Heininger 3052 Portable PET Twistep Dog Hitch Step for SUVs & Trucks - Easy Access Car Ramp for Small & Medium Dogs - Travel, Camping & Outdoor Adventures

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.