Best Dog Crates For Truck Bed 2023

Are you looking for crates for truck beds but you’re not sure what factors to consider and which brands have the best reputation?

We all like to have our dogs keep us company whether we’re at home or we’re hitting the road for a vacation or work trip.

While some dog owners will be able to safely position a dog crate or travel kennel in the rear seat or trunk of their car, some pet owners may want to take advantage of the truck bed.

There’s no shortage of potential options for pet owners who want to safely tie down a dog crate in their truck bed.

However, you’ll want to avoid cheaper dog crates and go for an option that gives you a little more than your average dog crate.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best dog crates for truck beds available to purchase right now.

Factors To Consider When Selecting Dog Crate For Truck Bed

Dog owner gets ready to put dogs in truck bed (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Every dog is unique, and considering your dog’s specific needs is crucial when choosing a crate. Factors to consider include:

• Size – Ensure the crate is spacious enough for your dog to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably.

• Climate – If you live in a hot or cold climate, look for crates that offer insulation or ventilation, depending on the weather.

• Temperament – Some dogs may feel more comfortable in enclosed, dark spaces, while others prefer visibility.

• Safety Features – Safety should be your top priority when selecting a dog crate for your truck bed. Look for these features:

Lockable Slam Latch Door: This feature ensures that the crate door remains securely closed during the journey, preventing accidental escapes.

Secure Attachment: Confirm that the crate can be firmly secured to your truck bed to prevent shifting during travel.

• Durability – Truck bed dog crates need to withstand the rigors of the road and the elements. Consider the materials used in the crate’s construction and whether it can endure your intended use.

• Accessibility – Ease of access is essential for both you and your dog. Look for crates that have convenient entry points and consider your dog’s mobility when choosing a crate style.

• Brand Reputation – Research reputable brands known for producing high-quality dog crates. Gunner Kennels, Impact Dog Crate and other trusted names offer durable options.

• Reviews and Recommendations – Read customer reviews and seek recommendations from fellow dog owners. Their experiences can provide valuable insights into the performance and durability of specific crates.

• Budget – While it’s essential to provide the best for your furry friend, your budget matters too. There are options available to suit various price ranges, so find a balance between quality and affordability.

Best Dog Crates For Truck Bed 2023

Now that we’ve highlighted some of the factors to consider when looking at different option, it’s time to check out some of our suggestions for the best dog crates for truck beds.

1) Impact High Anxiety Dog Crate

German Shepherd sit next to Impact’s High Anxiety Dog Crate (Photo: Impact Crates)

Impact are one of the leading manufacturers of quality dog crates in the USA. The High Anxiety Crate is perhaps their most durable and more secure dog crate so it’s perfect for dog owners who are looking for a crate to place in their truck bed. Impact used 62% thicker alloy aluminum in the High Anxiety Crate’s welded structure, making it extra strong. There’s a paddle slam latch and four additional butterfly latches to keep your dog safe and secure. There’s small ventilation holes to allow for airflow but your dog can’t damage their paws or teeth. While it hasn’t been crash tested for safety, I read through the reviews and there’s quite a few incidents of the High Anxiety performing well in unfortunate car accidents. The High Anxiety starts at $1099 for the 30″ version of the crate and you can expect to pay more for bigger versions of the crate.

2) Impact Stationary Dog Crate

Impact’s Stationary Dog Crate (Photo: Impact)

If you prefer to invest in a dog crate that can work in your truck bed but can be made airline compliant, you may want to consider Impact’s Stationary Dog Crate. While it still has some of the same features of the High Anxiety, there are some key differences between these two crates. The Stationary Dog Crate has a slam latch to make it even more convenient to close. It doesn’t come with the four butterfly latches meaning there isn’t that extra layer of security. However, the Stationary Dog Crate does have bigger ventilation holes to allow ample air flow and more visibility for dog owners. It’s crafted from laser-cut aluminum and precisely riveted. The Stationary Dog Crate is more lightweight than the High Anxiety which is good for portability. The Stationary starts at $499 for the 20″ version of the crate and the price increases with the size of the crate.

3) Gunner G1 Kennel

Gunner G1 Kennel (Photo: Gunner / Screen shot)

Gunner are one the big rivals to Impact, having established themselves as another leading supplier of innovative, quality dog crates. Gunner G1 Kennel is a good choice for pet owners looking to invest in a dog crate that can be used in their truck bed. It has a double-wall construction to offer protection from any impact the crate may experience. This double wall also protects from UV rays and the cold. Gunner have designed their kennel to repel water with the clever sloping windows that provide ample ventilation – too. Unlike the Impact crates in this article, the Gunner G1 Kennel has a durable plastic shell but does use stainless steel hardware. The Gunner G1 Kennel has a five-star rating from the Center For Dog Safety for the small, medium and intermediate sizes but the large doesn’t currently have a rating. This should give pet owners extra peace of mind. The Gunner G1 Kennel starts at $550 for the small version of the kennel and the price tag increases with the size of this Gunner crate.

4) Petmate Sky Dog Kennel

Petmate Sky Kennel (Photo: Amazon / Screen shot)

If you’ve ever had to travel internationally with your pet on an airline like me, you’re probably familiar with the Petmate Sky Dog Kennel. It’s one of the go-to options for airline-friendly travel kennels. However, you can also use the Petmate Sky Dog Kennel in your truck bed provided you’ve got the necessary tie downs to secure it. Petmate Sky Dog Kennel is constructed using a durable plastic shell, non corrodible wing nuts, extra strong steel wire, and interlocking door provide heavy duty protection. There’s ample ventilation on each side of the kennel. Petmate write on their Amazon page that the Sky Dog Kennel is highway compliant. While it may lack some of aesthetics and design features of the other crates in this guide, Petmate state online that their industry-leading plastic dog kennel satisfies your dog’s instinctual desires to be snug and comfortable in the den-like space. The Petmate Sky Dog Kennel starts at $162 on Amazon (correct at the time of writing).

5) Impact Collapsible Dog Crate

Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Photo: hellobark.com)

We have a third Impact dog crate to take a look at. If you want the functionality of collapsing your dog’s crate when not in use, you may prefer to go for Impact’s Collapsible Dog Crate. It can be collapased inside 60 seconds (and reassembled in 60 seconds). So it’s perfect for dog owners who want to have a crate that can be safely secured in their truck bed, removed when the journey is over and conveniently stored in a closet or garage. While it’s collapsible, this Impact dog crate is still durable, heavy duty and safe. It has military grade handles to make it easy to transport. Just like all of the Impact crates in this guide, the Collapsible crate has stackable corners to allow dog owners to maximise space. The Collapsible starts at $999 for the 30″ version and price increases with the size of the crate.

6) UWS Northern 2-Door Deep Dog Box

UWS Northern 2-Door Deep Dog Box (Photo: Amazon / Screen shot)

Finally, the UWS Northern 2-Door Deep Dog Box is a more traditional option that you might be accustomed to seeing in a truck bed. The dog box lacks the design of some of the other dog crates in this feature but the UWS Northern Dog Box is built to be durable. The dog box features a corrosion-resistant aluminum construction, a stainless steel locking system and a top tie-down rail for extra cargo storage. Their Amazon page explains that the dog box door is built from extra strong aluminum for added protection. The UWS Northern Dog Box has stainless steel, key-operated paddle handles to keep the doors locked during your trip. UWS Northern 2-Door Deep Dog Box is another premium choice with a price tag of $1,313.88 (available on Amazon)https://geni.us/SqAFgis.

How Did We Pick The Best Dog Crates For Truck Bed?

Dog sits in truck bed (Photo: Adobe Stock)

If you’ve done any research for yourself, you’ll know that there are loads of great dog crates out there from a range of different brands.

To put together this buying guide, we conducted our own online research. This included unearthing some of the best-selling and top-rated dog crates.

We also checked out what users were saying about dog crates they have bought and used from online stores such as Amazon. We also used social sites such as Reddit to see what experienced dog owners were saying and recommending when it comes to dog crates for truck beds.

While we didn’t manage to get our hands on all the crates in this article, we have tested all the Impact crates as well as the Petmate Sky Kennel.

We then combined all of this information to produce this guide. Although we very much hope that this guide has been useful, we definitely do recommend doing some of your own research before buying a dog crate for your truck bed. This could included checking out some customer reviews on Amazon for yourself, or viewing similar guides written by other publishers.

Anything Else To Consider

Dog owners sit with dog on truck bed (Photo: Adobe Stock)

With all of the dog crates mentioned in this article, it’s important to invest in the necessary safety gear to ensure the crate is safely secured in the truck bed.

Impact have created this informative video that gives dog owners instruction on how to tie down their Impact crate in their truck bed.

Impact recommend utilizing the military handles on the top of the crate (front and the back) to make sure the crate is extra secure.

They advise centering the crate in the bed of the truck to ensure even tension on the straps. They use four straps – one in each corner.

You can use four tie down points on the top of the crate thanks to the military grade handles. They can handle up to 500lbs each.

This is Impact’s advise on how to secure your dog crate in your truck bed but we recommend reaching out to each brand to receive their advice and guidelines for securing your crate.

Wrapping Up

Golden Retriever stands in Impact Collapsible Crate (Photo: Impact / YouTube / Screen grab)

We’ve reached the end of our guide on the best dog crates for truck beds.

You’ve been able to see some of the best options available for pet owners who need a durable crate for their truck bed.

Our top pick would be Impact’s High Anxiety Crate due to the construction, durability and safety features.

However, we don’t think you can go wrong with any of the crates mentioned in this guide. They’re all an upgrade on cheaper dog crates that you may have used in the past.