Owen McAllister
Outdoor wear testing, mud/sand/snow contamination control, material abrasion and hardware longevity.
About
I evaluate liners, crates, ramps, and tie-downs over rough access roads and messy load-outs, then score durability against vehicle protection.
Core Beliefs
If gear fails in the field, it fails the family. Durability must never damage the vehicle.
Background
At a February trailhead, slush and grit turned the cargo area into sandpaper. A cheap liner skated; the tie-downs bent. Our second setup used rubber-backed textile, metal D-rings, and short leashes to hard points. After a dozen muddy load-outs, nothing shifted—and the hatch trim still looked new.
Perspective
I favor rugged textiles, real metal hardware, and anchored tie-downs over light-duty convenience gear.
Author Articles
Safety, Laws & How-To Guides
Dog Car Safety Laws: What Actually Protects Your Pet
Understand how pet restraint laws and distracted driving rules actually apply, then go beyond compliance with field-tested gear choices. Use crash-tested restraints, hard-point anchoring, and abrasion-aware materials to protect both your dog and your vehicle.
Safety, Laws & How-To Guides
Field-Tested Dog Car Accessories Installation Guide
Use an anchor-forward, vehicle-specific setup to install seat belts, boosters, barriers, and covers that withstand real braking forces while protecting your interior. Get practical placement tips, material guidance, and a simple pass/fail checklist for safer, scratch-free travel.