Hauling your dogs around...suggestions? - Page 1

Hello!  Question as to what everyone else does....

I have a 2007 Mercury Mountaineer which I thought would be big enough..lol.    I can't find two crates that will fit side by side in the back!  Are there any crates that are specially made for this?  I remember seeing something like this before, but can't find it for the life of me.  I have 3rd row seating and have both rows folded down.  I actually have 3 dogs that I take to Lexington (3 hour drive each way) almost every weekend) but I just can't figure out a good to transport them safely when I can't find crates to fit my car. 

I've seen some people with the dog trailers.  Where can those be purchased and what it the average price? 

I used to only take one dog at a time for training, but now it's up to 3 and I have an issue! 

Thanks in advance!

Allison

The SUV ones might work.  Depending on the size of your dogs.  Once I succumbed to the mini van, I now love it!  I can it 3 crates in there comfortably and 4 if I need to.  Right now, only working 2, but if I need to take all 3 somewhere I can. 

Although I think fitting 3 in the Mountaineer might be tough.  LOL

I have a Mountaineer also (although 10 yrs older LOL).  I have the crates off this link:

http://www.carealotpets.com/item-detail/?ItemID=1617B

They fit perfectly, and are big enough for the dogs to be comfortable.  I have the 26" tall ones, but have only females - if you had a big male you might want to go with the 30" one.  You could fit 2 of those in the back and one 500 size plastic crate on the backseat.

What you might want to try is putting a platform under one crate so that the lip of one fits over the lip of the other.  I have a mini van which is about an inch shy width wise with two #500 crates side by side.  I built a platform about an inch high or so to raise the lip of one up over the other and bingo they are just fine.  You can also try a #400 next to a #500 and sometimes that will work.  A while back I also bought an SUV thinking that I would have plenty of room and I didn't so here I am with a mini van which is just perfect.

I never ever thought I would buy a car with dogs in mind.  Wrong!

Good luck. 

Judy

LOL, me too!

The SUV crates are good, though when I first got the van I did fit a 400 and a 500 side by side.  But, one was a bit taller than the other hence they could fit.  The lip of them didn't hit.  I was using the 400 and 500 in the house.  It's sad I've got way more crates than dogs these days!  LOL

Yes....that's what I'm doing now...I have 1 in the back and then 1 across the back seat facing the back door.  Actually both crates are getting small for my 2 boys. 

PHGSD....so you think if I get both SUV crates the 30' tall ones for the back, I can still fit another crate across the back seat?  That would work for me!  My 2 boys are full grown yet, but they will mature to be big boys. 

Although I am curious to find out about those dog trailers because I will be getting another dog later this year...

Good idea Judy.....

Yeah I just can't convince myself to go to a van yet...LOL.  I'm 23 years old and I would just feel so weird!  But it would be logical!!!  Maybe when I hit 30 =) 

I've seen some people buy those huge 3 row seating vans and removing the seats for the crates.  But I don't exactly have the funds to purchase a car just for my dogs yet..LOL. 

Yes, I've done it a few times...a 500 crate will fit on the backseat.  Of course I can't see a thing out the back, so I try to avoid that if I can!  I think my model might be a little smaller than the newer ones so I think you'll be fine!

Dog trailers are expensive.  The one place I know of is here: http://www.wt-metall.com/

I'm sure there are others but the WT trailers are really nice.

My next car is going to be a Honda Element I think - I should be able to fit lots of crates in there!

Actually, we had an element and couldn't really fit anymore than 2 comfortably.  I have the wire crates, because I do like to see out the back.  I've had the van for almost and year and still don't have it quite set up the way I want.  The crates are good.  But, then there's all that darn training equipment!  LOL 

The SUV crates might be too deep if you get the 42 inchers, if your boys are big, they might not fit very comfortably in them.  The 36 inch crates I had were the Midwest double doors and were I think....24 inches wide/36 long/26 high or something.  I'd get the tape measure out though! 

We did exactly what Judy did and they fit perfectly.  Necessity is the mother of invention.