Two More Crates Worth a Look-See
I recently came across two crates that I hadn't seen before. Each of them fits a niche that I think can be helpful when traveling with dogs.
The first is a model called The Other Door
The second crate is your typical wire crate but with a unique door that folds up into the crate. Not like the "garage" style of The Other Door, but something that folds up. I think it would probably work really well being placed behind the front seats, where regular crate doors end up hinged on the wrong side or hit the curved parts of the car door opening. This crate is made by J-B Pet and is called a "Premier Series Crate."
I'm actually mid-process of putting together a crate matrix for all the different types of wire crates out there. I'm surprised at how many different styles there are with various wire gauges and spacings, overall size variations, number of doors, etc. Since we at CarGoDogs.com travel with Belgians, our focus tends to go towards the 24x36 sizes, but the crate matrix will be complete with the smallest up to a monster 48" crate! I'm sure it will be a continually evolving thing, as new styles and sizes are manufactured. As I mentioned on our Belgian list recently, consider that there are a myriad of crates out there that may be different than what you currently own. Finding just the right crates might make your dream car into the perfect dogmobile! Oh - and I admit, I prefer wire crates, but we plan to eventually put together a crate matrix for plastic crates, too.
After seeing this crate mentioned on this site, I became very interested in it. I did lots of research and was shocked at the prices. I wound up buying the 27"L x 18"W x 21"H size which is the small. I bought mine from Ebay for $120 (including shipping). This was by far the best price I could find anywhere!! When I first received the crate and started setting it up, I was a little disappointed. For the price, it didn't seem as sturdy at first. I know in the process of setting up the crate, I've caused the "garage door" to jump its track about 10 times already. Despite that, I really do like the crate and have already received several comments from other dog people about it. This crate is very convenient since it has four doors to choose from. I love the fact that the crate folds down to four or so inches. It's not near as heavy as some of the wire crates I've carried, and it has wheels. I've taken several photos and will post them soon when I get a chance. BTW, this past week, I took the flattened crate out of my RAV, set it up, and rolled it across the agility field. Our very-hyper Eskie Cheyenne didn't break out of the crate when she was in it during class, so if this crate can stand up to her "roughness," it should be fine for everyone else's dogs.
Hi Eskie-mom! I know it has been three months since you wrote, so I hope you are still visiting this website. I sure would like to know how safe you feel this is for car travel. As Kim mentioned in another review of crates, wire crates could fold in on and crush my dog in a serious accident. Wonder about the propensity of this crate folding in on itself, with no way to secure the panels to the top, as one could with a wire crate. Additionally, how durable is the base with the wheels - are the wheels still working well? This seems like a valuable feature since I need a 36 or 42 inch crate for my large whippet.
Your thoughts would be much appreciated.
Deborah
Hi Deborah -
A friend of mine back east saw one of these crates in a store. She looked at the largest size, I believe, and felt that the quality was lacking and the item was not very solidly built. I'm guessing the smaller sizes may not be as bad, but I'd be inclined to look at one in person before a purchase if possible. Too bad, the concept is a great one!
Hi Deborah -
A friend of mine back east saw one of these crates in a store. She looked at the largest size, I believe, and felt that the quality was lacking and the item was not very solidly built. I'm guessing the smaller sizes may not be as bad, but I'd be inclined to look at one in person before a purchase if possible. Too bad, the concept is a great one!
Deborah, I personally haven't used the Other Door crate in the car yet. In fact, if I ever take all three Eskies around, I'll probably actually put the two smaller dogs in one of my wire crates and then put the other dog in the other wire crate. I personally think that the Pet Gear crate used in a car would not fare well at all. But that's me, and I'm no expert.
The two wheels have been through a great bit and seem to have lots of spins left!!! I've pulled this crate over graveled parking lots, up concrete hills, over grassy fields, and all sorts of other places. As I've mentioned before, it's the "garage" door that seems to be the potential downfall of this crate since it jumps its track when I am setting and folding up the crate. It is annoying but worth it. (And no, I don't work for this company. I'm just a lowly Alabama teacher.)
As far as the wire versus plastic kennel in a car goes, I've used both. I've seen photos of both types of crates after car accidents and both suffered damage. Because of my current vehicle, I now use wire crates so they can fit next to one another. The crates are Ultima three door crates and seem to be some of the strongest crates out there because of the lower wire gauge. They are also heavier which probably doesn't improve MPG!!! Oh well!!!
BTW, I have cable ties (to control rattles) and thick metal rings (heavy duty additional chain links) all around these crates so if we were in an accident, hopefully the thick steel rings would help keep the crate together. If the back of the crates do get smashed or if I can't open the back of my RAV, I can hopefully use the front doors of the crates to get my dogs out. Let's hope I'm never put to the test on any of this.
Andrea and the Bama Eskies
I'm with you, Andrea - my favorite crate for all around use is the Midwest Ultima 3-Door. I like the low gauge of wire and the flexibility of multiple doors. Another of my favorites is the Precision "Suitcase" style crate, because it easily folds up and down in a tight space. It also has the stronger wire mesh and the stainless steel looks nice. Only one door tho'.
Another tip to secure wire crates in the car is to get spring clips from any of the hardware stores and put them at the places where the crates separate (tops and sides) so the crates can't collapse in on themselves. You can then take bungee cords and pull them taught to limit the clanging on the road. (It would get annoying!) You can also use the clips/bungees or lashing to strap the crates to cargo hooks or other locations in your vehicle so the crates don't move around. Double-sided Velcro tape works well for all that, too. Again, check your hardware store. (I walk the aisles and get lots of creative ideas!)
Kim
CarGoDogs.com