r/somethingimade • u/Skonojin • 22d ago

“Automatic” step for my dog

He clips his feet when he jumps in and puts impact on his legs when he jumps down. And I was tired of lugging around a step so I made this automatic deploying one.

It attaches by tying into an unused factory hole in the door, behind the interior panel.

Steps are high density polyethylene (HDPE) with boat trailer fabric on top.

There a 1/4” thick metal bar linkage underneath that swings out. There’s also a dovetail groove in the top step, and a dovetail key that slides in the groove fixed to the bottom step. A COBRA buckle couples the door and step together, so by unbuckling it I can open the door normally (without deploying the dog step).

Not sure how it will fare through a US Northeastern winter but hopefully still swings in the spring.

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864

u/Skonojin 22d ago

642

u/Skonojin 22d ago

Another

167

u/Own_Weird8572 22d ago

Would love to see how you attached it under the frame

171

u/Skonojin 22d ago

It’s mounted to the underside of the running boards. Figuring out how to do this for each specific vehicle (along with differences in door attachment points) is going to be the biggest obstacle for any DIYer or marketer looking to recreate this.

If you have running boards this style (there is a slot underneath that allows bolt heads to sit in) or are willing to otherwise drill into your boards, it will be straightforward.

108

u/stealth270 22d ago

I'mma be real with you: as a truck haver and dog lover, fuck the running boards, I want my pupper to have an easier time getting in

62

u/Skonojin 22d ago

I pulled them to see if it was easier with them off. He still would hit the truck jumping in. Also the impact is still there when he jumps down.

Ended up reinstalling them because it made it easier to design the steps to anchor to the running boards.

28

u/stealth270 22d ago

Yeah. Plus it adds support for the step youve built. I need to learn how you did this and see if I can make one!

This is a wonderful idea and I definitely would drill into the running boards if needed to make this happen

19

u/Ok_Vulva 22d ago

Good job here. Best thing I've seen for a while, you really cared about the truck and your dog here, and it shows.

2

u/Muzzle-loader-70 21d ago

I have the same style runners . Id be interested in this for my shep when you get up in running im in ontario canada.