When you’re setting up a K9 police vehicle, you’ve got a partner in the back who depends on you for every mile, and a job that doesn’t leave much room for mistakes. So, it’s important you build a rig to match.

From the kennel to the tailgate, every detail matters. The right setup keeps your dog safe, your gear organized, and your vehicle working like a trusted tool. Learn where to put the kennel, how to keep your four-legged partner and a passenger safe, and smart ways to store your gear. Build it right, and your K9 vehicle becomes part of the team.

Kennel Placement: Secure and Dog-Friendly

The kennel is the heart of any K9 police vehicle. It’s where your partner rides, rests, and stays safe between calls, so getting it right isn’t negotiable. A good setup protects them in traffic, keeps them comfortable on the road, and makes your job easier when it’s time to load in or deploy.

Most use a purpose-built K9 insert or kennel that bolts into the vehicle, like an Extendobed stationary kennel. In an SUV, that usually means removing the rear seats or using the cargo area. 

An SUV’s cargo door or back door sits lower than a pickup bed, and that’s one big reason SUVs are the go-to for most K9 units. The less jumping on the floor and climbing your partner has to do, the better — especially after a long shift in the field.

If you’re running a dual-dog unit or working with a large breed, make sure the kennel’s got room for them to stand up, turn around, and stretch without blocking your visibility. Small touches like a rubber mat or a bit of padding make the ride more comfortable and can be pulled out for a quick wash, because wet dogs and mud are just part of the job. 

Climate Control: Keeping Your K9 Cool (or Warm)

Anyone who’s worked a K9 unit in summer knows that feeling when you step out of the car and the heat hits you like a wall. Now imagine sitting in that with a full fur coat. Heat exhaustion is a serious issue for police dogs. 

While most K9 law enforcement units come equipped with an alarm system to detect rising temperatures in the vehicle, there are further steps you can take to make sure they’re comfortable: 

• Make sure the kennel gets the same A/C and heat you do: Make sure your K9 compartment gets direct A/C and heat output.
• Add ventilation aids: Window guards, rear-door fans, and vented kennel panels keep fresh air moving even when parked.
• Insulate the kennel: Foam-lined panels help maintain temperature in both hot and cold weather, and can cut down on noise stress.

Good climate control just makes the day easier on the K9 officers and their handlers. With steady airflow, a bit of insulation, and the right backup in place, your partner can ride in comfort no matter what’s happening outside. It’s one of those small things that pays off every single shift.

Maximizing Gear Storage in a K9 Police Vehicle

K9 units carry a lot of gear. Beyond the usual law enforcement equipment, you’ve got all the dog’s leashes, harnesses, muzzles, first aid supplies (for both of you), possibly specialized sensors or cameras, and maybe even training aids like bite sleeves. 

Consider these storage tips for your K9 police vehicle:

• Prioritize daily essentials: Keep leashes, harnesses, water bowls, and reward toys up front or on top where you can grab them without thinking.
• Use K9 vehicle inserts for built-in storage: Many inserts include lockers, drawers, or other accessories beneath or beside the kennel. Perfect for food, medical kits, or extra collars.
• Work your vertical space: If your kennel’s raised, put a pull-out drawer underneath to hold smaller, high-value items you want close at hand.

The more organized your K9 rig is, the faster you can move when the call comes in. Every leash, collar, and piece equipment should have its place so you’re not wasting time digging through gear. Get the storage right, and your truck or SUV becomes a well-oiled tool that helps you and your partner work smarter and stay ready for whatever’s next.

Slideout Drawers: Your New Best Friend

Slideout drawers are a game-changer for storing heavy or bulky equipment. Instead of crawling into the back of an SUV or reaching over a tailgate to dig for a case of evidence tools, you just pull a handle, and the entire drawer comes out to you. 

In fact, heavy-duty units, like Extendobed’s truck bed dog kennel slideout slide over the tailgate so you can access every crate and all of your equipment without climbing into the bed. Each kennel keeps dogs separated, with removable walls so you can adjust the setup as needed. Air vents keep the airflow moving, and a built-in storage area gives you space for leashes, medical kits, and other gear.

Whether you’re in animal control, law enforcement, or search and rescue, many police K9 vehicle kennels can be built with this included. Giving you a rugged, no-nonsense solution that protects your dogs and makes the handler’s job easier.

