The Hamilton Pet Liner Story

IT ALL STARTED WITH AN ACCIDENT AND A VERY SPECIAL DOG NAMED GEORGE

Lots of people ask me how I started the CargoLiner company. The story begins with something that was seemingly bad, and ends with something definitely good!

In November of 1981 I was on my way to attend a high school football game at a school I attended years earlier. I was going there to meet a bunch of old high school friends. On the way to the game a station wagon went through a stop sign, plowed into the car I was driving, and changed my life forever. Thirty days later I woke up in the hospital unable to speak correctly or walk without assistance. This was a result of a head injury from the accident.

For the next few years I spent many days at the rehabilitation center working on my speech and coordination and most importantly, my memory. Unable to work, I went to the local junior college to work on all my deficits and the re-coordination of my memory and speech. They predicted that it would take many years for my body to respond to my rehab program...if ever. But I was determined and my coordination came back much faster than expected. With that I was able to exercise and this resulted in a faster recovery. Good things started to happen. My speech improved along with my memory, even though I don’t think that will ever come back completely (I can now just blame that on age)!

During this time a friend gave me his year old yellow lab named George and for the next 15 years George was my best friend and constant companion. We went everywhere together.

In 1985, I began working doing odd jobs and a friend and I decided to start a pool & spa business building decks and putting in spas. I purchased an S-10 Blazer for my new adventure and had to figure out how to protect my vehicle from George's dog hair and claws (George was 100 pounds and went everywhere with me) and the pool & spa equipment I had to carry. I had to design a product that was unique. I needed a cover that protected everything in the cargo area that was made from a very strong material and was easy to clean. It also needed to be soft enough that George could dig in his claws and not slip and slide around the back of the S-10. So I hired a friend that was a furniture designer and we spent the next eight weeks testing many different designs and materials for strength, looks and cleanability.

After using many different designs and different materials, we discovered that heavy-duty vinyl (now used in the current CargoLiner construction) was the perfect material for our "CargoLiner." The first CargoLiner was born! Pretty soon I was getting asked by people I visited (and even people on the streets) where I purchased the product and I thought what a great opportunity there was to start producing CargoLiners for most of the popular SUVs and vans on the road. Then next thing you know, I quit the pool and spa business, started measuring the backs of SUVs and started selling my first liners!

Some of things I learned to be important features in the CargoLiner are built in to every product I manufacture and sell today: The CargoLiner vinyl is easy to clean, it is waterproof and very strong. By using our special vinyl, we can match the interior of any SUV or van to make a CargoLiner look like an OEM product. We design every product by bringing the vehicle into the plant to make the CargoLiner fit like a glove. Every CargoLiner is hand sewn and made to cover every nook and cranny that is exposed and that can be damaged by your pet or the equipment you are carrying. Plus they look great! We try to match our material as close as possible to your vehicle’s Interior so it looks like it belongs in your vehicle and you won’t want to take it out. When you buy a CargoLiner, we guarantee it for as long as you own your vehicle.

So me and George spent many happy years together working our new business. George loved it because he could go everywhere with me as part of our "design team!" George has since passed away but will not be forgotten. Since that time I have expanded my business to include other great products for the interior of your truck, Sport Utility Vehicle or van. We hope you like our selection and would love to hear your feedback on what you see. Thank you George for the inspiration.

Tammas (Tom) Hamilton,
Owner

Great

I have had this liner for over a year now of constant everyday use by two large (usually) muddy dogs. This liner has held up wonderfully with no tears, or visible signs of wear. I had a new 2021 Ford Escape and they didn't have a template for my car yet but since I was living near their shop, they offered to custom fit and install it in my car! All I had to do was drop my car off for the day twice! The gentlemen was very thorough with my wants and needs and gave great recommendations! So I got a perfectly fit liner installed by the masters:)

This liner has seen a lot of use as I have two big dogs and installed this in my construction work vehicle. After a year, I partially removed the liner to vacuum underneath it and there was only a little bit of sand and hair at the zipper seam and fold down edge. The rest was just like new. The liner is really easy to clean. I just have a little broom for the sand and hair and then wipe it down when necessary. The only issue I ran into was that they use velcro on the walls and on those hot California summer days the glue holding the velcro melts. I've had to replace this velcro because the dog hair gets in the glue before it re-solidifies thus loses its sticky. This is minor and no fault of the supplier but just something to look out for.

Overall, this is a great liner that is well worth the investment! It looks great, holds up well, and is perfect for people with pets, work in construction, or recreate a lot in the outdoors!

You know its a good product when a customer goes out of their way a year later to write a review!

Great fit, great look, just a few downsides

I'm convinced this is THE BEST product available on the market to achieve the two major needs of pet owners: protection & preservation. Given that the product is custom fit to your vehicle, there are few if any gaps to allow paws/claws to mess anything up. Where I think this company excels is obviously the fit and finish - my vehicle looks outstanding with this product installed (GX460, '14).

A few cons:
1. Because the majority material is vinyl, it definitely gives off a chemical smell when first installed. I anticipate this dissipates over time but something to think about.
2. I ordered the "extra padding" option which seems pretty nice but for $30 they charged, I would expect this padding to be associated with both the 2nd and 3rd row seat covers but it is only on the 3rd row seats, so half of the cover will still be uncomfortable (I'm sure that my dogs actually don't care).
3. While the custom fit is almost mind-bogglingly (sp?) well done, there were a couple places that remain covered that should not have been - a rear driver side 3rd row speaker and the buttons for the 3rd row seat operation in the passenger side wheel well.

But as I said above, I don't think there are any products available that come even close. Plus the customer service was on point. I would give 4.5 stars if I could. For reference, I would give any other product on the market 2 stars or less from what I've seen.

chantal B

Love the liner, love the company....The service was absolutely awesome!!! Would definitely recommend both!!!

Mickey N

When we got our new Subaru my wife and I had a slight difference of opinion. She wanted to keep it clean, meaning no dogs, and I wanted the dogs to still travel with us. After doing a great deal of research, I found the Hamilton custom cargo liner, ordered it, and then installed it. We (my wife and me) are both happy. With the liner the dogs can travel and the car is protected. In the picture is our 8yr old shepherd who just finished a 1,300 mile trip with the Hamilton liner.

Great Product!

Oliver is very pleased with his new cargoliner and bumper protector. Supervising projects from the car and trips to the beach are so much more comfortable. He would reccomend that every hound and their people get the full package. You will be very pleased with how easy it is from the first interaction

The Hamilton Pet Liner Story

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