Vehicle Hitch Step For Dogs

Product Description

Twistep is the best way to provide a step up into your vehicle for your canine companion. An instant, multi-use step that provides better access to your SUV, the Twistep installs in your hitch receiver and with a simple lift of a pin twists to help your dog load in or out of the vehicle. The Twistep will fit 1.25-inch and 2-inch hitch receivers. The Twistep attaches securely to the hitch receiver of your vehicle and stores under the bumper when not in use. It holds up to 400 pounds on a Class III hitch. Corrosion-resistant coating ensures a long life. Unlike a bulky ramp or other step setup that you need to unload to use and then pack away again after use, the Twistep is simple and easy to use.

Features

• An instant, multi-use step that provides dogs and people better access to your SUV
• Install once - Pet step twists under car for storage, with no need to install and remove for each use
• Fits both 1.25-inch and 2-inch hitch receivers and allows for 6 inches of height adjustment
• Fully assembled out of the box - Simple and easy to use
• Large platform has a non-slip surface and holds up to 400lbs!

Top Reviews

Save your dogs!
by A. L. Stump (5 out of 5 stars)
November 25, 2011

I take my dogs to the park, to classes, and around town in a Jeep Liberty. Both dogs are young and agile (one large and one medium golden retriever)- for now. But I still worried about them jumping out onto our concrete driveway. While this step seemed expensive, I figured one trip to the vet for a broken or strained leg or shoulder would cost quite a bit more.

The step installs easily and stows out of the way under the back of the Jeep. It's easy to use and the dogs learned how to use it in literally seconds. My husband also discovered this makes a great seat when he takes the Jeep 4-wheeling up in the local mountains and he wants to stop for lunch.

I did buy the lock for the step as a normal hitch lock won't fit through the provided holes used by the bolt that attaches this to the hitch.

I've demonstrated this to quite a few people in my dog club, and everyone (with larger dogs) was very impressed. One of our trainers who has three mastiffs already bought one for herself. As she said, a good ramp for a large dog is well over $100 and requires a lot more work, fuss, and space to use.
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Sloppy
by CJS (3 out of 5 stars)
February 27, 2018

For the price, much more was expected out of fit and finish. This unit, while used with standard 2" receiver has about 1/4" of play causing rattle and a feeling of being unstable. For the swing out platform - when it is locked in place in either position (in use or stored away) there is also more play which causes the same issues as the receiver, unstable and rattle. The hole where the locking pin goes into is just too big for the pin which causes this sloppy feeling. Finally - it is NOT stated anywhere in the details that if you want to install on 06-15 Tahoe, Suburban, some Jeeps and Pathfinders, you will need to PURCHASE another extension bracket for $50! You do not get this detail until you open the box and read the instructions.

I called the customer service number, thinking that they would send the NEEDED piece of equipment that should have already been included for free, or at least price of shipping. Negative, they want additional $50 plus shipping. All said and done, you're into this product for $300 which is beyond crazy!
*Quick fix update- I stacked 3 pieces of 2" x 2" 26ga steel plates together and used that as a shim in the receiver and that stopped the play for that. Platform base still is sloppy but what can you do, would have to upgrade the spring pin assembly to a slightly larger one.

Overall the IDEA behind the product is excellent, the final product leaves much to be desired for the price.
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Great for our dogs/ 2008 Highlander
by DocDenver (5 out of 5 stars)
October 17, 2014

I have a 2008 Highlander, and this makes it so the dogs can get up easily. One of our dogs is 11 years old now, but his body is older than his spirit, so he'd try to jump up into the back and not make it sometimes before we got this. I thought he was going to break his back a few times, because when he didn't make it, he'd slide out sideways and frantic and land on the road in any crazy position. I tried lifting him up, but he really doesn't like that and would get pretty frantic as well.

The only problem is the hitch on my Highlander it is a non-factory hitch, so the receiver sits below the bumper and sticks out quite a bit. This step sticks out even further, and hangs down even more, so I've scraped it on curbs and road dips repeatedly, and broke off some of the plastic so it doesn't look good anymore. I think a factory hitch on the Highlander would solve that problem, but it's something like $800.

I wish this were motorized, the hatch is motorized and it would be fun to have a button that made this come out as well. When we load up the dogs, I pull this out, (note to self - pull out BEFORE opening hatch!) dogs have learned to use it 100% of the time, and I leave it out until we get to the park. I go to the back, open the hatch, and usually the dogs will jump down using the platform, but it depends on their level of excitement. When it's time to go, I hit the remote hatch-open button, the hatch opens and dogs load up using the platform. Kind of fun! At home, they always jump down using the platform.

It's a bit pricey, but hey, our Aussie had surgery on both ACLs that cost almost $6K (now THAT was a tough decision..), so a couple hundred in prevention seems reasonable.

I have a 2" receiver and bought the threaded receiver hitch lock from this same company (Heininger 6033 - listed as 1.25" but it works with the 2" receiver), which works really well. The step comes with a bolt to make it really stable, but did not lock. (Although really the chances of someone stealing this are pretty low, I think) A regular lock like I had for my bike rack leave it way too wobbly - the dogs don't like wobble!

