Best Dog Boat Ramps (Jan 2023 Update)

why are you even selling this since there are are chemical warnings for this ramp. I DO NOT want my dogs using it. HOWEVER can this be sold in the United States with chemical causing reproductive problems and cancer having to be told about this product before you buy it??char

It’s a wonderful ramp but doesn’t relate to my application which is over stairs. It’s too steep for my 2 step application and my dog won’t descend on it. I was very impressed with the quality and manageability of them. I am returning itElaine

This is not Rogers' fault at all. The ramp showed up quickly and was a decent deal. The main issues are with the product itself. One of the bottom legs is welded on the wrong way so the holes to clip the legs in to are sideways. Also the picture shows straight poles on the bottom that you can extend. Well ours showed up and they are hooked legs not straight ones. Overall the product still works after I cut the hooks off, but the manufacturing and quality control of the product is garbage. I'll attach pictures soon…Joshua K.

The ramp works for dogs loading into the boat from the water, but the ramp needs more upwards angle tilt. It almost is too vertical – like a dog trying to climb a straight ladder.Nathan S.

Well built but I am having trouble setting it up on my Jon Boat. Not enough hull for the anchor feet to push against. Is there another ladder just for Jon Boats?Gregory P.

I was very disappointed dealing with Beavertail on several of there products. This ramp attaches with plastic jbolts and plastic wingnuts. One of the slots holding the jbolt was formed incorrectly. The manufacturer "fought" me on this issue. Eventually, I drove the part to an event with the owner of the company and demonstrated the flaw. It was not a good experience.gator_gage

This ramp is perfect for my 135 lb cane corso to get into my lifted truck. It’s stable, sits firmly on the floor of the cab and doesn’t sag or bounce when Rocco walks up and down it- if it did, he definitely would not use it! I toss it in the bed of the truck and it’s ready to go whenever we are. It is exactly what we were looking for as my dog is aging and starting to develop arthritis in his front legs. We couldn’t be happier.Stefanie N.

I have 2 dogs that are turning a year in December and both are about 35 pounds each. They’re a beagle mixed breed and are smaller dogs and have short legs . We originally only had 1 of these but ended up getting another one to keep in the truck and one to keep in the house. This is perfect for them to get up and down in our king sized bed as it’s very high off the ground. Instead of having to keep picking them up and putting them on the bed they can now easily go up and down this telescoping ramp on their own. This is also perfect for them to get in and out of our truck. It folds easily so perfect or store and doesn’t take up much space. I love that the height is adjustable so you can make it as long or short as you need.Shifflett524

The ramp was definitely not what I expected from the photos and description. It was much narrower than anticipated and the height of the cargo area of our SUV made the angle of ascent very steep (we probably could have used a 4th panel). We have an older, 90-pound boxer who is very low maintenance. Our dog attempted three times to climb up the ramp and, as it was steep, managed only to scratch the emery-board type surface of the ramp as he clung for dear life! It also took up decidedly more room in our cargo area than we had anticipated. I think it was just a poor fit for our dog and our car. Returned it as it wasn't going to work for us, but I'm sure could work perfectly well for another dog and vehicle. Not happy that we have to pay almost a third of the purchase price to return it to hay needle.com.Marcela

EXTREMELY DURABLE RAMP!! It blew out of the bed of our pickup while driving down the highway at 70 mph! It took a quarter of a mile to get stopped and I walked back expecting to pick up only a few recognizable pieces. TO MY PLEASANT SURPRISE, the Pet Gear Travel Lite Tri-Fold Pet Ramp was fully intact and usable. The only damage was on a corner and an edge that had some scuffing from sliding along the pavement. It was missed by several cars and trucks as I walked back to get it which was also nice. I do not know if it would survive being hit by a large truck but it certainly passed the test of hitting the ground at 70 mph and sliding to a stop. I would recommend this Pet Gear Travel Lite Tri-Fold Pet Ramp to anyone looking for a ramp that is easy to fold up for traveling as well as being very durable. (We now tie it down to prevent another incident like this one) Thank you Pet Gear!! JW Hansen Arizona, USAthirt4

My recommendation is a Yes, BUT! This product might work well for dogs smaller than mine. It does meet one of my criteria. It is lightweight and portable and thus easy to use. However, it has not worked well for my 100 pound Bernese Mountain dogs. It does not have a lip on the sides, so the dogs walk off of it. Also, the sand paper type coating for traction doesn't really hold their feet very well. I have big claw gashes in it from one use where the dog did not feel it had a secure footing. A carpet base would be better. In short, I will either have to retrofit this, or get a different one. I can't use it as is.kcc

