Best dog solution for ML320CDI?

[cschmelz]

I just finished setting up a deal to buy a lightly used P3 ML320CDI (I'm very very excited!)

We have two dogs (a 60lb boxer and a 130lb mastif) that love to be right where we are (including in the car!) My outgoing Volvo V70R has a nice sturdy net that hooks into the roof with both the rear seats up (keeping them in the back) or down (giving them a LOT of room)

I know I need to get something for the Benz. The cargo net (vertical one) looks pretty, well, cheap and cheesey/flimsy in the pictures I've seen. What is everyone's experience?

Does the strong steel cage work with the seats up and down?

Also, since it is a P3 card, to add bluetooth I just need the $500 module and snap that into the cradle right?

[ants_oz]

Hi there,

I have the vertical cargo net, and it's actually quite sturdy. It folds up andstores in its own built-in bag.

I have a Belgian Shepherd (Tervuren) and have found the net divider works well to keep her "in her place" in the wagon.

The reason I bought the vertical net and not the metal divider was that I wanted something that was easily removable when I wasn't using it, and that could be stored in the vehicle for easy access when I did need it - the net rolls up into it's little bag, and stores in the spare wheel cavity.

Hope you find this information useful.

Cheers,

Anthony

[CJzBenz]

A 130lb Mastif will go wherever it wants to go. They are sweet dogs though.

[mr.xpowerseller]

Best solution is not to bring pets into your car. They make a mess, stink up the car, and destroy the interior along with the resale value.

[troybarwick]

Originally Posted by mr.xpowerseller

Best solution is not to bring pets into your car. They make a mess, stink up the car, and destroy the interior along with the resale value.

Spoken like a true a**hole. Hey, don't put your kids in the car, they make a mess. Douchebag!

For the nice person that asked the question, I recommend the Pet Tent from WeatherTech. It's been great in my ML350.
http://www.weathertech.com/store/mvp...ItemGroupId=45

[rob13572468]

Originally Posted by mr.xpowerseller

Best solution is not to bring pets into your car. They make a mess, stink up the car, and destroy the interior along with the resale value.

yep, thats such a non-pet owner response.

although it is true that the pet hair gets *everywhere* but I could care less... my dogs are far more important to me than any car.

[rob13572468]

Originally Posted by cschmelz

I just finished setting up a deal to buy a lightly used P3 ML320CDI (I'm very very excited!)

We have two dogs (a 60lb boxer and a 130lb mastif) that love to be right where we are (including in the car!) My outgoing Volvo V70R has a nice sturdy net that hooks into the roof with both the rear seats up (keeping them in the back) or down (giving them a LOT of room)

I know I need to get something for the Benz. The cargo net (vertical one) looks pretty, well, cheap and cheesey/flimsy in the pictures I've seen. What is everyone's experience?

Does the strong steel cage work with the seats up and down?

Also, since it is a P3 card, to add bluetooth I just need the $500 module and snap that into the cradle right?

Another approach to consider is to use the commonly available pet body harness/seatbelt attachment: Its a padded harness made of high strength rip-stop nylon that goes around the chest above and below the shoulders and clips together in the back. you then attach it with a quick-release carabiner to one of the rear cargo anchor points. It works really well because you can keep the dogs safe during an accident (the harnesses are designed for this purpose) and it confines them to a small radius depending on the size of the tether you use. You can keep them both in the very rear of the vehicle or even use the child seat anchor points to keep one dog on each back seat.

I use this method with an ML and it works beautifully even with my nutty pit-bull that has a knack for breaking leashes.

[cschmelz]

Originally Posted by rob13572468

Another approach to consider is to use the commonly available pet body harness/seatbelt attachment: Its a padded harness made of high strength rip-stop nylon that goes around the chest above and below the shoulders and clips together in the back. you then attach it with a quick-release carabiner to one of the rear cargo anchor points. It works really well because you can keep the dogs safe during an accident (the harnesses are designed for this purpose) and it confines them to a small radius depending on the size of the tether you use. You can keep them both in the very rear of the vehicle or even use the child seat anchor points to keep one dog on each back seat.

I use this method with an ML and it works beautifully even with my nutty pit-bull that has a knack for breaking leashes.

Good idea, thanks

[Mike's ML]

Originally Posted by rob13572468

Another approach to consider is to use the commonly available pet body harness/seatbelt attachment: Its a padded harness made of high strength rip-stop nylon that goes around the chest above and below the shoulders and clips together in the back. you then attach it with a quick-release carabiner to one of the rear cargo anchor points. It works really well because you can keep the dogs safe during an accident (the harnesses are designed for this purpose) and it confines them to a small radius depending on the size of the tether you use. You can keep them both in the very rear of the vehicle or even use the child seat anchor points to keep one dog on each back seat.

I think some states are now requiring this method for animals. This is what I used for my doberman.
Mike

[mr.xpowerseller]

Originally Posted by troybarwick

Spoken like a true a**hole. Hey, don't put your kids in the car, they make a mess. Douchebag!

For the nice person that asked the question, I recommend the Pet Tent from WeatherTech. It's been great in my ML350.
http://www.weathertech.com/store/mvp...ItemGroupId=45

I don't allow kids in my car, thank you! I also have pets but they never ever get to joy ride around and destroy things.