Too steep?

Too steep?

Author
Discussion

2gins

Original Poster:

2,839 posts

161 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
quotequote all
Hello Cerbera men!

I'm currently house hunting, which will be followed by Cerbera hunting. Today we (me and Mrs 2gins) viewed a property that ticks most of our boxes, quite a feat as we're after central location, station, schools and a garage; and the town we're looking in isn't the biggest.

One fly in the ointment. The property is accessed via a private drive that descends steeply from the main road. The initial decline/incline is sharp and I wonder about rubbing the underside when cresting the top.

Our smoker Saab 9-3 got down fine; wheelbase 105" vs. Cerbera at 101" but ground clearance 6" (150mm) vs. Cerbera 130 mm.

Here are a few photos. What do you think? The outer side of the slope I think will be OK but I'm aware the turning circle isn't great and I worry about the steep initial drop on the inside of the turn.

From the top:


Steepest section on the inside:




Eventual gradient for interest:


From the bottom:


If there are any owners located around the Milford area who would be happy to take a look in person that would be much appreciated. A big ask I know. They can only say no!
beer

FarmyardPants

4,099 posts

217 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
quotequote all
I would guess that would be OK for ground clearance. They are not that bad. I'd be more concerned with getting up that slope with a cold engine, they are easily stalled until warmed up, even on the flat. Depending on the width of the road, turning right at the top (or left into the drive) might test the turning circle.

2gins

Original Poster:

2,839 posts

161 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
quotequote all
I was a little unsure about getting up, didn't realise they were easy to stall like that; my concern there was more along the lines of too much gas and lighting up the rears before I've learned my way around the car. I won't be going right at the top - nothing for me in that direction and there's a handy U-turn opportunity close by anyway.
Thanks for reading!

tangerinedream

146 posts

99 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
quotequote all
It looks similar to my drive, and I haven't had any problems. I'm in Harrow, so if you can't test it with your car, I'm happy to pop over and try it for you (obviously you will need to stop me if you think it's going to scrape as I go up!).

ukkid35

6,138 posts

172 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I used a friend's driveway to unload the car from this transporter, as I didn't have access to a lumber yard.

Getting the car off the driveway was unpleasant, but at least it wasn't completely beached.

You may need to reshape that rather elegant driveway to ensure you don't ground out. Emptying the car, and not being full of fuel could make a difference too.


jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I'm certain mine would scrape the chassis brace bolts on that. I don't think you have a cat in hell's chance of getting round with the additional lock-stops fitted for Spiders either if you have those.

2gins

Original Poster:

2,839 posts

161 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Cheers... if by 'getting round' you mean making a right turn or entering from that direction, that's not a worry.

Unfortunately the elegant driveway is shared among 4 properties, but owned outright by one of them. So not much prospect of re-shaping it, especially for a noisy sports car I suspect.

2gins

Original Poster:

2,839 posts

161 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
ukkid35 said:
I used a friend's driveway to unload the car from this transporter, as I didn't have access to a lumber yard.

Getting the car off the driveway was unpleasant, but at least it wasn't completely beached.

You may need to reshape that rather elegant driveway to ensure you don't ground out. Emptying the car, and not being full of fuel could make a difference too.

Thanks for that, useful photo. Do you mean it came off the transporter OK, but driving away afterwards wasn't pretty?

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Where is the house?

I am in Marlow and any excuse for a drive so if not a million miles away we could give it a go using mine.


Byker28i

58,819 posts

216 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Only issue I can think of is at the top, coming off the ramp to the flat may bottom out underneath - says me who's done it too many times on ferries. My wife now asks if she has to walk onto the ship after asking her to get out to lighten the load.

Byker28i

58,819 posts

216 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Hum, whats behind the bush at the top of the drive, next to the house where the drive curves? Room for a garage?

2gins

Original Poster:

2,839 posts

161 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Behind the bush is a drop - there are 4 properties at lower level. Yes - the issue isn't on front/rear clearance coming onto the level at the bottom, but more chassis rails and sills and anything between the wheels, coming over the crest.

Gruffalo - we were looking in Marlow last year but now we've changed to Surrey, so not close at all really but thanks for offering!

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
2gins said:
Behind the bush is a drop - there are 4 properties at lower level. Yes - the issue isn't on front/rear clearance coming onto the level at the bottom, but more chassis rails and sills and anything between the wheels, coming over the crest.

Gruffalo - we were looking in Marlow last year but now we've changed to Surrey, so not close at all really but thanks for offering!
Surrey is fine, as I said any accuse for a spin.

The lowest part of the centre is the chassis spreader plate, not painted and normally just scrapes the bolts so does not do harm.

Front overhang is very short so not a problem, the rear it is the exhaust tail pipes that drag slightly on my drive way which is steep.


Byker28i

58,819 posts

216 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
gruffalo said:
2gins said:
Behind the bush is a drop - there are 4 properties at lower level. Yes - the issue isn't on front/rear clearance coming onto the level at the bottom, but more chassis rails and sills and anything between the wheels, coming over the crest.

Gruffalo - we were looking in Marlow last year but now we've changed to Surrey, so not close at all really but thanks for offering!
Surrey is fine, as I said any accuse for a spin.

The lowest part of the centre is the chassis spreader plate, not painted and normally just scrapes the bolts so does not do harm.

Front overhang is very short so not a problem, the rear it is the exhaust tail pipes that drag slightly on my drive way which is steep.
The lowest part of the centre is the chassis spreader plate, not painted and normally just scrapes the bolts so does not do harm.

Mines nicely painted, but I have previously caught the bolts, not just scraped them, which bent them at an angle and made them difficult to remove. Also depending on exhaust system, theres the possibility of catching the back box.

2gins

Original Poster:

2,839 posts

161 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I'd be really grateful then if a couple of you chaps could have a peer underneath some time and see what the lowest point clearance is and how far inboard of the wheels (front to rear). I've had a look at lots of chassis porn trying to find the spreader plate, is it a 2-D space-frame type piece mounted to stand slightly off the chassis, just ahead of the rear wheels?

I'm confident the exhausts will be fine, pic 1 shows how it levels out very gradually onto shingle at the bottom.

TheRainMaker

6,302 posts

241 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I could pop over next week if it helps.

ukkid35

6,138 posts

172 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
2gins said:
Thanks for that, useful photo. Do you mean it came off the transporter OK, but driving away afterwards wasn't pretty?
Nothing was easy, but basically Yes. Roll down off straight, then drive back over the hump of the driveway - ouch.

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all


You can see the plates and bolts in this photo.

Mags

1,131 posts

278 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
Where in Surrey? I'm near Gatwick, happy to pop over.

Byker28i

58,819 posts

216 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
2gins said:
I'd be really grateful then if a couple of you chaps could have a peer underneath some time and see what the lowest point clearance is and how far inboard of the wheels (front to rear). I've had a look at lots of chassis porn trying to find the spreader plate, is it a 2-D space-frame type piece mounted to stand slightly off the chassis, just ahead of the rear wheels?

I'm confident the exhausts will be fine, pic 1 shows how it levels out very gradually onto shingle at the bottom.
Front

Rear


Each car may be different, depends on washers on the bolts, the size of bolts used in the seat mountings etc.

Note I have an ACT sports exhaust system. If you have a standard type box at the rear then you'll have less road clearance at the rear as it's a big box under the boot