Happened to me. The stuff nightmares are made of- but thankfully my dog survived. She went over by the tire and the road rash from it was pretty severe. Took some extensive care for months. Best solution? Crate 'em. Mine ride in the back but in large crates now. Lightweight enough to get in and out easily (though mostly stay where they are) but safer than a leash. (The crates are secured in the bed.) And you won't have to worry about them touching the stacks!

 

Are the stacks deafening to the dogs? You would think that would be pretty loud for the old pooch?

 

To secure them I mean have them caged, ifits an open bed.

 

I wouldn't think it would be too much louder than the stock location straighted as far as bed resonance etc.

I will be securing my dog to the gooseneck hitch (I have a DrawTite). Yesterday i measured the distance needed to allow them to peek out the bed, but not be able to get their foot over the bed. I surely don't want to hurt or fatally injure one of my babies. I have a crate, but that defeats the purpose for why i wnat my dogs to ride in the first place. I don't want them to think they're going to the vet. I live out in the country, traffic isn't terrible (besides the semis) and i would be taking the dogs on a lot of back roads where max speeds are below 60mph.

 

Well, I had two dogs in the bed. They were cross tied so they were in the middle and couldn't even reach the sides. I live in the country. I was only going 40mph (not many areas you can go faster than that here). There was no traffic on the road. Something happened- we still don't know exactly what, but something malfunctioned and allowed my dog to go over the side (probably lunging at another dog). I'm telling you- you do NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO YOU OR YOURS.

For what it's worth- mine dont' associate the crate with the vets- they associate it with RIDE!!! BUT I don't have a plastic hard side crate- I have a large all metal wire crate. Both fit in the same crate.

Just some more for you to think about. We now live with the motto **** HAPPENS. That dog has all four legs but only has full use of three. And everytime I look at her I have to ask myself what I could've done differently. Sucks.

 

Thanks for the info, I will surely keep that in mind. I'm just pondering the idea. I guess I failed to mention i would be using a body harness instead of a collar, but that would eliminate the choking issue. I'm aiming for the safest possibility w/o a cage.