Ground clearance question?

Ground clearance question?

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traxx

Original Poster:

3,143 posts

223 months

Thursday 19th October 2006
quotequote all
I know I've seen this question before
I'm trying to agree a drive incline on my new house with the builder

Anyone know what the maximum incline of drive that a Gallardo/430/LP640 can get over?

ie would the car be able to get over a 1 in 9 onto flat?

EIH

156 posts

212 months

Friday 20th October 2006
quotequote all
Hi Traxx

How would you work out what an existing driveway is on your scale? as in 1 in 9.

Lamborghini brought a new gallardo down to my house to see if it would clear mine and it did, just, so this would be about as close as i reckon you can go. Just don't know how to tell you what it is!

Sorry for the really helpful post!

rico

7,916 posts

256 months

Friday 20th October 2006
quotequote all
If you work out your approach and departure angles like they do for 4x4s offroad, this will give you the angle you need.

Sit the G on level ground (or use a sideon photo), then work out the angle at the front and back of the car, this should give you the maximum angle you can work with. So draw a line from the start of the tyre up to the bumper.

Sorry I don't know the exact answer, but thats how to work it out

PJAC67

2,040 posts

253 months

Friday 20th October 2006
quotequote all
Be careful! My mates driveway must be 1:4 and he has no problem with his 612 or 360 (swapping for a Gallardo this week!), however, my old man's driveway (maybe 1:6) had to be resurfaced 'cos his LS430 was grounding at rear.
Why? - Length of car overhang coupled with how the drive meets the change in surface gradient (ie road/top of your drive) - the more gradual the better.
Hope this is of some use.
Paul.

crikeymikey

1,093 posts

218 months

Friday 20th October 2006
quotequote all
As much as it embarrasses me to admit this, I actually made a wooden jig.

Using the wheel base and front to rear (between the wheel) ground clearances I mocked up the Gallardo's clearance, including front overhang. I then walked to the local speed bumps with this makeshift reference and physically checked that the car would clear the bumps, and get on and off my drive.

It sounds a bit naff but it did work, and only took about an hour. And there was no margin for error so I had full confidence in it.

How are your carpentry skills, D? laugh

traxx

Original Poster:

3,143 posts

223 months

Friday 20th October 2006
quotequote all
crikeymikey said:

How are your carpentry skills, D? laugh


The issue is that I can get whatever drive I want (within limitations) but lower angles will require moving more earth (so cost more)

Woodwork is a non-starter

Think I'll measure the hight of the front lap and distance to the tyre to get the answer

graeme73s

7,035 posts

218 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
quotequote all
Personally I would make it as low as possible. You don't know what you might want to buy next or what mates might want to pop round. When I did mine I had it laid as low as possible and had the kerb stones dropped. Although we live in a quite side road it is quite cambered. The SV just clears the drive as long as you go in on full lock.

Jonny5

3,526 posts

275 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
quotequote all

Good point Graeme, so base that on a Diablo GT/Zonda F/Enzo D

traxx

Original Poster:

3,143 posts

223 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
quotequote all
Jonny5 said:

Good point Graeme, so base that on a Diablo GT/Zonda F/Enzo D


Enzo has a lifting system

Jonny5

3,526 posts

275 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
quotequote all
traxx said:
Jonny5 said:

Good point Graeme, so base that on a Diablo GT/Zonda F/Enzo D


Enzo has a lifting system


When I was as Porsche Silverstone they had a guy arrive in an Enzo who could only get up the gentle incline at a 45 degree angle with lifting system up eek

graeme73s

7,035 posts

218 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
quotequote all
thanks jonny, a mate from Doncaster has a 512M and same problem full lock it just clears. My advice think about the future. There's a chap on the Porsche forum who is struggling to get his 993 up his drive to his new house and is scraping both the front and rear end. Its a lot cheaper to do it now than re do it later.

traxx

Original Poster:

3,143 posts

223 months

Saturday 21st October 2006
quotequote all
The problem for me is that the new house sits quite a bit lower than the access point on the road (2.5 meters).

The current drive design is for a constant 1 in 9
This sounds like it should work (just) for the Gallardo and 430 but no chance of me ever getting a Zonda

This was the 430 info I got off someone on FChat:
I had some issues with my garage entrance when I first got my F430 and I had a suitable ramp made in order not to ground her.
The F430 measurements are as follows:
- From center of front wheel to the front of car is 40"
- From ground to bottom of front lip is 5"
I had a concrete ramp made for my garage which leaves just less than 1" clearance between the bottom of the F430 bumper and the ramp surface while driving in. The measurements of that ramp were as follows:
- Horizontal length: 50"
- Vertical height @ 50": 7"
From these two measurements you can draw the slope.