My dog keeps slipping and falling off the stairs

[AsenathBarzani]

After a couple months of research, I got a 2018 arctic fox 285t. I could not be happier. There's just one issue, my dog keeps slipping and falling off the stairs. There is a narrow gravel path, bordered by rocks, so I am very concerned about injury. I did research and found these RV grip steps that are non-slip. I ordered three of them but for some reason only got one of them, and the order took about a week, so the issue continues. I'm wondering about an electric ramp that I might be able to install, which would go up and down, preventing the need for stairs for my dog. Does anything like that exist and does anyone have experience with it?

 

[No cats]

We bought this for our old dog

 

[Gizmo100]

We bought rugs for each step @ Walmart. It not only help the dog, It also helped us. Metal steps can be a pain.

Camco Wrap around RV Step Rug - Weather-Resistant Materials, Gray (42925) - Walmart.com

Buy Camco Wrap around RV Step Rug - Weather-Resistant Materials, Gray (42925) at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[ferfer]

my dog keeps slipping and falling off the stairs.

How big is your dog? A medium to large dog might walkup or ignore a steps but a small dog will likely chose a running start. The step to height step ratio can result in awkward spacing.

Maybe portable stairs: Port-A-Step

 

[gwinger]

After a couple months of research, I got a 2018 arctic fox 285t. I could not be happier. There's just one issue, my dog keeps slipping and falling off the stairs. There is a narrow gravel path, bordered by rocks, so I am very concerned about injury. I did research and found these RV grip steps that are non-slip. I ordered three of them but for some reason only got one of them, and the order took about a week, so the issue continues. I'm wondering about an electric ramp that I might be able to install, which would go up and down, preventing the need for stairs for my dog. Does anything like that exist and does anyone have experience with it?

A ramp may be a little steep for a person to use. Not bad going up, but coming down could present a problem.

 

[Kirk]

Since you are parked permanently, why not just build a porch with better steps? There are also better choices of RV steps available.

 

[Tom]

I think Kirk was referring to something like this.

 

[Rene T]

I think Kirk was referring to something like this.

I may have missed it but I didn’t see where he was permanent. Maybe you read it on a previous post.

 

[Tom]

I may have missed it but I didn’t see where he was permanent. Maybe you read it on a previous post.

I saw it in Kirk's message and assumed he'd read it somewhere.

 

[ferfer]

From prior post she was going to place the fifth wheel on her property while she cleaned up her house from toxic mold. I don't believe she has a truck to pull the fifth wheel yet. but was planning on doing some traveling in the future. Hopefully she'll clarify her future plans.

That is why I mentioned portable stairs - Port-A-Step - instead of building permanent structure. Forum members rate RV-CO construction good with about a 5 minute setup/tear down. They have a good selection for different applications but not cheap.

 

[Tom]

That is why I mentioned portable stairs - Port-A-Step - instead of building permanent structure. Forum members rate RV-CO construction good with about a 5 minute setup/tear down. They have a good selection for different applications but not cheap.

I've gone around and around on this issue with our 5th wheel that we keep up in WY. It spends the winter in covered storage (a mile or so from our lot), so the portable steps seemed like a good option. But we like the idea of a 'landing' (adjacent to the door), especially when we had the dogs.

Many of our residents at the park have those wooden steps with landing, and they have a couple of wheels/casters attached to the bottom of two legs, so they just roll the steps to the back of their lot for the winter. This is done both by folks who leave their RV on the lot for the winter, and folks like us to store the RV off-site.

I've procrastinated too long on this one.

 

[ferfer]

Have you checked at their Port-A-Deck and extensions?

 

[Tom]

Have you checked out their Port-A-Deck and extensions?

Thanks. Yes, they were among the ones we looked at/considered. Still procrastinating.

 

[ferfer]

Still procrastinating.

Nope. Just has not gotten to the uncomfortable or critical point vs cost. It's main advantage is portable.

 

[Tom]

Nope. Just has not gotten to the uncomfortable or critical point vs cost.

Used wooden steps are sold at our park for not much less than those aluminum ones go for. I've missed a few that went for much less, and a few were the wrong size.

It's main advantage is portable.

For our use, it only has to be moved a few feet to the back of our lot, clear of the 5W being reversed in for summer and towed out for winter. BTW I don't have a truck, and rely on someone else to reverse it in and tow it out when we're not there.

 

[ferfer]

Replacing the entry stairs would definitely give you more comfortable entry/exit with the rise, run, height and length adjustments. A landing would be excellent or a patio you could set outside on great if you want company. Sure make bring in stuff easier.

 

[AsenathBarzani]

We bought rugs for each step @ Walmart. It not only help the dog, It also helped us. Metal steps can be a pain.

Camco Wrap around RV Step Rug - Weather-Resistant Materials, Gray (42925) - Walmart.com

Buy Camco Wrap around RV Step Rug - Weather-Resistant Materials, Gray (42925) at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

Thank you. I actually bought that very one, but my dog slipped on it, so I took it off immediately.

 

[AsenathBarzani]

Replacing the entry stairs would definitely give you more comfortable entry/exit with the rise, run, height and length adjustments. A landing would be excellent or a patio you could set outside on great if you want company. Sure make bring in stuff easier.

So I just build a normal wood staircase with handrails?

 

[AsenathBarzani]

We bought this for our old dog

View attachment 1105298
View attachment 1105300

Thank you. I got a similar one from Petco but she slipped on it and it had really rough sandpaper service. I tried taping the under part of a rug onto it, but she would only go 3/4 up and then jump off the side. I ended up being able to somehow train her to go up the stairs. I started just hanging the underside of a rug on the stairs. But sometimes it slips. So now I go out before she does, to make sure that it is stationary and dry

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

That's a variety of surfaces the dog is slipping on. Is it the rise or tread that's the issue? Maybe consider a stair lift...

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM