Details

The Ruff Rack is a custom built device that not only keeps your best friend securely on your motorcycle to prevent your dog from being thrown into traffic or becoming a projectile in a minor accident. It also provides protection from most road rash but not flying debris or gravel. The Ruff Rack will not provide protection in any rollover or end-over-end types of major accidents. No one can design/build something to withstand every type of risk or accident without adding weight, size, complexity and ultimately expense. The Ruff Rack is designed to be safer than carrying your dog in the saddle bag or on the tank. I would argue that The Ruff Rack is a better choice than putting your dog in a milk crate bungeed to your fender, a bucket, a tent, a gym bag with a hole cut in it, a back pack or strapping your dog down like a log on a flatbed truck.

Designed from necessity.

Several years ago I built a sidecar rig just so I could take my dog out riding with me instead of just leaving him at home all day. The sidecar was fun but I like leaning into turns and I wanted him on the bike with me. At the time, nothing was available to accomplish this. So I designed and built the first Ruff Rack. After years of people noticing and multiple requests, I started making them available to the public. I am not in “competition” with any other companies that make motorcycle dog carriers because I build them as ordered. I do not stock them and I can only make so many no matter the demand or price. I work alone and do 100% of the design and building. I’m not interested in expanding or hiring anyone since that would drive up cost and lower quality. Sometimes there is a short wait list.

Options.

The Standard comes ready to mount. But there are a couple of options to consider. The first is the Backrest/Gate. The removable gate is hinged and held secure with two removable pins. The backrest provides lumbar support to the rider and prevents the dog from putting their claws in your back when braking. (They don’t know to rely on their harness.) If you want the dog to have more room to lay down, you can remove the Backrest/Gate. The Backrest/Gate must be requested at time of order and cannot be bought separately since parts of it are welded to The Ruff Rack.

Built to last and easy to install.

All steel construction. Comes complete with the rubber floor mat, restraint system consisting of 3 nylon straps, and 2 carabiners. Included is a measuring template, drill bit and instructions on how to set up and install The Ruff Rack. All you need is a tape measure, marker, drill and an assistant. The best way to install The Ruff Rack is if you have the Harley-Davidson Tour Pack docking system on your bike. A Solo luggage bracket can be bought for $60-$100 from Amazon. This bolts directly to The Ruff Rack and then installs in mere seconds. For most other Motorcycles, I’ll need measurements taken and I build a set of 4 brackets. These bolt to the frame of your motorcycle usually through the fender where a pair of saddle bags would mount.

Size matters.

The standard has an interior deck size of 12 inches wide by 22 inches deep by 21 inches top tube height which is perfect for most solo dogs from 40 pounds to 75 pounds. The weight is only an estimate of the dog’s size since the Ruff Rack has a strength that will surpass any dog’s weight. It’s vital that you measure your dog’s body in order to keep them comfortable yet limit the amount of movement the dog can make so as to not cause sudden balance issues. If you wonder if a dog can be comfortable sitting on the back of a bike and not be able to do zoomies, just ask yourself, can you sit on your motorcycle comfortably without being able to stand up and wiggle around? A child in a car seat doesn’t have a lot of room in those either.

For multiple dogs or if you prefer a width that allows a dog bed or just more room, any floor size or tube height can be ordered. One of a few things to consider when ordering a width is are there saddle bags and how do they open? Will the dog be able to move enough to disturb your balance? The larger sizes may not qualify for free shipping.

Even small dogs

Building bigger isn’t always needed. Small dogs or a couple of small dogs can have their own custom Ruff Rack.

Pricing.

The Standard size is $1290.00 with the backrest/gate or $990.00 without the backrest/gate and includes shipping to the contiguous United States. For international orders, I split the cost of shipping with you. The average cost to Canada, your part would be about $75.00 usd. To Europe is around $125.00 usd. All Ruff Racks come complete with the 3 point restraint set up, the rubber anti slip floor mat, mounting/drill template, correct size drill bits, stainless steel hardware and support on how to fit and install your new Ruff Rack. Mount brackets for fender/saddle bag mount area are $100.00 for a set of 4. Custom made for your motorcycle from measurements you provide. All custom size prices will be quoted once I have measurements of your dog.

Delivery times.

Being a privately owned solo fabrication shop, my mission is to provide a quality product at the best price. The current build time is 8-10 days and I limit my build workload to a small number per month so there may be a short waitlist. I only accept a partial deposit when I start the build and the remaining balance prior to shipping. I use USPS or UPS unless a different shipper is requested. Once shipped, you’ll receive a photo of the tracking number.

Ordering.

The Contact me section is the first step. Fill in the information and I will reply and communicate with you via text messaging. If necessary, a voice call or Facetime call may be helpful if additional support is needed. Payment can be made through PayPal, Venmo or Cashapp.