First: I've been lurking around for about a month now, and really appreciate all the information you all have. It's all very interesting and I'm more knowledgable about my truck than I've ever been....

Now for the question -- I have an '02 Duramax that I quite often haul dogs around in. I have a shell on my truck and keep 4 dogs crated inside. Some people have given me a hard time for keeping the back window cracked open (approx 4"), but I think the ventilation is very good --

Does diesel exhaust have similar dangers to that of a gasser? What affect (if any) can diesel exhaust have on animals or people??? Would cutting out the muffler have any effect on this???

Once again - thanks for the help! :ro)

Jeff

The only thing mufflers are mandated for is sound requirments. Cats cut out some of the polutants.
I would keep the back window cracked for the dogs. All petroleum burning vehicles will give off harmfull gasses, except for propane. I may be wrong but I think propane is a clean burning fuel.

I really don't know if the fumes caused it or the dog working hard on a hot day, but I left mine in the dog box one day for about twenty minutes with the truck running and I went to get him out and he had thrown up all in his box. I try not to leave mine running anymore. MY .02

I had my two dogs with us on one vacation trip this summer at the NC coast. It was really hot, and we stopped at a restaurant for dinner. After about 15 minutes I had to check on them and I felt it was already getting too hot in the cab, so I started the truck and let it idle with the AC running for the dogs to stay cool. They were both fine for the next hour or so. I just kept the truck locked and used my other key to unlock it when we finished eating. The truck handled it fine, and the dogs were grateful for the AC. There weren't any fumes in the truck, but mine has stock exhaust.
I think they should be fine.

Carbon monoxide is the same regardless. I would say, my dogs aren't in there boxes but I have side sliding windows in my side windoors. I leave it cracked open about 4 - 8 inches, depending on how I feel. Never had a problem. I believe it is because it is open on both sides creating a flow of air through the cap. If one window is open, then I don't think there is a flow of air, just airing out and in the same window. The only way to test it is to take a battery powered carbon monoxide detector and moutn it in back for a few. If the alarm goes off, then you know there are suffiecient levels detected that could be harmful.
See if you could open 2 or more windows, on opposite sides, and always check on your pets.

Thanks for the replies --

NCMIC: The battery powered carbon monoxide dectector is a great idea... Maybe I can find one that has some sort of wireless transmitter so I can moniter levels in the back while I'm driving....

I'll let you all know what I find out.

Personally I think you're really being mean to the dogs with that topper unless you have some sound deadening.

Turn your truck on, close up the camper, and sit in there for a bit.

I know my German shepherd would pace around like a caged lion in the back... then I went in there with it running and got a headache right off the bat. She rides in the cab now.

If you didn't have a topper it wouldn't be as bad, but you will have some crazy resonation on the inside of the bed with it on..

Jeff, the rear window is not the one you want open parked or especially down the road. The back of your shell is a low pressure area when moving. I would open the driver's side window and not run the truck when parked. Later! Frank

My 3 labs love mine just fine. I will try and see if there is any harmful noise back there. I have a rubber bed mat and my cap, ARE, is carpetted on in the inside. This might help with noise reduction on my part. My dogs love riding in the truck, just to get away from the house. They normally ride in my wife's car as I usually use my truck away from home working. It takes too long to load and unload my truck for the dogs to have a good time. I have one dog that goes through separation anxiety, when my wife leaves him too long, and he begins to chew things up. He loves to destroy my wife's ford, but she owned it before me. He chewed the armrest off my 02 Avalanche 2500, so therefore he isn't allowed to be in my cab unsupervised. I'll let you know if my setup is ok.

I would not worry to much about Cujo when the truck is in motion. The air flow through out the truck will flow out any of the gasses.
The battery opt meter is a very good idea.

My pups are in the cab, unless it is a sunny day and it is a short short local trip. The speed limit in town is 25. And for those concerned, I do have the puppy goggles for them and safety harnesses.

Make sure you get the CO2 detector, you should be able to here it from the cab if its mounted in the back and you have your rear window cracked open.
Anything that burns uses oxygen as part of the chemical reaction, Propane will remove oxygen when it burns also. It burns clean if what you are using it in is getting the correct air/fuel mixture when burning, ie. a stove that has the air orfice pinched back on or a jet for natural gas instead of propane will leave a soot residue.

I have a BedRug in the back of mine with a carpeted ARE top; my wife rode back there once for a few miles to make sure the breakables we were transporting did not have a problem, side windows open, back closed, and she said that it was not noisy at all. I think the BedRug with its padding, etc. really cuts down the noise.

Well I sat in the back of mine, and the noise wasn't loud. I have the ARE topper that is carpeted inside and a bed mat (rubber mat approx 3/8 thick). Therefor I know my 3 labs were ok. No noticeable fumes but as I stated before, need a detector to detect the odorless carbon monoxide.