The Difference Between Stalling and Responding

A solidly outfitted K9 vehicle is a lifeline for you and your dog. Every decision, from where you mount the kennel to how you store your gear, impacts how quickly you can respond and how safely your partner rides. Build it right and you’ll have a rig that works as hard as you do: secure, organized, and built for the long haul.

Out on the road, there’s no room for guesswork. When the call comes in, you want to know your gear’s ready, your dog’s comfortable, and the whole setup will hold up shift after shift. Outfit your K9 vehicle with the same pride and grit you bring to the job, and it’ll never let you down.

If you’re in law enforcement, fire and rescue, or emergency management, you already know the truth: a mobile command vehicle has to pull triple duty. 

It’s a communications hub, a meeting space, and a rolling storage room, all in one package. If it’s not built to work the way your crew does, you’ll feel it the minute things hit the fan.

But when it is built right? That truck becomes the anchor. The place everyone turns when the clock’s working against you. It’s where the comms keep firing, and turns a tough situation into a job handled.

Work Surfaces: Where Plans Take Shape

You can’t run an operation off the hood of a cruiser. That may work in a pinch, but when things heat up, you need steady ground. That’s why the work surfaces inside a mobile command center vehicle matter more than most folks think.

• Fold-down tables give you space when you need it and fold up when you don’t, keeping the walkways clear.
• Pop-up writing desks give your crew a spot to jot notes, sign off on paperwork, or work on a laptop without wobbling.
• Reversible map boards are the playbook. Maps on one side, dry-erase on the other. Flip, mark it up, and keep going.

You can’t make smart calls with a notebook sliding off your knee. A good surface gives your team a place to write it down, draw it up, and keep the plan on track.

Communications: Keeping the Lifeline Open

The success of every mission depends on communication. If the radios go down or the laptops can’t get power, you’re dead in the water. A mobile command truck is first and foremost a communications hub, and everything else comes after. 

Radios, laptops, and network gear all need to ride in one place where they’re safe and easy to grab. Slide-out units built for comms mean no tangled wires, and gear that’s ready the second you reach for it.

Power’s the other half of the fight. A mobile command center vehicle has to keep everything running, whether it’s a half-hour callout or a twelve-hour grind. If the comms stay alive, so does the mission.

Securing Weapons and Sensitive Gear

Out on the job, not everything you carry can sit out in the open. Firearms, evidence, sensitive files. They all need to be locked down. That’s where heavy-duty drawers come in.

A solid mobile working environment comes with locking drawers that hold their ground even when the road’s rough. No rattling, no shifting, no surprise when you slide it open. When you step away from the truck, you know your gear’s right where you left it.

In a mobile command center police unit, security must be forged into the steel. But not every department has to fight the same fight.

Choosing the Right Setup

A small-town crew might only need space for two people and a single map board. A big-city PD could have half a dozen staff working inside at once, which means benches along the sides, multi-level work platforms, and enough outlets to keep every laptop and radio running.

Think about the gear, too. Radios and network equipment take up space and need reliable power. Map boards can be built right into the slide if you want them locked down, or kept portable if your team needs to carry them into the field. Weapons and sensitive files? Those belong in locking drawers, the kind that don’t rattle loose on rough roads and give you peace of mind when you step away from the vehicle.

Answer those questions straight, and you’ll end up with a truck that fits like a glove. Extendobed offers options, multi-level platforms, containment gates, and locking drawers that let you build what you need.

Built for the Work Ahead

A mobile command center can be a dependable ally when the day runs long and the stakes are high. Get it right, and it becomes more than steel and storage. It’s the place where the crew gathers, the plan takes shape, and the gear’s always ready.

When the whole community’s counting on you, you can’t afford a setup that backs down. That’s why Extendobed builds command centers with one goal in mind: to give departments gear they can count on, shift after shift, year after year. 

Ready to Build a Mobile Command Center That Works as Hard as You Do?

A well-outfitted mobile command center isn’t just a convenience — it’s a lifeline when the pressure’s on. From secure storage and smart work surfaces to reliable communication setups, the right build keeps your team focused and your mission moving forward. 

If your department is ready to upgrade or customize a mobile command center that meets the demands of real-world operations, contact Extendobed today. We’ll help you build a solution that works as hard as you do.

Outfitting a fire command vehicle or rescue truck means picking gear that’ll show up and work just as hard as the crew riding in it. The right slide-out tray or drawer can be a game-changer if you’re hauling heavy equipment. It gives you quick, organized access to everything, from medical kits to the Jaws of Life, right when you need it.

