There is definitely a dip at the bottom, and then it angles steeply up. I’m contemplating putting I heated cables to keep snow and ice off the driveway. To give you a sense of how steep, here are some photos on love in day taken from the house.
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Model Y steep driveway
- Thread starter Dreaming3orY
- Start date
Here’s some photos to give a sense taken from the house looking down at the driveway. Maybe I was over estimating the angle- my husband says 45 degrees is nuts. But it feels like that to me!
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Johnny Vector
Member
Yes, roads and things look much steeper than they are. I first noticed this as a teen the first time I skied up to the top of Lower Hades at the Purgatory ski resort, and said to my dad "It's straight down!! We'll die!!" Course now you can look at it on Google Earth (remember to turn off vertical exaggeration), and see that it's actually about 30° (which works out to a 58% grade). If you have to drive up or ski down, even 30° is wicked steep!
Did that moving van make it up your driveway? I ask because at my house, the moving truck couldn't make it up my driveway, becuase it hit the rear bumper on our driveway... But with that being said, our Y has no problems at all making it up our driveway... Hell, even my lowered Infiniti makes it up just fine. It's all on the approach of the driveway
Your driveway's entrance seems a bit limited/narrow as far as approach angle goes, but it looks like if push came to shove, you can remove that small retaining wall with the dirt on the side that the moving truck is on, in the first picture, then regrade that section to make it so you can pull into where that truck is, and then use that as the approach to get up the main section of your driveway.
I was amazed but the truck did get up the driveway. They were a lot more badass than I can ever dream to be. I think at the bottom of the drive the issue is clearance. The truck had to have a lot more clearance than the Model Y has (I think ground clean is something like 6.5 inches?).Did that moving van make it up your driveway? I ask because at my house, the moving truck couldn't make it up my driveway, becuase it hit the rear bumper on our driveway... But with that being said, our Y has no problems at all making it up our driveway... Hell, even my lowered Infiniti makes it up just fine. It's all on the approach of the driveway
Your driveway's entrance seems a bit limited/narrow as far as approach angle goes, but it looks like if push came to shove, you can remove that small retaining wall with the dirt on the side that the moving truck is on, in the first picture, then regrade that section to make it so you can pull into where that truck is, and then use that as the approach to get up the main section of your driveway.
so concerned about it bottoming out at the entrance, and of course falling off the driveway once it’s up there. I guess I could get some wheel chucks (I think that’s what they are called) for parking on the driveway, but I’ll legit cry if my beautiful new model y scrapes the bottom as it goes up. Perhaps it’s all in the approach like you said- I’ll have to test it with my Volvo and see if approach changes it- the few times I’ve tried, I bottomed out, then just gave up and parked on the street.
Maybe? I guess with a rear view camera. Why would that help? Will it be less likely to bottom out? Or less likely to slide down the drive?
Alex, thanks for this. Makes me nervous, there is no way I’d NOT be parked on a slope. But it seems like the winter tires might help too.
Ok you make an awesome point. In my mind it was that step but your pictures are great to show it’s just my anxiety. It’s still steep enough that local sanitation won’t walk up the driveway, and cars all bottom out when going up.
This is really a great demo. The wheel is completely off the road! I don’t think my drive is that steep all at once. Makes me think at the right angle I can get up the driveway…just not sure how to keep it there. Thank you so much for posting this.
I think you’re right! I just feel like I am waaaay angled up on this driveway. It was probably built long before there were lots of codes. It’s a rural area along a private road. But I agree, seeing these responses it has to be closer to the 15 to 18%. It’s still an issue for bottoming out and for staying on the driveway.
The back bumper is up on an angle vs the front which is flat and low.
Sure thing! I thought it was a great demo, because at that tip-over point, it briefly has TWO wheels without traction. That channel has run the same test with a number of different vehicles, and even the Subaru (who are well known for their AWD systems) struggled once two wheels were slipping. Aside from the ground clearance limitations, the Tesla basically made it look effortless.
I have to laugh. My husband sent me this picture, and it probably proves I’m overthinking this. I still think bottoming out at the bottom might happen.
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thesmokingman
Active Member
That's not really apt to compare them that way because a viscous system needs slip to initiate where an open system using electronic diffs which is simply TC via brakes, can detect slip much faster and respond in milliseconds.Sure thing! I thought it was a great demo, because at that tip-over point, it briefly has TWO wheels without traction. That channel has run the same test with a number of different vehicles, and even the Subaru (who are well known for their AWD systems) struggled once two wheels were slipping. Aside from the ground clearance limitations, the Tesla basically made it look effortless.
@OP, don't even worry, A Tesla will not have any problem, max traction pus ludicrous torque....
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Understood that they are fundamentally different.
But look at how the Crosstrek did here...It's more than just needing some slip to activate - the Subaru had fifteen seconds of wheelspin (plus driver steering inputs to help find grip) before it finally made it over the crest. Apples to oranges under the hood doesn't really matter as much when the outcome is so dominant...
(Starts at about 3:24)
I'm having a minor scraping problem somewhere on the passenger front side when entering my driveway (left turn to go up).
Been trying to play around with the entrance angles but have not yet figured it out. Backing out I don't seem to scrape at all, with a clockwise turn of the wheel when near the end backing out.
Anyone have any tips?
Been trying to play around with the entrance angles but have not yet figured it out. Backing out I don't seem to scrape at all, with a clockwise turn of the wheel when near the end backing out.
Anyone have any tips?
leaftoy
Member
Are you actually scraping or it is just wheelspin? I have a similar problem. Our driveway is no where close to what OP's driveway is, but I hear something that feels like wheel spin when I make a right from the road up the driveway. Making a left turn into the driveway, no issues. Reversing right or left no issues. Just the right turn that has some wheelspin. And it is only in the Y. Seems like something is not right with awd programming. I brought this up during a service visit, but the tech who took it on the test drive could not reproduce the problem (of course).
No other car or crossover ever has had any issues going up the driveway (well sedans need to approach it from an angle to avoid scraping and also exit at an angle).
I've got a healthy slope on my driveway with a short flat spot right before the garage. This winter we got back home to 4~6" of snow on it. I typically back in to charge my MY, so I proceeded as usual. By the time I got to near the top, the snow built up and I couldnt quite get to the flat spot. My wife got out, I let the dogs out via the back driver's side door... walked around the back, got the baby out of the back passanger door... upon closing the door the car broke free and slid down the entire driveway bobsled style into the road and came to a stop without hitting anything/anyone... all while I'm still holding my kid.
Not sure I could have had time to put tire blocks down, nor if they would have stopped the slide
Not sure I could have had time to put tire blocks down, nor if they would have stopped the slide
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