[Alpacasite] Re: bedliners

Steve Hull wrote:

<<I use a pick-up bed "cap" (a tall one) and I agree
it can be very helpful for transporting a couple of
alpacas. However, here is a critical aspect of
information. When the pick-up bed tailgate is
lowered, there is a 3 inch or so gap between the
pick-up bed and the lowered tailgate.

Alpacas, when entering or leaving the bed (with the
tailgate lowered) have gotten their foot trapped in
this gap and have suffered compound fractures. In one
case

Please put in a piece of 2x4 board or slide in a piece
of large
plywood to cover this gap.>>

I use rubber-backed rugs (sometimes you can get these
cheap) in the PU or van, and they can be slide back to
cover any gaps between beds and tailgates or bumpers.
The camper top I used to use was a tall hatch-type,
and required removing the tailgate. I think that
using them draped from the bed across the bumper
(including over any towing balls) helps provide a less
visually distracting entry, as well as a safer one.

The other nice thing about industrial rubber-backed
rugs is you can lay them out in the driveway and hose
them down. My older animals are "house (van) broken"
but the younger ones don't have the control or the
travel experience. If I'm not carrying too many, I'll
stop for a potty break every 2-3 hours. Carry a
coffee can with some "beans" in it and sprinkle these
in the dog walk area of the rest stop. The animals
will go right away if they need to.

Susan Gawarecki
Pathfinder Farm
Andersonville, TN

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