Dog Friendly GX Build

[audioviking]

We have a 14yo Viszla and a 130# Great Pyrenese , Fin ( my profile pic) . As long as we are moving on the highway, they are usually calm and laying down. As soon as the brakes are used, up they come to help navigate. I have a set of KISS drawers in the back. Soon to take out the wider 2nd row seat and put in a gear storage area that is level with the KISS drawers. I've found mats that button down. They will cover up the L-track but will protect the dog's feet. I have a M1101 for needed cargo on long trips as well as a roof rack. I may sacrifice the smaller 2nd row seat eventually if I decide I want a fridge ( or just put it in the trailer with power). My biggest issue is Fin barking while camping...hair I have simply accepted as a Pyr owner.

 

[Tex68w]

We have a strapped in mat for ours as well while traveling. I really want to deck out the entire back end with the Goose Gear Sleep Platform (when hell freezes over and it comes out lol), but the misses doesn't want to lose all of the seats. It would make for a nice flat surface for the dogs though.

 

[nw_fj62]

I'm sure saving a few inches to jump up into will be appreciated if you're not doing drawers. This guy (lives with parents) doesn't like to do much jumping.

View attachment 2506948

Tom - Good lookin Berner...

Here is my travel companion Ty (100lbs / male) for size reference with third row delete. He usually travels in the second row - but he is licking his lips for the next adventure...

 

[TomEf]

After enough time working on other stuff/slacking, I finally got around to locking the intermediate RTK crates down. Seatbelt webbing ratchet straps with safety s-hooks, some strap guides, and some smooth button-head allen bolts. The spacing on the factory hooks in the floor was perfect.

 

[r2m]

Do you need to put a block or something between the 2 kennels so they don't tip together when you ratchet them down?
Unless it's the camera/lens angle it looks like the sides of the kennels, from about the mid-point up, are slanted slightly inward.

 

[Littlehouse]

Loaded up for the groomer today. They hate this thing haha

 

[TomEf]

Do you need to put a block or something between the 2 kennels so they don't tip together when you ratchet them down?
Unless it's the camera/lens angle it looks like the sides of the kennels, from about the mid-point up, are slanted slightly inward.

I think it's just a wonky camera angle. I didn't crank the ratchet straps down very hard, just snug and not enough to tip them at all.

 

[EmmaNewman]

View attachment 2521909
Loaded up for the groomer today. They hate this thing haha

How cute they are! I fell in love.)

 

[Littlehouse]

Seats are out and I’m having Overlander Woodworks build me a platform with airline tracks. After that I’ll build a platform out of 80/20 so the kennel can sit on that and I’ll have some storage underneath.

 

[Littlehouse]

Overlanderwoodworks knocked this out of the park. Irwin is the man. I’ll start the platform after I get the molle pannels for the back windows.

 

[Littlehouse]

Decided to swap the front grill this weekend as well. I need to plastidip the emblem tomorrow. If anyone is in OC and wants a 2017 grill, let me know.

 

[r2m]

Decided to swap the front grill this weekend as well. I need to plastidip the emblem tomorrow. If anyone is in OC and wants a 2017 grill, let me know.
View attachment 3819561View attachment 3819562View attachment 3819563

New grill looks WAY better!

 

[blackohio]

I dont have pic's in the GX, but I use a variocage for the morons in my Touareg, and have transferred the cage to the GX.

 

[Littlehouse]

New grill looks WAY better!

Agree. Very happy how it turned out. Directions would have made it a pretty quick job but I’m happy with the 3 hour investment. Even my wife noticed it and said it looked better. That’s a win.

 

[Littlehouse]

Started assembling the platform. These connectors are a pain in the ass to tighten. They take forever.

 

[r2m]

View attachment 3827636
Started assembling the platform. These connectors are a pain in the ass to tighten. They take forever.

It's hard to tighten when the allen/hex wrench you're working with is right next to a post and can't get full swings turning the wrench. You can also use cheap Home Depot/Lowes right angles for supports instead of the expensive T Slot products. Yeah, they won't be black, but how much is a rattle can of black paint?

 

[Littlehouse]

It's hard to tighten when the allen/hex wrench you're working with is right next to a post and can't get full swings turning the wrench. You can also use cheap Home Depot/Lowes right angles for supports instead of the expensive T Slot products. Yeah, they won't be black, but how much is a rattle can of black paint?

As I tighten these I definitely think about the ease of the other connector options. That being said, several sources say these are the strongest and least likely to rattle so I continue onward. Slowly…..

 

[Littlehouse]

So, I’m kind of a dummy and forgot that they make ball end hex sets for tightening at an angle. These worked beautifully.

I think the design turned out well, hopefully it fits.

Side to side works perfectly. So far so good.

It slides in, which got me super excited, but we have a slight problem. Hard to tell here, but slight rub on the ceiling, not a big deal, but the door molding hits the corner of the cage. I was extremely happy with how things were going, and then super bummed.

I pulled off the trim and broke a couple of clips. The door closed, which is nice, but it’s super ugly. I probably went from a 10 on this project to about 5.

 

[Littlehouse]

After about 5 minutes of moping and trying to solve the issue, I remembered the back seats slide! I never have people back there, but I remembered a few people on here talking about it. I hoped for the best, and got lucky. The seats were all the way back. I moved them forward a notch, slid the platform to the front, put the trim back on the door, and bingo. Perfect fit.

Perfect fit!

So much room for activities. Back to a 10/10

Huge thanks to everyone that chimed in on this!

 

[Littlehouse]

Today I got a couple of projects done.
1. Replacing the blower motor which has been driving me nuts for probably 2+ years. Super easy.

2. Installing Orange Boxx fab molle panels. Great quality and easy install. 2 nits would be the hardware should be black and I wish they were closer to the windows. I imagined more space between the kennel, but at least the windows are protected when I shove crap back there. My wife even came out to help, which was amazing. Maybe she wants a new purse or something but I’ll take it.