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Expert Journal
Pet Safety in Campervan: What Every Owner Needs to Know?
November 6, 2025108 Min Read72 Insights
Do you ever think if your campervan adventures are as safe for your pet as they are for you? Hitting the road with your furry friend can be a lifetime experience. But alongside, every pet owner has a lingering worry in mind:
- what will happen if my AC fails on a scorching summer day? Or does my heater die in the freezing winter?
- How do you ensure your pet is safe in your RV while you’re away for a hike or dinner? Let’s uncover the risks of pet travel in a campervan and how to keep your pet safe.
Deep Dive
What are the Dangers of Leaving Pets Alone in a Campervan?
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Most veterinarians recommend that you should not leave pets unattended in your RV for a long time. Whether you should leave your furry friend in the campervan or not depends on the outdoor temperature and the duration you’re leaving your pet inside the RV.
If you don’t care for essential precautions while leaving your pet alone, your outdoor adventure can become life-threatening for your pet. Here’s how:
Overheating or A/C Failure in Your RV:
Imagine you’re wearing a fur coat on a hot summer day and can’t take it off on your own. You will be sweating and breathing hard. Well, that’s what your pet will experience if the AC fails in the campervan by any chance.
If you go outside and leave pets alone in a van, there are potential risks that your generator or battery may fail. This will lead to overheating.
And just like a forgotten loaf of bread left to bake too long, your pet will overheat before you even realize something’s wrong.
Pets like dogs or cats rely on panting to cool themselves. But when heat becomes extreme, their bodies shut down fast, leading to heatstroke, organ failure, and even death.
Cold Weather Risks:
Your RV isn’t built like a home; it’s more like a tin can with cushions. Your pet camper can quickly turn into a freezing icebox if your furnace quits during the night in winter. And it can become a hazard to your pets.
Temperatures below 45°F can harm your furry friend. Your pets won’t tell you they’re freezing, but they’ll show you.
Signs like shivering, a cold nose, paws, or ears, and slow moments in pets are signals for you to warm your co-pilot friend immediately.
Security and Escape Risks:
Your campervan is like a moving home. In your stationary home, you don’t have to worry about the door sliding open or your pet jumping out of the open window into the parking lot.
But in a campervan? One loose latch and an excited jump can turn into a stressful chase.
Similarly, allowing your dog or cat to stick their heads out of the window while driving might seem harmless, but it can lead to unexpected accidents.
Legal Consequences:
In the UK, Highway Code Rule 57 ensures your pet's safety. According to this law, in any vehicle, pets should be properly restrained so they don’t distract you while driving and to avoid injury to themselves and others in case of a sudden stop.
Similarly, in the USA, different states have different rules regarding the safety of pets in RVs.
In many US states, leaving your pet alone in extreme heat or cold can be a legal offense, leading to fines or even misdemeanor charges. You may have to pay penalties from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.
Some states treat this offense as a civil infraction. You will have to pay immediate fines without criminal charges. That’s why your pet's safety is not only essential for your pet but also for you.
⚫ An RV without climate control is like a parked car in a desert, deadly within minutes. Your pet will also feel sick if your RV has poor air quality due to the lack of a proper ventilation system.
Deep Dive
How to Reduce the Risk of Harm to Your Pet?
Before you turn the key in your RV, ask yourself:
- Would I gamble my pet's life on a faulty AC or a loose latch? Your pet can face life
- threatening dangers when carelessly left alone in a van. To secure your pet
- you need to consider some necessary precautions. Here’s how to protect your furry friend:
1️⃣ Use Cooling & Non-slippery Mats
Summer van life? A cooling mat can save your pet’s life. These mats regulate the body temperature of your pets. Cooling mats are portable, easy to use, and available in gel-based, water-based, and freezeable options.
Place these mats under their bed so they can stay comfortable during the scorching summer. Also, use non-slippery flooring in the RV to reduce the risk of injury to your pet from slipping.
2️⃣ Restrain Your Pets Safely
While driving, always secure your pets in a crate, with a dog seatbelt, or harness to prevent injuries. These things will protect them from slipping or ejecting out of the window.
The crate offers enclosed space to the pets and thus protects them from slipping in case of a sudden stop. For maximum safety, tie the crate to the van to prevent sliding. Seat belts and harnesses secure your pet in place while also allowing them some movement.
3️⃣ Proper Ventilation
With poor ventilation, heat and stale air build up in your campervan, making it harder to breathe. Therefore, make your campervan well-ventilated by installing roof vents, a roof hatch, using window vents, and parking your van in shady areas. You can also buy awning-style windows with a ventilation mode for this purpose.
4️⃣ Proper Insulation
Leaving your dog or cat in a poorly insulated campervan is like wearing a t-shirt in a snowstorm or a fur coat in the middle of summer. Your van will heat up like an oven in summer and cool up like an icebox in winter.
The solution? High-quality insulation of your RV regulates the inner temperature. Materials like wool, foam board, and Thinsulate will regulate your van’s temperature.
Deep Dive
Why Choose My CustomVan for Your Pet-Friendly Campervan?
During our journey of making customized and durable vans, we have built several pet-friendly campervans for our clients. Each van is tailored exactly according to our clients and their pets' needs.
At Big Bear Vans, we provide pet-friendly amenities like open floor layouts, scratch-resistant flooring, dog/cat beds, built-in water bowls, etc. Plus, we install L-track on the sliding and rear doors, so you can safely tether your dog outside the van when needed. You can buy durable, pet-friendly benches from Vankea. These benches not only provide space for the pets but also have built-in feeding bowls and pet fridges.