This ramp really is light weight! It is easy to fold and lift into the back of my Honda CRV. Dog liked it with a little treat training and went right up it to her crate. It is shorter than some ramps, so would be steep if the rear of your car is very high. It is a bit awkward once it is folded UNLESS you use the safety lock on the side. That makes it MUCH easier to use,Susan

This is a well built sturdy ramp and a good value. The only thing we didn't like is the surface is still slippery even with the yellow rubber grip strips. We made it MUCH better by covering the entire ramp surface with black ultra grip shelf liner material and we simply used spray adhesive and put 2 layers of the shelf liner on the ramp for a SUPER grippy, soft walking surface for our 13 year old lab. When we first bought the ramp she freaked because she slid up and down the ramp, now she confidently walks up and down it with ease. I highly recommend this upgrade to this ramp, you will be pleasedpref3479

My 110lb dog has a degenerative neurological condition that has been impacting his control of his back legs, in particular. We have to drive him to grassy spots for walks because he drags his back feet and this ramp has worked wonders in helping us get him in and out of the car. It's sturdy enough that he feels comfortable using it and super lightweight and easy to fold. Because he drags his legs the easy-grip surface was a bit harsh but we resolved that by just placing a towel over the ramp. Highly recommend this product, it'll save your back!Jess C

This ramp, even when fully extended, is too short for a standard height bed frame and a pillow top mattress. It works only for a thin mattress on a low or platform bed frame. The incline angle, even if the ramp was high enough, is wickedly steep. LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE PICTURES and you will see the ramp used only on sofas and low beds. I didn’t noticed that when I bought it, and further discovered that mistake was going to cost me a $20 “restocking fee.” I am disappointed that the vendor does not stand by their statements of complete satisfaction and risk free trial. I am out money and have to re-box the ramp and transport it to UPS. The vendor was nice and prompt in their responses to me concern, but no apology or acknowledgment about their misleading advertising. BEWARE.Donna E.

I bought this PawRamp for my 2 mini dachshunds. Oh my goodness do they love this thing! They love that they can now run right up into my chair and join me. They can also run down the ramp when they want to play on the floor. They took to it immediately. It is sturdy and very well made. The carpet is fairly non-slip. That being said though, I notice that my short hair doxie (6 1/2 months old) does just fine, but my long hair doxie does slide a tiny bit, but it is not the carpet or the ramp, it is her furry little feet. She is only 4 months old so she is working on figuring it out. I am really glad I made this purchase. Those long backs concern me so I really wanted a ramp for these 2 puppies. This one is truly a great ramp and I would purchase another if I had need for another ramp. This is definitely a purchase I would gladly make again. The quality is top notch. The design is simple and very easy to use for both puppies and for humans.Lisa P.

The rug on the ramp is slippery for our 3 yorkies. They are between 8 and 10 pounds. We needed to adjust the angle because it was too slippery for them to scoot up it. They go down and even though the angle has been lowered, they still slide as they go down, going up is more difficult. The rug does not have much traction at all even though it has grooves. I'm sure I could probably find a better rug that would not be so slippery when I have a chance. This is actually my second review, not sure what happened to the first one. They even reached out to me to see how they could help, their email was titled "Bad Review".. I responded and asked if they had any suggestions but they never responded back to me. I reached out in a second email and still no response. I'm surprised because it seems the customer service appears to be top notch. The ramp is built well and seems like it will last, I just need to find a solution to the slippery rug.Gerry C.

Great use for pets with various disabilities. I purchased non-slip self adhesive tape to place on this product but it's clearly not needed. Item is somewhat bulky/heavy but necessary for it to support very large animal. Big plus, it's tri-fold and takes up smaller place than one may anticipate.hanzer6

Took our golden retriever to get used to it. He is older now and really needs it to not hurt himself. Jumping in and out of truck. Ramp is well made, foldable, slip resistant and i am pretty sure will hold a long time. Happy with purchase.blackcatz08

Very sturdy, perfect for my big doberman. Doesn't bend even though plastic. Great traction and room on sides. Once dog was used to it, goes up and down. A little ungainly to move but easy enough. Better a little heavy than flimsy. Folds well.pharmddavid

Completely satisfied with the ramp myself but my dog wanted one with the power assist and plush or carpet. If I hit the lotto I may look for what she wants otherwise I’m happyIgor R

