The Pet Crate in the Back: Measure the Crate, the Door Swing, and the Hold-Down Points

A crate that fits the showroom floor may not fit the load opening, the seat position, or the tie-down route, so measure each of those before you choose a vehicle.

Measure the crate as it will sit in the vehicle, not as the box describes it. Take the outside length, width, and height at the widest and tallest points, including the door latch, the handle, and any feet or tray. Write down the door swing too. A hinged crate door needs open room on one side, and a crate pushed against a wall may not open far enough for the animal to be lifted in and out safely.

Measure the opening the crate must pass through

The crate has to clear the load opening at the liftgate or tailgate, and sometimes the lower sill as well. Measure the opening height at the sill and the width between the wheel wells or body pillars. Many buyers measure the floor and forget the roof line, and a tall crate can catch on the top of the opening before it reaches the floor. Check the rear glass height too, since a crate set at full height can press into the window or the headliner.

Check the load floor and the rear seat

Note how far the load floor sits above the bumper or sill. A crate set on a high floor may have to be slid uphill, which makes the lift harder for an older person or a heavy animal. Then decide whether the crate will sit behind the seat in its upright position or whether the seat must fold. If the seat folds, check whether the seat back lies flat or stays at an angle, and whether the head restraints come out or fold down. A crate resting on a seat that does not lie flat may tilt.

Plan the tie-down before the crate goes in

A loaded crate should be fixed in place. Find the anchor points in the cargo area and check whether they are marked for cargo use or only for a cover or net. Test whether straps can reach them from the crate position without crossing the door opening. The owner's manual has a section on cargo and tie-downs, so read that section before you rely on any method. Do not assume that the rear seat backs or a cargo cover will hold a crate in place.

Questions to put to the seller or dealer

Does the rear seat fold flat, and does the cargo floor stay level with it?
Where are the tie-down anchors, and are they marked for cargo use?
Can the rear door or liftgate stay open while the animal is lifted in?
Does the vehicle come with a cargo cover, net, or divider, and are they the same ones shown on the lot?
Is the owner's manual for this exact model year available to read before purchase?

Compare the record, then the vehicle

Use the model-year record for each model line you are weighing to find its published cargo and seat figures, then set those figures against your crate measurements. Keep your measurements on one sheet so every vehicle you visit is checked against the same list. The record gives the published figures, but the real test is the crate in the car, with the liftgate open, the seat folded, and the animal's entry route walked through from start to finish.