Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Hohenwald,Tn
Posts: 465

Why are dog boxes so expensive? What makes them worth $500-$800? I can buy a tracking system and collar that can tell me every step my dog makes for less than a dog box. I can buy a new light with all kinds of gadgets to hunt with for less than a dog box. Is there some kind of new technology made into the boxes now that wasn't there 10 yrs ago? The best I can tell from looking at them there still just a square box, 2 doors, 2 vents, mabey a storage spot so what gives? Mabey I am just a tight wad but $500 is way more than any box is worth in my opinion.

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Registered: Oct 2005
Location: Vernon, Alabama
Posts: 2382

Price of metal has alot to do with it. At least with the Diamond plate boxes. Aircraft aluminum boxes have went up because the war has made finding the material hard to find. Demand and the number of people willing to pay for them is high. Just think about bird hunters. Alot of them have money to burn.

I myself would love to have an Owens bottom drawer box, but i cant make myself spend $800+ on one for a small truck. The used market is the way to go, but even then they are still high.

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Registered: May 2005
Location: Pinconning,Mi
Posts: 1323

i would also think because the demand is low, a company has to make money or they wont be in business long, most bird hunters I know dont use a box, they are in the truck, under a topper or airliner crate, very few in a good quality box

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Steve Beson
Pinconning MI

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Registered: May 2006
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1344

About 6 years ago I built an aluminum one myself (after I had a driftboat shop bend the aluminum and cut the doors) I used rivets instead of welding the sides and used wooden top.. I was still $500 into it.. This year I just had it welded, rails put on, insulated, and a new top put on and put another $600 into it..

The price of aluminum is expensive and it seems that finding someone who can weld the stuff is even harder..

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OutWest Big Game Hounds

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Registered: Oct 2003
Location: mid-michigan
Posts: 4437

You could always build your own out of plywood like we used to do in the old days.
As a teenager , I built a bunch of them for my dad and all his friends. Did them all for free. All they had to do was bring me the lumber.
Also built the behind-the-cab boxes for hunting clothes , lights , gun , etc.
Now , I think they call them tool boxes. LOL
I've only bought one box already made and I've got about 20 years on it.
I'm cheap and don't feel the need to impress anybody so my next one will be of the " old-school " variety.
Just depends on how much ambition a person has I guess.

I used to use a cheap single-shot 22 and a little 2-cell flashlight.
My dad use to tease me about hunting with a million dollar dog , a 5 dollar rifle , and a 10 cent flashlight ! LOL

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1559

Me and my brother pulled into a mini-slam nitehunt one time with an old wooden dogbox and a one eyed, inbred coondog. Drew out with some "professional" handlers sporting fancy dog boxes, banners and "famous" pedigrees. Needless to say, old "one-eyed Jack" waxed their a@@es by treeing coon.

Build a box that fits your needs, forget about high dollar and fancy! Your dog does not care! jmo, wd

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Registered: Jul 2009
Location: harris
Posts: 56

i brought one out of airplan aluminum... USED was alot cheaper... but you can build one cheap.. get you some metal.. get you some metal wiring like they use on grills.. weld it if you got a welder and your in business..

and i feel that if you want something you just buy it regardless... true they are expensive.. but so are dogs, so are lights, so are all the other things we use.. true it sucks and alot of people can't buy them including me.. so i save my pennies and nickles when i can... and spend the $ like everyone else and get what i want...

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 535

I work at a sheetmetal shop and the price of steel or aluminum is not nearly as high as it was 2-3 years ago. People are making money off dog boxes. Can't say I blame them though, everyone has got to make a living.

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Jordan Hall
(715)297-4485
Wausau, Wi

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Hohenwald,Tn
Posts: 465

I am lucky enough I can afford one of the new boxes. I just can't see them being worth what there asking for them. It seems to me that a dog box that does nothing but trap a dog inside shouldn't cost as much as a tracking system that works with satalites and can tell me what road my dog is closest to, how fast he is, how far he went, ect. I just doesn't make sence to me at all. I will probably go used or old school painted plywood, gate latches, and about 6 big turn vents. As long as you put runners on the bottom they will last for years for less than $100.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, MN
Posts: 4236

It seems the real problem is that you feel Garmins are underpriced????

I will fix this and sell you one for $2000, that ought to make a box look more reasonable.

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Registered: Aug 2005
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 215

With the population increases and hunting land losses,hunting is a dying sport......trying to make all the money they can before it hits rock bottom.

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Registered: Mar 2009
Location: s.c.
Posts: 6961

I built one out of used aluminum farrowing house gates and panels and put a stainess diamond plate roof on it for about $50. I was fishing and when I got back to the landing somebody had stolen it and a bottle of spirits that was in the toolbox. It takes a lowdown dirty rascal to steal a man's bottle on a Sunday.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 6544

I remember back in the day when everyone made the homemade variety. I would go to a hunt and drive just because other guy's dog box didn't look safe.lol

I bought an aluminum diamond plate dog box in 1993, and I still don't have to worry about my dog's safety today. Hmmm that is 17 years of peace of mind.

At the time the expense seemed high to me, but looking back that covers so many miles, dogs, and hunts it sort of boogles the mind.

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Larry Atherton

Aim small miss small

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Registered: Nov 2009
Location: East TN
Posts: 256

Because there are people willing to pay that much to keep up with the jones's. I bought a new aircraft type box w/ storage for 280.00 on craigslist. Look on craigslist! I gave two boxes away last month to two teenagers just starting. I see guys getting out of hunting all the time and selling pretty reasonable stuff cheap.

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