By Kelly V.
Tuck, our 11 1/2 year old, 40 pound vizsla, is no longer able to keep up with the rest of the pack on walks, due to some health issues. Not wanting to leave him at home, we searched for a dog stroller aka “the sag wagon” that he could ride in when he ran out of steam. After much research, we decided on the Pet Gear Expedition Stroller. First of all, although there’s plenty of strollers to choose from for lap size dogs, it’s much more difficult to find a stroller for a larger size breed. This stroller is plenty big enough for Tuck, as well as being able to carry some additional supplies.
Features include:
- Large protective pet compartment
- Adjustable height handle
- waterproof tray
- Easy fold mechanism
- Interior dimensions 42 x 30.3 x 37.8-inches; for pets up to 150-pounds
The Pet Gear Expedition Stroller is quite sturdy and well built. It folds down pretty easily, but in order to get it into the trunk of my compact Mazda 3, I have to also pop the large rear wheels off. Not too hard to do, just push in the center of the wheel and slide off, but it is another step. The empty stroller weighs 33 pounds, but to be expected from a stroller that can carry up to 150 pounds.
The stroller works well on hard packed dirt off road trails, but is not easy to roll in loose sand, like at a beach. The front wheels swivel, but can be put into a locked straight position if desired. The “brakes” can be set by stepping on the tabs near the rear wheels.
There’s also a couple of pouches on the bag of the stroller for small items like your keys, a ball, poop bags, sunglasses, etc…
We like to put a travel size soft bed in the stroller for Tuck to sit on.  Tuck enjoys riding with the top and front mesh areas unzipped (side areas do not unzip). There is also an adjustable nylon strap that you can attach to your dog’s collar.  This works well for preventing Tuck from suddenly jumping out and hurting himself as the stroller is moving. When Tuck has rested sufficiently and is ready to walk again, he lets us know with a whine, and we stop and let him out. Having a stroller sure beats carrying a 40 pound dog!
July 7, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Having carried the 40-pound Tucker halfway up a mountain outside Julian when he first got sick, I would have to agree with that last sentence.
July 8, 2010 at 8:05 am
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July 8, 2010 at 8:13 am
Great photos and review! We enjoyed reading about such a neat way to help carry a 40 lb dog. (Jan always hopes nothing every happens to Buddy or Sam since she can’t pick up either of them, at 45 and 65 respectively.)
That looks like a fun way to travel when necessary.
July 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
I didn’t realize Tucker was THAT old. (only kidding Tucker …) I really like the stroller, and appreciate the review too. He looks so content …
July 9, 2010 at 10:12 am
I love that review, and it helps me out a lot. I think it would be good for a certain aged Greyhound here, although I’m not sure if her pride will let her admit that she needs it.
July 9, 2010 at 10:57 am
Yeah, Tuck doesn’t like to admit he needs a little help, but eventually he’s so tired that when I pick him up and put him in it, he settles down quickly for a sightseeing ride in the stroller.
July 10, 2010 at 8:55 pm
the stroller has plenty of room for hitchhikers like Indie too!! great to fold
August 12, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Our Golden Retriever can not sit for long due to very weak back legs so we need a stroler big enough for him to lie down in.
Is the internal length of the cabin 42inches o is that an external dimension?
Thanks
September 23, 2010 at 5:36 pm
I believe it’s an internal dimension.
September 23, 2010 at 5:35 am
This looks just like what I am after I have a German Shepherd with Degenerative Mylopathy adn cant walk far at all but rather than leave her home while I go walking with my other Dog Mali Cougar can come along as well do you find that your dog has plenty of room I know my Cougar is fairly long as its the amount of room I worry about for her to be comfortable as she will be spending most of our walk in it
September 23, 2010 at 6:49 am
This is the roomiest stroller we have found. We put a roll up travel bed in the bottom, and it is quite comfy. I think Cougar would like it.
Are you mostly walking on pavement? It is easiest to roll on pavement, especially with a large load in it.
