Hello everyone.

I just joined the forum as I'm considering a used (probably 04/05) Pacifica. I drive a 2007 Saturn Sky Red Line right now, but the wife is pregnant, and you've no doubt heard the story about how well babies and sportscars go together in the mind of a pregnant wife...

So I'm in the market for something more practical. AWD is a must as our parents both live about an hour in different directions and in NE Ohio, there's inclement weather (snow) a good part of the year. Plus I have hopes of some day skiing again with the wife (in a few years) and AWD sure makes getting up to the slopes easier. Crossovers seem like the perfect vehicle, and the Pacifica is very attractive. I already have a FS pickup, so we don't need anything heavy duty like a FS SUV.

Anyhow, we also have a dog (boxer). I can forsee plenty of times when the wife will be travelling with the baby (in the second row) and the dog (boxer) will be in the back. In the event of an accident or sudden stop, I don't want the dog to end up being a large furry projectile heading straight towards the baby, or the back of my wife's head, for that matter.

I did a search for barriers/dividers and didn't find anything on this forum. I'm curious what barrier(s) Pacifica owners with pets are using. I'm more familiar with GM vehicles - does Chrysler have an OEM accessories division that offers an OEM pet barrier? I'd like to find something effective, easy to remove in the event we need to use the rear seats for passengers, and onethat will do minimal damage to the interior of the vehicle - I like the Pacifica enough (its really practical, as well as stylish) that I'd like to keep it for myself when we eventually replace it with something newer for the wife down the road.

Anyone have any recommendations?

 

i had a 04 pac awd great car carried 2 greyhounds with me never used a divider

 

Not sure what kind of seating layout you've been looking at, but I have an 06 with two buckets and a center console in the second row.The drivers side (mid.row) seat has a flip over panel-to cover the console gap when folding down all rear seats for cargo.I just use this panel with the seats up, and it makes a great barrier, that is as high as the backs of the mid. row buckets.This has worked out great for our dog, though he is small, and would prefer to lay down on a blanket in the back.My Dad had boxers so I know you're dealing with a heavy dog- you may just be looking for a safety barrier, or net,across the top for emergencies.But check this out on the Pacifica before looking for products, it might effect what your shopping for.
Good hunting.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I have a couple of candidates right now. I'm trying to get one with the 2nd row buckets/console and third row seats. I remember when I was a kid - there would be a definite advantage to being able to stick one kid on the LH side of the 2nd row, and the other on the RH side of the 3rd.

I'd like the dog to have as much space as possible - probably fold down the 3rd row and give her the whole back area. With her back there, and the baby in the 2nd row, I envision taking out one of the 2nd row buckets to put baby stuff there so it doesn't get all dog-slobbered or turned into makeshift dog toys. That's why it seemed that a barrier would be the best idea since nothing would prevent her from sneaking up into the second row.

Its my wife's dog, and she (the dog) is a sweetheart, but she's also high-strung, curious, and loveable. I call her a tongue with a dog attached. I'm sure she wouldn't hurt the baby purposely, but she can be like a bull in a china shop when she's wound up. I'd like to keep her and the baby separated in the car.

Anyhow, I did some research and the dog safety barriers seem surprisingly affordable. Only thing I don't like is that they seem to anchor themselves by rods that push against the headliner. I guess that's better than a hole, but I can envision some damage over time to the headliner. I was hoping Chrysler had their own version, but I found their accessory site and there's nothing really like what I'm looking at.