SturdiProducts Car-Go Pet Carrier Reviewed by GoPetFriendly.com

SturdiProducts Car-Go Pet Carrier Review

by Amy Burkert on Jan 5th, 2011

Tagged as:	Car-Go, contest, dog travel, dog travel safety, pet carrier, pet safety, pet travel, SturdiProducts

GPF Rating = 4 of 4 Paws

There are many products out there that claim to make traveling with pets easier. But, every once in a while, we come across a gem like the SturdiProducts Car-Go Pet Carrier – a product that serves multiple functions and makes life on the road more enjoyable.

No one wants to schlep more stuff than they have to, and that’s why we immediately liked the looks of the Car-Go. After giving it a quick once over at the SturdiProducts booth at Meet the Breeds, we contacted the company and they happily sent us one so that we could check it out and tell you about it!

Arriving in it’s handy carrying case, we received the Car-Go Double, which measures 21 inches deep, 18 inches high and 36 inches long. As you can see, it covers the entire back seat of our RAV4. This model has a zippered divider that would give two pets separate space, or could be unzipped to provide more room for one larger pet.

The Car-Go is light at just over five pounds, appears durable, and (for those of us not mechanically inclined) requires no assembly. Simply pull the carrier out of the case, give it a shake, and watch it unfold. The case and the carrier both have several pockets to hold your pet’s essentials – there’s not enough room to pack for a week, but you can certainly find a place for the necessities like treats, water, and pet waste bags.

Frequent readers of this blog know that we are adamant about pets being safely secured inside a vehicle. By threading the seat belt though the straps on the back of the pet carrier and buckling it in you give your pet a safe place to enjoy the ride. The other great thing is that your back seat (or the back seat of a rental car) is saved from being covered in fur after your pet’s adventure – no seat cover required!

Upon arrival, simply unclip the seat belts, give the Car-Go a twist, and it will collapse for easy storage back in the case. If you’re staying in a hotel, bringing the Car-Go inside will give your pet a familiar place to stay if you have to leave them alone for a short time.

Ty thinks this size provides plenty of room for a dog his stature. (The fact is, he sleeps when we’re driving anyway, and would fit just fine in the Single version.) I liked the fact that I could keep an eye on him though the mesh windows in the front, and that the zippered openings in the front and end provide easy access.

The Car-Go Double retails at $159, comes in a variety of colors, and is available on the SturdiProducts website and other online retailers.

And, now for the really good news … We’re giving this Car-Go to one of you!

Enter to Win a Car-Go

To enter, leave a comment below and tell us about a product you’ve found that makes traveling with your pets easier or more enjoyable. For an additional entry, share a link to this post on Facebook with a tag to GoPetFriendly.com so we can find your link. (To tag GoPetFriendly.com on Facebook, first be sure you have “liked” our Facebook Page.)

Contest Rules

The contest runs from one minute after midnight EST January 5, 2011 to 11:59 pm EST January 11, 2010. This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents over the age of 18. All contest entries will be assigned a number and the winning number will be picked by www.randomizer.org. We will contact the winner by email (so be sure you provide one) on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011. The decision of the judges is final. The winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen from the pool of entries. The winner of the prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes on the prize. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com are ineligible to enter the contest.

Disclosure: We were sent a free Car-Go from SturdiProducts. We did not receive payment for this review, and the opinions expressed here are my honest assessment of the product based on my personal experience using it.

Don’t forget the Pet Blogger Challenge on January 10, 2011!

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Comments

Comment Archive

Mswearingen May 29, 2011 at 3:37 am

I just got a Car-Go double and the cats love it. I do hope they aren't discontinuing it.

Amy@GoPetFriendly May 27, 2011 at 4:33 am

Thanks for stopping by! I didn't know that Sturdi Products had discontinued the Car-Go, and I'm sorry to hear it! I thought it was a great product too.

Cfeyka May 27, 2011 at 1:12 am

I have several car-go pet carriers and love them. However, they are no longer making the car-go. The regular carriers are too deep for car seats. I am really disappointed that they are no longer available.

Amy@GoPetFriendly Feb 20, 2011 at 8:06 pm

That’s great! I think our boys are a little too big for the Cozy carrier, but for smaller dogs I can see where it would be really nice.

Amy Burkert Feb 15, 2011 at 11:36 am

That's great! I think our boys are a little too big for the Cozy carrier, but for smaller dogs I can see where it would be really nice.

Maureenelainedemers Feb 15, 2011 at 12:12 am

My Niblett loves to trave in the Sturdi Cozy carrier. She love to curl up and the round shape is perfect for that.

