I've got a 2000 Ford Explorer XLT 4 door 4x4, this is what I can fit in it in different set ups...

Both back seats up: 4 adult passengers, training bag (with scratchpants, sleeves, tugs, leads, rags, cleats, collars, harnesses, flags, toys, and treats) between the two rear passengers, then two 400 Vari Kennels in the rear cargo area side by side...or one 500-700 Vari Kennel facing sideways.

The "60 seat" folded down and the "40 seat" up for a passenger: 2 adult passengers, same training bag as above, and either three 400 Vari Kennels or one 500 Vari Kennel and two 400 Vari Kennels or two 500 Vari Kennels.

Both back seats folded down: one adult passenger, training bag, and four 400 Vari Kennels or three 500 Vari Kennels.

This does not include any additional things that I could/would carry that I can place on top of the kennels during transport...nor does it include anything that I might want to put on the roof luggage rack. Now, the new Explorers are bigger than the older ones (like mine), so they should be able to easily carry what mine can and possibly a little more.

Wow, lots of great ideas on how versatile different vehicles can be.

Just a few questions....

Will, does the van you purchased have an all or 4 wd feature? I need that for the winter months up here, and I need enough room for my 3 younger kids...which is the attraction of the large van. (My current one seats 8 adults comfortably w/ all the seats in...and 5 with the back out as I have it set up now.) I need the arm room so the kids don't get as fussy on longer trips <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For those w/ p/u trucks, I'm glad to hear that it is very tolerable in the bed area for the cold. Brian, was that heater available through the manufacturer, or is it after market? What do you all do in the hot months? I am assuming that it is much harder to cool the rear capped area in the summer, and that is what I was most concerned about. Imagine getting stuck in traffic on a highway and it's 85 to 95( or more..) hot humid degrees outside, and the sun is beating....

VC, is the Yukon comparable to the Suburban? How large of a crate can you fit in it, and still have room for kids? I was not sure if the height of the crate would fit since the floor is set higher than in a van, is this a problem for you?

I'm not sure what size 400/500/700 varikennels are....I have 2 that are possibly the 500???I believe they only make one size larger than the ones I have.

Mike, my sister has a new Explorer, and it is pretty big. My husband had a bad experience with Ford along time ago, and we haven't had one since....but we are considering all options at this time.

The Sienna sounds interesting too....

Geez, choices, choices !!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks everyone,I really appreciate the feedback. I tend to keep my vehicles for a LONG time, and I want to be real careful with the next choice!

Jeanette,

Sorry, I can't really speak to heat/humidity or traffic concerns...we don't have those where I'm from in Alaska. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks anyway Brian!

Does anyone in hot areas use a pick up w/ a cap? If so, how do they cool off the interior?

Ok, I'll ask yet again......how does a person keep the rear bed of a pick up w/ a cap cool in the hot weather, if it is at all possible.

Thanks in advance <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I knew of a family from Texas who jury rigged some round plastic flexable 4" ducting from the cab ac unit thru the back sliding glass and into the bed area of the pick up. Used a lot of Duct tape. The bed was covered with shag avocado carpet. They drove from Dallas to Chicago. Did I mention that this was for his kids? He didn't have any dogs at the time, they came later....

My hunting partner (working terriers) has pickup with a donut type seal between the back window and the bed top. The back window of the truck was taken outIt is completely open between the two. The sides of the shell also open up when the truck is parked. The dogs are kept crated in the back. This may not be practical if the truck is used for anything without the shell on back. Some of the newer trucks have a electric windows in the back window. that would be perfect.
One guy on our SAR team has a Hummer with grated windows in the back and a thin, electric radiator cooling fan on one window. It operates off of a separate marine battery that is hooked into the hummer's charging system. When he's parked, his dogs still have great circulation from the fan and open (grated) windows. That could work on the back of a pickup with a shell.

I don't have a cap, but I have done several things to increase the cooling capacity of my vehicle in the hot months. I chose a white vehicle with tinted rear windows. It has a moon roof that opens about 4". I use reflective sun shades in my windshield, pet vents in the two rear windows near the dog's crate, and a clip-on oscillating fan that plugs into my cigarette lighter. My dog's crate is wire (covered with a fleece blanket in the cold months) and I often will aim the fan right on her. I have a water bottle that fits on the outside of her crate (a dog-sized hamster bottle) that I fill with cool (not cold) water. I park in the shade. If I'm going to be near my vehicle, I can leave it wide open.
With a cap, you can do the same sorts of things. Just mount some sort of durable mesh inside the window screens, put a power source back there, and a couple of fans near the windows to create air movement. Another little thing that you can do to help keep the dogs cool is freeze some water bottles, then before you go out to train, wrap a couple in some old towels and place them in the dog's crate.
If it's REALLY hot where you live, you might look into portable air conditioners or "swamp coolers".

Thanks everyone! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anyone know of how to locate one of those portable a/c's ? I would like to do some pricing out of them, to help me narrow down my choices of vehicle...what would their proper name be? Or can I just google " swamp coolers" !! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Thanks again!

I the back of my truck durning the summer months I have two side windows and when its on the move that keeps the back cool. When I'm stopped I just open the back pannel. I live in Dallas where it gets real hot. And also I drive down to South Padre in the summer time with the dogs and its hot and humid at the same time and the dogs do just fine. I've had my camper for about five years now and have done great with it. Also I can take it off durning the summer too, and put it back on for the winter. I like it best because when you're working in the rain you don't have to put smelly wet dogs in your car, or have their water spill everywhere. Its easy to clean the back of a truck too.