Really Chuffed With Myself

[Smashy]

Hi everyone.

Well after a what seems like an age I have finally finished my dog cages, this was my origional thread http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=16710

I have just had them returned from the powder coaters and I'm really really pleased with the results.

This was my 1st ever go at welding...

God forbid if I have have an accident with the dogs in the car, they can 'all' escape into the main compartment of the car.

Freelanders have the smallest of boots, so I have had to really think hard about making this giving all the dogs enough room. The bottom left hand cage is a fraction larger than the right, Ollie always sits on the left side and Skye is always on the right. The top ones are taller at the back and shorter on the front, this was done so I could keep as much height as possible in the lower cages.

As you can see, the only way to fit them is to take the hard top off :cheeky:

Not bad for a software engineer

 

[Robotstar5]

Nice job, although I wouldn't fancy cutting the top off my 5 door just to fit the cage
Can you still reach the rear seat catches if you ever did need to let them out the front?
I can even work out it's a post 04 model from the rear lights

 

[Smashy]

Can you still reach the rear seat catches if you ever did need to let them out the front?

Yeah dead easy mate, that was one of the main things, all the dogs had to be able to escape incase of a rear end shunt.

I can even work out it's a post 04 model from the rear lights

Yeah its a very very last of the Freelander 1's, it an 07

 

[slim_boy_fat]

You're justifiably proud of that effort - very well designed and executed.

If the upper storeys are for toys, blankets etc, why do they need doors on them? Or am I reeeeaaaaly stupid, not being a pet owner?

 

[bigbadbugga]

You're justifiably proud of that effort - very well designed and executed.

If the upper storeys are for toys, blankets etc, why do they need doors on them? Or am I reeeeaaaaly stupid, not being a pet owner?

I think it is for 4 dogs, two big and two little ones.

Very well designed and executed

I will be referring back to this thread when I get my Toyota hilux later this year

 

[Smashy]

If the upper storeys are for toys, blankets etc, why do they need doors on them? Or am I reeeeaaaaly stupid, not being a pet owner?

Good question! The honest answer is one side is for my little Chihuahua, plus the rear window winds down, I don't fancy driving along with stuff falling out, especially the dog lol.

 

[cazl1994]

are you going to put something on top of the carpet?

 

[RichardM]

Very nice, just one little point that I used to worry about carrying my folks dog about to take him for walks - he used to sit on the back seat looking where we were going. You have thought of the rear end shunts but if the top bit is for carrying dogs what would happen if you hit something and stopped suddenly................

 

[Smashy]

I think it is for 4 dogs, two big and two little ones.

Beat me to it, although only 3 atm

Very well designed and executed

Thanks mate

are you going to put something on top of the carpet?

New Profleece vetbet has just been ordered for all 4 sections, just waiting for it to arrive

what would happen if you hit something and stopped suddenly................

Look at the bottom picture, the dogs in the bottom are stopped by the seats, the dog in the top is stopped by the wire mesh on all 4 sides. It fits the shape of the roof so it cant go anywhere.

If I have a rear end shunt, I can fold the seats down to get to the large dogs, once they are out of the way I can then get to the underneath of the top cages and the floors can flip down, really simple and clean design.

 

[RichardM]

"the dog in the top is stopped by the wire mesh on all 4 sides. It fits the shape of the roof so it cant go anywhere" not very forgiving to flesh and bone though.

 

[Justme]

If I have a rear end shunt, I can fold the seats down to get to the large dogs, once they are out of the way I can then get to the underneath of the top cages and the floors can flip down, really simple and clean design.

Unless the cage is buckled in the crash?


But nice work.

 

[Smashy]

not very forgiving to flesh and bone though.

Thats how pretty much every multi cage design is made, do you have a better idea?

Unless the cage is buckled in the crash?

The floor is made of pretty thin wood, infact its not even proper wood, its that crap thats made from bits of wood and looks more like cardboard, its been varnished for waterproofness, you could break it by hand if needed, its only holding a 4lb dog.

The same could happen if I put an escape door in the front facing section, you can only do so much.

 

[thinfourth]

Anyone noticed his dog is a bit erm how shall we say stuffed

Poor guy all that effort for a toy dog

At least he is happy

Or shall i keep him talking while the guy in white coats turn up

 

[Smashy]

Haha that's actually a toy sheep that the Chi has errrrm doggy love with lol

 

[RichardM]

"Thats how pretty much every multi cage design is made, do you have a better idea?"
Put some impact absorbing foam up to head height at the front (then he/she can look over it if they wish) but if their body hits it legs /neck hopefully won't be broken even at relatively low speeds.