dog friendly small SUV or light truck - Page 1

I am thinking about moving from a car to a small-medium SUV (ex: no Excursions or Durangos) or light truck. It does not have to be brand new, but I need it to be able to fit a large crate in the back. What do you all drive and recommend? How many crates can you fit in? Thanks!

If you are in the United States, you can get a small V6 truck or SUV but my experience is that they are not really more fuel efficient (and sometimes less) than the larger V8 turcks.  If power and off road capability do not matter than a small pickup with a 2.4 L engine may fit the bill. (Ranger, Tacoma - manual-4WD not available in this engine size).  If you are driving mostly highway miles I would opt for the large SUV or Truck.  I have just retired my Ford Explorer and it really got no better fuel Economy than the Excurusion.  

The Escape may be an option if you don't need to have room for back seat passengers and a crate ---- same thing with the Honda CRV.Another option is the mini-van.  Some of them are quite fuel efficient.  Neither one of these is a true off road vehicle (you did not mention) but should do for dirt roads and sport fields etc.

I recently bought a humongous "gag" Tundra because I needed off-road capabilty and ability to transport SAR dogs and wanted to be able to leave them parked in the back for long periods of time.  It is much cooler under an open camper shell than with all that glass in an SUV and I can still lock the passeneger compartment of my truck.  I talked with an  owner of a similarly equipped Tacoma and he was averageing 16mpg while I was averaging 17.2 overall.  I get 19-20 on the hwy.

If you are in Europe or India you have a wealth of options with fuel efficient turbodiesels

Depending on how you load my truck I can go 3 - 4 crates but I have to shuffle dogs and crates if I do 4.  The big SUVs and Minivans can carry 4 with better access (if you don't carry passengers)

If you can get a good price the pre 2007 Tundra could be a good buy - it was smaller than the current one and got better fuel economy.

The Europeans and Indians have access to small turbodiesels that get stunning fuel economy but are not marketed in the US (including one made by Ford (the Ranger Thunder .........grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)

A Ford Ranger might work. Does anyone have a Kia Sorento? They look like nice vehicles, but I have not heard about how good Kia vehicles are.

I just got a Dodge Grand Caravan. It gets 22-27 mpg and all the seats fold into the floor. It handles great -FWD. I got a rental return 2007 with a great warranty for a great price. I know Vans aren't cool but I have had a Van since 1999 for the dogs and I will not go back to a truck- maybe an SUV one day when I am wealthy.

I looked at the Sorentos they are nice, but I couldn't beat the deal I got on the Dodge.

I had an '03 Chevy Tracker 4 door and it would fit one extra large crate in back.  Or easily fit two German Shepherds with no crate.  It got like 23 MPG, was a 2.4 L4.  I was happy with it, I could pull a small trailer and carry my dog anywhere.  Not bad for the price and gas mileage.  Unfortunately, my psycho ex went crazy on it and it was totaled when it only had like 19k on it so I can't speak for their longevity.  I am following this thread as I am looking for a replacement.  I think the Ford Rangers get my vote.  I know a lady who has a Ranger and does dog rescue....she can manage to safely fit amazing amounts of dogs in it.

The main thing with the Ranger is if you get the 4.0LV6 Engine (A tried and true engine) you will not get great fuel economy. 

A lot really depends on the driving style.  I consistenly get better fuel economy than the EPA list sbecause I drive 65 on the highway, and don't do a lot of acceleration.  The reason the V6 does not do better than V8 on hwy is RPMs.

The only way to get better fuel economy with the Ranger is the 2.4L 4 banger 2WD with a manual transmission, standard cab (actually the Ranger does not come with a full double cab).  If you can live with that, it is pretty good.

If you do not need a truck or SUV  (I had several other reasons for a truck) the minivan REALLY works well.  FWD typical, AWD versions avaialbe - not so good if you want to do a lot of towing or put boats in slippery boat ramps or really drive offroad but quite fine for most situations ................ you can slide those doors open and get great cross ventilation./dogs don't have to jump up and down (hard on joints)/safer than most trucks/better fuel economy.  We put 275K on our 94 Dodge Caravan - (did have to replace the transmission around 225K)

Another thing for a small truck - Mihandra, and Indian tractor and truck is bringing in a small common rail turbo diesel 4WD truck in 2009 (they claim it meets emission standards)...............I think it gets 39 mpg.  The company has a reputation for reliablity (they build tractors)..........I may wait a few years and see how it does - my big concern would be safety features. [I like my plentifu air bags, ABS, traction control, stability control).  The small truck should be reasonably priced and a REAL truck, just small.  [Most small pickups in the US are boy toys]

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/05/31/mahindra-hopes-to-offer-diesel-small-trucks-suvs-and-sedans-in/

We have a Santa Fe...AWD and can fit 2-500 vari-crates side ways. I have a roof mounted carrier that I use for gear. Around town we get 19-20 and at least 23-24 on the highway still and that's with 80k miles on it.

HMMM - I have a Santa Fe, can get 3 Large (ie 400 vari kennels in it) but don't get that kind of mileage!  Anyone interested in it?  Loaded, white with leather !

lee

was the santa fe the car you were driving when you were thrown out of the last 5 clubs????

I rented a Santa Fe when I was in Reno at the SS - what a piece of junk.  It was terrible to handle, and fit one 500 crate but at an angle since the back seats didn't go down all the way and the crate woudln't fit in sideways.  So the dog had to ride on an incline the whole time.  A friend has an Escape, VERY roomy and fits several crates, all seats come out or fold down ( not sure which) and the interior is vinal - just hose it out LOL.  It gets good MPG as well, I'm told.  Not an SUV though.  I've rented minivans when flying to trials as well, have never been sorry - plenty of room for crates and stuff, good MPG and easy to drive.  Woudln't own one, but always rent one when I'm out and about.  Myself, I drive a full-size Chevy truck - HD 4X4 Duramax Diesel - it's a BIG truck but still gets 18-20 MPG, got 24 MPG on a long flat trip to St. Louis a few months ago.  Can't beat that - just wish the diesel fuel prices would drop back down.   But the truck is easy to drive, goes everywhere (difficult to parallel park though) and hauls my horses, fits 4 500 crates plus anything extra you want to fit in there.  Excellent truck.

molly