Want a perfectly customized campervan to go on an adventure with your pet? Here’s a complete guide on how we can help you:
Deep Dive
Our Step-by-Step Procedure for Customizing Your Pet-Friendly Campervan
At Big Bear Vans, we have a step-by-step, smooth process of customizing dream vans for our clients. Here’s the exact breakdown of every step for you:
Step 1: Choose a Van
If you have a van, we can convert it into a fully customized campervan. If not, we’ll help you source one. Thanks to our strong connections with Mercedes dealerships in Los Angeles and San Diego, you can even get up to $8,000 off MSRP on a brand-new Sprinter.
Step 2: Meetings & Visualization
After choosing a van, you will have 1-3 Zoom consultation meetings with our project manager. After listening to your choices, our design team will create a realistic 3D rendering of your build.
Before seeing your dream van in person, you’ll see it on your laptop. You’ll have a clear idea about the layout, color scheme, material, and your pet space (if you’ve any).
Step 3: Manufacturing & Pickup
After confirming your choices and fine-tuning technical details, the production process begins. Our expert crafters normally take 2 months to build the interior and 1 month to make exterior upgrades.
Once the van is ready to roll, you will walk through manuals, test drive, and do everything you need before hitting the road.
Step 4: Warranty & After-sales Support
Your campervan comes with a 1-year warranty and an optional 3-year extended warranty on our craftsmanship. Moreover, we also offer 24/7 remote support and in-person servicing and installing upgrades at our locations.
You can discuss your vision with us, and we’ll turn your dream of a pet-friendly motorhome into reality.
Section 40
he Best Pet-Friendly Campervans of Big Bear Vans
At My CustomVan, we have designed several pet-friendly campervans for our clients. Some of our best pet-friendly campervans are the following:
Deep Dive
CUSCO VAN
We designed the Cusco Van for our client who had two dogs. The van has a special bench that is also a convertible bed for the dogs. Along with the comfy bed, there is also a separate fridge for dog food and a dedicated feeding station.
The campervan has an open floor layout, which will allow the dogs to move freely. Moreover, the dog’s bench is strategically placed beside a window to give the dog a pleasant view and proper ventilation.
You can also see the complete layout of this van on our YouTube Channel.
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Santa Barbara Van
This is our ongoing project for a client with a dog. In this pet-friendly layout, we planned an open floor layout and successfully integrated the dog's crate under the elevator bed.
You can also see our portfolio to learn about our previous builds.
Section 47
Project Wilma
This is our ongoing project for a client with a dog. In this pet-friendly layout, we planned an open floor layout and successfully integrated the dog's crate under the elevator bed.
You can also see our portfolio to learn about our previous builds.
Deep Dive
Safety Precautions When Leaving Pets Alone in the Campervan
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Every year, hundreds of pets suffer in RVs from preventable accidents. Don't let yours be next. Always consider these vital precautions before leaving your pet alone in a van:
⚫ Use a Temperature Monitoring Device
One of the main RV pet accessories you should have in your campervan is a temperature monitoring device. This device will allow you to monitor the van's temperature and alert you when the temperature drops or rises above the set range while you’re away.
⚫ Set Up a Security Camera
See, hear, and even talk to your pet from anywhere by using a security camera. The camera will allow you to monitor the activities or behavior of your pet from your cell phone. You’ll be able to detect any unusual attitude or distress in your pet’s behavior.
Some cameras allow two-way audio, which enables you to talk to your pets and reassure them.
⚫ Prevent Unexpected Escapes
To prevent your pet from making a sudden escape, ensure your RV is escape-proof. Secure all doors and windows before stepping away. These simple precautions will assist you in keeping your pet safe and sound.
⚫ Leave plenty of food and water in an automatic water & food dispenser for your pets if you plan to be gone for a long time.
Section 59
Must-Know Pet Safety Tips Before Your Next Trip
There are some essential things you should keep in mind before going on a trip with your pet. Here’s what you need to do before hitting the road with your co-pilot friend:
💠 Do some pre-trip preparations before starting. Take your pet to the vet for a checkup and pack all the vet essentials.
💠 If you’re renting, then choose a pet-friendly campervan for your trip to avoid any last-minute hassle.
💠 Make your pet get used to camper van travel by taking it on short journeys first. This will help your pet, especially dogs, overcome separation anxiety.
💠 Pack all your pet’s favorite toys, blankets, beds, etc. Buy a ramp or stairs for your dog for easy entrance.
💠 Take regular breaks during travel to give your pet the necessary time to move and stretch.
💠 Keep your pet’s vaccination records handy because some campgrounds require them for entry.
💠 Always choose pet-friendly campgrounds to stay. It's because these campsites have many pet-friendly amenities like vast pitches, dog walking areas, waste disposal, pet wash stations, etc.
💠 Buy a long pet leash that will allow them to roam around the campground without any threat of escape.
💠 Pack enough food for your pet. Select a food that is available everywhere.
💠 Pack a pet first aid kit for any emergency. Also, invest in a GPS collar that will help you track your pet if they wander off or get lost."
Section 71
Final Thought
There is nothing quite like experiencing the freedom of van life with your pet. You can go anywhere, to explore anything, with your pet by your side, all while enjoying the comfort of home on wheels.
But you should always select a pet-friendly campervan for this purpose. Customize your dream campervan with Big Bear Vans today and give your pets the road trip experience they deserve!
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