PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Dog Ramp Review: 62 Inches, 10 lbs
A PetSafe Happy Ride folding dog ramp review: the 62 inch length, 150 lb limit, side rails, and whether a telescoping ramp suits a taller SUV better.
The car ramp that solved most people's tailgate problem, and the reason to measure your vehicle first.
The verdict: Buy it if lifting your dog into a car is becoming a two-person job or a back injury waiting to happen, and your vehicle's load height is modest enough that 62 inches gives a gentle slope. Skip it if you drive a lifted truck, where a longer telescoping ramp gives a better angle, or if your dog is over 150 lbs. Getting a dog in and out of a car without lifting protects your back and their joints, and it is one of the few senior dog purchases that pays off from the first day.
PetSafe PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Dog Ramp
~$60
A 62 inch folding ramp weighing 10 lbs, with high-traction treads, side rails and rubber feet, rated for dogs up to 150 lbs and made in the USA.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Dimensions | 62 inches long, 16 inches wide, 4 inches high folded flat |
|---|---|
| Ramp weight | 10 lbs |
| Dog weight limit | Up to 150 lbs |
| Surface | High-traction treads |
| Safety features | Side rails and rubber feet to prevent wobbling |
| Storage | Folds in half and locks with a safety latch |
| Origin | Made in the USA per PetSafe |
Specifications above come from PetSafe's published product information. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Ten pounds is light enough that one person can lift it out of a trunk with a dog on the leash in the other hand.
- Side rails are the feature that makes a nervous dog commit, because the edge of a rail-less ramp is where dogs step off and lose confidence for a month.
- Sixty-two inches folds to a 31 inch package, which fits across most station wagon and SUV load spaces.
- Rated to 150 lbs, so it covers almost every dog whose owner is struggling to lift them.
- Rubber feet and a locking latch, so the ramp does not creep away from the bumper mid-climb.
Where it falls short
- Sixty-two inches is a fixed length. Against a high tailgate that produces a steeper angle than a nervous or arthritic dog will accept, and there is no way to lengthen it.
- It is 16 inches wide. Broad-chested dogs and dogs who wander sideways can feel cramped, and a wider ramp is easier for a dog with poor coordination.
- It has to be carried, deployed and stowed every single trip, and ramps that live in a garage instead of a car do nothing.
- Ramp training is required. A dog introduced to a ramp for the first time in a car park after a vet appointment will refuse it.
- It does not help with the first problem for many dogs, which is standing up at all. That is a lift harness question, and a vet question.
What owners report
Owner reports on this ramp are dominated by two themes. The first is relief: owners of large dogs describe it as the thing that let them keep taking the dog out, and several mention their own back rather than the dog's. The second is the training period. Dogs who were introduced to the ramp on a flat lawn, at ground level, with treats, are described as taking to it in days; dogs asked to use it cold at a vehicle are described as balking.
The consistent criticism is length against tall vehicles. Owners of pickups and raised SUVs repeatedly report that the angle is steeper than they wanted, which is arithmetic rather than a defect: a fixed 62 inch ramp against a 34 inch tailgate is a steeper climb than the same ramp against a 24 inch one. That is the case for a telescoping ramp, and it is the one time paying twice as much is justified.
If lifting rather than climbing is the real problem, our car ramp vs lift harness comparison sets out where each wins, and a full body lift harness is the tool for a dog who cannot walk up under their own power. For getting onto furniture at home, the CozyUp bed ramp is the indoor equivalent, and the full field is in our best dog ramps and stairs round-up.
Who it suits
- Owners of medium and large dogs who are lifting them into a car and should not be.
- Dogs with arthritis, hip dysplasia or a recovering cruciate, where jumping down from a tailgate is the worst single movement they make all week.
- Station wagons, hatchbacks and standard SUVs with a moderate load height.
- Anyone who needs the ramp to live in the vehicle rather than in a shed.
Who should skip it
- Lifted trucks and tall vans, where a telescoping ramp gives a materially better angle.
- Dogs over 150 lbs.
- Dogs who cannot stand or walk unaided, who need a harness or a second person, not a ramp.
- Owners unwilling to spend a week training the ramp at home first, because it will not work when it matters.
Alternatives worth considering
PetSafe Solvit Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp
~$130
A telescoping ramp extends further than a fixed folding one, which is the only way to soften the angle against a high tailgate. Worth the extra outlay specifically for trucks and raised SUVs, where the Happy Ride is simply too short to be gentle.
Check price on AmazonPetSafe PetSafe CozyUp Folding Dog Stairs
~$64
Four steps reaching 25 inches, rated to 200 lbs and folding flat, for dogs who are confident climbers but cannot make one big jump. Uses far less space than a ramp and suits stamina problems rather than joint pain.
Check price on AmazonPetSafe PetSafe CozyUp Bed Ramp
~$119
Seventy inches reaching 25 inches, carpeted, for beds and sofas. The wrong shape for a car but the right one for the bedroom, and many households eventually need both.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Car ramp vs lift harness
- Best dog ramps and stairs for senior dogs
- Help 'Em Up lift harness review
- PetSafe CozyUp bed ramp review
- Senior dog cost calculator
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Editor's Pick ยท Affiliate link
An Orthopedic Bed for a Stiff Senior Dog
A supportive memory-foam bed is the cheapest change that visibly helps an arthritic dog get up more easily. Waterproof and washable matters more with age.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the PetSafe Happy Ride ramp and what does it hold?
PetSafe gives it as 62 inches long, 16 inches wide and 4 inches high when folded, weighing 10 lbs and rated for dogs up to 150 lbs. It folds in half and locks with a safety latch, so the stored footprint is roughly 31 inches. Measure your vehicle's load height before ordering: the same ramp is gentle against a hatchback and steep against a pickup.
Will this ramp work for an SUV or a truck?
It works well for most standard SUVs and station wagons. For a lifted truck or a tall van, a fixed 62 inch ramp gives a steeper climb than many senior dogs will accept, and a telescoping ramp such as the Solvit Deluxe is the better buy. The test is simple: divide the load height by the ramp length. The shallower that ratio, the more likely an arthritic dog is to walk up without hesitating.
How do I train a dog to use a car ramp?
Start indoors or on a lawn with the ramp flat on the ground, and reward the dog for walking across it. Then raise one end slightly, on a low step, and repeat. Only when the dog trots across without looking should you set it against the car, and even then keep the first attempts short and rewarded. Never introduce a ramp for the first time when you are already late for the vet; that is how dogs learn to refuse them.
Car ramp or lift harness for a senior dog?
A ramp is better if your dog can still walk under their own power, because it keeps them independent and takes the load off you entirely. A harness is better if your dog cannot reliably stand or walk, or if you need help in places where a ramp will not fit. Plenty of households use both. Our car ramp vs lift harness comparison works through the crossover point, and the Help 'Em Up harness review covers the harness side.
Is jumping out of the car bad for an old dog?
Jumping down is the harder half. Landing loads the front legs and shoulders sharply, and for a dog with arthritis or a healing cruciate it is one of the highest-impact movements in an ordinary day. A ramp removes that impact in both directions, which is why vets and rehabilitation practitioners routinely recommend one for dogs with joint disease. If your dog has started hesitating before jumping down, mention it at the next appointment, because hesitation is usually pain rather than caution.
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