Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) vs Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate)
Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) (#1, best overall) vs Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) (#5): in our Dog Crates for Truck Beds scoring the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) totals 9.1/10 and the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) 7.9/10.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) | Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $700 | — |
| Best Fit | Medium–large (interior 30 × 18 × 25 in) | Medium–large (interior 34.5 × 23 × 29 in) |
| Construction | Double-wall rotomolded | Powder-coated aircraft-grade aluminum (collapsible) |
| Crash Test Rating | 5-Star (Center for Pet Safety) | Not independently certified |
| Empty Weight | 48 lb | 35 lb |
| Door & Latch | Welded aluminum-frame reversible door, key-lockable paddle latch | Aluminum door with heavy slam latches |
| Tie-Downs | 4 integrated stainless-steel pins (straps sold separately) | Tie-down loops |
| Ventilation & Drainage | Molded side vents with escape-proof windows | Ventilation on all four sides |
| Warranty | Lifetime (excludes chew damage) | Lifetime (defects) |
How they differ in real use
Built from our dog crates for truck beds scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) and the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) made our Top 5 Dog Crates for Truck Beds, at #1 (best overall) and #5. The safest crate you can bolt into a truck bed and the most complete out of the box, which is why it wins despite the price. The G1 is the only double-walled kennel here — two rotomolded shells with an energy-absorbing gap — and the first double-wall crate to earn a 5-Star Center for Pet Safety rating. It arrives bed-ready with four integrated stainless tie-down pins, a welded aluminum-frame reversible door, key-lockable latch, and a lifetime warranty. It costs the most and weighs 48 lb, but nothing else matches its protection or completeness. The specialist pick for owners who need an aluminum crate that folds flat for storage. Powder-coated aircraft-grade aluminum makes it rust-resistant and strongly escape-resistant, and its four-sided ventilation is the best airflow here for a hot bed. It ranks last for truck-bed duty specifically because it is the most expensive crate on the list and its collapsible design is inherently less rigid than a welded or one-piece molded shell — a fair trade for portability, but not the pick if crash rigidity is your first priority.
We score dog crates for truck beds on Crash & Impact Protection (25%), Durability & Weather Resistance (20%), Security & Escape Resistance (20%), Truck-Bed Securing (15%), Ventilation & Comfort (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) totals 9.1 out of 10 and the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) 7.9. The widest gap is Crash & Impact Protection, where the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) scores 9.8 against 7.5 for the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) — wall construction and independent crash certification (Center for Pet Safety) for real-world collision safety. Security & Escape Resistance also separates them: 9.5 for the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus 8.5 for the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate). The Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) claws back ground on Ventilation & Comfort.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Best Fit — Medium–large (interior 30 × 18 × 25 in) on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Medium–large (interior 34.5 × 23 × 29 in) on the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate); Construction — Double-wall rotomolded on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Powder-coated aircraft-grade aluminum (collapsible) on the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate); Crash Test Rating — 5-Star (Center for Pet Safety) on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Not independently certified on the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate); Empty Weight — 48 lb on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus 35 lb on the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate); Door & Latch — Welded aluminum-frame reversible door, key-lockable paddle latch on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Aluminum door with heavy slam latches on the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate); Tie-Downs — 4 integrated stainless-steel pins (straps sold separately) on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Tie-down loops on the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate).
The Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) lists at $700; the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate)'s current price is on the merchant page. Owners praise the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) for only double-walled crate here — two shells absorb far more impact energy than a single wall and 5-Star Center for Pet Safety crash rating, tested to 4,000 lb of force; the most common complaint is the most expensive rotomolded pick and among the heaviest at 48 lb empty. Owners praise the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) for powder-coated aircraft-grade aluminum — rust-resistant and very durable and ventilation on all four sides, the best airflow here for a hot bed; the most common complaint is the most expensive crate on this list.
Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate)
- Only double-walled crate here — two shells absorb far more impact energy than a single wall
- 5-Star Center for Pet Safety crash rating, tested to 4,000 lb of force
- Four integrated stainless-steel tie-down pins engineered not to tear out in a wreck
- Welded aluminum-frame reversible door with a key-lockable paddle latch
- The most expensive rotomolded pick and among the heaviest at 48 lb empty
- Branded tie-down straps are sold separately
- Double-wall shell is bulkier in the bed than a single-wall crate of the same interior
Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate)
- Powder-coated aircraft-grade aluminum — rust-resistant and very durable
- Ventilation on all four sides, the best airflow here for a hot bed
- Heavy slam latches make it strongly escape-resistant
- Folds flat for storage when it is out of the truck
- The most expensive crate on this list
- Collapsible design is less rigid than a welded or one-piece molded shell
- Not independently crash-certified
Which should you buy?
The Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) is the better fit for owners who want the maximum crash protection available and highway and long-haul travel where a wreck is the worst case — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Crash & Impact Protection and Security & Escape Resistance. The Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) is the better fit for owners who need a crate that folds flat for storage and anxious dogs and escape artists who defeat lighter latches, and the stronger choice if Ventilation & Comfort matters more to you than the overall score. The Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) is a poor fit for anyone on a tight budget — it is the priciest rotomolded option; the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) is a poor fit for budget buyers — it is the priciest option here.
Choose the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) if
- Owners who want the maximum crash protection available
- Highway and long-haul travel where a wreck is the worst case
- Buyers who want tie-down hardware and locks built in, not added on
Skip it if
- Anyone on a tight budget — it is the priciest rotomolded option
- Owners who lift the crate solo and often, given the 48 lb weight
Choose the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) if
- Owners who need a crate that folds flat for storage
- Anxious dogs and escape artists who defeat lighter latches
- Hot climates where four-sided ventilation matters most
Skip it if
- Budget buyers — it is the priciest option here
- Owners who want maximum crash rigidity over portability
Common questions
Is the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) better than the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate)?
In our Dog Crates for Truck Beds ranking the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) scores higher overall, 9.1 to 7.9, with the biggest advantage in Crash & Impact Protection. The Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate) is stronger on Ventilation & Comfort, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
What is the main difference between the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) and the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate)?
The headline spec difference is Best Fit: Medium–large (interior 30 × 18 × 25 in) on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Medium–large (interior 34.5 × 23 × 29 in) on the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (Intermediate). In use, the gap that matters most is Crash & Impact Protection (9.8 vs 7.5 in our scoring): wall construction and independent crash certification (Center for Pet Safety) for real-world collision safety.