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plastic barrels for dog boxes.....

I just bought a used Toyota 4 Runner for a kick around truck. I thought about using 55 gal plastic drums for the boxes. Two fit in the back side by side nicely. Thought about drilling some holes for the vents. Does anyone have any ideas on a good way to build the doors?

Thanks,

Scott

VERY,

VERY,VERY,CHEAP.MOST PEOPLE HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THERE HOUNDS.I THINK MOST OF THEM WILL AGREE WITH THAT.

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Well...

I can see both sides to this story. Scott's side and Outfitknl's side.

1) The dogs go out, hunt for you, rain, sleet, snow, full moon, sick, injured, whatever, because even the person that spends the most time with thier hounds, sometimes cannot tell if they are sick or not feeling well.

Dont you think they deserve something a little more comfortable than a barrel to ride around in? What if you're going to a hunt 4 hours away. Think of how sore and stiff the hounds will be after trying to keep thier balance in a slick, round barrel.

2) Most dogs could care less what they are hauled in just as long as they get to go hunting.

But, for the sake of the dog, that is usually why people buy/make dog boxes, so that thier dog will be more comfortable on a ride.

I would build a dog box out of plyboard before I'd make them ride in a barrel.

Just my opinion, though.

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Scott,

I have a buddy that uses barrels and he just made regular hinged door out of 1" wood stock and fastens closed with a a hasp and snap. He also made them so he can easily detach one barrel to leave in case of a lost hound. It works for him.

To the others I would offer this; which is easier for a dog to ride in a flat surface that the dog can slide around on even with straw or a round surface that cradles the dogs shape? I use a houndsman deluxe but I also see the phyical benefit of a barrel.

Besides he said this Toyota was a "knockin around truck" not a "go on a road trip truck".

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Chris Powell
Houndsman XP Podcast

Scott i have a 4 runner for a huntin truck. What i did was plexi glassed the back behind the back seat so the back was sealed off from the cab. And then built a box out of square tubing with a removable center divider so that i could take it out when i did not need it and it gives the dogs alot more room to lay and strech out when riding. If you can weld the box is pretty easy to make and it does not cost alot either.

rowdy

your argument for the hounds footing is poor most bog boxes have a non slip floor material you try standing for any lenth of tive on a curved floor
during warm and hot weather how much air cirulation will a barrel have
if you can't spend a few dollaps to buy a sheet of plywood and make a comfortable box for your hound something isn't right

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I think if you put 4in. of sand in the bottom of the barrel it would help out, plus in the summer months you could even damping the sand, help keep your hounds cool? A cheap way to haul hounds around.Good way to save a hundred bucks or so.

Or, you could just take the wife's car hunting and throw the dog in the trunk, like some of the old time coonhunters did. I had an older feller tell me the other day, though, he killed his hound when he left him in the trunk too long.

A blue barrel with some good sized ventilation holes has got to be better than a car trunk.

Look in your magazines for Koch Supplies in Richmond, MO. He sells pre-fabbed dog box doors.

box

cut the door holes 12 inches wide 14 inches high, mount the door hinges to the plastic, bolt the two barrles togeter and get to the woods. This b/s about comfort is a crock. Those real nice boxes that have storage and about 15 inches tall where the dogs are can't be all that comfortable unless you are a beagle. I have one of those nice ones now but my ol Gr. Nt. road loose in the back of the p/u until he made Gr. Nt.. Put a little straw in the barrels. Not enough ventilation results in dead dogs. Too much ventilation results in cold dogs. Cold dogs can still tree coon.

My dogs sleep in barrels with straw (winter) and cedar chips (summer) in the bottom. As long as your homemade box is secure in your truck where it won't slide around or fall out, your dogs will do just as well as a $400 diamond plate box, maybe better. I know several fellows who have made boxes like you described and they do a fine job. They made the doors out of the plastic they cut out for the openings. They used white barrels to reflect the heat. You can buy vents at www.huntsmart.com if you think you need them. I have an old Toyota I hunt close to home in and while I have a well made plywood box, I would build me one out of plastic barrels if I wanted to. I also have a over the road truck with a very good manufactured dog box in it.

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My name is Dave Haugh and I approve of this message.

Just to clear some things up....

First thing, I do not travel any further then about 20 minutes one way to hunt.

Second, I plan on taking a drill that will cut holes and vent the entire barrel. I figure that if you space the holes the length of the barrel and make them about the same size as the bottom of a glass that will be plenty of air. I will make it so I can plug some of those in the winter.

Third, if you put two barrels in the back of a Toyota 4 runner, they aint going anywhere.

Fourth, my hounds are smart enough to lay down in the barrel, that is how they ride in my box.

Fifth, if I want to go on a four hour road trip, I will load them in my 2001 Chevy Silverado, which I have a regular box for. It is too big to fit in the 4 runner.

I have several thousand acreas of public land to hunt on. The farthest is about 45 minutes away at the max. I do not think the hounds will mind riding that far in a barrel.

For all of you that are crying about the comfort of the hounds, let us not jump to conclusions before we know all of the facts. I take good care of my hounds. They get fed great feed, have fresh water and bedding and are current on all of their shots etc.

Some of you are full of yourselves.

When you get down to brass tacks, we are talking about dogs here. If you choose to spend all your cash on your hounds goody for you.

Myself I have kids to feed and bills to pay and if I can save a dollar here and there I am going to.

Barrels

You can get vents for the barrels pretty cheap. I have seen them at the tractor supply.

