Help me design a tailgate barrier for my dogs!

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

I currently have a station wagon, but am “upgrading” to a small hybrid SUV in a few weeks.

When I only had one small dog, I could move him around in his crate without issue. My Briard puppy, however, is too tall for my car (his head hits the ceiling when he stands up), and I haven’t been able to find a crate he fits in that also fits in the car (#bigdogproblems). So I’m seeking to “build” a crate in the back of this car.

For this SUV, I will first install a pet barrier between the back seats and cargo area (one of these sorts of things). However, I’d like to be able to leave the doors (including the back door) open when it’s warm outside and they’re waiting in the car, so I’m also looking into pet tailgate barriers.

They’re apparently not “a thing,” despite the fact that I think people would totally use them.

I found some examples of tailgate barriers that people have had custom made:
Example 1
Example 2

Since they don’t make them off-the-shelf, I called around to local custom welding businesses. I talked to a guy who was very willing to help me out, but it’s a bit pricey ($100 an hour for design work, PLUS the materials and assembly!). I’m trying to take care of some of the design work up front.

I’ve built lots of things by myself, so I’m fairly good at designing things. I’m working on a basic design that I think will work really well. I’m hoping I can save money by (a) having a viable design the can work from, as well as (b) providing some of the supplies they assemble it with. Can I get COTH thoughts on it?

Apologies for the poor quality of the drawing. Any additional input on my design or implementation would be greatly appreciated!

Here is my basic idea:

-Start with a custom welded metal frame that fits the back of the car (the gray line is the perimeter of the vehicle). Add 2 shower curtain pressure rods vertically- weld them to the bottom of the metal frame, then zip tie them to the middle and top (thus allowing the pressure rods to still be adjusted tighter and looser for easy removal and a secure fit).

• Buy 3 old xpen panels that are an appropriate height and width. One panel with a door, two normal panels. [URL=“https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/q79/s720x720/1517404_622362483931_3480099290860597673_n.jpg”]We would then trim the panels down to match the shape of the metal frame.

-Last step- welding it all together!

Any suggestions for how I might improve the design before I meet with the welding folks??

[tangledweb]

Unless you really need it to be easily removed, I’d look for places to bolt it top and bottom.
The shower rods will be thin and hard to weld to and probably be chrome plated. It would be better if the whole thing could be painted or powder coated without a lot of sandblasting.

Even if you need it removed I’d put it in with something like this instead of the pressure poles
http://www.kipp.com/App/WebObjects/XSeMIPSKIPP.woa/cms/page/locale.enGB/pid.1097.1105.1226/agid.13211.535/ecm.ag/Plastic-knurled-thumb-screws.html

To be honest I’d really seriously consider mail ordering one from one of the places google finds for you. It will probably not cost much more than getting one made, and you’ll know it will work because their design has been tried before.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

[QUOTE=tangledweb;7589747]
Unless you really need it to be easily removed, I’d look for places to bolt it top and bottom.
The shower rods will be thin and hard to weld to and probably be chrome plated. It would be better if the whole thing could be painted or powder coated without a lot of sandblasting.

Even if you need it removed I’d put it in with something like this instead of the pressure poles
http://www.kipp.com/App/WebObjects/XSeMIPSKIPP.woa/cms/page/locale.enGB/pid.1097.1105.1226/agid.13211.535/ecm.ag/Plastic-knurled-thumb-screws.html

To be honest I’d really seriously consider mail ordering one from one of the places google finds for you. It will probably not cost much more than getting one made, and you’ll know it will work because their design has been tried before.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for this advice! I suspected the shower curtain rods might be tough to weld. Perhaps the welder will have ideas. I do want the gate to be easily removable, which is why I was thinking the pressure rod idea. The gates for between the cargo area and the front of the car are held in place by pressure rods, so I didn’t think this would be much different…

In terms of “mail ordering from one of the places google finds” for me… I literally have found 0 vendors who sell this type of produce. I’d love to order a ready-made product, if someone could point me to it! I found some British products that sound promising but don’t fit my car’s model, but otherwise I have found absolutely squat… :sad:

[Mara]

I don’t know how many options you have, and I know how big the Briards are!

But I won’t put my dogs in the cargo area because it puts them at a high risk for injury or worse in the event of a bad rear-end collision. I know, not a lot of options for the big dudes and this post isn’t very helpful.

[Marshfield]

this may be what you need http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3823

[JanM]

Ask the accessories department at the dealer for the full catalog of accessories. Sometimes they have items like this, and you can order them, then they just install the barrier holders, and you can remove the barrier when you want to.

[JanM]

http://www.discountramps.com/dog-pet-barrier/c/7300/

http://www.pettravelcenter.com/products/productlist/24

http://www.petfrenzy.com/dog-gates-for-cars.html

Here are some examples. There’s also a company in England that has these, but the shipping might be a bit high for that. http://www.uplandjournal.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard312a/ikonboard.cgi?act=Print;f=3;t=58785

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;7590195]
this may be what you need http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3823[/QUOTE]

Yes, that would be perfect! The price tag, however, s a bit unfortunate.

I think I’m going to get a quote from the custom welder, and talk to the Ford dealership to see if something might be available as an accessory.

Nice to know there are options out there!!!

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

[QUOTE=JanM;7590270]
http://www.discountramps.com/dog-pet-barrier/c/7300/

http://www.pettravelcenter.com/products/productlist/24

http://www.petfrenzy.com/dog-gates-for-cars.html

Here are some examples. There’s also a company in England that has these, but the shipping might be a bit high for that. http://www.uplandjournal.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard312a/ikonboard.cgi?act=Print;f=3;t=58785[/QUOTE]

These are all barriers that stop a dog from jumping from the cargo area into the seating area.