It's the perfect length, but it's very slippery. It has ridges but it's slippery. Have to hold on to dog so she doesn't slippery off .Brenda D

My dogs are both pretty big, with both weighing around 110 pounds and sometimes it is harder for them to jump up into my families vehicles. I am so glad to own this now, as it makes travel time so much easier and much more streamlined. Instead of taking several minutes trying to lift them into my truck, I am able to easily take out the ramp and set it up and have them walk up the ramp in a minute or so. I love that this ramp folds up and doesn't take up a lot of room as I store it in my trunk. Having it in my trunk makes it so much easier to just load my dogs up and go for an adventure or to take them to their appointments. My husband threw his hip out, so this ramp has been a huge help to me personally. I love how sturdy this ramp is as well, I do not have to worry about it buckling or being unsteady while my dogs are on it. I want to purchase another one of these for my other vehicle, I love it so much. This ramp will be even handier when my family is able to go camping, as we love going on many adventures. I highly recommend this ramp, my dogs love it just as much as I do, it's so handy!klynnm

I needed one of these for my dog who just happened to have surgery on his hip. This ramp made is easier for him to get in and out of the truck safely without injuring himself after surgery. Easy to set up and is not very heavy which is a huge plus. This would work for almost any breed of dog in my opinion as its fairly sturdy and is large. Great for senior pets, or even pets who are nervous about getting in and out of vehicles. Or also perfect for your pet after having a surgery like mine. Makes life a lot easier for traveling with your pet companion. Stores away easy when not in use and doesn't take up much room. I'd recommendPixydust529

Appears to be sturdy enough. It would be nicer if it had a carry handle, and the latch that is supposed to hold it together from unfolding is useless. I thought the “sandpaper” surface would not bother my dog; but I was wrong. It’s not so much a gritty surface like sandpaper, but tiny plastic bristles—one of which stuck painfully in my finger, so I understand her reluctance to use it. I tried covering it with a rug runner, but after her first experience, my dog doesn’t want anything to do with it. So, I may try again later with a rug on it and see if she will use it. I got it to use for getting into the car as well as for use in the house. It’s as transportable as anything its size, but a handle and an effective latch would improve portability.FLMeemaw

My dogs are both pretty big, with both weighing around 110 pounds and sometimes it is harder for them to jump up into my families vehicles. I am so glad to own this now, as it makes travel time so much easier and much more streamlined. Instead of taking several minutes trying to lift them into my truck, I am able to easily take out the ramp and set it up and have them walk up the ramp in a minute or so. I love that this ramp folds up and doesn't take up a lot of room as I store it in my trunk. Having it in my trunk makes it so much easier to just load my dogs up and go for an adventure or to take them to their appointments. My husband threw his hip out, so this ramp has been a huge help to me personally. I love how sturdy this ramp is as well, I do not have to worry about it buckling or being unsteady while my dogs are on it. I want to purchase another one of these for my other vehicle, I love it so much. This ramp will be even handier when my family is able to go camping, as we love going on many adventures. I highly recommend this ramp, my dogs love it just as much as I do, it's so handy!klynnm

I needed one of these for my dog who just happened to have surgery on his hip. This ramp made is easier for him to get in and out of the truck safely without injuring himself after surgery. Easy to set up and is not very heavy which is a huge plus. This would work for almost any breed of dog in my opinion as its fairly sturdy and is large. Great for senior pets, or even pets who are nervous about getting in and out of vehicles. Or also perfect for your pet after having a surgery like mine. Makes life a lot easier for traveling with your pet companion. Stores away easy when not in use and doesn't take up much room. I'd recommendPixydust529

I'm using this ramp to assist my older dog with a bad hip to get into my SUV. The ramp came fully assembled. It's light weight, easy to transport, and fits easily in the cargo area of my SUV. It might be light weight, but it's well made and sturdy. I really like the no skid surface on the ramp – the entire surface of the ramp is covered so you dog doesn't slip while using the ramp . It's easy to use, just open it up. Watch your fingers at the hinge! I think it could be a little wider, but I have a fairly large dog (65lbs). We followed the instructions and did a little training with the ramp on the ground. My dog still gets a little anxious about using the ramp, but is getting better. It is much easier than lifting a 65lb dog into the vehicle. Our dog doesn't get on our bed or furniture, so I can't review the ramp for that purpose. I gave it 4 stars because it does slip back slightly when my dog is on it. We live in the country and our drive is gravel, so that might make it harder to stay in place. It would also be nice to have a handle for carrying. Overall this is a nice ramp that will make life a little easier for our senior dog.molly's mom

