That cost also includes the "extras" like the fun custom nameplate and emergency contact info pouch. The safety essentials (including tie down kit) were more like $345, if I've done my math right. Hopefully I never have to test the safety/utility of the setup, but I think I've covered all my bases!

I don't drive my dog around all that often, so it took me about three years to decide to get a car crate. And it's definitely an expense. But peace of mind is worth the price tag to me. Ultimately the whole setup was around $375, which is a lot less than an emergency vet bill.

Ultimately, my biggest goal is to make sure we're both safe in case of an accident. As he's a reactive dog, I wanted to make sure he was securely contained and not a risk to anyone approaching my vehicle. And the Ruffland is too big to fit between the seats and be a projectile.

Currently I have two straps on it, but I may opt to add a third for more stability around the middle, after I take it for its first ride tomorrow. And if I need more room for a passenger, I could loosen the ratchet straps and scoot it further towards the door.

And to anyone curious about my setup, I have the Ruffland sitting on top of a dog hammock (my previous solution-- I'm keeping it to protect the seats from muddy paws). I'll have an emergency info pouch attached to the top, plus a nameplate attached to the front. All secured with 12' ratchet straps.

It's also shorter than the seats, so I'll be able to see out the back. My SUV doesn't allow for a kennel in the trunk due to how the safety cage is engineered. So I opted for the medium Ruffland and just crossed my fingers it would fit as well as I hoped in the backseat.

Needs to be shipped to an address in the US, so US-based makers would be preferable, due to the uncertainty in international shipping to the US right now :(

I'm definitely looking forward to the days when I can just leave the back door open for him all day to come and go as he pleases and enjoy the yard to its full extent!

In winter, my parking lot dog from Mexico often wants to come inside-- he doesn't like rain. But in summer, he's impossible to get inside, and will lounge in the yard for the entire day, if we let him. I wonder how Turkey Dog will react come spring/summer? 🤔

for reference, if anyone has any ideas: 2010 subaru forester, planning on ordering a ruffland size medium, single-door! current set-up is a back seat hammock and dog seat belt, but it isn't crash tested, and i'm driving him around a lot more so want to update the whole set up

of course, they changed that for later models, but i'm not putting my dog in the crumple zone of my car and defeating the purpose of putting him in a crate in the first place, so....... gotta figure out how to strap his crate into the back seat

She's darling! And she looks so big already in that third photo.

40 lbs and super long is such an awkward size to size for crates. He's comfy in a 36" at home and was cramped in his previous 30" but I know it should be way snugger for a car ride... and I need to be able to see out of my back window, I'm not comfortable driving without it.

Current dream setup would be the special edition DU Blue Gunner in Intermediate or Medium (need to do a full measure to be sure), strapped to the backseat, but it's a huge investment. SO hard to make these decisions, even though I know I should just pick one and be done with it 😭

Dog in trunk isn't an option because of how the pre-2014 Subaru Forester crumple zones work (no safety ring in trunk). Worried the Ruffland or Dakota wouldn't be as safe though and maybe if I invest, I should maybe go big or go home, even though they'd be easier for me to maneuver?