RVing with Pets: Why the Bowlus is Perfect for Traveling with Your Furry Friend!

Hi, I’m Geneva Long, CEO of Bowlus, and today we’re going to be talking all about traveling with pets. I’ve brought along my dog, Bear, to be my assistant. Bear is a big guy, he’s a 100-pound Bernedoodle, so please take that into account when seeing how much of the couch and bed he takes up. We’re going to go over the pet-friendly features of the Bowlus and why it is the best choice for those looking to travel and adventure with pets.

Let’s get started. One of Bear’s favorite features is the heated floors. Heated floors are an option on many of our Bowlus models and are perfect for traveling with pets. After a long day of adventure, Bear loves to lie down on the floors to get all cozy, like he is right now, and dry his hair. If he gets too warm, there’s an area under the dinette that’s not heated where he goes to hang out, or he likes to hang out on the couch, like you saw at the beginning of this video.

The hydronic heating system is perfect for four seasons of travel. In the winter, Bear’s fur can easily get clumps in it, but laying down a towel on the heated floor melts any of the cold snow on his coat. Now, speaking of the couches, Bear usually isn’t allowed on the furniture at home because he’s usually pretty dirty from a trail run. However, in the Bowlus, he is. A huge part of this is that the fabrics we use on the seating are incredibly high-performance and perfect for easy cleaning. You can see Bear sitting right here on the couch; there’s lots of room for someone else like me to sit down right next to him. I’m just showing what it looks like to sit next to a 100-pound dog on the Bowlus couch—lots of room for each of us.

Another feature I love is that the windows are the perfect height for Bear to do a little bit of squirrel watching. The Bowlus has fantastic ventilation, so when the vents and windows are open, Bear is really comfortable in warmer temperatures. You’ll notice that all of our screens on our windows and vents are made of brass, so they’re very durable. Bear also loves staring out of the screen door, which is a feature of some of our Bowlus models.

Another feature that Bear loves is that the air conditioning can be run off-grid from the batteries. We’ve used this feature when stopping for lunch, dinner, or pickups at the store where we can’t bring Bear in with us. We feel good knowing he’s resting on the couch in air-conditioned comfort. You’ll notice that the air conditioning vent is in the living room, and there’s one in the bedroom and bathroom as well. I’ll link to my air conditioning video here so that you can see all the different temperatures that the Bowlus performs in.

At the end of an adventure, I really love that I can rinse off Bear’s paws with the shower hose extending all the way outdoors. I also like that I can rinse him or his paws off by using the shower, which goes out through the emergency exit. That is what the outdoor shower looks like extended through the emergency exit, and as you can see, it can be used to spray off Bear.

Ask us more about the pet-friendly features that we have as options in many of our limited edition Bowlus. For example, we have the dog bed which goes underneath the dinette, and the dog bowls which perfectly fit into one of the Bowlus drawers in the living room. We also have water filtration as an option on many of our packages, which is perfect for making sure that you have filtered water for your pet.

The front door is always easy for Bear to hop in and out of, and there’s a step as well for smaller pets. The Bowlus lashing system is an option included in some of our packages and is perfect for hanging Bear’s leash or other gear, or as a tether point for him as needed. I can also tie Bear easily to the front porch, and he likes resting outdoors watching us.

Bear also likes to get some fresh air, so here he is tethered to the front step with his leash. I also sometimes like to tether him to the jockey wheel handle so he can be secure close to the front of the trailer while enjoying the outdoors.

The bed in the Bowlus is king-size, so there’s lots of room for pets. Even with a 100-pound Bernedoodle, he only takes up about half—or if he’s at the foot, a third—of the bed. If you don’t want to share a bed with your dog, you can always set up the twin configuration so Bear can have his own side.

Now let’s talk cats. I’m not a cat owner, but many of our Bowlus owners are, and they find the same advantages in bringing their cats along. For those wondering where to place the kitty litter box, many of our owners place it in the shower enclosure or under the table. One owner has even trained their cat to use the cassette toilet—now, isn’t that fancy?

On to some other tips for RVing with your pets:

1. Make sure your pet’s collar has an ID tag with your phone number on it. I also like placing an AirTag on his collar.
2. Be sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations, as some campgrounds may ask.
3. Ensure they have flea or tick prevention depending on where you’re traveling.
4. Bring along all of your pet’s favorite essentials: food, water, treats, medication, and toys.

Always check if your campground is dog-friendly. Most national parks are not, but national forests usually are. I also like to carry a pet first aid kit. In new areas, it can be easy to be unprepared, and I like to check Bear’s paws after each hike. Out here in the West, we definitely have a strong foxtail season, for example.

Traveling with your best friend has never been easier thanks to the pet-friendly features of the Bowlus. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a cross-country adventure, the Bowlus is designed for comfort for both you and your four-legged co-pilot.

Thank you so much for watching this video. I hope it was helpful. If you have any questions, please contact our sales team. It would be our pleasure to talk more about traveling with pets in a Bowlus. You can reach us at www.bowlus.com or 805-568-7452. If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like and subscribe.

Are you ready for another adventure, Bear?