Dog Boxes

Birdhunter1 · Post by **Birdhunter1** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:11 am

I now need to upgrade my space andneed a 3 dog unit. I have looked at several and rather than shell out $700 or so for the one I woudliek to have I'm gonna build one i want instead. Besides everyone I look at has something i wodul like to dodifferent and everyone always has somethign else I'd like to do to it. So I have put my head to work to design it.

Question is do yall think a 14-30 inch area will be plenty big enough for a big Brittany. I am pretty sure it will but if someone says it won't I'll adjust a bit. The outside of the unit will be insluated well and will be able to be sealed up alittle tighter when it gets real cold. It will also have ventialtion fans for warmer weather.

snips · Post by **snips** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:00 am

That should be a fine space. I saw a homemade box the other day with the out side covered in that new siding material they put on houses. Looked nice.

Birdhunter1 · Post by **Birdhunter1** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:51 am

snips wrote:That should be a fine space. I saw a homemade box the other day with the out side covered in that new siding material they put on houses. Looked nice.

What was the material?
I'm gonna build it out of plywood and cover it and aluminum is looking aweful expensive. I would do vinyl siding on it but I think it'd look kinda tacky in the back of the truck and vinyl won't take the abuse it will likely get. Cedar sided just won't do it and to barn tin ain't gonna cut it. I have still not thrown out the idea of wood barn siding.

portsider44 · Post by **portsider44** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 2:46 pm

I've been kicking around the idea of building a storage box out of plywood for the back of my truck similar to the Truck Vault sales. Only instead of costing $500-700 will only take about $60-100 plus mytime.

The only thing holding me back is what to cover it with to make it more waterproof & keep the wood from warping. Not sure if it will work, but right now I am kicking around the thought of painting it with the truck bed liner.

Katies Dad · Post by **Katies Dad** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:30 pm

you all should see if you could line-x or rhino line the box. I dont know if it would stick to wood but you could ask!

Pleasant Ridge · Post by **Pleasant Ridge** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 5:36 am

You are fixing to get into more money than you think and weight can be a problem. The price of sheeting material ( plywood or similaris very high. 2X4 's are pushing $3.50 or better now. You may get by with making your frame by splitting 2X4's into 2X2's.
If you want to save yourself some time and aggravation buy a dog box with vents. When you try to frame in vent's for a box you get into a larger amount of lumber than you think and added weight.
I went through this several years ago. and I have to say that I was very happy to buy a dog box and pay the $$$$for it, after building one the $$$$$ was well worth it.

TAK · Post by **TAK** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:19 am

I found for the money the best is the Alumimum! Easy to lift in and out and last for ever! Yes it is just a bit more! Don't go buy it have it built. I went to the local School welding shop and paid for the materials and had a A student build it for his grade! I can not give the exact mesuremnets but I know I was in it with 2 8x4 sheets of plain alum sheeting. Each was around 100.00 hinges (steel) and rivits (steel) and latches around 30 bucks. I have air vents in the front doors. Most all of it is bent to shap and very little welding for strength.
just a thought!

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 6:20 am

Saw one once made out of "reused" road signs. Just had the signs turned on the inside.

Best,

Pleasant Ridge · Post by **Pleasant Ridge** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 8:10 am

TAK,
Thats a good idea. Was the box insulated? I have seen "dog boxes" made from most anything from old refridgerators to old heat pump unit covers!!!

TAK · Post by **TAK** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 5:41 pm

Pleasant Ridge wrote:TAK,
Thats a good idea. Was the box insulated? I have seen "dog boxes" made from most anything from old refridgerators to old heat pump unit covers!!!

NO insulation.... I add grass hay/straw or pine shavings in the winter. In the summer I have some carpet pieces in the box. If it is that cold I can duct tape the holes and keep them toasty!

I also had a 16 ft flatbed trailer that I had a six hole box built on it. This has a 9 inch storage on the top for about anything. It takes just under half the trailer and the other half I load a wheeler and a 55 gal water barrel. I did have to pay a bit to have it built But not even close to a big name company. I paid some labor on this one, I went to the School teachers Son to build it!

Some one mentioned about ryno lining or some kind of covering. It works great, I have a buddy (flyingJ)with a exact 2 hole box that ryno'd the inside. Just make it alot heavier!

tfbirddog2 · Post by **tfbirddog2** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:20 pm

I have made two plywood dogboxes,I used Herculiner on them a it works great.My box was 48 X 48 X 30 I bought the herculiner kit and ended up with a little less than a 1/3rd of a gallon left.I ordered my vents from NITELITE catalog (I think its Huntsmart.com) which are just horse trailler vents I put it forsale on here if you go to the forsale stuff you could look at it.I got rid of it cause my dad bought me a aluiminum on for b-day.i have also seen a road sign one too, actually wasn't that bad.I highly recommend the herculiner it was pretty easy.I would also recommed using welded doors with expanded metal and 1x1 tubing for frame i loved mine and was about $200 or $300 when I was finfished.