Wanting your ideas on a new car - Page 3

Hi there, would love to have a pickup again - but given the gas prices over here in germany - no thanks ! At 3,99€uros per Gallon (1€uro =1,33 US$)you are looking at 5,30 $ per Gallon - Autsch ! On top we are facing a considerable race in price in Jan. So with these factors, one will look for the best gas/milage !I do own a minivan, Opel, believe in the states its Generell Motors, in England Vauxhall and i am very happy with it. I have a box in the back for 2 GSD's. On top i have a 3 hole trailer from wt-metall, i would not want to miss my trailer again. Dogs get wet and dirty (and a little stinky!) - no problem with a trailer. The trailer has a ventilation system taht can be set to a certain temp, also has lights in all 3 boxes. The boxes are big enough, actually i believe my dogs rather want to be in the trailer than in the van ! Kind Regards Ulli Dresbach

besides having plenty of cargo room for crates, you also need to consider the height of the vehicle. i can tell you from experience that an expedition with 17" wheels makes loading and unloading dogs and crates a lot more work than it has to be. barn doors on the back (suburban & excursion) are better than tailgates and liftgates. removable seats are nice, but heavy and awkward. fold-down seats still take up a fair about of room. if you find a perfect vehicle - i'd like to know about it so i can buy one, too. :) pjp

LOL I still want a lift on my Exc. I'm tall too and all but one dog loads itself, with no assistance from me. I figure if they can't get in the truck, they ain't gonna make it on the field. Who can't make it in the truck you say? The show line of course...haha. I don't think my crates are heavy, just big and cumbersome. After loading and unloading 5-6 40lb bags of dog food, a crate weighs nada. Removing the seat is a bit tricky but I have figured it out. 99% of the time I do it solo. I play the poor little girl role, if the man is around to help. I tend to be the one loading and unloading everything anyway. It's probably not best for most of you guys because seat count isn't an issue like it is for me. I'd have a pickup if the seats didn't matter. Much easier to wash out tat bed than vacuum the whole Exc. They all have their ups and downs.

I got a Kia Sportage that will hold a vari kennel 40x30. After that, It will tow my four dog trailer with heat/AC or anything under 1500 lbs. It's warrantied for 6 years or 100,000 miles. 22-27 gas milage. No problems. It works great. Not looking for resale value. D'mann

.... hummm how about the Dodge Ram Mega Cab 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel w/ 610 lb.-ft. of torque. Where's all the cowboys @ ?.

Truck has always been my choice. You can invest in pre-manufactrued dog boxes that secure in the bed evry well (bolted). The boxes can be heated and air conditioned. A less expensive way, crates, anchored down as well, and invest in a fiberglass cap for inclimate weather. No issues with bad smells, hair, etc. in your own driving space (cabin). SUV's are practical if big enough, but you dont get the fresh air - hair - sound barrier like in a truck.

I have a '63 International pickup. A bit rusted and the engine needs tweaking on a regular basis, but the dern thang just won't quit. A bit of baling wire on the body and it holds together just fine. I tie each of my 4 GSDs to the rails of the box in back and they ride real good. Extra big bumps on our rutted road do cause one or two to get a bit of the ol' neck pinch now and then, but they sure to like to go to town with me. Just kidding!! I have a 2004 Toyota Sienna AWD. Took out all the seats except driver and passenger and can fit 3 500 crates in the back. Love it.

YA had me scared there for a minute!

LMAO stranger. Why not just tie them to the rear bumper and let them run along behind like in the National Lampoon movie? Seriously, I love my Explorer, fair gas mileage, comfotable ride and plenty of room for dogs and equipment.