I am looking for a barrier that will allow me to open the hatch of the car and still have my dogs held in the cargo area.

Kind of, a crate door behind the cargo area door.

[JanM]

The last one looked like tailgate barriers. At least in the tiny picture it did. Scroll down to the blue minivan picture. I don’t like the fact that it was custom, and seemed to be bolted into the frame of the vehicle either.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;7590195]
this may be what you need http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3823[/QUOTE]

Someone else posted this too- YES, it is exactly what I’m looking for. Unfortunately it might be a bit out of my price range; I can get the 3 x-pen panels for my design for $20, so as long as the custom weld job comes in under $700 I think that’s the route I’ll go.

Thanks for the link, though!!!

[Bicoastal]

I want what you want!

And to get what we want, we must go to the UK. I bet your photo examples are from over the pond.

These guys gave me a quote of $300 for a custom-fitted cage. That is the most reasonable I’ve found.

Ya know what?! We need the next COTHer who goes to the UK for horses, to come back with barriers. For real! We can do this! We just need to find the COTHer and find the UK car models most similar to ours.

[Houndhill]

I love how COTHers are great problem solvers!

OP, how about using expen panels all around, not just across the back? That is what I am doing for my minivan. I have two digfferent heights of expen, 42" and 36", hitched together (well, I will, the 36" one just came today). You can put the door of the expens wherever it is convenient, and they come with pieces you can put at the top and bottom of the joins, so that it would keep its shape, or use a piece of PVC with a slot cut in it as a “stiffener”. Xpens come in so many different heights, you should be able to find one that almost completely fills the space you need it to fill. If you had a four-sided one instead of just panels across the back, the dog might be safer (less likely to escape) in the event of an accident, and you could also open the vehicle side windows or doors if desired.

[Houndhill]

And, if a 4 x 4 space is big enough for your dog, you can also buy tops and bottoms for added security.

[Bicoastal]

Whoever posted this, I think it is US. We are getting warm! I have seen a similar setup at Frying Pan Park in VA and stalked the car owner. It was a Volvo and the cage was installed by the dealership, just like that link.

[independentlyawesome]

[QUOTE=Houndhill;7595901]
And, if a 4 x 4 space is big enough for your dog, you can also buy tops and bottoms for added security.[/QUOTE]

or just buy a large crate… that’s what everyone I know does.
Inexpensive & easy.
Although don’t think your car is going to stay cool just b/c you have the tailgate open!

[Houndhill]

[QUOTE=independentlyawesome;7598198]
or just buy a large crate… that’s what everyone I know does.
Inexpensive & easy.
Although don’t think your car is going to stay cool just b/c you have the tailgate open![/QUOTE]

The problem is, OP says a crate big enough for a Briard will not fit into her vehicle, probably too tall. That is the problem I have too, the giant sized crate is too tall to fit into the minivan (I have Irish Wolfhounds), and I don’t consider it really big enough. I have one and use it for one to eat in, but it isn’t really large enough for them to sleep in for a longer car trip. Even a 4 x 4 space is not large enough for them to sleep in stretched out, I’ve tried it.

Of course OP wouldn’t leave her dog in her car when it is hot, even with the tailgate open, but there are some situations and conditions where it might be useful to have that option. Plus, it is nice to be able to open the tailgate while the dog remains confined.

[Mara]

Anyone worry about putting the dogs in the “crumple zone”? I fear a rear-end accident myself, with the dogs ending up trapped back there or, um, way worse than that.

My 2 ride in the back seat of the Element, with their safety tethers. Of course I know there are debates on how effective those are! I know it’s a vehicle-by-vehicle, dog-by-dog choice we have to make as well.

[Houndhill]

[QUOTE=Mara;7598767]
Anyone worry about putting the dogs in the “crumple zone”? I fear a rear-end accident myself, with the dogs ending up trapped back there or, um, way worse than that.

My 2 ride in the back seat of the Element, with their safety tethers. Of course I know there are debates on how effective those are! I know it’s a vehicle-by-vehicle, dog-by-dog choice we have to make as well.[/QUOTE]

Since I now have a minivan, where the dogs ride is designed for where children ride. It has side/rear airbags. In the Yukon XL, hounds rode loose in the back, usually right behind my (driver’s) seat. I did worry, but more about them becoming 200 lb projectiles or getting loose in an accident, rather than getting crumpled. Guess that should have been on my list to worry about! Thankfully no accidents in 40+ years of wolfhound travel, but thank my lucky stars.

I did recently read something about many of the dog harness/seatbelts not actually being protective in the event of an accident, anyone else read this?

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=Mara;7598767]
Anyone worry about putting the dogs in the “crumple zone”? I fear a rear-end accident myself, with the dogs ending up trapped back there or, um, way worse than that.

My 2 ride in the back seat of the Element, with their safety tethers. Of course I know there are debates on how effective those are! I know it’s a vehicle-by-vehicle, dog-by-dog choice we have to make as well.[/QUOTE]

Yes, it’s a big fear for me. My Suburban was rear-ended in 2012 by an asshole driving a pick up truck who ignored a red light. To this day, I regret not punching him in the groin for endangering the dog of my heart. I was on my way to work in ER and declined care for myself to take the girls to the ER where I work. I was sitting there after dialing 911 debating taking them to the closer ER. My rear bumper was crushed in right where Gale was. The next car will have these http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3272&ParentCat=732 Whenever possible the girls ride in a crate behind my seat.