Problem solving 101- Steep driveway

[lutzy]

So I just moved into a new place and I didnt give much thought about how steep my driveway is. The problem is that I can't get my car in without scraping and hitting my exhaust right at the x-pipe. It hits as soon as my front wheels enter about 2 feet into my garage. I have about 3" clearance under my car. Im not about to change the stance of my car or change the grade of my driveway either since its so short. Anyone have any ideas?
http://i42.tinypic.com/seopbb.jpg

[Sieg]

Have you tried backing it in?

[lutzy]

hits about the same place backing in :hairpullout:

[scott_fx]

hits about the same place backing in :hairpullout:
may seem like an odd solutions but... can you put in some floor tiles to raise the floor up a bit. it may give you clearance. you can try with a sheet of ply to test out the theory

[Sieg]

hits about the same place backing in :hairpullout:
Nuts! So the X-pipe is pretty much centered between the axles.

How much clearance do you need to gain at the garage slab lip?
Possibly grind or cut out a notch a 1'-6" to 2' section and taper it inward?
Grinding would be done with the same equipment they use on heaved up sidewalks, etc. You can rent a concrete saw at Home Depot (chainsaw with abrasive wheel)

Tucking the exhaust or an Air Ride set up are probably the other alternatives.

[Ns RS]

something like this perhaps? did see a race ramp version of this not too long ago...

[speedjohnston]

A couple of long 2x12's fastened to the floor with a nice taper in the end. Paint them yellow or red so you don't trip over them.

[strtcar]

sell the house :)

I like the idea of grinding the crap out of that area, probably best solution. Have you had anyone watch as your backing in how much space you need, might only be a little grinding, then you don't have to worry about tripping over wood the rest of your life.

[130fe]

A couple of long 2x12's fastened to the floor with a nice taper in the end. Paint them yellow or red so you don't trip over them.

I agree with him, I had the same problem at my last house and tried doing just on one side. While backing out one day, it popped up and almost put a kink in my rear brake line. I was using two short pieces of 2x10 secured together (side by side) with another thin piece of plywood on the bottom. I guess it would have been better it I would have secured it down but you live and learn.

[Rileys68Camaro]

I would look at grinding it or possibly look into some sort of dock plate.

[will69camaro]

Grind that ledge off and deal with leaves/dust getting into the garage. You can buy strips that go on either side of where the door lands on the driveway to help against this. Several friends have it done this way. That lip is there to keep debris/water out of your garage. Water being the most important and looking at your driveway I dont think you have to worry about that. Should give you enough to fix it. Just grind that off and taper it into the garage.

William

[Neil B]

If you don't want to grind the concrete, you can use some well-placed 2x8's tapered on the ends as people have suggested. Use the boards in the garage to raise the front end and find the right spot in the driveway to raise the rear as you crest the garage entrance. Keep the boards to about 2 feet in length and place the rear boards in front of the rear tires as you are driving in. You need to have a nice taper on the boards to keep them from sliding and/or flipping up.

Another route would be air-ride. LOL.

[Vegas69]

My vote is to fix your ground clearance. You should be able to clear that easily. What about speed bumps or road debris?

[Sieg]

http://images.socalfoundationrepair.com/300/before-after-grinding.jpg

http://www.saberfoundations.com/concrete-grinding.html

[GregWeld]

My vote is to fix your ground clearance. You should be able to clear that easily. What about speed bumps or road debris?




^^^^^^^^^^^^ What he said. Every once in awhile he gets it right!

[Track Junky]

Concrete grinding is great for public sidewalks and such but would look horrible at your garage entrance. Judging from the picture you posted I'm going to assume that all the houses in the neighborhood look the same where the driveway meets your garage slab? Not sure why.....it's not typical......at least where I'm from.
If it were me I would look for a matt type flooring and place it throughout the entire floor in the garage so it would look uniform. Cant remember where I saw them but the one that I saw came in 3x3 squares or something like that, about an inch thick, interlocked at the edges and they had a diamond plate appearance on top but in a gray color finish.

[Sieg]

My vote is to fix your ground clearance. You should be able to clear that easily. What about speed bumps or road debris?

I agree but that driveway angle looks severe. The angle is more like a ramp for loading dirt bikes into a 4x4. :D

[JustWaiting]

Lutzy - sent you an email with a pic of my driveway scraping solution.

[GregWeld]

Best idea yet --- List the house for sale with Vegas69 and hire Tracky to build you a proper house without the issue... you need way bigger garage anyway. Houses where actual people live are way overrated.

[lutzy]

Thanks for all the responses. I went and bought a concrete grinder and grinded down the lip of the garage slab with the combination of 2 pieces of 2x10's I was able to pull in my garage fine. Thanks

[Perry Mitchell]

I'm glad you got it resolved. I'm in the road construction business so if it were my driveway, I would simply replace the brick pavers with a new concrete driveway that was shaped to allow you to enter your garage. Or remove the pavers if they are not mortared to a subslab and reinstall them at the proper grade. Or overlay the existing driveway with asphalt pavement at the new grade. OK, sorry.

[Lowfast]

you need way bigger garage anyway. Houses where actual people live are way overrated.

Greg, this is going in my sig. Saving as wisdom for my wife for when I design our next house.
:stirthepot: