What would be the best kind of vehicle for a Golden Retriever? Also, what kind of things could I put in it to make it safer for him? I was looking at the 'Window Guards' post and thats what made it got me into wanting a new car. (I was planning on getting a new one anyways)

Some kind of restraint system, like this one.

Mike

Better yet, as SUV of any kind and a crate. Dog stays secure and safe.

I am rebuilding an '85 Suburban just for this purpose. I will be able to get 4 crates in the back with access to two from the middle doors and access to two from the back gate. I have put a tie down system in the floor that is tied to the frame. The crates will not go anywhere.

The burb has rear A/C and heat, heat not as big a factor as the A/C. I am converting the A/C to run on engine power or AC power. Should be nice for those camping trips.

A hearse! Holds any breed of dog with room to spare!

So I'm biased, I own a hearse, but hey, it isn't for everyone. ;3 Although my dog has LOTS of room in back. I guess it'll be great when I adopt a Great Dane one of these years, eh?

SUVs, or if you're looking for better mileage, it appears some of these newer hatchback cars have room. Even something like a Toyota Camry station wagon has sufficient back seat room and the seats fold down.
I agree with a dog safety harness, and I found this device that looks very appealing if anyone has used it before:
Auto Front Seat Safety Barrier - claims to prevent the dog from sliding forward and injuring itself when there is hard braking. I like that idea a lot, for people who don't harness or crate their dog at least.
There was an earlier thread I saw as well for crates that fit in an SUV whose front was slanted, they apparently fit perfectly and were a great way to safely transport your animal.
I'm sure many others will have lots of good suggestions, good luck.

 Quote: mike armstrong

Some kind of restraint system, like this one.

Mike

Nathan, ditto on this particular car harness. As Mike might remember, I have one too and up until last week only used it for short trips. Excellent quality, tough, nothing flimsy about it. I use it in the back seat of my SUV (dogs shouldn't travel in the front seat - risk of air bag injury or death).

Although I've used a plastic airline type crate like this one http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=16017&N=2001+114010 in the rear of the SUV, two problems arise.

1) If you get hit hard from behind, this type of crate will fold like a paper bag. If the hit smashes the rear of the car, it will smash the crate.
2) My dog got out of this type of crate twice on our last jaunt to a mountain lake. Fortunately I had brought the car harness previously mentioned and just put him in the harness after the 2nd "escape". The latching prongs on airline crates latch at the top and the bottom of the crate. My dog just pushed the gate hard enough for both prongs to come out of the holes.

In the past he would just lay down in the crate and sleep, something he doesn't do when in the car harness. But once he figured out that just a strong shove would open that crate door, I'm sure he'll never sleep in there again so he'll be in a harness from now on even for long trips, unless I can get a different metal type crate. The kind I would like are very pricey, but there's still the "getting hit from behind" problem as far as I can see.

The wire door of the plastic crates are quite sturdy, made of heavy duty wire. But its the prong attachment that is totally unreliable. Push hard enough on the door from the inside and the metal prongs bend enough to slip out of the holes.

Nathan, everyone has given you some great advice. Since there are virtually endless posibilities, I guess the first question is what kind of vehicles are YOU thinking of? Then, we'd be able to offer more tailored advice. A big Chevy Suburban sounds really nice, but if you don't have the room at home or want to get good gas mileage, that's not going to work.

metropolitan How about one of these combined with a seat harness Nathan. If not that, a friend bought one of those Ford Sport Tracs with a shell on the back and a opening back window that seemed like a nice cross between SUV and Truck.

LOL ! Great vehicle Steve!

 Quote: Sandy Moore

LOL ! Great vehicle Steve!

I'll say!

Amd I hate to admit this, but I'm old enough to have immediately had this song pop into my head when I followed Steve's link:

http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Beep_Beep(Little_Nash_Rambler).htm