Driveway angle
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,516
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Bch VA
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Don't know the number but there is more to consider that the angle of the driveway. You have a gutter to contend with as well as the slope of the road to which you're going.
I take mine very slow at a 45 deg angle and it lessens or eliminates the scrape.
I take mine very slow at a 45 deg angle and it lessens or eliminates the scrape.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
Less than this...
Seriously, as said above, it is more than just angles. My drive is not very steep but I scrape when backing out because the crown of the road I am going onto is very high. No scrape when going in, however.
Seriously, as said above, it is more than just angles. My drive is not very steep but I scrape when backing out because the crown of the road I am going onto is very high. No scrape when going in, however.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,042
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From: Bedford, TX
And I've seen that picture before. Awesome!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: San Francisco Bay Area California
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
mine scrapes backing out too, but doesn't when i'm going in. I think i still gotta play around with the backing up angle in order to not scrape it. But to answer the OP's question, i think it just comes with time and being able to eyeball the slope and whether or not your car will clear/scrape it when driving over but when in doubt, just go slow+at an angle. 
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Findlay Ohio
That is exactly right ....it just takes time to learn how to best angle your car for the least scraping possible. When I back out I really have to angle my car so as not to nick the bottom and even then it will scrape a little.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 385
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From: TABLE ROCK LAKE MO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,617
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From: Pasadena, CA
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Durham NC
when I had my home constructed, a pretty flat driveway was very high on the list of must have items. I still exit at 45 degrees just so I don't scrape. My wife thought I was (well she still does) insane being so concerned with the driveway. Oh well.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 131
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From: Findlay Ohio
insanity is all part of it and since the wives know we are insane angling your car off the driveway shouldnt even be questioned...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
I have a similar problem, when I do get my vette in a few months. My driveway is on an angle too and I was worried about rubbing the front/rear bumper going up and down. I cant really try the angle the car in technique because the body of the car might catch the curb. I have a quick fix for it but it involves a small amount of cement work. I wish I had a diagram to show you all, sorry about that.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 7
From: Kissimmee, FL
I had a fairly steep driveway and learned I could get in and out without scraping by approaching the drive about 12" from the curb almost perpendicular to the drive. When I got to the edge of the driveway I would cut the wheels hard and ease up ending up on the far side of the drive. The first time I did it, I had my wife drive and I watched under the car to make sure it would work. Oh, the price we pay to play!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
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From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
I know this might be hard to believe but I actually made these calculations as part of a summer job 35 years ago. I was working city engineering and had to design a driveway for a house not quite as bad as the ones pictured but similar.
My stock coupe has about 5.4 inches clearance at the driver's door and 106 inches between the wheels. Draw 2 triangles starting half way between the wheels, 5.4 inches up to the rocker, out to each wheel, and back to the center. Your floor can not break steeper than the hypotenuse of these triangles. In other words, the change can't be more than about 5.4 inches in 53 inches or 1.22 inches per foot. I'd use 1 inch per foot to be very conservative and allow for some speed over the bump and a full weight load.
That's not much so what do you do if you need a steeper angle? Once the back wheel has started on the new slope you can start dropping the front wheel another 1 inch per foot. You are simulating a ball that you are going over.
Worried about the radiator supports and tail pipes going up? That's a similar calculation but a very different solution. That is what these driveways need to worry about. and can be done but the driveway looks real strange.
My stock coupe has about 5.4 inches clearance at the driver's door and 106 inches between the wheels. Draw 2 triangles starting half way between the wheels, 5.4 inches up to the rocker, out to each wheel, and back to the center. Your floor can not break steeper than the hypotenuse of these triangles. In other words, the change can't be more than about 5.4 inches in 53 inches or 1.22 inches per foot. I'd use 1 inch per foot to be very conservative and allow for some speed over the bump and a full weight load.
That's not much so what do you do if you need a steeper angle? Once the back wheel has started on the new slope you can start dropping the front wheel another 1 inch per foot. You are simulating a ball that you are going over.
Worried about the radiator supports and tail pipes going up? That's a similar calculation but a very different solution. That is what these driveways need to worry about. and can be done but the driveway looks real strange.