K9 hot weather solutions?

[MrCWineMan]

So here’s my question: my 2016 200 will not let me lock the doors with the engine running. I’m looking to do this so my SAR K9 can stay cool when it’s super hot and I don’t have to risk leaving all of my gear, my dog, and my truck vulnerable.

Any suggestions on how to make this work?

 

[Ali FJ80]

You can lock it while its still running by using the physical key but you will also need to use the key to unlock as the fob will no longer function once you lock it with the key.

 

[MrCWineMan]

You can lock it while its still running by using the physical key but you will also need to use the key to unlock as the fob will no longer function once you lock it with the key.

Ah ha! I feel like I’ve even had this conversation before and it totally left my mind. Thanks!

 

[razzyrazz]

Idk about LCs but in my 2011 LX I get out and remote start the car which keeps it running and locked for about 10 minutes to keep my dog cool while I run in somehwere.

 

[MrCWineMan]

Idk about LCs but in my 2011 LX I get out and remote start the car which keeps it running and locked for about 10 minutes to keep my dog cool while I run in somehwere.

I can’t use that b/c if more then 10min elapse I’m cooking him, too much risk for me.

 

[razzyrazz]

I can’t use that b/c if more then 10min elapse I’m cooking him, too much risk for me.

Ya just have to do it again, but idk how far away from the vehicle you are. Physical key sounds better for you.

 

[Ali FJ80]

Ah ha! I feel like I’ve even had this conversation before and it totally left my mind. Thanks!

No problem, I do it quite often with our dogs also. Gotta take care of the furry friends.

 

[Whiskerz]

This thread is relevant to my furry friends as well.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

So here’s my question: my 2016 200 will not let me lock the doors with the engine running. I’m looking to do this so my SAR K9 can stay cool when it’s super hot and I don’t have to risk leaving all of my gear, my dog, and my truck vulnerable.

Any suggestions on how to make this work?

Since the K9 is a for search and rescue, why not go to a law enforcement retrofit shop and have them bypass it?

We get a lot of crashed cop cars and use the motors for rock racing. I’ve noticed that those modification can be done to Toyota’s also.

Maybe something to explore? At least you have the credentials to actually get it done at one of those places.

 

[mcgaskins]

The easiest solution is to get a Tesla and use dog mode But leaving the engine on and locking the doors with the physical key is an option too that works just fine.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

The easiest solution is to get a Tesla and use dog mode But leaving the engine on and locking the doors with the physical key is an option too that works just fine.

View attachment 2040500

That is till the Tesla breaks down right? (messen’ around)

 

[MrCWineMan]

Since the K9 is a for search and rescue, why not go to a law enforcement retrofit shop and have them bypass it?

We get a lot of crashed cop cars and use the motors for rock racing. I’ve noticed that those modification can be done to Toyota’s also.

Maybe something to explore? At least you have the credentials to actually get it done at one of those places.

Now that is something that I didn’t know you could have done- but it makes sense. I’ll check with our fleet guy and see what he says.

 

[MrCWineMan]

That is till the Tesla breaks down right? (messen’ around)

The rescue Tesla! Sadly not sure it’ll manage the trails the same way.

 

[619TOY]

Easiest solution would be an aftermarket alarm with remote start, but I don’t know of any that will allow the car to run indefinitely.

Most police cars remain pretty simple from the key/ignition standpoint. Most dont have smart keys so the devices they use are pretty rudimentary.

You can keep a car running indefinitely through the OBD II but I don’t know of any modules that are designed for Toyota’s

So far we do the lock the door with the key trick, but we want to get ours to run indefinitely without the risk of theft as well. Dobermans are a pretty good deterrent though

 

[Markuson]

That is till the Tesla breaks down right? (messen’ around)

Or til your dog sees one too many Subaru+Dog commercials and tries to drive away...

 

[coleAK]

Here is ours on dog mode. It’s a shame they don’t advertise...

 

[Markuson]

Here is ours on dog mode. It’s a shame they don’t advertise...

