i guess it comes down to what you are trying to achieve...I have used the lower end crates for decades, and ruff land for the past 5 years, which I have 4 of and they fit nicely in my toyota sienna van with the back and 3rd seat removed. the only thing the expensive ones might do for my dogs is protect them in the event of a serious wreck...I have been in one car accident in my life, a modest collision that I caused about 35 years ago. I have to think my dogs are safer in my van in the ruff land crates than in a pull behind dog trailer? I put on 10k-15k miles per year hunting, probably more, and most of those miles are in pretty remote areas with pretty modest traffic, but that may not matter...not sure. One of my dogs is always in the passenger seat next to me...unsafe, I suppose, but that isn't going to change. I love the flexibility of the different doors on the ruff land crates, that they open from either side, that there are doors on both ends, or on the side, etc. I remove them for various reasons, they are easy to maneuver. I could see spending more...alot more...if the crate did something for me the ruff land crates were deficient in.