Last week, I put a deposit down on a Ranch Sierra Camper Shell for my '01 King Ranch. The main purpose is to keep the dogs out of the rain when traveling with them and I don't want them inside the truck. Being that this is the first time I've owned a truck, I have a few questions. How hot will the bed get in the summer while traveling. The Sierra model has 1/2 sliding windows and I opted for the front window to slide open so I could open it into the cab to allow more airflow but I want to make sure my dogs don't overheat. The winter time does not concern me as much since we will still have the window into the cab open and they are built for withstanding cold weather. My second question is whether it is possible/practical to insulate the camper shell in any way. My shell is supposed to be the maroon color to match the truck and will soak up a lot of sun. I don't need it to look pretty, just provide some additional protection from the sun and be somewhat durable.

 

If you can slide the windows, the dogs should do just fine. It also depends on the breeds though, as some tend to overheat easier than others. If you have the windows open and have water and food for a long trip I would think they would be all good. It shouldn't be necessary to insulate the canopy for you dogs, since they have fur, they should be good to go. It shouldn't get very cold in the back regardless, especially if you have your sliding window open into the canopy, I would think the heat would flow through the canopy as well. It sounds like you got a fancy canopy, so I wouldn't worry.

 

The canopy is actually a pretty cheap one. After the truck purchase and noticing some rust that I need to find a fix for this summer, I couldn't drop too much. My dogs aren't bothered too much by heat, no pugs or mastiffs that overheat quickly. Thanks for the input.