Pet Blogger Challenge Jan 25, 2011 at 12:26 pm

[...] there you have it. Don’t forget that there is still time to enter to win the SturdiProducts Car-Go giveaway – and be sure to follow the links below to read more blogger’s posts for the Pet [...]

Amy@GoPetFriendly Jan 12, 2011 at 4:43 pm

Also, I forgot to reply to your question about the app - yes, this is something we're strongly considering and would love to do. We'll keep you posted with any progress we make!

Marge Jan 12, 2011 at 4:40 pm

:-)

Ronda Jan 12, 2011 at 5:01 am

A big thick squeaky ball and a Nylabone keeps Bella happybwhile we head to see her friends.

Amy@GoPetFriendly Jan 12, 2011 at 2:50 am

Marge, you are officially my favorite entrant! Unfortunately, it will still be the power of Randomizer.org that decides the winner. :-)

Steffi Jan 11, 2011 at 9:19 pm

My dogs always wear a harness and a small car strap that attaches to the seat belt. But this Car-Go looks much more comfortable!

LinRinTnDobe Jan 11, 2011 at 6:43 pm

Love that Car-go Bag. I've been looking at it for awhile now.

Lisa Jan 11, 2011 at 6:32 pm

I always take something for them to chew on. Seems to keep them busy for the most part!

Debbie Jan 11, 2011 at 6:06 pm

Murphy has several toys that stay in the car to keep him busy while travelling...his favorite is an elk antler!

JNiff Jan 11, 2011 at 5:53 pm

I'd have to say, attachable grommets and bungies. Why? Because this allowed us to secure a blanket (that didn't have its own grommet holes) to the back seat so that our pups had a comfy seat to lay down that wasn't a slippery vinyl seat :)

Rebecca Jan 11, 2011 at 5:50 pm

Dash absolutely loves traveling in his carrier bag - we never travel without it. But I like the one you have featured because it looks like it would keep him more secure when driving.

Afarage Jan 11, 2011 at 5:48 pm

This product really makes sense. Although we usually crate when travelling, this would be great for short trips in town.
A

HoundDogMom Jan 11, 2011 at 4:14 pm

This would be so cool to win. Currently don't restrain the bassets while in the car. This is about to change. As we bought a new Chevy HHR to assist with my transports and we are looking at getting the soft carries to use for them as well as our own. I love how you can fasten them with the car seatbelts. This would be perfect for us to use on basset transports for Rescue.

Marge Jan 11, 2011 at 6:57 pm

My iPhone so I can pull up your website when we make last minute route changes and stops along the way. Our last road trip to MN we hit bad weather and had to stop before our planned half way point. Being able to pull up www.gopetfriendly.com on my iPhone and search for pet friendly hotels in the little towns around us was a life saver! We ended up at a Baymont Inn that was literally in the middle of a bunch of corn fields 8 miles off the interstate. We never would have known it existed if we hadn't used your site to find it. It was pet friendly and wonderful place to wait out the storms. Have you thought about making an app for your website? Just a thought, I know I would use it!

laurene Jan 11, 2011 at 5:52 pm

I love my Kurgo Auto Zip-Line! I have their Wander Hammock and Tru-Fit Harness as well and it makes travelling so much easier. I know my boy is safe in the back seat and he enjoys having the freedom to move from side to side. http://www.kurgostore.com/categories/Dog-Travel/ Before Kurgo, we had him in the front seat with a seatbelt that clipped in. Within minutes of starting our trip, Tazz would turn around and get tangled. I would then have to unbuckle him before he hurt himself. I like that the Car-Go keeps them totally confined. It would make getting him out of the car much easier without having to undo the harness. It's also good that it attached to the seatbelt. I know Tazz would end up with it in the footwell if it didn't. haha

HoundDogMom (Sherri) Jan 11, 2011 at 11:19 am

When doing errands (vet trips, etc). The bassets are not tied down (LOL). I transport for Basset Rescue and do not crate either, but realize that this needs to be reviewed. So I bought a new Chevy HHR and we are looking at getting soft crates for transports and to start using with our bassets. To win one of these would be so awesome. I love how you can use the seatbelts that are in the vehicle to accommodate. Have also wondered how well the seatbelt harness works. Thanks for offering the give away. HoundDogMom

MerlinChauffeur Jan 11, 2011 at 5:28 am

Merlin enjoys PlanetDog travel beds on his backseat during road trips. They roll for easy transfer to motel rooms so he knows where to sleep. I also put his favorite plush squeaky toy in my luggage so he knows we’ll traveling together.
http://merlinsroadtrip.blogspo...