Overall, I'm glad I bought this. I've never tried a ramp, but in the Highlander, there really isn't that much room in the back, and a ramp would take up a lot of room. I use it maybe 2 or 3 times a week, every time I take the dogs in the car. I've had it for about a year now.
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One (well, two) of the best purchases we've ever made!
by G Malow (5 out of 5 stars)
April 24, 2015

We have a 120-pound rescue Akita and he couldn't get in the back of either vehicle (a 2014 Subaru Forester and a 2014 Subaru Outback) due to the height. This was a real problem. We looked at various ramps, but nothing worked because you would have to take the ramp with you to use at the other end and this was inconvenient and could hurt the dog while in the vehicles.

After a lot of research, we found the Heininger 3052 PortablePET Twistep Dog Hitch Step. It mounts on a 1 & 1/4" trailer hitch (or 2" with included adapter), rotates out of the way when not in use, doesn't effect the vehicle clearance much and makes it easy and safe for our dog to get in & out. The quality is excellent and they don't wobble in our 1 1/4" hitches.

We've bought 2 of them from Amazon - one for each vehicle. However you should also consider the Heininger 6033 Advantage SportsRack 1.25" Threaded Receiver Trailer Lock (also available from Amazon - yes, we bought 2) as they're the only locks that work on the Twisteps if you want to keep them secure.

We also met a woman at our veterinarian's who had an old medium size dog that couldn't get in the back of her Rav4. The vet had to lift the dog into the car for her. We showed her our Twistep and she ended up having a trailer hitch installed by her dealer, bought a Twistep, and her problem was solved.

The obvious downside is that you need a trailer hitch and that can cost quite a bit...but the overall solution just plain works (and the Twistep can be moved to any vehicle with a hitch) - and it's a lot cheaper than a bill from a vet for a dog getting seriously hurt trying to get in or out of a vehicle. We have 2 because we just wanted the convenience of having one on on each vehicle.

We would give it 10 stars if we could.

Additional information: the 4 screws that hold the receiver bar to the assembly allow the step to be raised/lowered a certain amount. On both of our vehicles I had to raise them from the standard setting to provide as much ground clearance as possible. The screws (big Allen head things) are very tight. While an inexpensive Allen wrench is included, on one of the steps one screw was so tight that it stripped the wrench (luckily not the screw).

I had to use WD40 and a hardened steel Allen wrench from my own tools to get it loose. If you want to adjust it and don't have WD40, a good Allen wrench and strong hands...you could have problems.

I've contacted Heininger support about this and, hopefully, they'll change production to make these screws a bit looser. In the meantime, be aware this could be an issue for an otherwise outstanding product.
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Durable, Dependable, and Convenient.
by H. Parker Smith III (5 out of 5 stars)
November 11, 2015

The Twistep is a necessity for me considering I take my dog to work with me every day. Below I'll briefly break out the pros and cons of my personal experiences with the step. I'll preface the review by saying I have a 2012 Nissan Xterra which sits very high off the ground. My dog is a 70lb Goldendoodle. I have owned the Twistep for 5+ months as of this review and I purchased the Heininger trailer lock at the same time as the Twistep.

The Pros:
1. The step is very strong. I've sat on the step and even stood on it to reach things on my roof rack. As a 220lb guy, it says a lot that the step held up perfectly and continues to work well.
2. The rubber padded surface of the Twistep is soft enough to prevent my dog's feet from getting chewed up. The surface is also durable enough to handle regular use and stays grippy in wet weather.
3. The step locks firmly in either the open or closed position. I've driven off-road with the step still connected to the hitch and, despite occasional bumps and very rocky conditions, the step never pivoted out of its locked position.
4. The Twistep is built like a tank. I forgot to pivot the step back under the car one evening and actually had someone rear-end me at a stop light. The step showed no signs of damage and still works like new. The person who hit me, however, had the step puncture his radiator.
5. The step showed up pre-assembled and ready to go onto ANY trailer hitch. With multiple depth settings and a large coupler included, the step will work with any car and any hitch. It's very impressive.

