How to Fit a Dog Ramp to a Hatchback, Estate or Van

How do you set up a dog ramp at a car boot?

Take your time the first few times, because a ramp that shifts once can put a dog off for good.

• Park on level ground, away from traffic, with the handbrake on
• Open the boot fully and make sure nothing blocks the opening
• Unfold the ramp and rest the top end squarely on the lip, not on one corner
• Check the bottom end sits on firm, non-slip ground, not on loose gravel or wet grass if you can avoid it
• Press down on the middle and push the top end sideways to check nothing moves

Only then call your dog. Stand close, keep the lead loose and let them walk up in their own time.

Practise the set-up once or twice without your dog, so unfolding and placing the ramp feels routine. Rain, ice and darkness all make a ramp harder to use safely, so allow extra time, find some light and wipe the surface dry first.

Is a hatchback, estate or van any different?

The steps are the same but the numbers are not. A hatchback or estate often has a lower lip than an SUV or van, but models differ and the only number that matters is your own. Measure straight down from the lip to the ground with the car loaded as normal, then check the slope. Our guide to a ramp for an estate, hatchback or SUV boot has more on this.

Vans can have a load floor well above a car boot, and some have a lip or bumper step that changes where the ramp rests. Measure at the exact point your dog will step from.

If you drive several vehicles, measure each one. A ramp that gives a comfortable slope on the family hatchback may be too short for the work van, and our table of heights makes the difference easy to see.

How do you stop the ramp slipping?

Two places can slide: the top on the lip, and the bottom on the ground. Look for a ramp with a hook, grip or anti-slip feet at the top, and check what the base rests on. Our product page does not list a hook or feet, so we cannot say that our ramp has one. If that is important to you, ask us through the "Ask us a question" box before you order.

Whatever ramp you use, check that the lip is not slick with rain or mud, wipe the surface dry and check again before each use.

What slope will you get at your boot height?

The table above shows our 155cm ramp at four example heights, along with the floor space it covers and the length that would give about 20 degrees. That 20 degrees is only an illustration: there is no official angle. Sellers often quote about 15 to 25 degrees as comfortable for everyday use, and an older or less steady dog may need less.

For your own height, use the ramp angle calculator. Our ramp length and angle guide explains the working.

Foldable Non-Slip Dog Ramp
A folding ramp to help a dog get into the car. View

How do you keep the ramp and your dog secure on the road?

Once your dog is in, fold the ramp and stow it so it cannot slide forwards if you brake hard. A loose, hard object in the boot is a risk to everyone in the car. Rule 57 of the Highway Code says to make sure dogs and other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving, so plan your dog's restraint as part of the same routine.

Our ramp folds in half and has a carrying handle, which makes it easier to lift in and out, though we have not published the folded size, so check the space in your boot.

Does our ramp suit a van or a high boot?

It suits boots up to about 65cm best: our Foldable Non-Slip Dog Ramp is 155cm open and about 24.8 degrees at that height. At 75cm it is about 28.9 degrees, which is steep for a stiff or older dog. If your van or SUV is higher than that, a longer ramp from another seller would give a gentler slope, and we would rather tell you than sell you the wrong ramp.

Before you buy

• Measure the lip height and the opening width, loaded
• Work out the slope with the calculator
• Ask about hooks, feet and folded size if they matter
• Introduce the ramp slowly: how to get an old dog to use a ramp
• If your dog has a mobility condition or is recovering from surgery, ask your vet first

If you have not measured yet, how to measure your car for a dog ramp is the right first step, and ramp or steps for the car helps if the height is low.