Taking the Pet Blogger Challenge 2011 « Darby's Story blog Jan 10, 2011 at 9:24 pm

Trixie, Lily and Sammy-Joe Jan 10, 2011 at 3:45 pm

I don't travel with my pets much because they are difficult traveling companions... but this might make it easier! The one thing I do have is a harness seatbelt for my dogs. They wear it like a regular harness, but it is a little thicker and sturdier, and has a loop that can be buckled into the seatbelt. They don't like it though!

debbie jacobs Jan 8, 2011 at 7:34 pm

Seat covers are a must! I buy rubber backed runners or long rugs, for cheap at an outlet store. Cut holes for the head rest and drape the rug over the seat. Works great, can be tossed in the washer. Found the last few at Ocean State Job Lots.

Klausboelk Jan 7, 2011 at 7:47 pm

for our dog we got a leash that clips into the seat belt. It has made traveling with her much safer. For our cats we use soft blankets and they cuddle up either on the passengers seat our under it.

Gchristodoulou Jan 7, 2011 at 5:23 pm

Hey, really great blog post… I've enjoyed reading through your blog because of the great style and energy.

I actually work for the CheapOair travel blog. If you're interested, we would love to have you on as a guest blogger. Please send me an e-mail: gchristodoulou(at)cheapoair(dot)com, and I can give you more information. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Pamela Jan 7, 2011 at 12:17 pm

My favorite dog travel tool cost me 25 cents at a church rummage sale. It's a sturdy metal screw you can attach a long leash too without it getting tangled.

Whenever we go camping, we hook at 15 foot training leash so Honey can have some freedom and still be safe (and not underfoot) while we're setting up our tent and camp.

I've seen new versions of these things at other campsites and see that they bend easily and are hard to put into rocky soil. I'm really happy for my "antique."

bluejena Jan 7, 2011 at 3:05 am

It's a simple and silly little thing, but in the summer, we put some soft gel freezer packs inside a canvas reusable grocery bag and put that under a sheet on the seat for her - even with the A/C on or the windows open, the sun beating on her dark coat often makes her feel too warm while on car adventures, but a cool place to lie on the seat seems to make her feel much more comfortable!

Amy@GoPetFriendly Jan 7, 2011 at 1:59 am

We don't think you're crazy, Anne - we think you're fantastic!

Glenda Russell Jan 6, 2011 at 8:13 pm

I love the seatbelt by Bamboo it doubles as a leash and is adjustable too. I really like the idea that you can seatbelt the car-go in for added protection.
Thanks and goodluck to everyone!

alpha Jan 6, 2011 at 7:37 pm

Nothing. I tried a harness and it restricts them too much. My two dogs like to be together. This would be awesome for them!

Chris Jan 6, 2011 at 7:37 pm

I have found that a good chew toy (generally a Nylabone) gives my dog something to do and makes traveling with him much easier!

Angela b Jan 6, 2011 at 7:31 pm

a dvd player...sounds silly i know, but our dog watches it with our son and is much calmer!

Melissa Jan 6, 2011 at 4:42 pm

A harness and lots of chew toys to jeep him busy! This product is perfect!

Michele Jan 6, 2011 at 2:41 pm

I like the no assembly required! And it looks comfortable.

Michele Jan 6, 2011 at 2:41 pm

I like the no assembly required! And it looks comfortable.

cstironkat Jan 6, 2011 at 6:15 am

I liked you on FB and I hope I tagged them right. Kelly Thuet

cstironkat Jan 6, 2011 at 6:14 am

I need my bags on board for my leash, a dog backpack so my dog can hike with his own stuff, a harness to keep him safe and the travel bowls are great products for when we are on the go.

Anne M. Jan 6, 2011 at 4:16 am

I am crazy a little bit. An accessory I bought to make traveling easier with my dogs? I bought a new car.... Crazy, I know!

Krystal Jan 6, 2011 at 1:55 am

My small dogs always wear their harnesses when we go out. They keep them on in the crate that is located in the backseat. When its time to get out I make sure I get in the backseat, shut the door to prevent any escapees) and make sure they are secure before we get out. This has worked well for us, I especially like the harnesses we have since it keeps them so nicely secrued!

Lori @ According to Gus Jan 6, 2011 at 1:39 am

We use a Sherpa bag for Gus in the car...same bag we use when he flies with us. We've been looking for a different option for car travel, and this looks awesome! We'll be traveling for 4-5 months next year and this would be perfect!

SeeDogThink Jan 5, 2011 at 11:29 pm

When the dogs travel in the front of the truck with me, they have seatbelts. I use a rubbermaid tote that fits perfectly into the space in front of the seat and it gives them more room. In the back of the truck I have 2 crates, secured with bungee cords.
As soon as I strap my little guy into his seatbelt and start driving he nods off.

The best purchase that works well as a seatbelt harness and a general harness has been the Ruffwear harness http://www.ruffwear.com/Web-Ma...

