Can this ramp be left outside for permanent use? The stairs into our yard are too tough for my Golden.
1112669
Our's is out in the bed of the truck all the time The slide parts needs lubricated in the cold so it goes easy for my old arms and shoulders to pull I'm screwed and pinned back together after an accident no strength
1112670
I would think so but not sure how the traction would be if it rained or snowed.
1112671
We leave our ramps outside. They have endured rain, hail, snow, ice, etc. No problems. No peeling or fraying of the tread surface, and no cracking anywhere that we can notice.
1112672
The anti-skid surface is 3M (or similar) sheet that has an adhesive back. If left exposed to the sun and rain, the adhesive can, over time tend to get moisture underneath and may fail. If you can turn the ramp over so that the anti-skid surface is down, then it should last a long time. Also, if left outside with the anti-skid surface up, there is a tendency for foreign material to get between the sliding parts and make it harder to retract and extend. If it is upside down, then this should not be as much of a problem. It is a very good product that we have used several years.
1112673
I think it would work fine if left outside, but after awhile it might be more difficult to collapse/extend the ramp, if grit is allowed to get inside the sliding part. My golden has used it in snowy weather and the grip is still very good!
1112674
I believe so. I have only started leaving it out recently, but it is all fiberglass, not metal to rust so it should work fine outside. My Golden is 15 and this works great as long as incline not to steep.
1112675
i have not left it outside but it looks like you could. its made of heavy plastic and the grip on the ramp looks like it will do well outside.....
1112676
I don't think I would leave it outside. I am not sure how the inside tread area would hold up as it feels like a sandpaper type material plus the weather might eventually make the plastic brittle.
1573083
For the ramp, lay in on the ground and walk dog over it until he is used to it. If you have steps outside you can put ramp on steps to get dog used to the incline.Steps use available housing steps to get him accustomed to going up and down, then you should have no problem getting him to use steps to enter vehicle.
283556
its a great ramp. give your dog a cat treat for climbing and he'll always want to climb it. I have to guide my dog with his collar. you could leave it outside permanently but the cold weather would take a toll on the sandpapery surface that helps dogs paws grip. It folds up and has a plastic hook to go over one side and then there is a carry handle. It's well made.
46481
I'm not sure the steps are wide enough. It's just right for my 30# dog but 110# isProbably too much. I would think a ramp would work better.
1867193
It depends on your stairs. In our case, we ran the long 8' ramp off the side of the porch - leaving the stairs for day to day traffic. With our short ramp (different set of stairs), we leave it set up most of the time and just walk on it. It is reasonably lightweight and can be folded and placed somewhere if that is more convenient. Good luck!
1539368
I don't know that it was made to be left outdoors, but it is plastic and has a rough skid free side for the dogs to go up and down. It does come with a hook to secure to the car, but it would definitely need to be very secure for what you are considering as it can slip downward from the car if not secured. It's not very wide though to cover steps. We made our own ramp for steps using plywood actually, covered it with the outdoor grass stuff and secured it at the bottom, works great and it's wide enough to cover the steps. Good luck!
474321
I would not unless you are going to build a deck around it for easy entry, but how will the dog get out. One scrape to the side and there will be a hole.
332973
I don't think it is strong enough for that. Your ramp will need a strong side to lean against. And the dog may be too heavy for it. I would try a good old red rider wagon. They have sides now and should work well.
1197699
I don't think so. It needs a level straight path. It's also pretty heavy and not that easy to separate into the two sections. My wife cannot set it up. Small wheels at the bottom would be a good idea if they would contact the ground when the ramp is being removed from the top side.
683140
I am not sure how long you want to keep it outside, but we use ours to get into our camper when it's on the truck. It's been wet and muddy many times, but once done camping, we store it inside. So far all is well, no rust on any hinges, and the stairs themselves are made of sturdy plastic, so that will always hold up. We've only had it since Feb.or March of this year, so not sure of it's eventual longevity. It surely is easy to use, to fold and unfold... with one hand, and it is very sturdy. For the price, it's well worth it.
291641
I don't know if a plank ramp can be used on top of the ladder. The ladder can be removed but I can imagine that it would be inconvenient if it was a repetitive occurrence.
1465591
The only concern I have would be for the carpet on the steps and the adhesive holding it in place. If you could keep it indoors or sheltered when not in use I'd think you'd be fine. We used small treats to teach our lab and shepherd to use it. I still stand next to them to keep it really stable but they are comfortable going up. Darn dogs still jump off the bed, though. :)
134422
I think so. The first step is only 6 inches from the ground, and each step is 6 inches apart. I'm sure he would be able to make it up without any problems. You could always set it up as a ramp, however the stope is a little steep. My dogs prefer to use it as stairs.
1915448
This is a great ramp. But we only use it in the back of our pickup. I'm 72 years old and have no problem opening and closing it up. Our 70 lb Siberian husky walks right up it. Never had to train her at all, mainly cause the service is just like our treadmill that she walks on everyday. If I had to put it in my Tahoe SUV, I'm sure it would fit. It has a handle and is not that heavy. Hope this info helps. Lynda california
364050
No way will using this material hold up outside in sun (UV Rays) and other type of weather. Also, it would rip very easily when climbing a ramp. You would be better off with installing some kind of wire fabric fastened by plastic wire ties or some other type of mounting hardware. If they are wooden ramps, why don't you just paint them with a paint that has grit added (or add it yourself), or maybe Rustoleum or Sherwin Williams has some product that would be ideal for the application....
2170471
I can't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to if you have two good solid mounting locations to attach it to. I have mine located at the bottom of our loft stairs to keep the dogs from climbing the stairs and being in the loft unattended. It's mounted to a stud area of the wall along the stairs and to the main railing post.
690158
Hi, it will go up five steps. I think your dog should be ok doing the other step. I use mine to get up the xtra cab of my pickup. I built a dog platform back there. It was too steep to go right to platform, so I hook it up to the door sill and he does the step up to the bed. Only thing is the ramp seems a little steep when I hooked it to my outdoor deck stairs. I think you will be ok, but you might have to guide your dog everytime. It will definitely be good outdoors. Some people use it as pool stairs