juice Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I bought a metal crate for car trips because white dog who slobbers and sheds in black interior car didn't work ! However on hot days the metal is untouchable. I have covered it with a sheet , but a freind said you can get cool covers, but i can't find any. I did borrow a soft crate to try before i bought the metal one, but thought it seemed hotter to travel in as more enclosed. What does everyone use? I could get a soft crate if that is cooler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsmum Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 K9 Pro has shade covers for crates. You could also try jerry-rigging some kind of barrier with one of those foil reflective windscreen covers from k-mart or the like??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappi&Monty Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 They have cool mats at Kmart & Petbarn. Also online. I think My Pet Warehouse sells them. Otherwise you can soak a towel, fold it up in a plastic bag and freeze it. Then you take it out & unfold it. Could help. Might be a bit leaky though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 if metal is too hot to touch in the car ..then maybe it's too hot to take dog anyway? The bottom of the crate will need to be well insulated ...otherwise it's a baking tray you really need to have a foil- based bit against the crate bottom ..to reflect heat back ..NOT absorb it like any ordinary material will then , I suggest something either really thick and solid .. or a 'platform' to allow for some sir movement ..and space away from that heated floor. In our dog kennels, we use plastic bread crates etc ;) with bedding on top . They stay dry as well. A 2 L bottle of frozen water or two in the crate? Even the coolmats would quickly absorb heat from the crate , as well as that from a dog ..and get really warm fast . refrigerating them first helps a bit . For actual 'bedding' perhaps try layers of shadecloth ;) fold and fold until there are at least 6 layers .The amount of air in this helps keep things a bit cooler ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted February 5, 2017 Author Share Posted February 5, 2017 We have had 2 vet appointments lately where we had to go and it was days where we hit 40 degrees. the bottom of the crate has a plastic tray and bedding, its just the front was hot to touch by the time we came out of vets again. i looked at bunnings site and they have the reflective tarps. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Where's the crate located in the car? Trying to get the picture. I have built in crates in the back of the x-trail. Only time it gets a bit warm is if gear on the back seat is blocking the air con. Then I just open the rear windows for air flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Ah... sorry, juice forgot to whom I was talking fair enough . if dog is not a chewer ... a hard flat plastic ice brick thingy or 2 would probably work for that sort of thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted February 5, 2017 Author Share Posted February 5, 2017 (edited) boot of Rav 4. aircon is pretty good in the car , its just the sun shines right through the back window so crate gets hot sitting there . Edited February 5, 2017 by juice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsmum Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 I'd just find a barrier - like i said earlier - shade thing from Kmart or even some polystyrene to keep the sun off of while you're parked. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 I use metal crates and never had an issue ,I gather your windows aren't tinted . you can place a sun visor over the top or a blanket .not sure what bedding you use but ice blocks and cool mats won't be much help as if it's to hot they will melt or dry out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted February 5, 2017 Author Share Posted February 5, 2017 They are tinted, but car is on the drive in full sun. i think i will look at a sun visor for the back window and top of crate for when its parked, thanks for that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Has anyone mentioned silver shade? The BEST stuff and you can use it in so many scenarios.....camping, trialling etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsmum Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 1 hour ago, The Spotted Devil said: Has anyone mentioned silver shade? The BEST stuff and you can use it in so many scenarios.....camping, trialling etc. Yeh - they're the ones K9 Pro sell & I notice they're on sale at the moment http://k9pro.com.au/silver-shade-mesh-tarp/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 3 hours ago, Scottsmum said: Yeh - they're the ones K9 Pro sell & I notice they're on sale at the moment http://k9pro.com.au/silver-shade-mesh-tarp/ I can't vouch for the brand as I bought mine from Clean Run. I know there are a lot out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papillon Kisses Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 It may be easier to keep your car cool than the crate. My nose work instructor has huge versions of those foil reflective shade things. Like the ones you can get for your front windshield but they I swear they cover half the length of her SUV. I want! She said she got it from the reject shop but I haven't seen any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papillon Kisses Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 3 minutes ago, The Spotted Devil said: I can't vouch for the brand as I bought mine from Clean Run. I know there are a lot out there. Do Clean Run still do their free international shipping promotions? When I was Secret Santa stalking I saw lots of references to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 19 minutes ago, Papillon Kisses said: Do Clean Run still do their free international shipping promotions? When I was Secret Santa stalking I saw lots of references to it. No sadly - it just got too expensive for them (not my fault ). However their shipping is very reasonable and it's worth playing around with items in your cart to get the best deal. I keep a wish list so I can top up with little things that don't weigh much. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaCharlie Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Just to clarify, is the issue the dog getting hot in the crate or the crate itself getting too hot to touch? I read it that you were worried about the heat of the metal, like when we brand ourselves with the seat belts on a hot day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted February 5, 2017 Author Share Posted February 5, 2017 yes Delta, crate too hot to touch to get her in. i think keeping the car cool when its parked seems the answer, i bought a car sun visor yesterday and its over the top of the crate now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panto Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 1 hour ago, juice said: yes Delta, crate too hot to touch to get her in. i think keeping the car cool when its parked seems the answer, i bought a car sun visor yesterday and its over the top of the crate now. juice - I'd go softcrate - it contains the hair better too. You'll have airconditioning on when you're in the car in any event, so air flow shouldn't really be an issue. You could leave a corner on each side or the top open if you need better airflow still. I use the K9pro ones and there's mesh on all sides and you can unzip all or part way on almost all of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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