Overlanding/Camping with 2 Australian Shepherds

[Gobi1Kenobi]

We just adopted another aussie into our family, so now we are 2 adults and 2 dogs.

Question: what’s your rear seat setups with transporting and camping with 2 dogs? Do they sleep with you in the RTT? Do they sleep somewhere on the ground/annex/ kennel?

I’ve been trying to find a sub-100lb RTT that holds 2 adults and 2 large dogs, so far haven’t found anything

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[Wolf Island Diver]

I take my Texas Heeler (Aussie/Cattle Dog Mix) everywhere. He rides in the back on a Duluth Traders seat hammock which works well. These are very good quality and come with a nice case you can use to store dog stuff. They’re also nice in that they cover up the floorboard from prying eyes​

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https://www.duluthtrading.com/deluxe-seat-saver-96000.html?srccode=BPSMART&ogmap=PLA|NB|BING|||||Bing Shopping - Prospect - Smart_BAU|Ad group||396571661|1257841876478574&msclkid=ec59e67d038f1c2f78d182128f0f289b​

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For retention I use a Kurgo auto zip line between the headrests so Donut can have free range in the back. He wears a Kurgo car harness which works as a regular harness too.​

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https://www.kurgo.com/dog-seat-belts/auto-zip-line-leash-zip-line-combo​

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To protect the doors I use these door covers.​

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https://thinskinz.com/collections/frontpage/products/jeep-jl-jt-pro​

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I have mixed feeling about RTTs but with the dog I just use a ground tent anyway, so I got a really big Gazelle T8 Plus tent and use Helinox Cots and Born Badger Beds. This is way more comfortable than any RTT setup. ***The Gazelle needs to be guyed out really well in wind *** otherwise it’s great. With cots I’m off the ground. Donut usually sleeps under one of the cots or on his Yeti dog bed which has a center section you remove to take on the go. He tends to always position himself between us and any door.​

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He’s fully strapped in on the zip line

 

[fourfa]

I got an Alu-Cab Canopy Camper. One of the big factors was getting 2 60-70 lbs dogs up in the bed with us. Getting them up and down a ladder seemed like a non-starter, so RTT was straight out for us. All the other campers I looked at (GFC, etc) seemed like in real long-term use people end up using exterior ladders instead of the interior panels. In any case, the Alu-Cab is longer than the others and has an entry hatch totally separate from the bed section, which has been working out great for us

Initially I wanted to rebuild that hatch to be usable as an internal dog ramp, which I may still do. But the dogs have gotten used to being manhandled up and down through the hatch

 

[#jeepstyle]

I've taken two of my pups camping. They think the chairs are for them; even though they have their own sun shade tent with cooling mats. They sleep in the truck bed tent.--highly recommend a BedRug--makes a nice flat surface with a little bit of cushion. Colorado has a lot of State and National Parks allowing dogs. My little (45lbs) one's favorite was the Sand Dunes, she was super excited out there with water and sand ! (spring to early summer--late summer usually dry)
They are clicked in the back seat for the JT and the flat back in the TJ where I took out the seat and put on a cargo net. With the amount of wildlife out there, I would have them sleep with you, wherever that may be.
I found it helpful to add a 'drying rug' to the back seat hammock and to stuff folded towels between the rollbar and the sideroof for easy pup dry. (I left the headliner side panels off right there)

 

[chr15m]

Pretty old thread and OP hasn't been online since 2024, so probably wont get much out of your advice.

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