Help out a fella with a driveway problem
Hi Folks,
I have a client who just moved into a new home with a steep driveway. He can’t get his car into the driveway without scraping the front dam. So I went in with lumber to figure out what mods would be necessary. If it wern’t for the drainage I would think more asphalt is the solution, just change the angle. Photos attached. Solutions? I’m thinking either some sort of welded up ramp ( although snow and rain slippage may be an issue.) Or could this be done with some sort of rubber ramp setup? Ideas?
Thanks, Bruce
Replies
It's amazing the lenghts some
It's amazing the lengths some builders will go to in order to fit a square peg into a round hole.
At any rate it looks like your client bought the wrong house... or owns the wrong car. Probably cheaper (and less hassle) to get a different car. Hopefully they'll let him test drive it to his house.
Water, water...
... with the downspout discharging into that driveway, I gotta wonder where that driveway gutter drains to?
Man when that ices up in the winter time I can see all kinds of potential for water in the garage come spring.
Scraping bottom wouldn't be my big worry.
I like the concrete ramp idea with maybe aluminum bridges over the gutter.
Or a shorter car.
Don't reinvent the wheel...
http://www.landsport.com/Medium%20Duty%20Ramps.htm ( for ideas on what is available)
Get a local welding shop to make one to fit. Bolt it down, remove when no longer required.
wheels may be the answer
maybe he should consider this:
http://www.redline360.com/garage/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/lifted-donk.jpg
Actually, a simple set of adjustable air shocks (and a mating compressor) might do the trick.
I'd consider pouring concrete "ramps" in place of the wood scaffolding you have. Use a piece of thin steel over the grate to support the concrete there.
If you want something less permanent then there's nothing wrong with a slightly more robust version of the wood you have, or a welded steel equivalent. You can, of course, apply some sort of rubber mat over any of these, if you think that would help.
In any event I'd make the ramps 2-3 times wider than your test setup.