Dog Crates

Can post pictures later tonight !

 

Vario crate here, no back seats, platform+d-rings. getting ready to do a custom crate setup in the back. we picked up another dog. if I could take the time to go to TX, rob a bank to pay for it while waiting for this guy to build a setup, I would.

http://www.kustomkrates.com/customunits.html

 

I agree, love their crate builds. I think I'm going to save up and just do it. I run Impact currently but they wont fit side by side for my GSDs.

 

Buy the Gunner. Trust me...

 

I run two shepherds in two large rtk kennels. Fits between the wheel wells

 

it's why I have the vario...had an accident, dogs were in the cab and in their wire crates. no injuries but it got me thinking, what if it was worse... googled dog wire crate accident. bought the vario the next day. absolutely a no brainer best money we've spent on the dogs. I carry bolt cutters in the truck just in case. we show/sport our dogs and seems like everyone not using impact/et al arw either loose in the car or in shit wire crates and only a matter of time before someone crashes.

also that gunner crate is practically bomb proof. I wish I could get 2x inside the cabin. spun plastic is crazy strong.

 

I consider the gunner to have the advantage of having smooth, energy absorbing interior as a good thing. Disadvantages are that they are not space efficient and they are heavy. The extra large we have is not particularly roomy and really a “bitch” to move up and down stairs for my old and outa shape me.

 

The Gunner is certainly not light. But when Center For Pet Safety tested it - it broke their machine before it broke the kennel. If your goal is pet safety - Gunner is in a league of its own. There are other products that may "get the job done" but if you want the safest kennel money can buy get the Gunner.

 

If I recall correctly, Gunner Kennels is the ONLY crash tested kennel on the market.

 

I’m a gunner owner, not trying to make a commercial. I would buy one again. The idea was to use it upstairs in our house as our Dutch Shepherd’s “house” and move it down the stairs and into our van for camping trips and such. One thing good is that it fits through the doors, it is just an absolute bear to get up and down the steps and is not getting used as often as it should. It can only improve the dogs safety if it gets used. I am not posting this as a complaint but as information for others to consider.

In my opinion the aluminum kennels look like cheese graters for pets and that is why we decided on the Gunner. Also Gunner is a small family business based in Nashville TN and offer very good customer service. The Gunner crates are not easy to break down which would help the moving problem. For a smaller dog and a medium kennel I guess many problems go away. Our large Kennel has built in wheels which help but don’t work as I envisioned.

I hope my post is helpful so some. It is a great product, if pricey.

 

nope: https://www.google.com/search?q=crash+tested+dog+crates

Gunner has the best testing outcomes and are considered superior but not the ONLY crash tested kennel on the market.

https://www.mimsafe.se/en/safety-products/variocage/

 

Anyone know if two Gunner Kennel Intermediates will fit in-between the wheel wells?

 

Strongly discourage a Impact crate for traveling. Their not going to hold up what so ever for an impact. I went thru 4 of them in 6 months for home crating. Ended up just asking for my money back because I got tired of defects.


I recommend gunner for traveling, I had one and it was the most solid and secure crate I have ever seen. Impact rated and crash tested. However it was too small for my boy as I was going to use it for dual purposes.

second I recommend Ruffland kennel crates. I currently have an xl and it’s very high quality, nothing like a gunner however it’s better than any wire crate or 2 piece plastic crate.

they’ll fit in your bed or in the back of your cab if you have a double cab. The gunner will need the bed.

 

According to their website they won't. I was considering going with these: https://www.zingerwinger.com/10-DD.html

Two together just fit between the wheel wells.

 

Hey everyone, a little late on the uptake here but, hey, whatever

I have a grand plan:

1. Remove back seat, make platform
2. Dog crate in 60% back seat (Likely, probably won't fit in the 40). I'm looking at the Ruff Land probably large (I need to find some around me and test fit, I have a 40LB catahoula but want to be able to use the same crate in the future, ~60lb size probably max for us).

Now, my girl, catahoula, loves the mud. And beach. Sand, mud, mud, mud, etc. When (a) she's muddy and (b) it's warm enough, I'd like to be able to strap the crate in the bed. Problem is, I don't want to leave it back there 24/7, since it can (a) get too cold for her back there and (b) that'll just get stolen, like, immediately. So my grand plan here is a crate with tie downs, keep it in the cabin by default, in the back 60%, and she can get in and out easily. I'll look at a cover, etc to keep mud contained inside if needed.

BUT anyway, long of the short, looking at a ruff land kennel w/ handles and tie downs. There are a few tie down options with Ruff Land
https://rufflandkennels.com/product-category/accessories/tie-down-connectors/

Either D rings or brackets. I am leaning toward the D rings, plan is to use 4x ratchet straps in the bed for tie downs when it goes into the bed, and I'll figure out the cabin tie downs - I'm less worried about that one.

Anyone have an opinion, bracket or D rings? See any issues/concerns with my plans for the dog crate in the truck? (DC SB)

 

Interested to see the outcome, I am interested in doing similar but with a Gunner Kennel and remove the 60% portion and keep the 40% for a child seat.

 

I'll post here when I get it set up. I'm definitely pulling a seat out, one way or another. I'm planning to kind of build my own platform off the goose gear setup - ply and 8020. Probably aiming to keep the back panel in place so that it's a hot swap to put seats back in should I need/want to.

I like the gunner but and not sure it's worth it compared to the Ruff Land. About 2x as much once I get the straps and D rings for the ruff land

 

@taco-houla I had a Gunner Large for my dude, I ended up returning it because the inside was too small. I got a Ruffland Xl, it will not fit inside the cabin of a Tacoma, even with removing the seats. The Large May fit in the back, however the issue I had with fitting the crate in the back was being able to fit it width wise thru the door frame as the door somewhat small. The intermediate would fit in the back though for sure. An intermediate would most likely fit your needs, I have a large ruffland arriving today, when it comes in I can give you a better idea on if I think it’d fit.

I ended up getting rid of my taco though because I wasn’t able to fit two crates in the cabin, I ended up getting a 4Runner so I could have both dogs in the back.

 

Man....I should have got a 4runner Nah, I'm happy with my bed - It's nice to have the ability to power wash it. Maybe I can convince the wife she needs a 4R when it's time to trade in her camry

If I went Gunner it would be the intermediate size, which I think is similar to the Ruff Land Large (outside dimensions). Realistically a RL Medium or Inter would work (and come with the handle already ), but I think the RL Large or Gunner Intermediate is the right size for long term.

Good timing on the delivery I guess! Remember I am also ripping out the seats (and if I need to, can do the back panel too, I don't have a sub so it's just a bunch of plastic bits).

Looking for a local dealer of either so I can actually bring my girl to test run her getting inside. I'll need to do an "in theory" +20% on her size for our next dogs to see that they'll work with the crate.

 

it wasn’t so much the seat, because width and height of the actual backseat with it folded down worked for a ruffland large. The thing that didn’t work was actually getting it in there. I couldn’t get it passed the actual door itself. The door fully open inpeded me getting the crate inside.