Wondering which dog gear is actually worth the space in a tiny van? We lived in our Promaster full time for 5 years with Penelope (our dog), and this is the short list of what earned a permanent spot. In this post we’re sharing the gear she still uses and what it does for us.

Note: The links provided in this blog post are affiliate links. If you end up purchasing some of these items we get a small portion of the sales.

We don’t live in the van full time anymore, but everything below still works.

Safety on and off trail

GPS collar

Penelope the dog standing in the van with the door open wearing a Garmin GPS collar and bear bell
Penelope in the van door with her GPS collar and bear bell

We bought the Garmin Alpha 100 with the TT 15 Mini collar just before we hit the road, and it’s hands down the best investment we’ve made for Penelope. It tracks by satellite, so it works without cell signal. Today’s versions are the Garmin Alpha 200 Plus handheld and the Alpha TT 25 collar, and the TT 25 also pairs with an Alpha 100.

Bear bell

Penelope wearing a bear bell on her collar
The bear bell that tells us where she is

We started with a bear bell for bears, but it does a lot more. She’s mostly black and likes to wander, so the jingle tells us where she is and warns hikers and bikers that she’s coming. Think of it as a louder dog tag.

Life jacket

Ruffwear life jacket and kayaks on Lake Powell
Penelope’s life jacket on the kayak at Lake Powell

Penelope could outswim us any day, but on Lake Powell the chop picks up fast. Her Ruffwear life jacket has a handle on the back, which makes scooping her back into the kayak a lot easier.

Keeping the van clean

No-spill water bowl

Your van moves, and the moment you hit a dirt road the water WILL spill. Her bowl lives in our shower, but if you don’t have one, the Petmate No Spill Bowl is the easy fix.

Hand vacuum and hair roller

All dogs shed, and a mini broom only gets you so far. The Bissell Pet Hair Hand Vacuum handles the bed sheets and the fine dirt in the corners. For everything in between, this hair roller needs no charging or batteries at all.

Comfort for the princess

Evan holding Mia at camp with Penelope at his feet and our van behind them
Camp at Woods Canyon Lake

Dog bed

Princess Penelope doesn’t lay on bare ground. The Chuckit! Travel Pillow Bed sits between the front seats while we drive and goes outside at camp, so she always has her own spot.

Coat and harness

Her Ruffwear coat has held up to years of washings and she loves wearing it. The Ruffwear Flagline harness is the only one that fits her without rubbing. We also love the handle on the back.

Food storage

We keep a week of food in this airtight container on a high shelf she can’t reach.

Treats and toys

Treats! Penelope thinks this should be number 1. Delicious dog treats from Portland Pet Food Company? Say no more.

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For fetch, nothing beats the Chuckit! Ball. We’ve never had one break, and we have to hide them because she gets so obsessed.

Recap

  1. Get a GPS collar before anything else.
  2. Add a bear bell so you can hear where she is.
  3. Plan a spot for the water bowl (or buy a no-spill one).
  4. Keep a vacuum and a hair roller within reach.
  5. Give your dog a bed of their own, inside and at camp.

We hope this helps make life on the road with your best friend just a little easier. If you have any other tips that have worked for you, write us!

DogTips