Customer Reviews

Solvit 62332 UltraLite Bi-Fold Pet Ramp

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's all pretty much in my subject line but here is some advice on how to train your dog to use a ramp. Start with it flat on the ground and entice them to walk across/over it with treats. Then put up up just one step high on some steps they use every day, increase to higher and higher steps (block off the sides so they can't bypass it. BE PATIENT, it takes some TLC but they WILL get it in a few days (if not sooner). I also had success making the ramp the only way they could get up into "their" chair. Also, it is easier for dogs to learn to walk down a ramp before they learn to walk up it, so incorporate that if you can. Do NOT force your dog up or down, let them go at their pace. Anyone who has taken dog agility knows if your dog has a fearful experience with an obstacle or piece of equipment, it becomes A LOT harder to get them to try it some more and master it.

I wanted a simple ramp for car access (and possibly over existing steps and bed) for older dogs. After reading about finger pinching and potential for sharp edges on telescoping ramps (although I can't personally confirm), it sounded like a 2-piece bi-fold would be easy. And it is! I would buy it again in a minute. Probably takes up more room than the telescoping type, but stands upright (folded) ok so storage not a problem. On the other hand - when it arrived it was missing one of the non-skid pads. A quick call to the mfg. and another pad was sent my way, so an easy fix (they would have taken a return and sent another but that seemed too much bother; the pad has a sticky back so easy enough to install with 2 people - and it helped to practice first before peeling off back). Also, one of the rubber mounts came off - luckily I found it and took the screw off and put it back on, but with a little washer under the screw so the mount wouldn't work off the screw again. Very minor items, all said and done. At least the nice person at mfg. was appropriately upset about missing pad and very customer oriented about ensuring the problem would be taken care of - that gave me a good feeling about Solvit.

This ramp is very lightweight and easy to manage. The width is a bit narrow, so larger dogs should be surefooted. There is, however, nothing to clip/secure it to the edge of the vehicle - there are rubber feet, which do a fairly good job of keeping it secure, but with a large older dog, who was not surefooted, and only one person trying to hold it and encourage the dog, we tipped because one leg didn't make it to the ramp(dog is fine). On the second and third trys, we managed fine.

We have a dog who is getting older and having more health issues. We wanted a ramp for the car, which is high in the back, and for the two steps into the house after she has had surgery. This ramp is very light and easy to handle, closes with one easy motion. Our dog used it immediately and easily. I highly recommend this ramp.

Pros: Reasonable price, light weight, folds quickly compactly, has a sandpaper walking surface.

Cons: slightly flimsy and a bit narrow, but that's the price for light weight. My 90-lb lab at first didn't trust it. Now he does. The sandpaper walking surface is not quite "grippable" enough. I'd prefer a carpet surface and may glue some indoor/outdoor onto the surface.

Overall, it helps my aging dog get in and out of the car easier.

While the ramp is light in weight it is short in length and does create a rather steep grade from ground to the rear cargo area of our Lexus RX330. It will be fine for now since our dog is young. When the dog ages we will need to find a longer ramp that isn't so steep. This ramp is better suited to a van type vehicle with a side door entrance. Some type of carry handle or assist would be nice.
The anti skid material on the ramp scratches easily from the dogs nails going up and down, so the ramp already looks like its 10 years old. Don't feel it's very well suited for SUV use.

Good Points: The item is as pictured. It does fold and unfold easily and is very light.

Bad Points: We have a smaller SUV (Jeep Liberty) and have two very large dogs. Jumping in and out of the back of the vehicle is not good for their hip joints and I always wanted a ramp. Our very large puppy just had hip surgery so a ramp was a necessity because he is about 90 lbs already and I can't lift him up in the vehicle to get him to and from his vet appointments. We purchased this ramp and found that even with a smaller SUV the ramp is SO steep that neither dog wants to use it and for the puppy who just had surgery it's not even an option. My husband has to come home from work and lift him into the vehicle anyway. Our other dog won't attempt it on her own (but has used less steep ramps in other areas). The "non-slip" surface would be great except the ramp is so steep it doesn't seem to really do the trick. After two tries using it our dog was slipping so bad you can see her claw marks up and down the whole thing. I am hoping that once our puppy is better and with a lot more coaching they use this ramp because it wasn't cheap. I am not holding out high hopes though.

I have a 115 pound malamute who is now 9 years old. When he would jump in and out of our van more than once or twice he would start to limp favoring his right front knee(wrist....what is it on a dog?) Our vet said he was going to keep injuring this leg if he continued his jumping and he suggested a ramp. After reviewing many and looking at some very high priced ones at pet stores I chose the Solvit because it did not extend too far and the weight was just right for my 65 year old body to handle.This ramp is very sturdy with no sagging when extended and walked on. It arrived in just a few days and within one trip up and down my dog Spike was a ramp pro. It has been a real leg saver for him and easy for his mom too!
Thank you for providing one location (amazon.com) for almost everything including a bike for my grandson....Have a blessed week...

I bought the Solvit 62321 UltraLite BiFold Pet Ramp to load my 40lb. senior dogs into a Jeep Cherokee. The ramp is lightweight, easy to use, can be set up in 30 seconds, and slides into the cargo area of the SUV easily. The dogs took to it the first time we used it. I found it easier to hold onto their collars while walking them up the ramp, just to be sure they didn't fall off.

I ordered this ramp because our dog is eleven years old, weighs about 45 pounds, and just beginning to get a little creaky in the joints. He's a very devoted house pet that we "adopted" after being abandoned and loves to be with us everywhere, including the car. We generally use the SUV when we take him along, but in his eagerness to jump in, he's missed his target height on occasion. The Solvit ramp does exactly what it's supposed to... it's very sturdy for its weight, well designed, and molded with generous reinforcement ribs, webs and a robust integral hinge. I'm a mechanical engineer with over fifty years of experience in product design and development, and I'd have to look hard to find a way to improve on this product. It folds easily into a storable size in the car. We've had no trouble with the roughened traction surface, although I'll probably replace it with a strip of commercial nylon carpeting if it wears out or comes loose. Our dog took about five minutes of training in the living room with the ramp flat on the floor before he got used to walking its length, using a little treat as his reward when he did it properly. He quickly learned to walk it without a leash, and now happily does the same thing in and out of the SUV. Very nice addition to our dog care supplies.