September 27, 2010 at 7:43 am
Hi Kelly and Dennis unfortunately we have a fair amount of dirt tracks around where we live but I will have to stick to the roads until I reach the town area I have gone ahead and purchased one of these strollers as I looked at the solvit ones but they wouldnt be large enough my husband is an engineer so Im sure we could add other wheels and maybe change the front set up to maybe be something like the solvit ones if we have to but most important that Cougar is comfortable and not crammed in she weighs about 97lb so a fair load to push hope one of us will get fit just not sure who oh well we will have fun trying
October 15, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Hi Kelly and Dennis my stroller arrived this week but I find that the measurements are not at all what they were advertising my stroller is only 31.5 inches from the back to the front, which I think they have sent me the wrong one. Im not sure, I was just wondering if you know at all whether there are two sizes in these strollers or how they do their measuring as on the box of mine it has 31.5L x 25W x 24H is that what yours is can you please do me a favour and measure yours from the back inside wall to the front where they get in so I can just compare if they are the same size as yours looks really large in your photo thanks
King regards
Tania Visic
October 19, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Hi Tania,
Yes, the length is 31.5 inches. I am a little confused though. Did you mean that your stroller was shorter than that?
My stroller is currently in the trunk of my car and things have been very hectic lately . Sorry I haven’t been able to get out and measure it for you. It’s pouring rain outside, so perhaps when things are dry again, I’ll be able to take a look at it.
October 31, 2010 at 4:43 am
Hi Kelly and Dennis, sorry I meant that when I ordered it it stated that the interior was 42 inches long 25 inches wide and 38.5 inches high, but when it arrived that was the overall length of it, which made it a lot smaller than what I was expecting I contacted the seller and explained that they should advertise properly the size as I purchased it thinking I had a lot more room for Cougar than I actually did, and at first had a lot of trouble getting her in but she seems to had adapted to it and likes it now a lot so its turned out ok as I thought I would have to sell it on and would be without a stroller for her, So it has all turned out Great which is good, and Cougar will be able to be mobile for a long time yet, I hope your Tuck is also going strong take care.
Regards
Tania Visic
Regards
October 31, 2010 at 7:23 am
I’m glad that Cougar can be a part of walks again! Does Cougar like riding with the mesh rolled up so she can have a better view?
Tucker’s birthday is today (Halloween). He is now 12 and doing pretty well.
October 19, 2010 at 10:07 am
When I went on the pet gear site it stated that the interior pet compartment on the expedition was 32 long X 25 wide X 24 high.
I know that you all are using it for a large dog but do you thinnk it would be good for 2 miniature poodles and a toy poodle or is it overkill?
Thanks!
October 19, 2010 at 9:45 pm
I think your crew would be very comfortable in it, ample room for all. I’m not sure if there is a slightly smaller stroller that would also meet your needs for all 3 dogs to be together. If you have a large enough vehicle to comfortably carry this stroller, and if you are going to be on pavement or hard packed dirt, then having a little extra room for everyone would probably be appreciated by your dogs.
We found it helpful to order our stroller from PetSmart on-line because then if we didn’t like it, our local PetSmart said we could return it to them, instead of having to ship it back.
January 25, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Have just started looking into strollers for my large female Greyhound. She had a back leg am[utation last week but I want her to be able to stay active. She also does therapy and don;t want her to get tired juts walking in from the parking lot. This review was very helpful since I seemed to think the design was better in this stroller for easy in and outs. Some of the others with 3 wheels, seem to have quite a big step up to get in. Will start saving to get this model. Thanks for the great info.
June 27, 2011 at 6:09 am
Hi,
I live in the UK and have read your reviews with interest and am thinking of getting one of these great strollers. However, no-one supplies them here! I have contacted Petgear direct who can send me one. Can you tell me (before I spend over £150) if after a year the stroller is still “as good as new”?
Regards
Pauline
June 29, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Hi Pauline,
We haven’t used the stroller on a regular basis, but I think it’s put together quite solidly. It’s a bit big to fit comfortably in the trunk of my compact car, and I have to take off two of the wheels to get it to fit. We actually wound up buying a Costco Wagon a week ago because it folds up much smaller, but I imagine you don’t have Costco in the UK either. You can find the Costco Wagon review by clicking on the Ballistic Racers header.
Good luck in your search!
Kelly
June 29, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Hi Pauline, Thanks for reading our article on pet gear. One of our team members Kelly, wrote the article and still has the stroller. Please feel free to email her at miss_kelly @ cox.net She will be able to tell you how it is holding up. Thanks, Brian