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  1. #1
    Puppy awackywabbit's Avatar
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    Truck Recommendations For Two Labradors

    Hi all. I recently added a second labrador to the family and am looking to purchase a truck soon. I really like the Toyota Tacomas(my Dad has one) but I'm not sure if I'd be better served going full size to a Tundra or a Chevy Silverado.


    Anyone here have multiple labs and have a truck? In particular I'm wondering if the cab size of the Tacoma is roomy enough for two full grown labs or if I should go for a full size. I like the smaller trucks just for gas mileage and easier parking but would not mind going full size if it fits us all better.


    Currently I drive a 2009 Highlander 4wd but really miss having a truck.
    Deep Run Traveling "Takoda" (12/05/12)

    Deep Run Easygoing Ezekiel "Zeke" (04/17/17)

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  2. #2
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    We have a GMC Sierra All Terrain crew cab. The interior is roomy and there is plenty of room for the dogs. The seats fold up leaving the floor open.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Senior Dog zd262's Avatar
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    We have the chevy colorado, so the slightly smaller version of the silverado. The interior is roomy and I would say has room for 2 dogs (though we only have one). It far out performs other trucks in terms of fuel efficiency, though I'd definitely recommend upgrading to the v6 engine. It handles incredibly smoothly and quietly compared to a lot of the larger trucks. Normally I'm a toyota person, but chevy makes great trucks and you mostly see the silverado where I live in texas (I think because there is a Silverado Texas Edition and everyone loves to sport that branding). I don't think you could go wrong with any of the ones you mentioned. Take them for a test spin and see if you like the handling and the size of each is what I would recommend.

    edit to add: we also have a crew cab
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  4. #4
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    The Tacoma may be a bit small for two Labs. I've had 2 of the new style double cab Tundra's, and they had plenty of room in the back. Even so, I'd probably go with the bigger Crew Cab Tundra, ton's of room in the back.

  5. #5
    Puppy awackywabbit's Avatar
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    Thanks all I plan to test drive once the 2018 hit the lots. My Dad's Tacoma is a 2006 and the cab does seem a bit snug for two labs.

    I like the idea of the seats folding up. Will have to check out the GMC's as well. Zeke is only 4 months right now so he's still growing and does fine in the Highlander for now but my seats only go down and my adult Lab does not like riding with the seats down so having them both in the back seats will be murder on the leather, LOL! Hoping to get the truck before Zeke is full grown.
    Deep Run Traveling "Takoda" (12/05/12)

    Deep Run Easygoing Ezekiel "Zeke" (04/17/17)

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  6. #6
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    The seats fold up in the back of our Tundra too, leaving lots of floor space.

    I also have a platform and custom lid for the standard bed, with ventilation between the cab (the cab window has an air tight and water tight seal so AC and/or heat can reach the inside of the lid) and the lid and platform, and slide open screened windows on both sides. The passenger side of the lid, where the window is, lifts up so I can guide dogs into/out of/collar and leash them, right out of their crates, or fill water buckets, feed them, etc... I can secure three 36 in crates on my platform with lots of room for storage of either show supplies or field supplies, or both depending on where I am going. Another dog or two can ride inside if needed.

    My hubby has the truck today or I would take pictures, it's a really great set up and our Tundra has probably 125k+ miles on it, runs like a dream with decent milage.

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  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shelley View Post
    The seats fold up in the back of our Tundra too, leaving lots of floor space.

    I also have a platform and custom lid for the standard bed, with ventilation between the cab (the cab window has an air tight and water tight seal so AC and/or heat can reach the inside of the lid) and the lid and platform, and slide open screened windows on both sides. The passenger side of the lid, where the window is, lifts up so I can guide dogs into/out of/collar and leash them, right out of their crates, or fill water buckets, feed them, etc... I can secure three 36 in crates on my platform with lots of room for storage of either show supplies or field supplies, or both depending on where I am going. Another dog or two can ride inside if needed.

    My hubby has the truck today or I would take pictures, it's a really great set up and our Tundra has probably 125k+ miles on it, runs like a dream with decent milage.
    I loved my Tundra's. I got rid of the last one when I stopped racing motorcycles, and it didn't make sense to drive something that got 11 MPG around town. I've owned Toyota's for many years, and all of them have been basically bulletproof. I have a 2015 RAV4 at the moment, and really like it, it's just a bit too small for all I do with the dogs. I've got my local dealer looking for a used 2016 Highlander for me, much bigger, and still gets decent mileage.

    My wife drives a 2016 Prius and she averages 62 MPG. I just wish I could fit a couple crates in that bad boy!

  9. #8
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by barry581 View Post
    I loved my Tundra's. I got rid of the last one when I stopped racing motorcycles, and it didn't make sense to drive something that got 11 MPG around town. I've owned Toyota's for many years, and all of them have been basically bulletproof. I have a 2015 RAV4 at the moment, and really like it, it's just a bit too small for all I do with the dogs. I've got my local dealer looking for a used 2016 Highlander for me, much bigger, and still gets decent mileage.

    My wife drives a 2016 Prius and she averages 62 MPG. I just wish I could fit a couple crates in that bad boy!
    Gosh we get 16-17 MPG around town in ours, 11... Yikes.

  10. #9
    Senior Dog MightyThor's Avatar
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    We have a Tundra with the double cab (or whatever the midlength cab is) and love it. Since it's just the two of us and a dog, my husband actually removed the seats from the cab and Thor has all the space in the world. We can fit a crate back there if necessary, though we've never needed to for Thor. We usually stack our gear up (for whatever hike/camp/etc we are doing) on one side and Thor has full access to the other side. Lots of places to clip him off to with his car safety harness if we use it. With the seats out I know we could easily fit another lab in there.

    My car is a Subaru Outback. I see lots of them around town with multiple dogs but man, Thor manages to fill ALL THE SPACE. Not sure about another dog in that car.
    Mighty Thor, "So Much Dog", born 1/6/2014
    And baby Barley, born 3/9/2018

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  11. #10
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    I had a 2005 Tacoma 6 spd manual, 4wd, extended cab. I never had my 2 dogs in the cab, I think it would have been sorta snug. I don't know about the crew cab. We got an ultralight travel trailer (17 ft. long) and it was too much for the taco to haul. Plus, when towing, I got 10 mpg and with a modest size tank... that doesn't get you very far.

    I traded that in on the 2017 F150, 4wd, crew cab, 6 cyl ecoboost engine (3.7L) and the towing package. Here is the crazy thing. Are you sitting down? It gets better mileage than the tacoma. Around town, I'm getting plus/minus 16 mpg (the tacoma was better) but on the road, I can set the cruise control on 65-68 mph and I'm getting 24-26 mpg. It's crazy. So if I'm pushing the speed up, I "only" get 20-22 mpg. But, OMG... if you stomp it, the turbo screams and it'll snap your head back.

    Towing that little ultralight trailer is no problem. It handles great. On long uphill climbs (of which we have many in NV) I will have to kick it out of cruise and slow down.

    I was really interested in the Dodge Ram. But, after spending lots of time reading reviews of all the models, it was clear that the Ford has invested a lot in putting cutting edge technology into their trucks (their biggest money making line, by far.) The body is aluminum, (which dropped the weight down by 700 pounds) and according to what I've read, the steel frames are so tough, the bolt holes have to be drilled with lasers. It's safety rating was #1 in 2017.

    Check it out.

 



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