Most importantly, keep airbags off when dogs ride in the front and keep the seatbelt attached to the harnesses short enough. Also: Through A Dog's Ear Driving Edition helps keep them calm.

Guy and Girl Travels Jan 5, 2011 at 10:27 pm

McDonald's Chicken Nuggets . . . keeps the doggie calm and quiet! :D Lil' Bob Barker's best training tool for long car rides! (He's a barker!) But, he sure is quiet when there are nuggets in the car! Lol!

Shipslip Jan 5, 2011 at 10:22 pm

Luke, the WMACS, rides in a luxury car seat that also is secured by the seat belt. Great for small dogs, the seat has a removable cover AND a cushion! I like the looks of this pet carrier, also, and it would protect him while giving him a little wiggle room (and boy, does he need that).

Kimba Jan 5, 2011 at 7:24 pm

Up until now, my "pup" stays in a plastic crate bungeed to the backseat of the car (not ideal, but the best compromise I could come up with so that he didn't strangle himself in a seat belt with all his bouncing around, or annoy the other dog to the point of an altercation in the back seat). The crate is a bit small for him, but he doesn't seem to mind as he just curls up and takes a break. The older dog is seatbelted into what remains of the backseat. This carrier would be such an improvement for us, to be able to give each dog their own space yet still be able to see them and check on them as needed!
I love those pop-up style crates for use in hotel rooms (my dogs are NEVER left entirely alone in hotel rooms) for those times when they need to be crated in the room.

Cfitzwy Jan 5, 2011 at 5:49 pm

I have not travel a lot since getting my dogs, but the hard side crate was sure nice to put them in when we had to leave in the car for a short time. An item i realized needed for the dogs always is collapsable dish and a water bottle.

nic Jan 5, 2011 at 4:26 pm

We usually keep our dog harnessed and attached to a seatbelt latch, with a plenty of slack so he can move around in the backseat. The other day, we had a little slip&slide incident during a snowstorm, and we ended up in a side ditch. Although we were moving slowly, our pup did get thrown around quite a bit. Nobody was hurt, but i was thinking it would have been nice if he was in something like this... He would've been less affected.

Carolynmachost Jan 5, 2011 at 4:21 pm

In October I lost my beautiful 12 year old Ragdoll cat, so for Christmas my hubby gave us a new Siberian kitten. I bought a carrier from SturdiProducts and it is so great. We used to have one of the hard plastic carriers and it was very cumbersome. The SturdiProducts carrier is well made and is great for short trips, but we plan to get a second kitten and Siberians get pretty big, so I will need to get a Car-Go. It would be wonderful to win one!!

Petportraitetc Christalynn Jan 5, 2011 at 4:02 pm

I have found the collapseable water and food bowls are invaluable!! Also, I had a pet car cover with a pocket in it for a water bottle close by if needed. : ) This pet carrier looks to be a lot more contained then that and I think she would have felt more secure in it!!

Roxanne Hawn Jan 5, 2011 at 3:57 pm

It depends on which car, which dog, which day, etc. We have hard-sided crates. We have a soft-sided crate, and we have a RuffRider seat belt harness for Lilly.

Kelly B. Jan 5, 2011 at 3:26 pm

I have a small soft "crate" that I use for my dog in the car, but this product would be ideal for longer trips! Thanks for the tip!

Sara Jan 5, 2011 at 2:44 pm

I LOVE these leashes http://www.cetaceacorp.com/pet.../
there is a buckle at the loop and you can resize the leash. If you are in walking traffic you make the leash shorter. The other great thing that I use it for is I can buckle it through my belt loop on my pants so I can take pictures hands free. Also I can use it to secure them around an object while we are eating out somewhere (I dont recommend it for unsupervised tie out obviously).

Toby Jan 5, 2011 at 2:41 pm

I have two products that make traveling with Toby much easier. One is the Sturdi Product Sturdi Box that I use as a water or food dish and is collapsible. The other is a Pet Trek On the Go Gear Pack it has compartments to store everything I need to travel with Toby.

KathleenRileyDaniels Jan 5, 2011 at 2:14 pm

I like these plastic water bowls. They attach easily on the door of the crate with a twist top mechanism -- so easy. I bought mine at a dog show from East Coast Crates. Here's a link to their page: http://www.eastcoastcrates.com...

Laura Jan 5, 2011 at 1:59 pm

Oh Wow! I was looking at one of those, I think it is a great idea. We are using the N2N canvas crate for travel. I like that it has mesh windows and there is a strap on the bottom that I slip the seat belt through.
I love that the Car-Go can accommodate 2 dogs... because we are thinking of getting another : )
Thanks for sharing this.
Love your blog!