Thoughts on older minivans

[dogmush]

^^^

That's what I was going to mention.  When my pups ride in the Outback I put both seats down, they hop in the back hatch and just go right up behind the drivers seat to lick my ear while riding.  I have one of those dog seat cover things that hooks to the back of the front seats and has a board that fills the gap so they don't slip into the footwell.

Basically everything from the back of the front seats to the gate is one big flat doggo bed.  But they ride up by me unless there's a pedestrian out the back that needs to be barked at.

ETA:  Not exactly this seat extender/hammock, but this is the basic idea:  https://www.amazon.com/Chumajor-Extender-Dogs-Supports-Waterproof-Bottom-Detachable/dp/B0CCNBLGBR/  It goes from the back of the rear seats to about 2/3ds of the way in the cargo area.

[K Frame]

"Ms Serene"

Seren is anything but serene. 

No ending e on her name. Seren is Welsh for star.

I'm German-Welsh, and she's a German breed, so I decided that she needed a Welsh name.

I was thinking Rhian or Rhiannon but I didn't want people saying "OH wow, you must be a huge Fleetwood Mac fan!"

Well, I am, but I didn't want people thinking I named my dog for the song.

Instead, I've had a number of people ask me why I named her after a German WW II nerve gas and am I a Nazi or something?

Jesus wept... 


Anyway...

I just bought a hard bottom rear seat hammock to replace the sling that I had for years. It has made it much better for Seren as she doesn't get stuck in the swale. She'd sit in the swale (where the fabric dipped between the backs of the front seats and the rear seat base and she'd have trouble getting out of it.

The hard bottom seat extender has made a HUGE difference in her ability to safely and comfortably ride in the rear seat.


I'm not sure that the one I have supports partially folding down the rear seat. I'll have to look, but I'd have to load her in the rear, get her to move up to the seat, maneuver over the folded seat to the point where I could fold it back up.

As for keeping the rear seats down and keeping the whole rear area as her carrier... then where would I stow the ramp or stairs that I need to get her into or out of the Forester? I don't have roof rails on this Forester.

I can't have her AND the ramp or stairs all riding loose in the cargo area. That's a recipe for absolute disaster.

She's got to either ride in the rear seat or she's got to ride in the cargo area.

Ideally this ramp will work in getting her into the rear seat and I can then stow it in the cargo area. That would be the best solution. But I won't know until I see it.

[dogmush]

Doesn't the Forester have cargo area tiedowns?  I assumed you'd be bungieing/strapping the ramp down anyway.

[K Frame]

Yes, but I wouldn't trust them to keep the ramp from becoming a projectile. They're more "grocery bag" tie downs that cargo tie downs.

And I also wouldn't want Seren moving around in the back and trying to maneuver around the ramp or stairs while we're driving.

[Ben]

Man, learn something new every day. I've not even seen those hardbottom back seat things before. I'm getting one for Steve-O.

[K Frame]

Man, learn something new every day. I've not even seen those hardbottom back seat things before. I'm getting one for Steve-O.

Tell me about it. I had NO clue that they existed. I was even considering building a platform like I did for Mason years ago for my old Outback.

Then, out of the blue, I started getting literally INNUNDATED with advertisements for them on my phone and on Facebook.

Huge range of prices, too.

I did some mental calculations based on cost, weight carrying capacity and, to be honest, how much longer I expect Seren to be with me and picked this one from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C93QVJZX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

When I got it it had a $25 off coupon.

So far it's been perfect for my girl.

I did purchase another one, very similar, before that one, but it was damaged in shipping between Amazon hubs and was returned automatically.

When I tried to order a replacement from the vendor, it had either a 2 or 3 week delivery gap. Nope, no way.

I picked the one above and had it 2 days later.

[dogmush]

Man, learn something new every day. I've not even seen those hardbottom back seat things before. I'm getting one for Steve-O.

Yeah they're great.  Mrs. Mush has that same one K-Frame posted for the back of her Bronco Sport, and we put the pups in it, zip up the sides and they can rid around in their own little hammock without slipping into any holes. Highly recommend.

It even has a $20 Coupon right now to bring it down to $80.

[K Frame]

If you buy the one I linked the coupon brings the price down to $69.

[dogmush]

If you buy the one I linked the coupon brings the price down to $69.

Huh.  I was logged out of Amazon on my work computer so it wa $99 w/ $20 Coupon.  Log in to my Prime Account and it's $89 w/ $20 Coupon.

Bezos be playing pricing games.

[Ben]

Okay, so that one comes as car/mid-size and as fullsize/SUV.

Since you guys have one and I can never tell what qualifies as "mid-size" or fullsize anymore, thoughts on the mid-size one fitting in my 4Runner and also in my F150, given I have the extended cab vs the 4-door, so the back is somewhat narrow?

[dogmush]

Okay, so that one comes as car/mid-size and as fullsize/SUV.

Since you guys have one and I can never tell what qualifies as "mid-size" or fullsize anymore, thoughts on the mid-size one fitting in my 4Runner and also in my F150, given I have the extended cab vs the 4-door, so the back is somewhat narrow?

[Checks Amazon Order History]  Mrs. Mush ordered the "Car/Midsize SUV/Midsize Truck" for the Bronco Sport, and it fits pretty well.  I would think you'd need the bigger size for an F150 just width wise.  I haven't sat in a 4Runner in years, so I dunno there. 

[Ben]

Hmm. Maybe the thing to do is order the mid-size, since if it fits in the Bronco it will likely fit ok in the 4Runner, then I can try that one in the F150 and go from there.

[dogmush]

Key Word in my post is Bronco Sport.  Not full size Bronco.  It's small.

[Ben]

Key Word in my post is Bronco Sport.  Not full size Bronco.  It's small.

Well, I guess that's what Amazon returns are for. We'll find out in a couple of days. 

[JTHunter]

Huh.  I was logged out of Amazon on my work computer so it wa $99 w/ $20 Coupon.  Log in to my Prime Account and it's $89 w/ $20 Coupon.

Bezos be playing pricing games.

This is one of the reasons I avoid "on-line shopping" in general. 

[K Frame]

Huh.  I was logged out of Amazon on my work computer so it wa $99 w/ $20 Coupon.  Log in to my Prime Account and it's $89 w/ $20 Coupon.

Bezos be playing pricing games.

Yep. I figured you weren't logged in. A lot of people don't realize that they can save additional money by being a prime member. This is one of those cases.

Between speeded up shipping, no shipping fees, and stuff like this my prime membership MORE than pays for itself every year.

[K Frame]

 "I would think you'd need the bigger size for an F150 just width wise.  I haven't sat in a 4Runner in years, so I dunno there."

That's my guess. I ordered the mid-size SUV for my Forester and it's almost a perfect fit.

[K Frame]

Hey Ben, if you click on each one there are dimensions listed on the drawings.

The midsize one is 52 inches wide by 25 inches deep (the part that rests on the seat), the fullsize one is just under 57 inches wide and 30" deep.

[Ben]

Hey Ben, if you click on each one there are dimensions listed on the drawings.

The midsize one is 52 inches wide by 25 inches deep (the part that rests on the seat), the fullsize one is just under 57 inches wide and 30" deep.

Hmm. Taking measurements, the mid will fit okay in the 4Runner. The F150 however, is 57" x 20" in the back with the driver's seat where I like it. I might be out of luck on the truck. The mid-size is on the way, so I'll try it in both vehicles.