View attachment 2041085

That’s a neat feature and uniquely needed in a car that is making no running-engine sound that would reassure a passerby with engine noise.

Curious how long the Tesla can keep running the full air conditioning like that. Obviously depends on current state of charge...but beyond that given, I’m curious what full cooling consumes on its own, no wheels being spun. I assume it gives you a count-down or estimate...but really just wondering out of curiosity what the compressor/fans eat up. ??

 

[mcgaskins]

That’s a neat feature and uniquely needed in a car that is making no running-engine sound that would reassure a passerby with engine noise.

Curious how long the Tesla can keep running the full air conditioning like that. Obviously depends on current state of charge...but beyond that given, I’m curious what full cooling consumes on its own, no wheels being spun. I assume it gives you a count-down or estimate...but really just wondering out of curiosity what the compressor/fans eat up. ??

It consumes a lot less energy than you’d expect. They also have something called “cabin overheat protection” which basically kicks on the AC throughout the day to keep the interior from going above 100 degrees which happens easily in any car left in the sun in the summer. With a full glass roof and full black interior it’s particularly useful and helps keep the dash and seats and everything from excessive wear and warping.

Last week we were in the high 90s and even hit 100, and with the cabin overheat turned on, the car only consumed about 9 miles of range in 8 hours in the middle of the day. The electric equivalent to gas mileage is called MPGe and is a handy way to proxy what an electric car would get if it ran on gas, and my Tesla is rated at 130mpge which means it only used about 6% of 1 gallon of gas to keep the cabin cool all day long. Using full dog mode to keep the cabin at 72 degrees seems to run about double, maybe a little more energy consumption, but even still you’re looking at a fraction of a gallon of gas equivalent. In more direct terms, it’s cost me roughly $0.02/mile of range in electricity to run my car for 4,500 miles, so leaving the AC on for 8 hours in the middle of the day would cost less than a dollar (and not be polluting all day long like an ICE car). Honestly an electric truck/SUV will be just about the greatest thing to happen to car camping/sleeping in the back since you can keep hvac on all night silently and without creating a toxic and dangerous environment in the process.

 

[Markuson]

It consumes a lot less energy than you’d expect. They also have something called “cabin overheat protection” which basically kicks on the AC throughout the day to keep the interior from going above 100 degrees which happens easily in any car left in the sun in the summer. With a full glass roof and full black interior it’s particularly useful and helps keep the dash and seats and everything from excessive wear and warping.

Last week we were in the high 90s and even hit 100, and with the cabin overheat turned on, the car only consumed about 9 miles of range in 8 hours in the middle of the day. The electric equivalent to gas mileage is called MPGe and is a handy way to proxy what an electric car would get if it ran on gas, and my Tesla is rated at 130mpge which means it only used about 6% of 1 gallon of gas to keep the cabin cool all day long. Using full dog mode to keep the cabin at 72 degrees seems to run about double, maybe a little more energy consumption, but even still you’re looking at a fraction of a gallon of gas equivalent. In more direct terms, it’s cost me roughly $0.02/mile of range in electricity to run my car for 4,500 miles, so leaving the AC on for 8 hours in the middle of the day would cost less than a dollar (and not be polluting all day long like an ICE car). Honestly an electric truck/SUV will be just about the greatest thing to happen to car camping/sleeping in the back since you can keep hvac on all night silently and without creating a toxic and dangerous environment in the process.

Thanks for info.
And ya...that’s pretty dang efficient!

 

[TeCKis300]

I bought an electric car for its electric drivetrain. There's been so many other pleasant surprises. I agree some of the most rewarding parts have been the A/C. I feel absolutely no guilt to "idling" hours on end with the climate control on. That and there's just never radiant heat or gas smells coming from below the vehicle. Things one don't notice until they've experience an EV.

Back to topic. I think the OP got his question answered. Coming from the RV world, where this is also a big concern when hosting pets in the trailer. Of course they run their A/C. But there's lots of discussion on fail-safes, in case the electricity trips or the A/C fails. I haven't looked into these, but there's various remote temp monitoring devices available to alert one's phone.