Steve has done a number of wonderful mods to our
Casita, but the best by far is the ramp he made for our dog. Diagnosed a few years ago with severe arthritis, our dog's vet said that she needed to stop climbing stairs and jumping. Since she was used to getting up on our bed, we knew she would end up hurting herself unless we made a ramp for her.
The ramp was intended for our home, but we quickly discovered it's perfect for camping trips too. It does take up a fair bit of space in our 16' trailer, but we store things under it, and the top section makes a nice chair. We wouldn't think of camping without it.
the ramp at home... and in our
Casita
The basic measurements are 12" W X 20 1/2" H X 52" long. We built it out of pine and wrapped a piece of carpet around it for added traction. We added some raised molding along the sides of the ramp after she fell off it one night, and since then she hasn't had a problem.
Some things to note: 1) the ramp as we built it is a little unsteady, so when we're at home we use the bottom portion as a bookshelf to help stabilize it. When camping, a few duffles are all that's needed. 2) It's important to build it wide enough so that your dog is able to turn around on it in case he/she has a change of plans, and 3) the carpeting should be chosen to give your dog good traction, and it's a good idea to pick a color that will contrast well with your flooring, to help them stay on course in dim
lighting.
This may seem like a silly project, but it can mean a world of difference to an aging dog!
Jeanne