The Cons:
1. The step is showing signs of rust around the pivot area. You can see in some of the pictures an orange discoloration where the rust is forming. I park my car outside and leave the step on 24/7, but even so I feel this is quality issue for the Twistep. As the rust progresses, I fear the step will not be as safe and therefore need replacing. This is a major concern for a product with a $250 price point.
2. The pull pin (used when pivoting the step open or closed) is often difficult to pull up and frequently gets stuck. If any lateral pressure is applied to the step when it is either opened or closed, the pin seems to lock in place making it difficult to release. This happens to me several times a week when I attempt to pull the step slightly before pulling the pin.
3. Pivoting the step can be a real pain in the back. I have a high-set car, but I still need to reach well below my knees to pull the pin at the top of the Twistep. And because the pin is spring-loaded, you have to use two hands to pivot the step (one hand pulls the pin up, the other pivots the step). When I'm holding a leash and/or briefcase, this can be tedious and frustrating.
4. The Twistep does not have reflective tape around the outside. This may seem like a petty complaint, but part of the reason I was rear-ended was because the driver behind me said he couldn't see the step at night.
5. I should have purchased stock in WD40, because I go through at least 1 can per month on the Twistep alone. The step makes an audible grinding noise when opening or closing if it isn't well-lubricated. This is presumably because I do not hold the pull pin in the up position when pivoting the step. I simply pull the pin up and knock the step a bit with my shin until it pivots. Then I release the pin and pivot the step the rest of the way with my hand. The spring-loaded pin then rests on the rotating plate until it reaches the hole to lock it in place again. This could also be the reason why the plate is rusting.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with the Twistep. My dog otherwise couldn't make the jump from the ground to the back of my SUV, so it solves what would otherwise be a big problem for me. The step has proven itself to be durable, dependable, and - above all else - convenient. The few minor complaints I have likely wouldn't be a problem for people who either park in a garage or don't use it daily. The reflective tape around the outside (which I have since added) costs $1.99 at Lowes... so that's not a big deal either. My dog is still a pup, but the step will be a blessing as he ages and doesn't have quite the hip strength to jump out of an SUV.
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Well made - but impractical for my giant dog.
by J. M. Woody (3 out of 5 stars)
April 25, 2015

The Twistep is certainly well made. But my 9 year old Newfoundland could not use it to get into the back of my 2015 Subaru Outback. If he put his front feet on it, he was too long to get his back feet to follow. Once, when he put his front feet on the floor of the Outback, I was able to lift on back foot onto the Twistep and he made it into the car. But that was the only time he made it using the Twistep. Unfortunately, I waited too long to return it, hoping that when the ice in my drive melted, we would have better luck. But to not avail - so that I lost the investment in the Twistep - plus over $400 to have a trailer hitch installed to receive it. So - be cautious about making sure it works and return it in time for a refund.
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Best performing but needs more engineering
by kgmc1983 (3 out of 5 stars)
June 6, 2017

Sturdy and effective but the locking pin is the weak link. The spring will rust and break within the first few months. Requires constant lubricating otherwise the pin is very hard to wiggle free. Light oil washes off in rain too fast. Heavy oil collects dust and starts caking. I finally settled on a medium weight CLP (Cleaning/Lubricating/Preservative) type oil like Break-Free for guns.

Make sure you stow the step before driving. It is very hard to see in your rear view camera when backing up in the dark. A white border around the edge would help. Also a Tesla Model S ran into the step in a parking lot stall because the driver didn't see it and the step was too narrow and the Tesla sensors didn't recognize it as an obstacle ;-)

I put industrial Red/White reflector tape along the vertical edge to solve that issue.
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DO NOT order the 6001 LOCK with this unit
by Lyle W. Gray (5 out of 5 stars)
September 30, 2013

The lock that is associated with the Dog step does NOT fit....so why would they "link" the two on the sales page? (others pointed this out, however I missed it)

Use the 6033 lock only.

One would think Heininger would have this resolved with Amazon by now.

Also if you own a 2006-2011 Tahoe or Yukon, and somer Pathfinders, you have to call them to have them send you another bracket.

Not a huge issue, however it adds time to when you thought you would be able to use it.

I'll give it a 5 star for now...just installed it...feels solid. Looks nice.

irritating to have to send back a lock though.....

Update 60 days: very pleased. This unit is solid and works well. I suspect the one negative review had an incorrect hitch to attach to as this unit does not wobble at all. My 13 year old Golden loves it!
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A must have for large breeds
by pranix2 (5 out of 5 stars)
July 15, 2016

A lot of pet parents don't realize the damage caused over a lifetime of dogs getting in and out of the back of SUV's. Constantly dropping all of their weight on the two front shoulders when exiting can cause issues, followed by then transferring the weight to the hips when the back legs come down.

Large and giant breed puppies absolutely should use this when growing up.

The Twistep shortens the distance of the drop to the ground, hence lessening the impact due to lessening the angle the dogs exit at.

This product is extremely sturdy, easy to install, and folds under nicely.

I recommend using WD40 around the pull mechanism after installation to make turning smoother.
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RUST in 2 mos./NO Cust. Service Response
by Word Lover (2 out of 5 stars)
April 8, 2015

Love the product and my dogs will use it, but after being installed for around 3 months -- Rust has appeared on the circular plate, making it very hard to turn. It was garaged for all but about 5 weeks of that time, so it hasn't even been over-exposed to the elements. I have e-mailed Heininger TWICE and received no response, so maybe this will get their attention. As highly rated as it is -- I can't believe that it's not finished with an anti-rust coat at the factory. If I don't hear anything back in a few days, I'm going to try to doctor it myself with WD-40 and Rustoleum AFTER taking photos to document. I don't want to let it go on so long that it freezes up completely, in case Heininger is going out of business. But if no one else has encountered this problem, then it's defective, and I'd like Heininger to respond.

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