Where to put dog?

[mintyman]

Hi all,

Just joined the forum so hoping someone can help me out.

I'm considering placing an order for a California Ocean. I hired one over the summer but didn't take my dog (37kg golden retriever) with me. I'm worried that the amount of space in the footwell between the downstairs bed and front seats will be enough room for her to sleep in at night (assuming 3/4 people so both beds would be in use).

What do other people with large dogs do?

I was thinking of buying a large folding travel dog crate and putting it on a 'shelf' (maybe made of MDF or something similar) that sits across the two front seats? When we're staying at a location for a few days, we'll use a drive-away awning, but for overnight stays, I wouldn't want to spend time putting something like this up for one night only.

Looking forward to hearing ideas.

 

[Sad]

Some info in these threads that might help

Post in thread 'Approx floor area with the bed out T6.1' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/approx-floor-area-with-the-bed-out-t6-1.48626/post-629868

travelling with dog.

We don't have a dog anymore but the guy who sold us our Cali has got a blog where he shares pictures from sold Calis and other things. I think this looks neat with storage on top. Source: http://califor9a.blogspot.com/2018/07/vw-california-med-hundbur.html The crate is from here, only in...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[mintyman]

Thank you for this! I'll recreate the space at home and see what it's like. I saw the other thread about travelling with dogs - I'm not overly concerned about the actual travelling since there will be plenty of space. It's where to put her overnight that i'm worried about.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Others will disagree but to me the idea of cramming three or even worse four people (unless very small kids) plus a retriever into an Ocean is not an attractive one. Even in a Beach would be a squeeze.

However if you've made your mind up, I've seen on here in the past that some folks have put very simple semi-rigid surface (even stout, flattened cardboard boxes would do it) across the front seats with a blanket over it for the dog to stretch out on at night. You'll probably want to have the front seats rotated. Does the dog actually need to be crated?

Best of luck!

(We travel just as a couple, almost always upstairs, and our spaniel sleeps wherever she wants!).

 

[ParachuteMan]

Hi. I have a new Ocean and a Springer, a little smaller than a Lab. I did the VW Try before You Buy hire for three days to test out exactly the type of thing you talk about. Night 1 when I slept upstairs, he just slept flat out on the bench seat. Night 2 when I tested the downstairs bed, I swivelled the passenger seat around, put his bedding on that and he just curled up all night. As it will only be the two of us plus dog, we don’t see a problem. As others have have said, 4 plus dog might be tight - and open some windows….I dont know how big your Lab is.

 

[mintyman]

There are three of us - two adults plus a 12 year old + the dog.

We hired two campers over the summer. The first was a conversion with a rock 'n' roll bed, with all of us going on a 2 week trip. We had a drive-away awning so had outdoor storage space. This worked fine since there was space under the bed due to the bed folding pivoting out instead of sliding along.

The second hire was an Ocean, but only my son and I went for this trip. We preferred the Ocean to the conversion, but the only drawback I can see is that the under bed space is restricted since the entire bed frame slides forward on the rails.

Our dog has never been crate trained so maybe just a rigid board plus bedding would suffice. I was just a little concerned about her falling off! Maybe i'm being overly cautious?

I guess a different solution would be for adults to sleep upstairs, with the dog sharing the bed downstairs? I'd prefer for her not to use the same bedding we use, but I guess every option has a compromise somewhere.

Only going away as a couple, whilst it will be done sometimes, is not a practical solution. It's simply too much money to spend to then restrict who can use it.

 

[Calimili]

something like this ?
https://www.bus-ok.de/T5-and-T6-Child-bunk

 

[NessL]

We just swivel the front seats and place the dog bed on one of those. Dog is fine with the (soft) bed overhanging the seat slightly. If you’re concerned, place it on the kitchen side, as it’ll be a bit more wedged in.

 

[Calimili]

or this https://www.campingwagner.de/produc...aus-Zusatz-Bett--grau-fuer-VW-T4-5-6-6-1.html

 

[Ch1pbutty]

something like this ?
https://www.bus-ok.de/T5-and-T6-Child-bunk
View attachment 115307

Our son used to sleep on one of these in our old T4. They are great, very easy to assemble & don’t up much storage space when disassembled.

 

[BeeBee]

Just the two of us plus dog, so not quite the same issues but no way our lab could lie out in the space between the downstairs bed and the front seats ( in either front facing or swivel position ) and he’s only 30.5 kgs.
He sleeps on the downstairs bed, on his own mat alongside my husband ( who is in a sleeping bag, so not really sharing bedding )
I see some have suggested a board across the front seats, might work, but might fall into the space between that and bed.
You could consider placing something in the space between bed and seats ( box frame ) to extend length of bed towards swivelled seats.
Good luck with options.

 

[travellingbeeker]

Hi, in our case we fit 2 adults, 2 kids (9 and 12) and a border collie (20kg) in a Beach Tour. The dog sometimes sleeps on the floor and sometimes on the lower bed at our feet.
We normally have the front seats turned back so the idea of the bed across the seats sounds really good. I'll have to think about it.

 

[mintyman]

or this https://www.campingwagner.de/produc...aus-Zusatz-Bett--grau-fuer-VW-T4-5-6-6-1.html

View attachment 115308

Love this , although I would prefer to turn the front seats round to make it easier to access upstairs.

I'm sure we'll find a solution. Like someone posted in reply, her dog bed could go on the main downstairs bed, or I craft some form of board with padding underneath to protect the material that can straddle the front seats. Where there's a will, there's a way.

 

[mattpartridge]

We have a German Shepherd who sleeps in his dog bed on a piece of MDF that I cut to follow the shape of the dash, resting on the front seats. When not on site it fits between the mattress and the bed extension frame.

 

[pluc99]

Our solution was to get a 3 man pop-up tent from Decathlon for one of us and the dog. It works well and has the added advantage of keeping the lounge/kitchen area intact.

 

[michelevismara]

We travel in 5 plus a 4y/34kg Golden Retriever in our Cali Beach (2 adults + 11, 8 and 3 years old kids).
Space so far has not been an issue - we use both beds plus one of the kids sleeping across the front sits with a similar solution to the ones shared here.
on short stays, our dog sleeps quite comfortably on the floor between the bed and the front sits and mostly sneaks under the hanging part of the bed.
We had him inside multiple times with the portapotti as well - space is not an issue - stinky breath is!

if we stay longer even the older kid wants his own place so we have tent or awning.
We tried also leaving the dog outside, tethered - but he makes to much noise due to animals or people passing by.

 

[Mullpot'sCali]

In ours we have a c30Kg Lab and he sleeps in the passenger footwell, even fits when the passenger seat is swivelled round. That way he's away from the heater vent and seems happy

 

[Norfolk Jim]

We are going to have the same dilema as we have a long legged Drakeshead black lab who is 35kg - he doesn't actually curl up to lay down he lays stretched out with his head sometimes under the end of our bed in our T5 conversion. I've been concerned as to how little room there could be between the bed pulled out and seat bases of passenger and driver. We would always sleep downstairs as no way wold my wife (even though short and slim) would get up into roof bed. Is there really enough room for lab to sleep in passenger footwell?? He's got a new soft bed that measures 70 x 100 cm which he lays off each end!!

 

[CoutzCampervan]

Hi all,

Just joined the forum so hoping someone can help me out.

I'm considering placing an order for a California Ocean. I hired one over the summer but didn't take my dog (37kg golden retriever) with me. I'm worried that the amount of space in the footwell between the downstairs bed and front seats will be enough room for her to sleep in at night (assuming 3/4 people so both beds would be in use).

What do other people with large dogs do?

I was thinking of buying a large folding travel dog crate and putting it on a 'shelf' (maybe made of MDF or something similar) that sits across the two front seats? When we're staying at a location for a few days, we'll use a drive-away awning, but for overnight stays, I wouldn't want to spend time putting something like this up for one night only.

Looking forward to hearing ideas.

We have slept 2 adults + 2 teens + a Labrador + a Lanradoodle in our Ocean without issue. We have a beanbag cube we use as a footstool. At night I push that between the swiveled front seats to infill the gap, put a blanket over and both dogs sleep on the front seats.

 

[Norfolk Jim]

I don't think our dog would even consider sleeping on front seats TBH, we also put our overnight bags on them when bed made up. What is the actual measurement from base of front seats to face of main bed base????

 

[rbraddley12]

Hi all,

Just joined the forum so hoping someone can help me out.

I'm considering placing an order for a California Ocean. I hired one over the summer but didn't take my dog (37kg golden retriever) with me. I'm worried that the amount of space in the footwell between the downstairs bed and front seats will be enough room for her to sleep in at night (assuming 3/4 people so both beds would be in use).

What do other people with large dogs do?

I was thinking of buying a large folding travel dog crate and putting it on a 'shelf' (maybe made of MDF or something similar) that sits across the two front seats? When we're staying at a location for a few days, we'll use a drive-away awning, but for overnight stays, I wouldn't want to spend time putting something like this up for one night only.

Looking forward to hearing ideas.

If I was in your position I’d go for a beach, more spacious down stairs bed would allow two of the smaller members plus dog on bed. There is not sufficient room on floor to accommodate dog on floor when bed is fully extended. You have a lucky dog, we normally leave them behind (local kennel) when holidaying !! The beach has 4 rails allowing you to place dog on its own independent seat and belted in also. Good luck with your new adventures.

 

[Fordiesdocamping]

Hi all,

Just joined the forum so hoping someone can help me out.

I'm considering placing an order for a California Ocean. I hired one over the summer but didn't take my dog (37kg golden retriever) with me. I'm worried that the amount of space in the footwell between the downstairs bed and front seats will be enough room for her to sleep in at night (assuming 3/4 people so both beds would be in use).

What do other people with large dogs do?

I was thinking of buying a large folding travel dog crate and putting it on a 'shelf' (maybe made of MDF or something similar) that sits across the two front seats? When we're staying at a location for a few days, we'll use a drive-away awning, but for overnight stays, I wouldn't want to spend time putting something like this up for one night only.

Looking forward to hearing ideas.

We have a 37kg Dobbie he sleeps downstairs with mum me upstairs. However all of us fit downstairs if needed. We also travel bed down so he lays down and is more comfortable.

The 4d’s

 

[Fordiesdocamping]

Seriously, bed down there is not enough room her to be comfortable.

Another option door open in awning?

 

[Bridford]

We use this for our lab. This was an early prototype - now use similar concept (cut to fit dashboard but using hinged supporting leg) but with seats facing forward and place his dog bed there. He just hops up and it means less tempted to join us !
The legs hinge back when not in use and whole board fits behind bench seat.

 

[BeeBee]

That’s a braw solution. There is definitely ‘Not enough room’ between extended downstairs bed and front seats for any large dog to lie comfortably.