The American Beagler Forum

Here are some more pics since it was finished.

It has lockable doors as well as panels that slide in and out for the cold weather months.


Making sure there is adequate ventilation







My buddys beagle Buster


Removable cold weather panels in place





Well I spent the weekend working on my new dog box. Now I am nearly finished

It sits on top of the bed, basically the size of the back window on my s-10. Will hold four dogs comfortably, 5-6 in a pinch.

My Dad had some aluminum laying around from a job that worked out perfect! It is a little mismatched, but I am extremely happy how it turned out. The price was right

Here are some shots from start to finish. Tomarrow before work I will put the hinges and latches on, then onto the truck it goes



The basic frame with slotted floor for tons of ventilation.


Wood sheeting installed


Painted and in the truck.




My beagles approve


The first sheet is on, looking better already!


Done sheeting, trim is next


All trimmed out- doors come next.



Nearly finished-just need to install hinges and latches






I'll post a pic or two when it is finished an back on the truck.

Thats a nice looking box!

Nice job and very nice looking box!!

How do you strap it to the truck once you put it in?

i gotta admit i didn't like it at first, but after seeing the final pics, its pretty sweet, nice job!!

by SHAWN G. on Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:09 pm

i gotta admit i didn't like it at first, but after seeing the final pics, its pretty sweet, nice job!!

That's the same thing I thought at first but it does look nice. It blocks the view from your back window but it gives you the full use of the truck bed.

Thats a good looking box! only question i have and i know you just built it but in a tight spot do you think that not being able to see out your back window may be aggrevating? Keep us posted after you use it a few times and tell us the pros and cons iknow you can use your side mirrors but i like my rearview mirror,not being negative i really like the looks of your box just wondering about not being able to see out the back Thanks Donald

da ridgetop wrote:Thats a good looking box! only question i have and i know you just built it but in a tight spot do you think that not being able to see out your back window may be aggrevating? Keep us posted after you use it a few times and tell us the pros and cons iknow you can use your side mirrors but i like my rearview mirror,not being negative i really like the looks of your box just wondering about not being able to see out the back Thanks Donald

I will miss having the back window, but I have driven commercial vehicles and workvans without them too. To me the trade off in the extra bed room is worth it. I do have fisheye mirrors on my side mirrors that help a lot. I have always backed a trailer with just my side mirrors as well.

I think a lot of you guys would love this style of box! Lots of room in the bed and the dogs are easy to get at

Nice box!! Just watch those locks I used them on my dog kennels and they didn't last very long!!

i used to have a zr2 s10 with a big tall rigging box in the back. i couldnt use my back window neither. it wasnt bad at all. i have seen cat hunters use boxes like that so they can put a snowmoblie in the bed.

great looking box.

later, dave

Nice job but just a little curious on the wood slats in the bottom of the box. Never seen a dog box built that way.
Seems like it might encourage them to poop in the box ?

Spruce Ridge Beagler wrote:Nice job but just a little curious on the wood slats in the bottom of the box. Never seen a dog box built that way.
Seems like it might encourage them to poop in the box ?

I think that if I had my dogs in above ground kennels that it could be a problem (they are on the ground all of the time.) So I think they will treat it like any other box. So far so good

I crawled in the box and had my buddy take me up to highway speed (sounds like it should be on 1000 ways to die! LOL). The amount of air movement was incredible! It would come in the side doors and circulate through the floor.

I also plan on adding one or two 10" or so 12v fans on the bottom to draw air through the box if say I run into the store etc. Can't be to careful I know of a guy who drove to Canada with his labs in a trailer with just two small vents. He arrived at his destination with two dead dogs

Do you have a way to cut off the air flow for the winter months? I know you said the vents will slide shut but do you think the slat bottom will leave too much air flow when it's super cold in the winter???..........especially on a long trip?

Bunnyblaster wrote:Do you have a way to cut off the air flow for the winter months? I know you said the vents will slide shut but do you think the slat bottom will leave too much air flow when it's super cold in the winter???..........especially on a long trip?

Next fall I will roll a rubber mat down length wise in the box to seal off the floor. Then place a few inches of wood chips on top of that.

The wood constuction will insulate it in the winter, as well as insulate the dogs from the hot metal in the summer. This box should work great for year-round beagling


I plan on putting something like this on the bottom side of the box. It will keep air moving if the truck isn't moving. (for summer use) Then have a toggle right in the cab to turn them on and off.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-Unive ... 439c5e234f

b-man, I think you're spoiling those dogs waaaaaaay too much!!