I need to build a ramp..

My husband made this ramp for Bogie, our 55 pound Basset Hound. He used a 1 x 12 (1 inch thick and 12 inches wide) board he got at Lowes. He covered it with two bath mats(from Wal-Mart with suction cups on back side) that he wrapped around the edges and used screws to hold them on. He put big washers under the screw heads. The bath mats give traction for going up and down. We use it with our Saturn SUV, our Chevy Avalanche, and our RV, also. In the RV we stand it up in the bath with eye screws in the wall and a bungie cord to hold it in place. Works great and isn't heavy. When we have to use leveling blocks at a campsite and the incline is steeper we just grab the traveling/safety harness at the top of his back and help a little. Much cheaper and lighter than those we found for sale. You could cut it to what ever length you need.

Its stairs in general, my dog cant handle them.

Another thought (possibly): I bought these Xtend and Climb steps for our truck camper. The grab handle folds down out of the way if you want. When folded out, it's like walking up/down a stairway; my dogs have no problem with it. It's a VERY solid feeling little thing! Folds flat and is not too heavy. Plus it's just a super-handy thing to have around for other uses.

Xtend steps

LinkedXJ wrote:
So i can get away with 1x1's?

I'll be using 3/4" plywood just because i have about 6 4x8' sheets of it.

With 3/4" plywood you should be able to get by with the 1x1, If it bows to much you can stiffen it up with 1x2 or 1x3. The trick is to make it as lite as possible and still work well. If it's to heavy it will be a pain in the back to use.

So i can get away with 1x1's?

I'll be using 3/4" plywood just because i have about 6 4x8' sheets of it.

LinkedXJ wrote:
This is a 130lb yellow lab i am talking about here... Im done picking him up.
I was temporarily paralyzed in 2011, at 26 years old, i would like to walk for a few more years.


With that being said, i nearly forgot i had posted this here.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I am wanting to build something as i know it will be cheaper.
I have some 3/4" ply wood im going to use. It'll be 27 inches wide.
Havent got a length figured out yet.

My plan is to cut the plywood to size and then use 3 2x4's to string the under side. Cutting and angle on each 2x4 at each end to allow the ramp to sit flush at the ground and at the camper.
I need to figure out a way to secure it to the camper to make sure it doesnt slide out from under our large dog.

Actually have thought about making the ramp short and attaching it to the top step instead of the camper its self.

I think you may be overbuilding witch will make it very heavy. I built a ramp for my 3 Collies (heaviest 95#). I used 1/2 plywood 12" wide by 72" long. I used 1x2 around the outside perimeter along with two additional 1x2 braces spaced evenly. I attached the 1x2's with screws. On the top I put non slip tape like they use for stair treads for traction. Works well and is lite weight. I don't use anything to attach it and never had it slide out. A person could put foam tape on the ends (sticky one side soft foam other side) this would make it even leas likely to slide out.

I bought a high dollar ramp that telescopes out made out of heavy plastic with carpet. Hated it, way to heavy and would pinch your fingers going back in. The carpet was to short for the dogs to get traction on and they would slide on it. I spent over a 100 bucks for it.

This is a 130lb yellow lab i am talking about here... Im done picking him up.
I was temporarily paralyzed in 2011, at 26 years old, i would like to walk for a few more years.


With that being said, i nearly forgot i had posted this here.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I am wanting to build something as i know it will be cheaper.
I have some 3/4" ply wood im going to use. It'll be 27 inches wide.
Havent got a length figured out yet.

My plan is to cut the plywood to size and then use 3 2x4's to string the under side. Cutting and angle on each 2x4 at each end to allow the ramp to sit flush at the ground and at the camper.
I need to figure out a way to secure it to the camper to make sure it doesnt slide out from under our large dog.

Actually have thought about making the ramp short and attaching it to the top step instead of the camper its self.

Dick_B wrote:
Is it out of the question to carry the dog to where he has to go? Ramps are a pita unless you stay put.

Really quite easy to use/stow

As our 68# Border Collie/Lab aged she couldn't jump up into backseat.
Ramp was placed on door sil...up/down she went.
Ramp was then slid inside on floor.
Fairly light weight, strong/sturdy.
Used it everyday

She was still able to walk up/down stairs-steps, it was the jumping up/down that was a problem

Hi Sean.

I made one for our 65lb lab mix out of an aluminum ramp.

All I did was reinforce it with some 2x on the back where the horizontal slats were.
I put a strip of 1/4" plywood that fit perfectly into the channel on top. Then I put indoor/ outdoor carpet over the wood.

It was very lightweight, and long enough to make a nice gradual incline/ decline. She used it for the DP, truck , and car.

Got the ramp at Harbor Freight. It was nice because it had the little feet to keep it from slipping.

Took me maybe an hour to modify. Good luck.

Cheryl

What you need to get your dog in and out of and how high would make a difference. We use a Petstep folding ramp for our aging 70# Golden. And used it for our previous 75# Golden oldie with bad hips and knees. Get her in/out the back seat of my high 4x4 F350 and in/out of our high 5er. Lifting her 70 lbs is not an option for me any more. Fold ramp and drop in the bed of the truck for travel.

Good folding ramps are not particularly cheap. But if you move around much, a folding ramp would be much easier than something constructed from wood. If the slope is very steep, avoid thin slick carpet for the surface. And, in my opinion, avoid the cheaper plastic telescoping ramps.