Scraping into driveway
Registered User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,409
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
Other option I can think of is to create some sort of ramps under the wheels inside the garage so instead of hitting that angle you continue upward slightly higher until you've passed the point of contact.
I don't know if that makes sense to you, or if it's realistic though.
I don't know if that makes sense to you, or if it's realistic though.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ
Yea...good stuff guys and most of your suggestions have crossed my mind. I REALLY didnt want to have a ramp or anything that i would have to open the door, get out of my car, put the ramps in place and then drive in.... But if thats what it takes....no choice
Jackhammering the point out would be ideal (if it were enough) but.....here we have what they call post tension slabs where there is i guess metal bands wound crazy tight in the cement and i heard that you cannot mess with them and part of what id need to grind would be that part. However....when they see that sooner or later my car will grind it down for them....who knows.
Jackhammering the point out would be ideal (if it were enough) but.....here we have what they call post tension slabs where there is i guess metal bands wound crazy tight in the cement and i heard that you cannot mess with them and part of what id need to grind would be that part. However....when they see that sooner or later my car will grind it down for them....who knows.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,729
Likes: 2
From: atlanta
final answer: extreme sideways, go very slow.
I do it to a point, where I might stall out. that's the only way I don't hit my bumper hard on the driveway and risk cracking the side of the bumper and my fender.
I do it to a point, where I might stall out. that's the only way I don't hit my bumper hard on the driveway and risk cracking the side of the bumper and my fender.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ
Yea...sideways has been tried. Honestly sideways into any parking/curbed entrance has been a given driving lowered cars. I have a 2 car garage so its kinda wide but its really not enough. Going slow sucks too - when i got in finally the first time i smelled clutch bad... As i find something that will work and get better at it, I'm sure I'll use less clutch...i hope.
Assassin thats exactly what i had in mind. My only concern is whether i have the right to expand past my driveway into the street. As the street is where its flat to begin with and my driveway starts at the incline. I'm sure going out a couple feet might not be a big deal but....im not sure how much I'll need. But that is ideal without modifying MY slab which i may not be able to do.
The problem here is that this only has simple solutions. There are 2 elevations and only a certain distance to merge those. Either change one of the elevations, or change the distance inbetween them... There isnt gonna be some crazy breakthrough that defies basic physics unless it involves some moving ramp or lift system
Assassin thats exactly what i had in mind. My only concern is whether i have the right to expand past my driveway into the street. As the street is where its flat to begin with and my driveway starts at the incline. I'm sure going out a couple feet might not be a big deal but....im not sure how much I'll need. But that is ideal without modifying MY slab which i may not be able to do.
The problem here is that this only has simple solutions. There are 2 elevations and only a certain distance to merge those. Either change one of the elevations, or change the distance inbetween them... There isnt gonna be some crazy breakthrough that defies basic physics unless it involves some moving ramp or lift system
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,802
Likes: 5
Ah ok, if the road starts where the bottom flat area is you are probably out of luck. The only way you might be able to do that is if it is a white lines road and there is some distance between the road and your driveway (not likely).
Perhaps trying a different shape to the driveway may help. For instance how close does your front lip get when you approach the driveway? If you have some clearance, you may be able to arch the driveway slightly to ease into the upper limit.
By adding a slight curve to the profile of the driveway you will decrease the clearance to your lip as you approach the driveway, but will increase the clearance to the frame of your car at the top of the driveway. This way you can get a lip protector (simply a metal plate that you can bolt onto the bottom of your lip, or even just put some washers on the stock bolts so the heads of the bolts stick down a little off your bumper) to prevent scratching of the bumper, but will not hit your frame anymore.
Perhaps trying a different shape to the driveway may help. For instance how close does your front lip get when you approach the driveway? If you have some clearance, you may be able to arch the driveway slightly to ease into the upper limit.
By adding a slight curve to the profile of the driveway you will decrease the clearance to your lip as you approach the driveway, but will increase the clearance to the frame of your car at the top of the driveway. This way you can get a lip protector (simply a metal plate that you can bolt onto the bottom of your lip, or even just put some washers on the stock bolts so the heads of the bolts stick down a little off your bumper) to prevent scratching of the bumper, but will not hit your frame anymore.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,802
Likes: 5
I have the exact inverse of this issue at my house, I scratch my bumper if I go too fast or approach at anything less than a 30 degree angle. So for now I can't lower my car or even put on a factory lip.
These kind of situation make me want to look for a electronic height adjustable suspension. I know there was one made for Subarus that used air shocks to allow adjustments to stiffness and ride height from within the car, and were suppose to give good handling. That or something similar to what Lamborghini uses on their newer cars, allowing you to lift the nose by a few inches.
These kind of situation make me want to look for a electronic height adjustable suspension. I know there was one made for Subarus that used air shocks to allow adjustments to stiffness and ride height from within the car, and were suppose to give good handling. That or something similar to what Lamborghini uses on their newer cars, allowing you to lift the nose by a few inches.