Hauling Goat in Crate on Cargo Carrier
 

I'm planning on bringing a goat back from TX to Co about 800 miles. I have an SUV. I usually put goats in a crate in my SUV but this time I"ll have my dogs with me too. Do you think it would be safe to put a doe in a crate on a cargo carrier -the kind that slips onto the hitch designed for carrying coolers etc. The weight is fine it's rated to #300. OF course the crate would be securely fastened to the carrier so no risk of slippping off.

I'm a little worried about heat (if it gets too hot I could put the crate in the SUV and move some stuff out), is there anything else to worry about? Is this safe? My other alternative is to take my little flatbed trailer but I don't know if it would have any advantages over the cargo carrier?

The exhaust might be a concern

I was wondering about that but do you think it would be worse than riding in an open sided trailer behind the suv? I almost think it might be less fumey there? I definitely wouldn't want her to be fumigated. :yuck:

Not awesome in a fender bender... But I had the same thought when I was looking at them at tractor supply. Would be so much easier than driving a trailer around every time.

As long as it's not the roof and your name's not Romney, you're probably fine.

The goat would get exhausted. Would be better to be on the trailer. Or put your stuff on the cargo receiver thingy and the goat in the car.

Exhaust would be my concern, too. I wouldn't do it.

I have seen hunters carrying their dogs in a setup simaler to this with no problem.what would be the difference between using a trailor or in the back of a pickup ?

I think it sounds horrifying, honestly. The noise, the heat, the exhaust, the traffic, the distance. No way.

No need to worry about exhaust as long as you are driving, the air flow generated by the moving vehicle will dissipate any noxious gases, this breeze will also help with the heat. Just don't leave the vehicle running for an extended period of time while stopped. I have, for years, hauled dogs, goats, poultry all sorts of things in a rig like you are describing with absolutely no problems.

Well, almost no problems. I once pulled into a service station to fill up and a couple "animal warriors" brazenly confronted me shouting and mouthing about "torturing" those poor dogs crammed into that "tiny little box with no room or ventilation".

That tiny little box, as they described it, had a pad on the floor, was more than big enough for both of my Labs to stand, turn around, lie down, and stretch out without touching each other, and had plenty of ventilation.

When I told them to buzz off and mind their own blinkin' business they became very belligerent, got right up in my face, and the larger of the two actually shoved me.

Then they announced to me, and the crowd they had attracted and were showboating for, that they were going to confiscate those "poor abused dogs".

By then I had had more than enough of those 2 clowns. I suppose they were too stupid to ever consider that a man hauling hunting dogs in a truck with an NRA sticker on it might have some other sort hunting gear with him.

I filled my hand with some of that other hunting gear, as in a Browning 10 gauge magnum with a 30 inch full choke barrel, and very bluntly told them if they touched me again, my vehicle or my dogs THEY personally would be more than adequately ventilated and soon permanently confined to a truly tiny box. At they point they seemed to lose all interest in the dogs and exited the scene rather quickly.

Further away from the tail pipe thus more air flow.

We have had the discussion about receiver hitch hauling I think last year on here

I see no problem, I agree as others have stated exhaust is definitely not a problem if your moving. Exhaust is only a problem if you are in a closed area, in the open with moving air that isn't a problem.

When you are on the highway you are often behind hundreds of exhaust pipes, but I have yet to see anyone pass out, not even a motorcyclist. In the open air it would be hard to get enough gas, you would have to put the cage right behind the tail pipe.

It's not the moving that I would be worried about, it would be the idling at traffic stops. The exhaust would be going straight up. I might do it for a short trip, but not for 800 miles.

One good think I didn't mention is my SUV is a hybrid-if stopped or going slow in traffic the engine changes over to electric...no fumes.

You might want to divide the interior with one of these instead.

http://www.discountramps.com/dog-pet-barrier/c/7300/

I googled a bit and found a post that said everything they carried on the bumper cargo carrier smelled of exhaust when they got to their destination.

IME those dividers are useless-tip over very easily-I've bought them designed for certain vehicles and they were no match for the dogs, I can't imagine how quickly a goat would have one down. I think I'll get the carrier and put cargo back there and put the goat inside. Now if the goat gets too stinky inside she'll have to go back there as I have to drive and can't pass out from goat fumes either. I do have a small utility trailer but I just don't know that the small tires will hold up on hot Texas roads.

Any tips on minimizing odor (ie peeing) while transporting? This goat will fit in a dog crate-, the dogs will just have to be loose-I'd prefer loose dogs over loose goat in the SUV.

In a trip that short, I don't thing you're going to have an ammonia problem, but I'd get cedar chips and bed the crate deeply with them.

Also, PDZ under the chips.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...efresher-25-lb

Just wanted to update-I ended up using cargo carrier for luggage, and our doe rode in the crate inside the SUV. I put in shavings and it didn't smell at all even though she was in there over 13 hours. She rode like a trooper-wouldn't have known she was there.

Good solution. Congrats on the happy result.

Hooray!

I have now transported more goats than I can count on a tarp in my Jeep. Lol. Some in the cargo area, and some youngsters on the floor on the passenger side. :gaptooth: