With 4 children and 3 dogs (although little Rocky doesn't take up much space). We are struggling for space in the car.

We have looked at a Hiace Van but I rang my friend who has Irish Wolfhounds and she said she has brought a minibus and taken out the back seats as she feels it is more comfortable for the dogs as the heating, air conditioning etc goes right to the back of the minibus and it is lined etc. Also it means we could keep two layers of seats in (6 seats). The one we have seen is a ford transit minibus and has a sliding door both sides and double doors at the back. It also has tinted windows.

Does anyone have any advice before we think about going ahead. Anyone got a good van they can recommend. We can add seats to the Hiace or any other van. It also has to pull a caravan.

Also any advice about cage layout for the back etc would be useful.

Thanks

Sara

Wow, I thought transporting 4 Deerhounds was a challenge, we do it in a Transit van but never had to add 3 kids to the equation. Good luck.

Pam

We like the Transit because we figured parts would be easy and cheaper to get hold of.

One important thing to think of when adding or removing seats is the gap left by them. We were looking at cars and vans a year ago and found that most left big gaps that feet could get caught in (we landed up with a Skoda!!) Years ago we had 6 deerhounds and got a transit which threw them around a lot (we have never had a hound who will sit down when travelling) so caging is very sensible. Hope this helps. Joy

Since getting Bonnie I have seriously been thinking about getting a Vauxhall Vigoro van - they can be kitted out with cages and are a good 'torquy' drive. May be worth you googling ex police vehicle sites too as they sell vehicles already kitted out for dogs and they are really cheap

We got a Toyota Verso because it has excellent headroom, meaning our two can stand up fully, and the kids have plenty of room.

You can fit 5 people and 3 dogs into one of these, or 7 people and no dogs.

I don't think 6 people (4 kids and 2 adults) and three dogs will work though...

Oh dear, 4 kids!!!

The transit sounds the best option. I have a Skoda, Joy, an estate, one of the nicest cars I have driven! but it is a company car and I don't like putting dogs in it as it is leased and has to go back soon.

I bought a Vauxhall Astravan, which is fantastic and economical on diesel, but I only have 1 deerhound and 1 terrier, my 2 eldest kids don't come in a car with me anymore. You can now get the 1.3 diesel version and at £35 a year road tax it is worth looking into, I have a 1.7 tdi and get 550-600 miles to the tank

there is only one vehicle for me that is reliable, gives excellent fuel economey (36mpg if not driven like a boy racer car), bags of power (110bhp or 130 bhp) space to live in even with seats yes it is my Mercedes Sprinter 311 MWB van we use this as our main vehicle from doing a school run to a shopping trip, we have got 2 seats in the front with seats side facing behind the drivers seat then further back we have a raised bed for dogs or humans to sleep on (all my dogs are really good at traverlling) we have plenty of storage space above the front seats and under the bed at the rear. I am very very lucky in that my husband is a mechanic who converted the inside I also have some windows fitted to the side and rear, my husband will not let me drive any other van than a Mercedes
I used to have a transit mini bus and towed a caravan behind but just out grew it, I have to say that I am slowly out growing this van and am looking at a LWB Sprinter 311 with a 6 speed gearbox, another thing with a van is that the vehicle tax is cheaper than some large cars as vans are classed as a commercial vehicles
Depending on the age of the transit parts are not always that much cheaper there is not a week goes by without my husband doing a wheel bearing on a transit but I do think that the transit mini bus is ok to drive
Spot has looked inside our van ask them what they think
There is also another topic on transport on the forum

Did you say road tax £35.00 how come it is so cheap?

I have a Peugeot Boxer High Roof LWB van it,s proved to be perfect for my hounds. Ive tried a SWB Transit Low roof and that was suitable but look at a high roof first, the ability to stand up in the back makes life so easy except in a high wind!!
We never cage our Deerhounds they have a raised double bed sized bed at the rear and storage underneath. The floor covering took some serious thought as we didnt want them sliding around so we fitted playground matting sort found under childs swings thick rubber and it,s been the best purchase so far. Other option is to use "Horse Matting" for stables it,s not as thick but can be purchased easily we have this laid in the garden inthe summer and our Deerhounds lay out and sunbathe easy to hose down and prevents damage to any joints.

Thanks everyoe. I didn't know about the road tax so that is a bonus. As the one we have seen is a minbus the head height is very good.

It does have a rubber flooring but I would probably want something else down as well so thanks for the flooring suggestions tawnochikno.

I have seen the Mercedes they are very nice. Decisions decisions!

A friend of mine had five hounds and no children. She had a Renault Espace, seats removed, a rug on the floor and a few extra cushions. No cages or anything. Wasn't necessary: her dogs would lie down and sleep all the way for as long the journey took. Your circumstances are quite different from hers. What about a Chrysler Voyager?

Hi Folks we have gone for the transit minibus. We have taken out the back 2 rows of seats so we should be able to fit the dog cages straight in it. Mack and Daisy won't be squashed together which is lovely. It has a hard wearing rubber/plastic flooring so hopefully it will be good.

We pick it up today.

I hope it is everything you want in a car/van. I cannot believe how many of us buy a car/van for the dogs and not ourselves, I had a nice volvo sports and changed it for a 4 x 4 because I got a deerhound, now I have a peugeot estate, still for the dogs and looking into getting a van.

Its not only the vehicle choice for the hounds its the house too!!!!!

We were lucky as we have a shogun and a transit that i use for work but as you say we have lost our back garden as this has been fenced of as a dog run come to think of it our whole house is now a dog run

Our house is a kennel

tawnochikno wrote:


Ha, ha. I lived in a large, well insulated barn conversion. Now I live in a cold, small cottage. The barn only had a small garden whereas the cottage has 2 acres for the dogs.

All said the cottage is in a lovely location and they do say location is everything.

We do seen to build our worlds around them, but they are worth it. I dropped by to see my friend that shows Afghans the van and she is gong on Monday as she now wants one. She figures that they can set off to shows the night before and just sleep in the van rather than set of at early o'clock.

Also she could fit in all 4 dogs at the moment she often leaves a couple behind which is why she can't leave the night before.

I notice a lot of show folk sleep in their cars the night before a show.

wallace wrote:


That sounds so familiar! I had a Hyundai Coupe 2.7 and 1 dog. Got 2 dogs and changed the Hyundai for a Ford Mondeo estate, now have 4 hounds and am looking to change to a van. The things we humans do for our hounds