I don't think this is a bad idea. I have a buddy that does this and his dogs are none he worse for wear.

So I say do it what the heck.. I will not cost ya much if it does not work out for ya.

JMO

Jesse

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Well....

I am going to take the doors of of my box and put on the barrels.

The are made from flat bar and mesh. This way there will be plenty of air from that end also.

I will continue to use cedar chips for the bedding. My hounds sleep in plastic barrels also, so this should not be much of a transition for them.

They will be just as comfortable as riding in the box and will probably have more ventilation then most boxes also.

Blueticker, I have a pup out of your Grand night champion, crossed on Ruby. Heck he might not fit in the barrel by time he is done growing. Not even six months old yet and weighs about 60 pounds... he is a big boy. I might have to take the top of the 4Runner for him.LOL

scott r u tellin me you force your hounds to ride in a 2001 truck----i am deeply hurt and offended - im going have nightmares for months-- my hounds wont even get in a truck that old and usually i call a limousine service when im takin them to a hunt-- i did see a guy selling some dog boxes made out of barrels- and i bet they can be made to work great - light and cheap they just had a plywood front with doors cut out of the plywood and were connected in the back with a brace - need plenty of ventilation in whatever kind of box u use-- pete

Pete,

I usually have to shock them a few times to get them to load in my Chevy. I tried the limo thing for a while but I was afraid of spoiling them. Plus the doggie day care bill was so outrageous that it cut into the limo and cream puff fund.LOL!

The barrels will work fine and thanks for the input. I like Banjo Pickers idea also.

Scott, I have used barrels for dog boxes before as you can see. I used them when it was cooler and chained them in the back when it warmed up. They loaded right up when it was time to go hunting so it obviously didnt bother them any. I cut a short board and put it in the bottom so they had a flat surface to ride on. I also glued scrap carpet around the outside to soften things up a little. All the materials I used were scraps from work, even the barrel. I put a couple vent holes in it, but like I said I didnt use them when it got hot. Good luck to ya.

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Harley de Koning

Coonhusker,

Thanks for the pic. Never thought about the board in the bottom, but that is a good idea.


Scott

Scott im with ya man im married and have 4 kids. there is no way i can afford a manufactered box. i have a plywood box i made out of 2 sheets of plywood . i also seen on here about old timers putting there dogs in the trunk of the car haha. that cracks me up because i remember a good many times when my dads truck would be broke down we would throw the dogs in my moms trunk and go hunting. funny thing is the dogs loaded better into the trunk than they did in the bed of the truck haha. maybe they were used to it more haha.

not a barrell but...

we took the casing of an air conditioner, cleaned it out real good, put ply wood in the bottom with some kind of indoor/outdoor carpet on it and made the doors out of plywood and a couple of hinges. then put a fastener on it to close the doors (double side by side doors) we even did a little wood burning and put our brand on the door. very inexpensive and looks kinda neat and the sides already had vents in it for air....Danni

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Steve & Danni Ingle

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whats wrong with a 50 dollar pet taxi not that there is anything wrong with the barrel its a great idea but i have allways had great luck with my labs in pet taxies and the sell covers for them for the winter

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Jesse Nappin TREEDOGG MAFIA

there is i guy i hunt with down here that made a wooden frame around the barrels then put 1/4 plywood on the sides and bottom then insulated with house insulation then made the roof these dog houses are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. his dog box in two small filing cabinets welded together with a plywood floor and doors. you can buy the floor vents for a house they make good vents for a dog box i had a wood dog box with two in the back and one on each side you can close them and open them and used refragotor shelving for doors.

I am glad to see that I am not the only poor boy on here.

A lot of different ideas on dog boxes and they are interesting.

I thought about buying a pet taxi and I still might.

barrels

i have used them for dogs houses before, but i aint used 'em for a box..........i'd say make sure you put in plenty of vents....the barrels shoud be light and save ya about 450.............i'm going to build a summer box for mine, prolly out of 1/4" plywood top, bottom, front and back and welded wire on the sides, i'll give up top storage but during the summer i load & unload my box constantly, my regular box is to heavy.

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ringtail dave

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Ringtail,

I did not think about making one out of welded wire, but that is a good idea. I have plenty of the wire to make a box like that.

My box I have in the back of my truck is very heavy. I made it out of scrap lumber. 2x4 construction with outside weather board, it weighs over 200lbs easy. My wife and daughter are getting tired of helping me load and unload it.

hauling dogs in trunk

ive hauled dogs in trunk of a car a bunch of times --i had a 1968 olds delta 88 - push button to open trunk -- used to think that was great-- i never had a problem hauling dogs in trunk but after hearing about so many that have lost dogs that way i would never do it again--- same with dog boxes- whatever u think is enuff ventilation double that -- saw a guy come into nite hunt years ago and dogs dead in his dog box-heat and poor ventilation is a lot more dangerous than cold-- - ive built all kinds of ugly contraptions to haul dogs - quite often ill run bear dogs in the morning and beagles when i get done--might have 8-10 dogs with me-- - in the winter i have to haul snowmobile and then use box on a sled behind snowmobile.. so anyways if i bought a box it isnt just one - its lots of them- use different ones depending on seasons and type of hunting-- ive never had a store bought box unless u count an airline crate- i do admire some of the ones ive seen at hunts and if u can get by with just one i think they are a great investment- im not to concerned with beauty in a dog box- just make sure u provide ventilation and hauling in the trunk isnt a good idea -one accident would be too many pete