Dog box cooling

[DerekE]

How do you guys keep the dogs cool in the box during the hot months? With summer coming on it's about to get hot here and most of my hunting will take place after 2 a.m. but a lot of times I am driving to the hunting destination during the heat of the day. Of course I could put an AC on top but just wondering if anyone has ever rigged up some sort of evaporative system. Simple ventilation won't cut it here.
Derek

[Dads dogboy]

Derek,

No one hunts with it hotter than Dad....the key is a well ventlelated box with plenty of air flow and LOTS of water!

The Hounds can handle the heat if they have access to plenty of water! You have seen the Water Pipe on top of the Rigg Rack that keeps the buckets in each side of the box full of water at all times.

Hydration is the answer we have found.... not cooling the Hounds, as the Temp. change can adversely affect them!

CJC

[larry]

throw a block of ice in the box with em if its that hot

[DerekE]

Driving 5 or 6 hours makes quite a few stops to buy ice but I've done it, and it is that hot. Just thought someone might have put a little more effort in it than that.

[hamilton10]

If they are in the shade with plenty of water and ventilation they are fine. If you have to stop and the ventilation stops get them out of the box and in the shade somewhere.

[larry]

[radar]

12volt Fan

[DerekE]

[Grzyadms4x4]

Derek, I haven't chimed in on this post as I figured someone else might have helped you a little better. I live in Phoenix, so the weather is pretty similar to yours, I'm assuming. Last summer I wanted to hit the high country of N. Arizona. It's nice up there, but the temp down here was about 115 when I left. My dog box is an open tube steel dog box with a space for the dogs to stick their heads out along the edge of the bed. It has a plywood rig platform on top. Anyways, what I did, which seemed to work because they didn't die was to get two shallow plastic tubs. Like the ones you would use to soak your feet in. I placed frozen milk jugs full of water in them . I also had a foot tub with their water dish in it. Around the water dish I put some crushed Ice to keep it cool. Also, before I loaded my dogs I got them just a little damp. I figured that way as their dampness evaporated they would cool themselves a little that way. They seemed to do ok and every 50-70 miles I stopped and checked everything. They got warm, but they did just fine. Not sure if any of my tips helped, but All in all I wouldn't worry to much as long as they have access to cool water and a little breeze they will be ok.

Zach

[DerekE]

Thanks Grizz.

[RIFLEMAN]

Heat is a big concern of mine during the summer months.

My dogbox has the following:
1. 1-inch foam and Reflectix insulation on roof, sides, back, front, and doors
2. Slide-in/slide-out side panels that allow the dogs to stick their heads out
3. Perforated center divider to allow air flow from one side through the other
4. Built-in insulated water tank
5. 12-volt thermometer-controlled RV fan on dogbox roof that pulls air in or out at 960 CFM according to the settings I choose
6. Air-conditioned air transferred from truck vents through insulated hose into dogbox

[DerekE]

Sounds like a nice setup. Thanks.

[Grzyadms4x4]

Your welcome Derrick.

Rifleman, that does sound cool, pun intended. I don't suppose you could post a couple of pictures could you? The slide in slide out panels, how do they work? Are they like a doggy door that opens and closes as the dog pulls or puts it's head in the opening? Or is it something that you remove for ventilation? Thanks.

Zach

[Emily]

Jean Ramm, from AZ, has her truck bed capped and fitted out as a camper. It is a hybrid truck, so she can run an air conditioner on the electric power, and she does. She does the National Redbone column in Coonhound Bloodlines. Don't have her number handy, but call her up. Her phone number is on the column. Its a neat set up and her dogs do real well. She has a swamp cooler on her kennels at home.

[larry]