Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) vs RuffLand Intermediate Kennel

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 RuffLand Intermediate Kennel made our Top 5 Dog Crates for Truck Beds, at #1 (best overall) and #3 (best value). 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 value champion and the hunting community's default. RuffLand's one-piece rotomolded shell with energy-absorbing Ruff Flex walls costs several hundred dollars less than the crash-certified crates, and at ~21 lb it is the only kennel here a single person can easily lift in and out of a bed. It ranks below the certified picks because it is not independently crash-tested and its tie-down and handle hardware is a separate add-on kit — a cost and step to plan for before trusting it in an open bed.

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 RuffLand Intermediate Kennel 8.5. The widest gap is Crash & Impact Protection, where the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) scores 9.8 against 8.3 for the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel — wall construction and independent crash certification (Center for Pet Safety) for real-world collision safety. Value also separates them: 9.5 for the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel versus 6.5 for the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate).

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 (Lab-sized dogs) on the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel; Construction — Double-wall rotomolded on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus One-piece rotomolded (single wall, Ruff Flex) on the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel; Crash Test Rating — 5-Star (Center for Pet Safety) on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Not independently certified on the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel; Empty Weight — 48 lb on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus ~21 lb on the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel; Door & Latch — Welded aluminum-frame reversible door, key-lockable paddle latch on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Molded door (single/double options), latch on the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel; Tie-Downs — 4 integrated stainless-steel pins (straps sold separately) on the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) versus Tie-down & handle kit (add-on) on the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel.

Pricing as of August 10, 2026: $700 for the Gunner G1 Kennel (Intermediate) and $399.99 for the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel, a $300.01 difference in the RuffLand Intermediate Kennel's favor. 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 RuffLand Intermediate Kennel for by far the best price of the durable crates here, around $400 and lightest on the list at roughly 21 lb — genuinely one-person portable; the most common complaint is not independently crash-certified, unlike the Gunner and Lucky Duck.