First responders know that every second counts. Slide-out drawers allow you to keep multiple heavy and large items in your vehicle and deploy them at a moment’s notice. But not all slide-outs are built the same.

How do you choose one tough enough for the job?

Types of Fire Department Slide-Outs

First, nail down what kind of equipment you’ll store and how you’ll operate. Slide-out systems generally fall into four rough types: heavy-duty rescue unit trays, first responder slide-outs, fire investigator units, and mobile command center slides. While there’s overlap and each provides easy access they’re both optimized for different roles.

Rescue/Extrication Gear

If you’re hauling extrication tools, hydraulic pumps, cribbing, saws, and medical rescue gear, you need a beefy slide-out with a high weight capacity and simple, rugged design. These heavy-duty slide-outs are rolling platforms that can handle bulky, heavy equipment (often up to 3,000 lbs) without breaking a sweat.

Command and Control Equipment

On the other hand, a fire department command vehicle slide-out is like a mobile office for the fireground. If you’re a Battalion Chief or safety officer setting up a command post, your slide might carry radios, laptops, incident command boards, medical bags, lighting, and maybe a coffee thermos or two. These slides often come with built-in fire command vehicle cabinets, drawers, and electronics mounts to organize smaller equipment.

First Responder Slide-Outs

When seconds matter, first responder slide-outs provide immediate access to lifesaving gear. Built to handle heavy-duty rescue tools like extrication equipment, hydraulic pumps, and medical kits, these units are designed for fast deployment under pressure.

Their rugged construction stands up to the harshest fireground conditions, ensuring firefighters can grab, use, and return gear quickly between calls. For departments responding to vehicle accidents, structural fires, and other high-intensity emergencies, first responder slide-outs keep essential equipment organized, secure, and ready at a moment’s notice.

Fire Investigation Units

After the flames are out, fire investigation units transform a truck into a mobile forensic lab. These slide-outs are optimized for organization, with compartments for cameras, evidence kits, laptops, and reporting tools. Unlike heavy-duty rescue trays, which prioritize sheer load capacity, fire investigation slide-outs emphasize accessibility and separation of sensitive gear.

They keep equipment protected from environmental exposure while providing a clean, efficient workspace for inspectors. Whether documenting fire origins, preserving evidence, or managing case files on-site, these units help investigators perform their duties with accuracy and efficiency. For departments with dedicated fire investigation teams, this slide-out is a practical solution that turns a vehicle into a command-and-control hub tailored to post-incident analysis.

Built to Last: Durability and Maintenance

Firefighters put their equipment through hell and back, and slide-outs are no exception. Off-road brush fires, winter storms, and daily wear-and-tear at the station. Your fire unit needs to handle it all while asking for minimal maintenance.

Here are a few durability pointers:

• Material and finish: Look for heavy-gauge steel or aluminum construction and a tough finish. Many top slide-outs come with a rugged powder-coat finish that resists corrosion and scratches.
• Rattle-free design: One complaint you’ll hear about cheap slideouts is the rattling. Every bump in the road turns the back of the truck into a noisebox. Opt for a unit with a solid latch mechanism and tight tolerances.
• Maintenance features: Find out what maintenance the slide requires. The best heavy-duty slides use sealed bearings or rollers that don’t need constant greasing.
• Field tested: Search for slides that have been proven in the field. For over 30 years, firefighters have been using Extendobed slide-out trays in some of the toughest environments.

At the end of the day, toughness comes down to how it’s built and how you treat it. Choose a slide-out made with quality materials, and then give it the care it needs. Do that, and your vehicle will be a reliable workhorse, deployment after deployment, in snow, rain, or heat, year after year.

The Right Slide-Out for Every Call

A fire command vehicle or rescue truck is a lifeline on wheels for your team and community. Outfitting it with the right slide-out system ensures that all your critical equipment is organized, protected, and ready to grab at a second’s notice.

Out on the fireground or at a hectic highway incident, your top priority should be on the mission. A quality fire command vehicle slide-out lets you load up, lock in, and roll out to the next call on a moment’s notice. When the pressure is on, you’ll be glad you chose a slide-out system that’s up to the task.

And that’s where Extendobed Slideouts earn their keep. With decades in the field and a track record of performance in departments across the country, our fire department-ready units are built for loads up to 3,000 pounds, fast access, and years of dependable service.

If you’re ready to explore your options, contact us today.