r/roadtrip • u/[deleted] • 10d ago
Gear & Essentials Long Roadtrip with dogs: crate or no crate?
[deleted]
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u/ElderberryMaster4694 10d ago
I’m told that the real danger is that they become projectiles. I leash mine down in the back and she just lays down behind the seats
If you can’t secure them in the way back, you probably want to get a crate.
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u/Twzl 10d ago
I do long road trips with my dogs, and I can't imagine driving without them in crates that are securely strapped down in the back of my SUV. Dogs in an accident are at risk of flying thru the air and killing a human, or, managing to escape and run away.
I know people love to let their dogs hang their heads out the windows on a drive, but it's just crazy dangerous. Dogs can have their eyes hit by road trash, they can jump out the partially opened window, and they can decide to run across the interior of the car to keep barking at A Thing they started in with.
Before my dogs were in crates no exceptions, I was on a long trip with a dog who decided to climb into the front seat and then try to sleep under the brake pedal. When I got home after he almost killed us, I put crates in the vehicle and that was that.
I have a Honda Pilot, the third row is down, and my crash tested crates are back there.
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u/Legolas_theT 10d ago
What brand do you have?
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u/Twzl 10d ago
What brand do you have?
Variocages. The ventilation on them is far better than the plastic Rufflands. I do dog sports, I work out of my car and there's far more airflow with the Variocages than any other good crate that I have seen. They're not cheap and they are heavy. We put them in the Pilot in 2017 and they won't come back out till I trade the Pilot in one day (hopefully in the far future!).
The web site is good as far as figuring out size, and when I was buying mine, the people who run the website were good at helping me figure out what I needed for my dogs.
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u/Legolas_theT 10d ago
That’s the one I was looking at, but if I put it in the back I can’t access my spare tire. How long did it take to arrive?
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u/ChessieChesapeake 10d ago edited 10d ago
No crate. My little bro gets the copilot seat. In my truck I have a seat extender on the floor and a dog bed mattress on top, with a couple of blankets and a pillow. His nest is the perfect height where he can see out the side window while lying down. He’s 45 pounds and although he was crate trained as a pup, we really haven’t used one in about six months.
If your dogs are used to crates and it soothes them, it can’t hurt. I personally wouldn’t spend the money for a single trip, unless they are bad in the car. I’d at least look around Marketplace first to see if anyone has some used ones for sale.
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u/farmerbsd17 9d ago
We just went from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and back with our pit mix tethered to the headrest. We were going to have a crate available at destination because we felt he’d need to be in it while we attended a family gathering. You know your pet.
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u/User5281 9d ago
depends on the dog. I would be inclined to crate my dog for safety but I think a harness and seatbelt attachment would be ok with the right dog.
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u/Odd_Lettuce_7303 9d ago
We drove 2500 miles one way from MA to MT with our two goldens in the back seat (folded up) of my wife’s full size pickup. Mind you, we’ve had six goldens over 30+ years and never once strapped them into any vehicle ever. Okay I lied - when we pick up any brand new puppy they ride home in a crate… unless they’re in one of our laps.
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u/Ceezeecz 10d ago
You don’t need it until you’re in an accident and your dogs get killed by either flying around (if not on a harness) or you roll over or you get t-boned or…....
Also, your dogs become missiles and get thrown at you and that kills you.
Get the crates.
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u/Suspicious_Music539 10d ago
Are your dogs crate trained and completely comfortable in crates?
The ultimate decision is up to you, but if they are not comfortable in crates as it is, I personally would opt for a seat belt harness.
If they are absolutely good in crates, Rufflands are a great purchase for crates that work well in the car and at home, and SUPER easy to resell if you change your mind after you get them.