ike Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Has anyone had cages/transit boxes contructed/installed in their van for transporting dogs? For years we have simply put harnesses on ours and attached them to the seat belts but we're now considering having something more secure. We've made enquiries of a specialist company in Yorkshire but unfortunately the cost would be around £1200 to specially construct and fit two transit boxes into the garage of our Pilote garage. And of course should we ever come to sell the van we would have to remove said boxes, probably having to destroy them in the process. Anyone done this sort of thing? We're looking for something more substantial than ordinary dog cages. any help gratefully received as usualIke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Ike how big are your dogs. I see you say that you want something of better construction than an ordinary dog cage . What is the reasoning behind this . I ask because you would save yourself a whole lot of money just to have a normal one allowing you to customise and secure yourself just incase of an accident god forbid. How about as an idea just to save money and time trying a nice bit of MDF with breathin wholes everywhere or designed to the best possible standard for the dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 Hi Michelle We have two Rotties. The cab transit boxes are made of a very strong polypropylene which will withstand a major collision (does old age bring these kind of worries?). However we are talking to our local joiner/metal worker who may be able to come up with a solution. Thanks for your suggestion.ike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 You are welcome i only wished I could help more . obviously you know what pay load you have to contend with not sure which is the heavier metal wood /or the dogs :D big guys I see God luck I hope you get your problem solved . i bet you conjure a pretty darn good secure box out of a good dog cage and secure it well with some thought ...anyway all the best . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Try googling "Croft dog cages". They make stuff for transporting to shows etc so they should have something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Hi Ike, this is a very difficult and to some extent delicate subject. First of all why do you want travelling cages as opposed to the harnesses you have been using? Which do you wish to protect most from accident damage, the dogs or the motorhome? I know that sounds like an accusation but believe me it isn't intended to be :-| . My point is that while cages may restrain the dogs (and Rotties do tend to be larger than most so will need some serious restraining ;-) ) they are not likely to be good to the dogs in the event of an accident. I do, at this juncture wonder how kind a chest harness would be to a large dog (our own lovely mutt, Dex weighs in at 35 KGs so classes as large for most people ;-) ) in the event of an accident (?) . Of course the good news is that motorhomes feature very lightly in the head on collision stakes so the need for restraint will be minimal..................................unless of course (through no fault of your own) you're unfortunate enough to be in that small minority that do feature :-S . I am seriously interested in this as our own lovely mutt (Dex) currently travels in a chest harness secured to a strong anchor point in the floor but if I could be persuaded that a cage would give him (and us) better protection I'd get a cage tomorrow. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Barjo made a cage for us to fit a Discovery, (about 15 years ago, Still going strong ( the cage , not the Discovery !) Not cheap, but well made, some good ideas on design and fold-ability, also had an escape hatch, so cage could be opened in an accident, if door was blocked. https://www.barjo.co.uk/ Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hi Dave The concern is for the dogs rather than the van. The boxes we have looked at so far will survive a major crash - have seen photos of 4x4 with smashed back door and boxes/dogs intact but they are pretty expensive. Will look at the sites suggested by the others. Our older dog weighs about 50 kilos and we also now have a pup who is still at the chewing stage and from experience harnesses are susceptible to sharp teeth! Having said that we have travelled for years using harnesses, secured to a strong fixing point but hubby has it in his mind that he wants a more secure environment for them and once HE gets the bit between his teeth! Although it's me who has to do the research. If we had to brake very hard would harnesses hold (they have up until now). In addition the dogs are often very wet/muddy and having their own cage in the garage means they could be put straight in there to dry off thereby avoiding muckying the interior. I know there are ways around all of those issues but thanks for your interest and comments, of which more are welcome.ike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Fair enough Ike, I look forward to hearing how you proceed with this in due course :-) . D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hi Ike A few questions for you to ponder: 1) What is the payload of your garage? 2 x 50kg dogs plus a strong cage could easily take it over its limit. This could easily be the case if you intend to put other items in the garage as well. Also, if you do carry other items, will they still fit in with the dog cages in there? 2) Is there any heat/ventilation in the garage whilst you're travelling? It could get very cold/hot in there so you need to think about this as well. 3) Do you dogs get travel sick at all? This could be caused or made worst by them being in the swinging and bouncing tail end of the motorhome. 4) Are you really sure you want to put your dogs in the garage and leave them there? I couldn't contemplate doing this with our mutts, I like to have them with us to see what they are doing and make sure they are okay whilst travelling. If you are content to do so then that's up to you, I'm not saying that it's wrong, just that I wouldn't personally do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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