Big Dogs in an Access Cab

[tguil]

I have two 85 pound golden retrievers which take up most of the back seat of my full-size Dodge Quad Cab. Has anyone had experience with hauling a couple of large dogs in a Tacoma Access Cab? I've been thinking a bit about trading off my Hemi. (Gas mileage is not the issue.) Oh, I already know that they would fit quite well in a Tacoma Crew Cab.

Tom

[WilsonTheDog]

I wouldn't. My buddy has an AC Tacoma and, having an 80lb Yellow Lab and a 65lb Golden, I'd say no. I mean, you CAN fit them but for safety and comfort, I personally wouldn't.

[tguil]

OK, so I probably would need crew cab. Now -- how many adults can a TRD Off-Road or Sport comfortably carry? Crazy questions? Not really. I am tired of my wife volunteering my Hemi Quad Cab (or whatever large truck I have at the time) to haul her and her four or five biking friends on long trips with their bikes. I know -- this is the cowards way out.

Tom

[dtacow]

Access Cab: IMO only seats two adults comfortably-- driver and front passenger. For dogs, my suggestion would be to get a shell and set something up for them in the bed.

Double Cab: Seats 4-5. Driver, Front Passenger, 2-3 in back. In my experience, shoulder room is the limiting factor for how many the rear seats can fit comfortably.

You may need to upgrade the rear leafs if you plan on carrying a lot of weight.

[jpsmith]

My 90lb lab fits fine in the AC by himself. See:

My first "mod"

But we've since added another lab. She's currently about 60 pounds and should top out around 70. There's enough room for both of them back there for shot trips around town, but I wouldn't subject them to it for anything longer than an hour.

[Marazzito]

My 90 lb Lab and 72 pound Pitbull fit happily in the back of my Tacoma! They seem to prefer it to the bed with my Besttop Softtoper!

[tguil]

Thanks, Guys.

It appears that an access cab might be a bit tight for the pups on a long trip and that's about the only time they both go for a ride at the same time. If I get a new Tacoma, I probably will need a double cab.

Tom

p.s Will a Tacoma TRD Sport or Off road double cab haul a-- as well as the two pups? I sort of like the get-up-and-go of my Hemi.

[WilsonTheDog]

^With a V6, definitely. Something like 7 seconds 0-60 so it's definitely not a dog.

[Marazzito]

The V6 Tacoma and your Hemi are pretty close in acceleration tests.

[bennicde]

I have two Goldens as well. They are in the access cab all the time. It is impossible to keep the female from slowly worming her way into the front and onto my wifes lap! But that's the way Goldens are, "pat me pat me, why aren't you patting me"

I bought a carpet from Wal mart that just fit in the back with the seats down to keep their claws off the seat backs. They are still hard on the truck, but it's all relative. For me, if I can't put my dogs in the truck with me, I'd get rid of the truck.

Now on the Tundra, the back seats flips up so the dogs are on the floor which is much better, I might just have to get one of those.

[tguil]

Glad to hear that two goldens might fit in an access cab. I may have to take a long test drive to my house to see if they fit. I like the standard bed on the access cab, but I don't much care for it on the double cab. (Just my tastes) So an access cab would suit me better.

About goldens. I have a male and a female. It's the male who worms his way into the front seat of my Ram. He thinks that he is the center of the universe and at our house, he pretty much is.

The main reason that I bought a big Ram was to have space to haul the pups. Oh, I sort of like to haul a-- in the Hemi too. I was around in the days of the original muscle cars. The Hemi is almost as much fun. (Yes, I know this is a Toyota forum. In the past 15 years we have had four Toyota trucks.)

Tom

[koam]

I made a cage out of PVC and carry my dogs in the back.

[tguil]

Cool cage, but my goldens think that they are people.

Tom