Need something to prevent car from bottoming out into driveway. Metal plate? Something else?

[clay]

Our driveway slopes away from the street, and the top of the driveway that meets the curb cut from the street is a high point. For cars that sit a little lower, it can cause them to bottom out and scrape a bit, especially when loaded down or if they go over the highest peak.

I'd like to install something to smooth out the peaks and valley a bit, so there's less chance of cars scraping. I talked with a local metal fabrication shop and they can make something that includes basically a 18" x 8' sheet of metal with several simple supports below. In the graphic below, the metal plate would span the distance between the "1" and "2" spots. The quick cost estimate for something like that (materials and labor) was for $200-$300. I'll do that, but thought it would be worth checking the collective wisdom here for any other ideas that may either be just as long-lasting/durable but possibly less expensive. Having a contractor to redo the driveway entrance is likely far more expensive than a $300 retrofit of metal apparatus, so I'm not really considering that at this point.

Here's a very rough and exaggerated sketch of the situation. The red lines are simply to indicate transitions to and from asphalt to concrete and back to asphalt.

[Acer]

I like the metal plate idea. Will there be a need or way to pin it down so it does not creep?

[OWC Jamie]

They =make rubber gutter bridges that are oh so common in some neighborhoods to fit in those gutters - if that's a standard gutter and not just some oddball apron grade. A metal bridge will serve the same purpose.

A snow plow might catch on it an rip it out though.

[srf1957]

If the valley is to keep water flowing down the road . Instead of into your property. You need to use expanded metal for your bridge.

[Rain]

I have the frame savers and rocker rails for that sort of thing. With a low vehicle, even speed bumps can be an issue. There may be such products for your vehicle.

http://www.aacorvette.com/performance/in...oduct_info&products_id=89&zenid=ocb3mf3uli87a8cm9er3dpnh07

[OWC Jamie]

You could also modify your ride.

[space-time]

billb wrote:
You could also modify your ride.

I like this idea, especially if it comes with this driver.

[Speedy]

You would probably have to help her up to the cab.

[mattkime]

a landscaping problem should have a landscaping solution - but $300 sounds like a good deal.

[clay]

Acer wrote:
I like the metal plate idea. Will there be a need or way to pin it down so it does not creep?

I can't imagine it will creep very quickly...that sucker would be heavy! At least not quickly enough that I wouldn't notice and be able to adjust it. I can't imagine a good way to pin it down without making a significant effort.