Hi I've been looking around for a tailgate guard. Banjo do one to fit my car I have a big 4x4 to fit two bmds and a lab. Are they safe and secure? Or would it be better to get a cage fitted to the car? Thing is I need room for a ramp as well as three dogs, there is no way I can lift my lab out let alone my big girl and I have her pup as well so she will be just as heavy! Any one have a guard? Or experience or advice on this?

I don't have a tailgate guard but when I was researching the only reason why I didn't go down that route was because they are drilled and screwed into the body of the car.
I cant see why they arnt as good for safety as the crates if used with a rear dog guard.
Also have alook at barnesbrooke he does bespoke crates guards etc at very competitive prices

I have a tailgate guard fitted in my car which actually fits in using a similar mechanism as a stair gate but fixed using an alan key. It's been in the car for well over a year and is as sturdy and secure as the day it was fitted. I also looked at a cage but it didn't utilise the boot space well enough to accommodate 3 boxers so opted for the tailgate guard. Mine is made by guardsman.

I've got a barjo cage made for my car but found you lose quite a bit of space. Needs must as I now have a couple of chewers and it was a newer car so the interior was safe. If I had the choice I would go for a tailgate every time, had those in 2 previous cars that didn't need drilling but would do with this car unfortunately. I've also got a barjo ramp for my old girl and the drawback with the crate is that the height of the door is rather low and although the other dogs duck when they jump in my oldie can't so I have to take it out when I transport her.

If the back of your 4x4 is high (eg Range Rover) make sure your ramp is long enough to make a gentle slope, some are far too steep for dogs to manage.

Thanks for the replies. Yes we have a range rover so it's really high hence the ramp and the fact the dogs are far to heavy for me to lift! Think I'd have to be a power lifter to get mine in the boot! Think illngonforbthe tail gate guard for the room factor.

Several of the well known tailgate guard manufacturers use pressure fittings rather than screws.  Try MMG and Guardsman for starters.  The downside is that this style of gate needs a bar or lip across the bottom of the gate for rigidity, however this might work well for your ramp.  My dogs have often tripped over it!!

Re the ramp height - I used to see a woman using hers with a folding step stool to reduce the slope.  Might be worth a try if your dogs can manage the short hop up

It's always the 1st thing I get for a new car, a dog guard and tailgate guard, I've had ones from MMG, Barjo and Guardsman and are all very strong, silent and secure - even with excitable 40/50kg borzois bouncing off them at the racing. I used to carry a ramp on the floor at the back seats, is this a possibility or do you have humans on the back seat?

The ones that use pressure fittings how do you think they would fair in an accident? any chance they would fall out then the dogs would be free ?

I have kids in back seat normally. If it's dog walking they come with me but if I'm off to a show they don't. Then I could put ramp in the back, but it would be a lot easier if I could put it in the boot. I'll give some of the companies a ring see what the think as well they might have a solution for storage. Thanks for all the replies.

I have to defend a guardsman tailgate which should come next week (long waiting time) and it's just pressure fitted they told me so I hope it is as I don't want screws in my car.

Regarding a ramp we have a tri folding one that we use for our van but it's heavy and I wouldn't be able to do it on my own when getting the dogs back in the van(holding on to them as well), does anyone have any suggestions for a light ramp that's very easy to do one handed?? Think mine is petgear