We looked for a long time and did a lot of product comparisons with similar items before settling on the Load A Pup and I’m so glad we did. This product is a lifesaver for us and our dogs. It is well made, sturdy, instructions are easy and fit perfectly on our ladder. The dogs learned how to use it very quickly. The best part about it is that it sets up in seconds and is small enough to store in a floor compartment of the boat.Amanda

We got the Load a Pup Boat Ramp for our 90 lb Leonberger to get her in our pontoon boat and it works great. After 15-20 minutes or so the pup was able to get into the boat with very little assistance. With further use, she will get even more confident. Easy to install and take out.Vince_A

Overall, a good idea and well built. However, to get it to work well on our pontoon it required HEAVY modification. It wouldn�t fit on our ladder out of the box. And honestly, with lots of people and dogs swimming it is a huge PITA to put it on and take it off constantly. I ended up permanently installing it over the left pontoon while the human ladder remains over the right pontoon. I probably spent almost as much on additional aluminum and stainless hardware to mount it as I did on the platform itself. But ultimately, my 2 dogs can use it to get out of the water and onto the pontoon on their own while people can get out on the other ladder. I�m VERY happy with where I�m at now. But it took a lot of work!Fun S.

We have used this ramp for several years for our dogs to get out of the lake at the bulkhead. Because it does float, we secure the end to a concrete block with bungee cords. It has made it easy and safe for our goldens to get out of the lake; especially our older dogs that otherwise would have difficulty climbing out of the water. Now they can easily continue to swim (best exercise every for older dogs' joints) well into their golden years.Y_Sails

We have only been using the Petstep ramp about a week, but we do like it. Our dog is trained to use it as long as we give her the command to do so. We have it leaning on the edge of our deck. Our Brittany has a herniated disc and cannot use steps at this time. We are leaving the ramp in the one spot. It ua a little heavy for me for loading in and out of a car for short trips. It is just what we needed. Our dog is only 35 lbs. I did walk up it myself and it is sturdy. I weigh about 135 lbs. We received it very quickly and in perfect condition.Debra

I bought this to try and use on a pontoon boat blind. The poles didn't extend far enough to fit on my pontoon blind. Going to return it and stick with a custom ladder. Good concept though and would work good for a mod V or flat bottom boat.RAlexander

Perfect for boat or timber. Used it last season with a 1 year old lab and he took right to it. Held firm on tree and was easy to setup. Highly recommendJohn

My friend has a big BEAUTIFUL dog that NEEDS a ramp very badly, he's older and his hips have been bothering him, he's 160 lbs. I saw that one of the reviewers wrote that they were looking for someone who needed one for there dog, I am looking for a decently priced one for her please, so if you see this or anyone that has one for a decent price, PLEASE contact me – 1983sophiemarie AT gmail DOT com THANK YOUSophie

Strong and lightweight. Folds in half and held with a hook. Tucks in front of the rear passenger seat. Copes well with my 32kg dog.megmel4031

I had a small sturdy table made to use this ramp along side my bed, and used velcro to secure the ramp lip to the table. So far neither of my dogs prefer using it, although both will use it when 'treat bribed'. Mainly because they're used to me picking them up. However, my aged cat loves to use it. In time and with patience all of my babies will use it. Meanwhile it's lightweight portability will make traveling with my babies for much easier. I highly recommend this ramp for use with any 'weight appropriate' animal that has difficulty walking or negotiating steps.Melba Y.

