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Let’s be honest, we all wish our dogs could stay as spry and energetic as they used to be. They won’t be puppies forever, though, and getting into the car can become harder as they age. You can make adjustments around the house, but what do you do when you want to take your dog to the park in a high SUV? A ramp gives them a way up without a jump and can save you from having to lift them. The right one depends on the height of your vehicle, the space you have to set it up, and how comfortably your dog walks on it.
PetSTEP Original Folding Ramp — Graphite
Gen7Pets Natural-Step — Regular, Grass Green
PetSafe Happy Ride Extra Long Telescoping
PetSafe Happy Ride Compact Telescoping
PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Ramp
A dog ramp should fit your SUV, your dog’s stride and the space you have to carry it. Start with the actual loading height and the room behind the vehicle, then compare the walking surface and storage dimensions. A high weight rating alone does not make a ramp suitable for a high cargo floor.
These five choices offer different combinations of length, surface and storage. The PetSTEP and Gen7Pets use two-part folds, while PetSafe offers extra-long telescoping, compact telescoping and lightweight folding designs. The right choice depends on which compromise works in your vehicle.
Which ramp makes sense for your SUV?
For a washable rubber surface: consider the PetSTEP Original if you can store a roughly 37-inch folded platform.
For an artificial-grass walking surface: the regular Gen7Pets Natural-Step combines a 72-inch platform with a cargo tether.
For extra reach or width: the PetSafe Extra Long offers up to 87 inches of length and a 20-inch width. You will need room for its 47-inch collapsed length.
For shorter storage: PetSafe Compact retracts to about 28 inches while reaching 70 inches when extended.
For less weight to lift: the 10 lb PetSafe Folding is easier to carry, but its 62-inch length and 150 lb animal rating are important limits.
If your dog is unsure about a ramp, our step-by-step car-ramp training guide explains how to introduce the surface on level ground before progressing to the vehicle.
1. PetSTEP Original Folding Ramp — Graphite
A full-length folding option with a rubber surface that can be washed after muddy trips. The Original PetSTEP uses fiberglass-reinforced plastic and a ridged rubber walking surface. Its 70-inch length and 17-inch width provide a continuous route into the vehicle; the actual incline still depends on your loading height. The 500 lb rating is for animals, not people.
Unfold it with the dog clear of the hinge, place the logo end at the vehicle, and support the upper contact fully. The integrated carrying handles and closure attachment help with moving and storing it. Allow roughly 37 inches of storage length when folded. For side-door access, PetSTEP recommends its separate side-entry support kit to support the corner that otherwise hangs beyond the seat.
Care: wash with soap and water or rinse off dirt with a hose. Let it air dry before folding and storing. Its substantial folded size is the main practical trade-off if your cargo area is already crowded.
- Ridged rubber surface without carpet or abrasive tape
- Soap-and-water cleaning and a folding design
- High manufacturer-rated animal capacity
- Needs roughly 37 inches of storage length
- Side-door use can require a separately purchased support kit
2. Gen7Pets Natural-Step — Regular, Grass Green
An alternative for a dog that prefers a grass-like walking surface. The regular G7572NS has a poly-grass covering, rubber grippers at both ends and a tether that attaches to a cargo-area anchor. These features address surface feel and placement; they do not make an uneven or unsupported setup safe.
Petmate specifies an open size of 72 × 16 × 1.5 inches and a folded size of 36 × 16 × 3 inches. Its listed product weight is 17.38 lb, with an animal weight range up to 250 lb. A rubber-grip handle helps with carrying, and an automatic clip keeps the two halves closed. This is the Regular vehicle ramp: the shorter Mini does not include the same tether.
Storage and care: close the locking clip before carrying and clear loose debris from the surface before storage. Petmate does not specify a washing method for the poly-grass on its product page; a removable, machine-washable panel is not a documented feature.
- 72-inch platform with a poly-grass covering
- Cargo-anchor tether and rubber end grippers
- Folding lock and rubber-grip carry handle
- A 36-inch folded length still occupies substantial cargo space
3. PetSafe Happy Ride Extra Long Telescoping
The longest and widest option in this comparison. This Extra Long model extends from 47 to 87 inches and measures 20 inches wide. An aluminum structure keeps its listed carrying weight to 18 lb, while its animal rating is 300 lb. The high-traction surface, raised rails and rubber contact feet provide the intended walking route.
The extra length can reduce the incline at a given cargo height, provided there is room behind the SUV. PetSafe specifically recommends the Extra Long rather than its shorter telescoping models when the entry point exceeds 28 inches. That guidance is a starting point for choosing equipment, not a guarantee that a particular dog will be comfortable.
Extend the ramp on its side, then set the angled end against the vehicle with all four rubber feet supported. After use, slide the sections together and secure the storage latch. Clean the tread with mild detergent and a brush or a water jet. Its 47-inch collapsed length is the largest storage commitment here.
- Up to 87 inches of reach with a 20-inch width
- Adjustable aluminum design with an 18 lb carrying weight
- A useful option to assess for a higher cargo entry
- Still 47 inches long when collapsed
- Needs considerable clear ground behind the vehicle
4. PetSafe Happy Ride Compact Telescoping
A telescoping design for owners with limited storage length. Three aluminum sections retract to about 28 inches, then extend to a maximum of 70 inches. The Compact weighs 14 lb and has a 300 lb animal rating. Its 16-inch width is narrower than the Extra Long, so compare your dog’s stance and confidence with the space available.
