Hello And Dog Guard Question (Again)

[FireFrog]

Dear all

I'm new here - so new I haven't bought my RAV4 yet - but have been dreaming of it for ages and the cold weather has tipped us over the edge. I just need to work out which one has the best fuel economy within our price range - and find out how to sort the dog guard thing.

I realise this isn't a new topic, but I can't find out whether a 3 door (which is all I want - don't need anything bigger and assume they eat more fuel?) can take a dog guard and has room for 2 smallish dogs in the boot area (with boot guard, obviously). I've got agility-minded friends who take out the seats and put a dog crate in, but I'd rather not have it sloshing around in the back if I can avoid it.

Does anyone have any idea whether such a thing exists? And if so, where do I get one?

many thanks

Ff

[Big Kev]

Unless you have dogs the size of hamsters, there is no way in creation you could have them in the back along with the two seats. I would respectfully suggest you will reqiure to remove the seats same as your friends, or have the dogs run along side you when you take them out !!!

Big Kev.

[Davrav]

Hello Ff and welcome to the club.

Can't really advise on which guard/net would fit your not yet purchsed RAV, or how much space there is in the back of a three door, but genuine Toyota guards pop up on e-bay fairly regularly.

Three door driving canine owners will be able to enlighten you as to space etc.

Good luck with the search and post a photo when you get one

[Logie]

I thought about boot/dog space for a long time before buying my RAV a few weeks ago and i opted for a 5 door which now im glad I did as there is only really enough room in there for my Boxer. My advice.... if you have dogs you'll need a 5 door. Most of all enjoy your RAV.

[bluevortex]

Am I right in thinking a net dog guard is available for a 4.3? Where can they be had? Price?

[chatman]

Unless you have dogs the size of hamsters,

Big Kev.

:rolleyes:

The 3dr RAV has a VERY small boot not ideal for rover to be squashed in there..... :nono:

Here's the dog guard I have in my 5dr RAV.....It's the net type but keeps my Labrador from sitting with us in the front when braking hard :unsure:

[FireFrog]

Thank you all - I was heading (clearly) for a huge mistake - tho' I will still go and talk to the lady at agility who has one and find out how she does it - I guess she has a crate pretty well secured in the back - IF the back seats come out - I'm pretty sure that's what she said.

so now hunting for 5 doors... will post again when I have one

hugest thanks

Ff

[bothwell_buyer]

Depending on the model, perhaps, then you can fold the rear seats forward and gets loads of stuff in that way.

Or you can take one or both seats out - its an easy task and easy to put the seats back in, should you need them to ferry round bigger version pets.

The 3 door with the seats folded forward would fit your purpose. For only 2 of you, and 2 wee dugd, then a 5 door is well over the top.....and then you have to think about all those extra hinges and the maintenance!!

[FireFrog]

Depending on the model, perhaps, then you can fold the rear seats forward and gets loads of stuff in that way.

Or you can take one or both seats out - its an easy task and easy to put the seats back in, should you need them to ferry round bigger version pets.

The 3 door with the seats folded forward would fit your purpose. For only 2 of you, and 2 wee dugd, then a 5 door is well over the top.....and then you have to think about all those extra hinges and the maintenance!!

Thank you - yes - we looked at a 5 door today and it's way bigger than we need or want (also fuel economy seems to be significantly lower, and emissions higher...) So I'm back to looking at 3 doors and finding a way to get the dog(s) in handily. Currently one working cocker and my step daughter's terrier, so size not huge, but if the agility takes off, we may end up with a border collie.... so want to plan ahead.

very many thanks

Ff

[Panders]

Sorry for late reply but just seen this. Do you need to leave the rear seats in? I have a 3dr with th rear seats removed and a universal dog guard, also bought a boot liner and the dog has his own space at the back where he is very comfortable and with the rear seats removed the fuel economy is improved too! I don't use a crate but he has a high sided bed which stops him rolling about in the back as he readily lies down and sleeps on journeys.

pamela

[Mstock3]

Firefrog,

We run a 5 door 1998 RAV and have three dogs, two Wire Haired Vizslas (WHV) and a mid size Mongrel, with the rear seats up they just manage to fit in the back. Whilst the youngest WHV was a pup we used a 36" crate, this nearly filled the boot and we certainly couldn't get the other dogs in. Now that the pup is a reasonable size we have fitted both a rear guard and a tail guard, the tail guard means that we can control the dogs exit from the boot rather than having them jump out as soon as the door is open. Also during the summer if we need to leave the dogs in the Car, whilst we are showing one of them, the tail guard can be locked and the rear door locked with an extension bar from the existing rear door lock. I will post some photos tomorrow, when we have some better light.

Our dog guards were brought off flea-bay very reasonably, but can be obtained from numerous manufacturers found online - MMG, Barjo and Croft to name a few.

Another option would be have a tailored crate made for the 3 door - seats down, which was an option we considered.

Best of luck with your search.