Our driveway slopes away from the street, and the top of the driveway that meets the curb cut from the street is a high point. For cars that sit a little lower, it can cause them to bottom out and scrape a bit, especially when loaded down or if they go over the highest peak.

I'd like to install something to smooth out the peaks and valley a bit, so there's less chance of cars scraping. I talked with a local metal fabrication shop and they can make something that includes basically a 18" x 8' sheet of metal with several simple supports below. In the graphic below, the metal plate would span the distance between the "1" and "2" spots. The quick cost estimate for something like that (materials and labor) was for $200-$300. I'll do that, but thought it would be worth checking the collective wisdom here for any other ideas that may either be just as long-lasting/durable but possibly less expensive. Having a contractor to redo the driveway entrance is likely far more expensive than a $300 retrofit of metal apparatus, so I'm not really considering that at this point.

Here's a very rough and exaggerated sketch of the situation. The red lines are simply to indicate transitions to and from asphalt to concrete and back to asphalt.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2015 12:33PM by clay.

I like the metal plate idea. Will there be a need or way to pin it down so it does not creep?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2015 01:01PM by Acer.

They =make rubber gutter bridges that are oh so common in some neighborhoods to fit in those gutters - if that's a standard gutter and not just some oddball apron grade. A metal bridge will serve the same purpose.

A snow plow might catch on it an rip it out though.

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BOYCOTT YOPLAIT [www.noyoplait.com]
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If the valley is to keep water flowing down the road . Instead of into your property. You need to use expanded metal for your bridge.

I have the frame savers and rocker rails for that sort of thing. With a low vehicle, even speed bumps can be an issue. There may be such products for your vehicle.

[www.aacorvette.com]

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Thanks for everyone's help and support after Hurricane Katrina!

You could also modify your ride.

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The Phorum Wall keeps us safe from illegal characters and words
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of one's own ignorance. -Benjamin Franklin
BOYCOTT YOPLAIT [www.noyoplait.com]
[soundcloud.com]

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billb
You could also modify your ride.

I like this idea, especially if it comes with this driver.

You would probably have to help her up to the cab.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

a landscaping problem should have a landscaping solution - but $300 sounds like a good deal.

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Acer
I like the metal plate idea. Will there be a need or way to pin it down so it does not creep?

I can't imagine it will creep very quickly...that sucker would be heavy! At least not quickly enough that I wouldn't notice and be able to adjust it. I can't imagine a good way to pin it down without making a significant effort.

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billb
They =make rubber gutter bridges that are oh so common in some neighborhoods to fit in those gutters - if that's a standard gutter and not just some oddball apron grade. A metal bridge will serve the same purpose.

A snow plow might catch on it an rip it out though.

Good points on both. It appears to be a standard gutter size (at least, to my untrained eyes). I will look to see if there's something off the shelf in rubber that might do the trick for less cost. Good note about snow plows...whatever we put down we will likely need to move before any significant snowfall, which we do commonly get in winter.

I don't really know anything about this, but it just seems like an idea that won't work or won't work long term. Does the car bottom out when the rear wheels are in the valley or when the front wheels are heading down the slope? This may only address the 2nd issue and not the first. I wonder what is causing the peaks and why that wasn't leveled when the driveway was created.

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clay

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billb
They =make rubber gutter bridges that are oh so common in some neighborhoods to fit in those gutters - if that's a standard gutter and not just some oddball apron grade. A metal bridge will serve the same purpose.

A snow plow might catch on it an rip it out though.

Good points on both. It appears to be a standard gutter size (at least, to my untrained eyes). I will look to see if there's something off the shelf in rubber that might do the trick for less cost.

'Haven't seen those before.

Neat!

[images.google.com]

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michaelb
I don't really know anything about this, but it just seems like an idea that won't work or won't work long term. Does the car bottom out when the rear wheels are in the valley or when the front wheels are heading down the slope? This may only address the 2nd issue and not the first. I wonder what is causing the peaks and why that wasn't leveled when the driveway was created.

Many driveways that have a downhill grade from the street have that hump to stop rivers of water from the street in a downpour from going down the driveway.
Some driveways have that little rain gutter to channel rain water down to a collection point.

The hump can wreak havoc on undercarriages and sometimes air dams and tow hitches
the little gutters can wreak havoc on front air dams on low to the ground cars

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The Phorum Wall keeps us safe from illegal characters and words
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of one's own ignorance. -Benjamin Franklin
BOYCOTT YOPLAIT [www.noyoplait.com]
[soundcloud.com]

....so you want the car to be a top only.....and not versatile......???

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