DIY step for the car boot/trunk 🚗

[HAH]

My mum’s dog Jambo is much less mobile now, and struggles to get into the back of the car for walks. Our vet/physio made a block out of insulation foam, and I covered it with an old towel and some rubber matting. It should be light enough for my mum to lift in and out of the car, and stable enough for Jambo to use with confidence. This is Kipper modelling the step (and good conformation!)

 

[Candy]

Perfect!

 

[Parodius]

That’s a great idea, we have a collapsible ramp for Neo but it’s surprisingly weighty as my shins have found out on many occasions!

 

[HAH]

That’s a great idea, we have a collapsible ramp for Neo but it’s surprisingly weighty as my shins have found out on many occasions!

We have a collapsible ramp for Kipper, and doesn’t it hurt the shins if you catch it wrong?! My mum finds ramps too unwieldy and doesn't have much car space, so this is a good compromise.

 

[Cath]

Well done @HAH

 

[Atemas]

That’s brill @HAH

 

[Stacia]

That is brilliant. I had a wooden box made but far too unwieldy and heavy to take out. I have put the back seats down and he gets in via the side door, but still has to jump. He can use the box as we go out and when we come home but not when out.

 

[Selina27]

That's very innovative Harriet and good team work.

Super model Kipper

 

[MrChew]

That's really clever. That material reminds me of the stuff on the feet of Rowan's sleepsuits.

 

[M.F.]

What a handsome model!

We did the same for Snowie when his back was sore. And what did he do? Leapt straight over the step and into the car!! He would not use it. I think we made it too small so it was difficult to hop onto it first then into the car. But it was rather large and took up too much boot space. So it sits in the storeroom.

We then bought a folding ramp with a grippy surface. Fantastic! Snowie is happy to use it. Not too heavy. Folds small to fit behind the car seat. But it is awkward to use with just any car; some car doors don’t open wide enough. It would be very easy to use for a boot opening—like a hatchback.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

That's really nicely made and Kipper is looking so handsome! I agree with you mother on unwieldy ramps, I never got used to them. I still remember Brogan after his cruciate surgery taking one look at the ramp and just jumping out of the car. Yikes. And that was after we'd practiced and practiced beforehand. After that I used what became known as the "Peepee Hand Method" because it involved me hauling his backside up or down and inevitably getting a wet hand from how I had to hold on to him. I think he would have actually used a block like that with the nice traction-friendly rubber mat on the top.

 

[HAH]

That's really nicely made and Kipper is looking so handsome! I agree with you mother on unwieldy ramps, I never got used to them. I still remember Brogan after his cruciate surgery taking one look at the ramp and just jumping out of the car. Yikes. And that was after we'd practiced and practiced beforehand. After that I used what became known as the "Peepee Hand Method" because it involved me hauling his backside up or down and inevitably getting a wet hand from how I had to hold on to him. I think he would have actually used a block like that with the nice traction-friendly rubber mat on the top.

I want a gasp *and* laugh reaction emoji, as I entirely get the peepee hand method - this was Jambo’s route 1 for some time, although he was so wriggly (understandably) it often became the bottom method . Happily he has a good ‘twos up’ game so I think this will be a lifesaver for all involved.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Happily he has a good ‘twos up’ game so I think this will be a lifesaver for all involved.

Brogan was really good at "paws up" too, thank goodness. That's such a useful thing to teach your dog. Didn't save me from pee pee hand, but it made it safe to lift him in and out. The jumping out after surgery was because I'd not counted on the effects of anaesthesia. I put a groggy, barely mobile dog into the back of my car and when I opened the back hatch upon arriving home, he jumped out of the car and ran down the street. AFTER A TPLO. Eee gads. I got him in the house and called the vet in a panic, but luckily all was fine. When he had the second TPLO I was ready and we were ok.

I bought the TARDIS because I was really tired of Pee Pee Hand though. I took Brogan to the car dealerships and had him get in and out of cars. The TARDIS he could simply step into. Didn't need to look at another car after that.

 

[HAH]

I took Brogan to the car dealerships and had him get in and out of cars.

This is an exemplary way to buy a car. In fact, car dealerships should be set up specifically for visiting dogs and their hoomans.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

This is an exemplary way to buy a car. In fact, car dealerships should be set up specifically for visiting dogs and their hoomans.

You should have seen the look on some of the dealer's faces. And them scrambling over themselves once they figured out what was important to me to explain how 'dog friendly' each model was.

 

[Granca]

Our vet/physio made a block out of insulation foam, and I covered it with an old towel and some rubber matting.

That looks good. Wispa is now beginning to think about jumping into the boot. She can’t seem to put her paws up and then wait for help, so I was thinking of getting a ramp.

 

[Joy]

What a great idea @HAH . I can see the light weight of the cube is a real asset. Does it move at all when the dog's back legs move from it into the car? (I'm sort of imagining it being kicked backwards. - And thinking ahead in case Molly ever needs this sort of thing.)

 

[HAH]

Does it move at all when the dog's back legs move from it into the car? (I'm sort of imagining it being kicked backwards.

It’s actually very stable which I’m pleased about - I didn’t want it to shift, and have glued rubber matting on the base exactly like the top which grips concrete well. I don’t know about tarmac conditions but if it’s at all slippery we have some rough sandpaper sheets we can attach for extra grip. I think I’d do like I do with Kipper’s ramp and foot it where possible, just for the extra confidence.