Seneca dog box

[chromeslayer]

Considering buying a Seneca dog box was just wondering what people thought of them.. any dislikes? I need a insulated box since im in Ny

[mjd]

Nice boxes but the bolt and aluminum angle they use with the top storage latch used to be a pain , not sure how they are making them now though but the aluminum angle needs to be thicker so it doesnt bend so easy , we fixed a few by doing them like the continental boxes with a rod , best thing to do on all of them is hold the handle in open position when closing the lid , another thing we did on seneca , diamond deluxe and continental was weld the seam at bottom of door frame corner to keep water from running in

[Chuck Prather]

Give me a call for any questions you may have on the Seneca box. 330-256-0530. Thanks

[BCBeagles]

Have one custom sized and so does my dad...great boxes.

Best we have ever had and we have had several brands....Chuck is the guy to deal with.

Good luck!

[DIXIEDOG]

They are decent...I've had mine for close to a year now. The box works but they are not nearly as nice as the Patriot dog boxes were


Things that should be fixed

1) They allow rain in, even given the large drip guards I get rain in my box everytime we get any rain. In the winter even with the doors and side vents closed I always get a bit of snow in the box which shouldn't happen

2) The winter door design is not good, you have a small plate that hangs over the top and you need to install a small thumb knob to hold the panel down. This is not something you want to do in cold weather. A panel that slides over and captures the door on 3 sides is much better you just slide it in and close the door. Owen boxes also have a better design where they have a small track you just slip the winter panel into

3) There were several predrilled holes on my vent tracks that came with no screw to hold them in, I didn't notice this at first....it wasn't until the track got caught on my Gator's tailgate cord and pulled out a bit that I noticed it. Now that being said they were rushing to get my box to me so I'll assume that's why the screws weren't put in but it's something to glance at when you get your box so you can finish screwing the box together if needed.

4) No vents on the back of the box. Chuck mentioned they had the most flow of any box and I'll agree they have huge side vents but dogs seemed cooler with my other boxes where I could open the door panel, side vent and back vent to allow good flow through the box.

5) The side vent doors do not slide smoothly and the box comes with sharp edges even on the vent handle....I got a decent gash using my vents the first time because I hadn't looked at it closely....a few minutes with a file took care of it but that's not something that should be expected with a nearly $700 box.

6) You can't get the top storage and doors keyed alike, even though the cylinders are identical. I requested this when I ordered my box and was told it wasn't possible....then I got my box and saw the keys were the same it just needed to have 2 cylinders rekeyed....I would have gladly paid extra to only have the 1 key. Now if I want to have it done I need to remove the rivets and take the locks in it would have been great to have it done from the beginning.


Things that are good

1) Box looks great

2) No wood....so many boxes are cheaply made then they just throw a thin aluminum skin over the outside to help polish the turd....not so in this case they use nice materials

3) The upgraded locking slam latches are excellent. They fit flush and work very well....nothing that a dog can swat with their paw and open like a normal latch. I had one beagle that opened her box whenever a lock or clip wasn't used to prevent the latch from working which is annoying.

4) The storage area is carpeted, at first glance you think big deal but if you've ever had anything slide around in an aluminum box before you know the grime that will rub off on everything...not so with this one

5) They put poly skids under the bottom so the box slides in and out of your truck with ease.

6) Lightweight for size, granted a box this large is still a touch on the heavy side but this entire box is under 100 lbs which is great for a fullsize dog box.

7) The lid is reinforced so you don't get the sag in the top like a cheaper box

8) The lid shock placement makes it convenient to use the top storage, that was always a pain on my Patriot...the shock was in the middle so you weren't able to put anything large in the top without it being in the way.



Here's the thread I started when I bought the box http://americanbeagler.huntingboards.co ... 17&t=94057 Over time I did find some things I would want changed or improved on the box but I still think it's one of the better boxes available since Clayton of Patriot boxes has passed.


Dealing with Chuck was good I had dealt direct with Seneca when I purchased my kennels and trust me Chuck is was better to deal with, the owners I purchased the kennels from seemed to make the product fine but the CS sucked it seemed like they were not organized at all. Chuck on the other hand is a stand up guy, shipping ended up being way more than quoted and he sent me a check for the overage quickly and never complained about a thing. I've order Muck boots from him as well and was also very satisfied.



Overall I'm happy with the box, I do have a list of things I would have done differently and things I think Seneca should consider for the future. They have a great start but they could have a much better product without spending much if any more money by tweaking their design. If I was buying another box today I would certainly consider the Seneca as a top contender....with a change in the winter panels and vents they would be my first choice

[cris axtell/coal hill ken]

I love my Seneca box and trailer.