High-traction tread, side rails and rubber feet are built into the design. Set the angled upper end securely against the vehicle and support all four contact feet. Use the storage latch after retracting the sections, and keep the dog away from the sliding parts while opening or closing.
Compact storage does not give it the Extra Long model’s reach. For an entry point above 28 inches, PetSafe recommends considering the Extra Long. Clean the tread with mild detergent and a brush or a water jet; the separate side-door adaptor is required for the manufacturer’s side-entry setup.
- Retracts to about 28 inches for storage
- Three-section aluminum construction
- 14 lb carrying weight with a storage latch
- Narrower and shorter than the Extra Long
- Sliding sections need clear hands and paws during setup
5. PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Ramp
The lightest ramp in this shortlist for routine lifting in and out of the car. The folding model 62462 weighs 10 lb and has a 150 lb animal rating. Its fixed 62-inch platform is 16 inches wide, with a high-traction tread, side rails and rubber feet. It folds in half to roughly 31 inches and secures with a latch.
The shorter platform is a meaningful limitation for a tall SUV: at the same loading height it creates a steeper route than a 70-, 72- or 87-inch ramp. Measure the actual contact point and evaluate the resulting route before choosing it for a hesitant or mobility-limited dog. A low carrying weight is useful only if the deployed arrangement is suitable too.
Care and upkeep: use mild detergent and a brush on dirty tread, or rinse with a strong stream of water. Replacement traction treads are available from PetSafe when the original surface wears. Use the correct separately sold adaptor for side-door access.
- 10 lb ramp is easier to lift than the heavier options here
- Simple folding latch and approximately 31-inch storage length
- Replacement high-traction treads are available
- 62-inch length can create a steep route into a tall SUV
- Lower 150 lb animal rating than the other four models
Factors to consider before buying a dog ramp for an SUV
Make sure you keep the ramp’s weight in mind, as you’ll have to carry it as well as use it. A folding ramp needs room for its folded platform. A telescoping ramp can give you more length when it’s open, so measure the space you’ll need at both ends of the trip.
Loading height, length and clear ground
Measure from level ground to the surface where the top of the ramp will rest. Then check that the dog can step from the ramp onto the actual cargo floor or seat without another large climb. Measure the door opening and the clear space behind the vehicle as well as the storage space inside it.
For the same rise, a longer ramp generally creates a gentler slope. As a geometry example, a 30-inch rise along a 70-inch ramp gives an incline of about 25 degrees; an 87-inch ramp at that rise gives about 20 degrees. Neither figure is a universal safe limit. The dog’s balance, mobility, traction and confidence still determine whether the route is appropriate.
Width, surface and weight rating
Overall ramp width is not necessarily the unobstructed space between its rails. Watch whether your dog can walk straight with paws comfortably inside the edges. A dog that turns sideways or keeps stepping off needs a different setup or an easier training stage.
Match the manufacturer’s animal rating to your dog’s weight and equipment. These ramps are not walking platforms for people. Rubber, poly-grass and high-traction tread have different surface feels, but none makes mud, ice or unstable placement harmless. Remove debris and inspect the contact feet before every use.
Carrying, storage and attachment
Measure folded length as carefully as deployed length. The Extra Long’s reach comes with a 47-inch storage length, while Compact retracts to about 28 inches. Practise opening and closing the ramp without the dog nearby, keeping hands clear of hinges and sliding sections. Secure it inside the vehicle before driving.
Park on firm, level ground with the engine off and parking brake engaged. Fully support the intended contact points and attach any specified tether. Side-door loading can leave an upper corner unsupported; use the ramp maker’s compatible adaptor or support rather than improvising a loose prop. Do not drive with a ramp deployed or leave a dog to use it unattended.
Folding or telescoping?
Think through the trip in both directions. At home you may have a level driveway and plenty of space behind the SUV. At the park you may be in a narrow space with another car behind you. Check how much clear ground you need at the length you intend to use. A longer ramp may give your dog a gentler climb and require more room to set it down.
Consider the material and the way the ramp closes. With a folding ramp, make sure you can lift and stow the folded platform. With a telescoping model, practice extending it and checking that it locks before the dog approaches. If you often walk on wet grass or muddy paths, think about how you’ll clean the walking surface and where you’ll put the ramp while it dries.
Benefits of using a dog ramp
A ramp gives an older dog a route into the car one step at a time. It can also spare you from lifting a large dog into the cargo area. The surface needs to be stable and grippy, and your dog should be comfortable using it before you rely on it for a trip.
Common questions
Are ramps always better than steps?
No. A continuous surface avoids individual steps, but it can still be too steep, narrow or unfamiliar for a particular dog. Choose equipment for the vehicle and dog together. For pain, new weakness, injury or recovery from surgery, ask your veterinarian whether the proposed loading method and exercise are appropriate.
Can I use the same ramp at the rear and side door?
Only when the opening and support arrangement fit. PetSTEP recommends its side-entry support kit; PetSafe provides a separate adaptor with model-specific clips. A rear-cargo setup does not establish that the same ramp will sit securely on a seat.
How do I teach a hesitant dog?
Start with the ramp flat and stable, reward voluntary steps and progress gradually to a low incline. Practise ascent and descent separately. Avoid pulling, pushing or forcing the dog onto the surface. Our linked training guide develops the process and troubleshooting in more detail.
