Re-lined trunk with tan carpet for transporting my yellow Lab

Today I finished a project I've been intending to do after transporting my yellow Lab a few times and suffering major dog hair contamination of the black carpet that lines the trunk/hatchback. Basically, as my dog's hair is tan, I decided that lining the trunk in tan carpet would do a much better job of hiding most of the hair. I also concluded that good lab hair management also required lining the entire space. As the carpet I chose has a longer nylon pile it tends to attract the hair and keep it from floating around.

To start the project I ordered the US Trunk liner (it's made of semi-rigid plastic) and assembled it. It didn't fit very well so I spent a lot of time trimming it and taping it together with duct tape to make for a better fit. BTW, if your tempted to buy the US Trunk liner, be prepared for some major work getting it to fit. Mine was not very well made.

However, the liner does serves well as a semi-rigid base for the carpet, giving it stiffness on the sides and back and providing a good surface to attach it to using double sided carpet tape.

Today I finished cutting, trimming, and installing the carpet. Here are a few photos of the finished project. The sides in the rear can be folded out providing access to the storage spaces on both sides.

The photos were shot in bright sunlight so the contrast is a bit extreme.

I've also attached a photo of the lab. She's a real sweetheart, named Button. All I have to do now is shoot a few photos of the her in the back.

kevincwelch said:

Nice job, Artsci. It looks professionally installed. Does it easily lift up to access the trunk foot well?

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Yes, it's slit for that purpose.

mknox said:

Cute dog. Do you lift her in and out of the car? We no longer have our dog, but when we did, the plastic bumper on the old mini-van was really scratched up from his nails jumping in and out. I ended up with a folded over mat that I could drop down over the bumper to let him in and out. (Our dog was a lab - Bouvier mix and much too heavy for me to lift!)

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At home, as I'm backed up against the curb she can jump in. From ground level I have to lift her front paws over the bumper and lift her rear torso in. She'd try to jump from ground level but that's very bad for the rear legs and she's already had surgery on both.

I added today another piece of rolled up carpet that's velcroed to the inside rear of the hatchback. When the dog gets in or out I roll it over the bumper for protection from scratching. It also gives the dog a better grip. Here are a few photos of that feature.

ZestyChicken said:

Why did you puppy need surgery on her legs?

Also, you worried about heat in the rear of the car? I've heard it's an issue for the rear facing child seats.

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She's no longer a puppy, although the photo was taken when she was a pup. She had the surgery when she was about 6 years old and is now in excellent condition.

I don't leave her in the car alone for any length of time. She rides with me on the way to and from doggie day care about twice a week. Loves riding in the car and looking out the window.

Promised some photos of my lab in the car. The carpet color and pile does a great job of hiding and containing her hair.