Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-31-2018, 03:39 AM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1
Default Steep driveway

Steep driveway: I would like to buy a class B but my driveway is so steep but I don’t believe it would clear. The angle at the bottom of my driveway is about 30°. I feel extremely blocked by this situation. I hate to have to keep my RV away from my home. Loading it at the street would be difficult again because my driveway is so steep. I love my house except for my driveway. Any suggestions? Thanks ahead of time.
larryousley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2018, 05:08 AM   #2
Platinum Member
 
rowiebowie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,632
Default

Sounds like your options are very limited. Maybe a short "b" with a lift kit or 4wd? A 19" Promaster Carado or similar? But you have a very big obstacle to overcome.

The 30 degrees is a problem, but also you need to factor your angles (approach, departure, and break-over) for any vehicle you consider.

.
rowiebowie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2018, 05:32 AM   #3
Silver Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Mendocino County, CA
Posts: 58
Default

Bought my new 22' Paseo in August, and realized it was low, but I didn't realize how low. It drags on even a slight dip. The first thing was to install drag wheels on the hitch frame, and that helps, but I still have to cross many driveways at an angle. Why Ford put 16' tires on the Transit, who knows. Maybe it was intended as mostly for deliveries around town? So you have to find a short B with reasonable clearance, like Winnebago's new 4-wheel drive Revel, but expect to pay big $.
Alec
Alec is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2018, 12:00 PM   #4
Silver Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 61
Default

The folks at the FitRV made a video that shows how to measure the angle of departure on a vehicle. It shows them measuring their Promaster. :
https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/mea...gle-of-our-rv/
fruch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2018, 04:46 PM   #5
Platinum Member
 
BillsPaseo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: WA
Posts: 259
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alec View Post
Bought my new 22' Paseo in August, and realized it was low, but I didn't realize how low. It drags on even a slight dip. The first thing was to install drag wheels on the hitch frame, and that helps, but I still have to cross many driveways at an angle. Why Ford put 16' tires on the Transit, who knows. Maybe it was intended as mostly for deliveries around town? So you have to find a short B with reasonable clearance, like Winnebago's new 4-wheel drive Revel, but expect to pay big $.
Alec
Alec, we had the same problem with our Paseo. To fix it, we added SuperSprings helper springs and SumoSprings bumpstop replacements. This combination added almost 2" of clearance at the hitch. I am also planning to install 215/85R16 tires which will add another inch of clearance both front and rear.

The suspension changes do more than just add clearance, they reduce sway, which helps a lot with the transfer of weight from front to rear that happens as you drive through a dip and aggravates that rear overhang.

I did the install myself in the driveway using a 3.5 ton floor jack and 3 3.5 ton jackstands. Took about 3 hours total, including getting out the tools and putting them away afterwards.
__________________
2017 Winnebago Paseo
BillsPaseo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2018, 08:05 PM   #6
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 449
Default

Any option to modify your driveway? maybe carve out a level parking spot adjacent to the entry end of the drive and park the van there?

Apart though from the angle of the drive, you may wish to check local bylaws about parking RV's on your property - our city for example permits it in the summer months but not in winter months. Although I was told "off the record" by a bylaw officer that teh bylaw is only enforced if a neighbour complains!
<<B-Guy>> is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2019, 03:57 PM   #7
Platinum Member
 
kite_rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: OR
Posts: 116
Default

Like others have already suggested; check out the Carado Axion. aT 17' 9", it's one of the shortest Class B's you can buy. Like you, I *really* want to have my van in the garage. For me, it's my daily driver that happens to be a camper.

Van life with a steep driveway doesn't come easy! I had to change out my 8' door with a 10' door and I re-located the city water and shore power connections that were mounted below the van (they would scrape if I didn't enter the driveway at an angle).
Attached Images
File Type: jpg driveway.jpg (179.9 KB, 21 views)
__________________
__________________________________________
2017 Carado (Hymer) Axion. 136" HT Promaster V6 Gas.
Previous: 02 VW Eurovan Camper, 99 Eurovan Camper, 86 VW Westfalia Full Camper, 82 VW Westfalia Full Camper (All VW's well used and sold at a PROFIT!)
kite_rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2019, 12:38 AM   #8
Silver Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Mendocino County, CA
Posts: 58
Default

Bill, will the 215 tires mess up the speedometer?
Alec is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2019, 12:47 AM   #9
Platinum Member
 
BillsPaseo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: WA
Posts: 259
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alec View Post
Bill, will the 215 tires mess up the speedometer?
Yes, the difference in tire size is 6.67% which means at any given speed my speedometer will register low by that percentage. So if my speedometer says I'm going 65 MPH, I'm actually going 69.4 MPH. And if it says 35 MPH, I'm actually going 37.3 MPH. Keeping those two numbers in mind should keep me from getting any speeding tickets.

It also means the gas mileage shown by the computer will be off by that percentage. So if the display reads 12 MPG, I'm actually getting 12.8 MPG.
__________________
2017 Winnebago Paseo
BillsPaseo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2019, 01:05 PM   #10
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 11,918
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kite_rider View Post
Like others have already suggested; check out the Carado Axion. aT 17' 9", it's one of the shortest Class B's you can buy. Like you, I *really* want to have my van in the garage. For me, it's my daily driver that happens to be a camper.

Van life with a steep driveway doesn't come easy! I had to change out my 8' door with a 10' door and I re-located the city water and shore power connections that were mounted below the van (they would scrape if I didn't enter the driveway at an angle).

Gotta hate the tough driveways an the downslopers are the worst as they high center you.



With that kind of slope toward the garage, how do you keep the water out? In the south trough drains work well, but I see snow in the pic, and at least here in Minnesota, they freeze up right away in the winter.
booster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2019, 04:51 PM   #11
Silver Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Mendocino County, CA
Posts: 58
Default

Bill, check this out for adjusting the speedometer.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...g-speedometer/
Alec is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2019, 05:18 PM   #12
Platinum Member
 
BillsPaseo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: WA
Posts: 259
Default

Good idea! I have one of these on my motorcycle, because I changed the gear ratio, but hadn't thought of doing this on the van.
__________________
2017 Winnebago Paseo
BillsPaseo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2019, 05:40 PM   #13
Platinum Member
 
kite_rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: OR
Posts: 116
Default

Yep, downslopers are 'no bueno' ... It gets real interesting if the driveway gets icy since you are going straight into the house on a slide! This one is heated, but I rarely turn on the heaters since they burn a lot of power.

For drainage, there is a trough drain and though there is frequently snow on the ground the temps tend to stay high enough to keep the drain from freezing. If it gets that cold, there would be no water running around anyway; it's all frozen!


I need to install gutters though, the sunshine melts snow off the roof in the day and occasionally those water drops will freeze on the driveway at night.
__________________
__________________________________________
2017 Carado (Hymer) Axion. 136" HT Promaster V6 Gas.
Previous: 02 VW Eurovan Camper, 99 Eurovan Camper, 86 VW Westfalia Full Camper, 82 VW Westfalia Full Camper (All VW's well used and sold at a PROFIT!)
kite_rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT. The time now is 08:36 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.