Ford Excursion- any good for dogs? - Page 3

If you are serious about carrying multiple dogs inside a vehicle the best way to go are full-size vans. Not minivans, SUVs or pickups w/cab shells. I know a club member that carries six Mals in large crates to training in his full-size van. For best fuel economy get a Dodge Sprinter van with the diesel engine. After training, you can always moonlight carrying passengers to the airport  :-)

I'm with 4-pack. Give me a big, heavy, gas-guzzling Excursion any day. As far as changing lanes, Abhay, no problem for a woman, especially a blonde. I learned in my RV: Just turn on the turn signal and move on over. Everybody else will get out of your wat, especially after they see the blonde hair! The bigger the rig, the faster they scatter. LOL

SS

Molly, can you fit two 500 series crates in the back of a Suburban or a Tahoe side by side?

Dan

you could fit 4 500's in a suburban if the seats are out.  Tahoe definately two side by side, and probably a 3rd sideways.  I have a full-sized Chevy pickup truck with long-bed (same size as suburban but 2' longer in the bed) and even with the short bed can get 4 500 crates in there.  My long-bed just allows 2' more space for "stuff".  Love my Chevy trucks.

molly

Have you all taken a look at the new Ford Flex Crossover?  This is not a cheap car but neither is the excursion!  The amount of space on the interior is amazing, and if you sit in one, you do not feel like you are in an SUV.  The doors are nice and heavy, and it has all kinds of really cool gadgets!

Just something to check out, it's only been on the market to the general public for about 2 months.  Kind of looks like the Honda Element - one of the ugliest cars ( I have one I can say that) but looks like it would be very functional.  Seats 6 passengers too!

Got one.

Bought it because of the dogs.  Paid a laughable $4500 for a 2001 with 90,000 miles, some warranty left, no dents, bumps, tears, or crap.  Engine runs great. Stereo sounds awesome.  It even came with 3 screns and a DVD / VHS so the dogs could watch Ivan while we drive :)  The only thing it needed was tires.

As some said, you could fit a 4'X8' board in it...it exceeds 4' width on the inside.

There is front *and* rear air conditioning. Also, the rear side windows vent open.

The battery is also *huge*.

Ours had the 3rd row seat; it doesn't matter. You pull the 3rd row seat, and you still have room for 5 adults AND 4 crates.

You feel like you're parting the oceans with traffic.

I would be curious to find out how people cool their excursion (or any other car, for that matter) when the car is off, besides leaving the AC on...

Has everyone forgot the old Nissan comercial................

Dogs love trucks

Thanks Molly.  Shopping for one now.

Dan

best bring a tape measure and make sure the newer models are not narrower on the inside because of position of spare tire or wheelwells or etc before making any decision on any vehicle - if you are using vari-kennels measure the edges as well.  Wire crates fit better as they are square.  I use vari-kennels because I have an open-bed pickup truck, but if I had a cap or enclosed vehicle I would use wire crates, they fit in better.  (2 500 vari-kennels fit side by side in my truck bed just fine, so there would be even more room for wire crates)

molly

Speaking of getting over and parting the red sea...when I used to drive truck THROUGH SAN FRAN at 5pm, you all know how nobody wants to get behind a truck or let it in. Well you get tough at driving or you don't move. 3 blinks and I'm getting over. Who's gonna fight with 80,000lbs? I like the fact that the Exc is big enough I can see over most cars or at least through thier windshield and ahead of them. Sorry I'm a redneck and still want a 2 inch lift so I can fit 35's under her.

Limo tint on all back windows and rear passengers, 1 shade over legal up front and a  visorstrip aross the front windshield, keeps my SUV...I can't even explain how much cooler. Good enough that when it's over 100 with the windows and doors open, the dogs can stay in crates inside. I just make sure they have water after working and I wet them down some to take back to the crate. Even without the dogs, it makes it a whole lot easier for the A/C to cool it down after being parked in the sun.