I have a senior dog that is having difficulty with stairs. I have several spots where a ramp is needed, with different rises, so I bought several ramps from several companies to see what would work best. My primary concern was length of ramp versus weight of ramp, as I have higher rises and in some spots I need to run several ramps with a landing pad in between. Discount ramps arrived the fastest. When they say lightweight, they mean it. It is not designed for anything other than a dog. It is very lightweight, which was what I was looking for because it will need to be set up and taken down repeatedly. However the design of the ramp basically has 3 aluminum rails that are the bottom edge supports and a center rail which run the length of the ramp, with a sheet of aluminum laid over the 3 rails and hinges in the center. The hinges don't relax to allow the ramp to go completely flat, so the ramp has a little bit of "spring" to it in the center. Also, because of my setup, a human has to step on the ramp in order to open and go in and out of the door. I am only 150 pounds, well under the weight capacity of the ramp, and I can walk on it without it breaking, but I can feel the sag of the sheet aluminum in between each of the rails where there is no support. It is holding with no issues, but I don't know how it will hold up over time. Also, one of the rivets in the center by the hinges popped the first time it was used, straight out of the box. One of my other dogs ran up the ramp and the "spring" in the hinge area seemed to be the cause of the rivet to pop as the dog caused the ramp to bounce slightly as it ran up the ramp. The ramp has been in use for 2 weeks now and no other issues have arisen. The other ramps I ordered from other companies have arrived and they are heavier, longer, and more durable, but are also not as easy to shift around. I have taken this ramp in the vehicle, since it is so lightweight, and it works well resting on the bumper of the SUV. Overall, it is an adequate ramp if lightweight is the primary feature you are looking for. It is the least expensive ramp I ordered, so the price is reflective of the sturdiness of the ramp.Pamela K.

We purchased the ramp for a large, tri-pawed dog who is sometimes afraid to go down a set of steps outdoors, and who has recently hurt his remaining back leg. We have tried to get him accustomed to the feel of it by laying it on the floor indoors in front of his food dish. We've had mixed success and recently, after a few weeks, we removed it. Because there is no latch to stabilize the hinged joint, it gives a little when he steps on it and it frightens him. It will be the same problem stretched across the steps, so we don't think it will have been a good investment, I'm sorry to say. Other than that, the ramp is lightweight and easy to handle.Sheila M.

I've only had it about a month but it is exactly what I needed. I like that it is fiberglass so I can leave it outside in the weather where I park my SUV. It seems durable and well made. The ramp grip material is very well adhered to the ramp. That and the fact that it is reasonably wide give the dogs a feeling of safety and control when using it. I don't expect the construction or grip material to deteriorate much over time. The ramp adjusts easily (by extentention, not by folding like some models) but stays as adjusted once you find the extension that works for you. Although I'm working with the dogs on an "exiting routine" (we just switched from a truck where the door opened and they could immmediately jump out), they took to the ramp with minimal training. I'm very happy with the purchase.MadCo Pack

As far as construction goes, this seems to be sturdy. It's plenty strong enough to hold my 105lb. dog. My only complaint in construction is that there is no lock to hold it open or closed. It just slides out and back in. Seems like it might be a little more secure with some kind of lock mechanism.My dog had no problem walking back and forth on it flat on the floor. The first time I tried to use it to get him in the back of my Jeep, though, he went up kind of tentatively, and he ended up sliding back down. It was a little too steep and he just couldn't grip in spite of the sandpaper-type surface. After that he didn't want to try again.So, I set it again the couch so it was at a lower angle, and we spent several days just having him walk up and down it between the floor and the couch. After that, we spent another several days with it on some carpeted stairs, bribing him to run up and down it to get food. After he got comfortable with that, we tried the car again. I still have to support him a little on the way up so he doesn't slide back, but it's definitely easier than trying to lift him to put him in the back of the truck! Overall, I'm happy with it.Leigh Anne

We have three dogs who don't really like jumping into the rear of our SUV so we thought we would try this ramp. One dog is a little over 150 lbs and we didn't know if this ramp could hold it. After a bit of coaxing the big dog used the ramp and after a few ups and downs uses it confidently. The ramp is strong, sturdy, and has a nice sandpaper like finish that gives the dogs traction. I doubt this would work for a car door, as I don't think the door would open enough, but it works great in a vehicle with a rear hatch.ForestJohn

Just purchased this for my 70 pound elderly dog who has difficulty getting into and out of the car. I would have loved to keep this because of how well it was made, but it just didn't fit into the door opening of our new Equinox. Unfortunately the door didn't open wide enough. Also it wasn't long enough to use in the back lift gate. It was just too steep. Would be great in a regular car, but SUV's seem to be too far off the ground.Jodi

This is a nice sturdy ramp. I believe it may work well for vans but, with both of our cars (Chevy Malibu and Nissan Altima) the ramp does not have a level place to set it on. Our Golden Retriever tried it on both cars but it was to unsteady for her. I was very happy and a little surprised at how easy it was to return the product. I will be buying more products from Hayneedle because of their customer service.Dennis

It looks good, the arc is a bit high and the surface could have been more usable. Right now it reminds me of a sandpaper finish. Not real friendly for small dogs. Mine couldn't get a grip on it. I may carpet it for ease of use.Lori