so it's almost like a proper room on its own. They will be in there crate but you've all give me second doubts now. I'm going to give the harnesses a go but I'm not convinced it will keep little Ronnie and Reggie from causing mischief

 

[bellabee]

Glad to hear you're going to try the harnesses. We put throws over the cream upholstery in the van which we bought brand new, last year. It does the trick in keeping things clean but - If we lived our lives worrying about dirty upholstery, we probably wouldn't do anything.

 

[jnn]

Yeah fleecey throws trap both fluff and mud pretty effectively, I think my boys keep Dunelm in business!

 

[Minxy]

Yeah fleecey throws trap both fluff and mud pretty effectively, I think my boys keep Dunelm in business!

You just have to be sure that you get the ones that don't allow the dog hairs to 'hook' into them as you never ever get the sodding things out ...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jnn]

indeedy, teddy bear fleece is very popular with my two, trouble is they consider any such blanket as theirs ... good job my mates love em!