Ground Clearance

**Tideland Prius** · 02-27-2005, 12:50 PM

I heard the ground clearance for the Prius is 5" or thereabouts. I have a question. Is that too low? or was it I just happened to go over something that was too high?

Here's the situation:

I was entering the N. Parkade of my university. Some crew were working on pipes and they had one running across the road leading to the entrance and across the road on the exit side. They had a nice yellow hump to cover the pipe. I had a full load of people. So I slowly go over and then a loud scraping noise could be heard after the front wheels cleared the ramp

. So I figured it must be because I had 3 people in the backseat that compressed the rear suspension. So on the way out, the others decided that I should clear that yellow hump over the pipe before they get it. So I did, slowly.... then <scrap>. So, we've concluded it wasn't because I had 3 people in the back but that the car is too low and or the wheelbase is too long for its height (or the hump is too high although I saw a MINI Cooper S clear it)

V8Cobrakid · 02-27-2005, 01:45 PM

a fair amount of cars have this groun clearance. the pipe was in a bad spot. a good portion of luxury cars wouldn't be able to make it over it. the mini does have a smaller wheel base though. *shrug*

Frank Hudon · 02-27-2005, 01:46 PM

5" of GC on this WB doesn't provide much breakout angle. The Mini with the shorter WB will have a greater BO angle. 3 in the back won't help but I'd plan on another enterance/exit.

jayman · 02-27-2005, 02:13 PM

I few times I've had those "mud" flaps catch on a pothole or a sharp driveway approach.

Especially if you transition from a pickup or an SUV, it's important to keep in mind that any car will be much more sensitive to road obstacles.

I checked the bottom of the parking ramp at my condo and there are plenty of scrapes where cars have bottomed out. Sometimes you'll see sparks if somebody hits the ramp (Going up or driving in) going too fast.

**Tideland Prius** · 02-27-2005, 03:49 PM

Frank, that hump over that pipe was temporary when they were fixing whatever they were fixing at the side of the road. There is only one road leading to/from the parkade.

Hmm, yeah so it is the wheelbase vs. ground clearance factor.

lscritch · 02-27-2005, 03:56 PM

Frank,

Please explain the term "breakout angle."

Frank Hudon · 02-27-2005, 05:40 PM

break in angle refers to the angle between the center of the axle at the bottom of the tire and the front lowest part of the bumper/valance panel and break out is from the same spot on the ground and the lowest part of the body of the car so that would be the front lower lip of the reat wheel arch. On the rear wheel it's the angle from the ground under the axle center to the front wheel rear arch and breakout is to the rear bumper or valance panel. Have a look at a picture of a H1 Hummer and you'll see great break in and out angles, and the person who owns it pumping fuel into it mind you. This will be why the Mini got over the bump and Prius didn't. Tideland, one other thing you could try is to cross it at and angle, that sometimes helps.

**Tideland Prius** · 02-27-2005, 09:14 PM

alright! I'll try that the next time I come across a hump that seems a little high.

rick57 · 02-27-2005, 09:29 PM

Just fyi, I checked and the minimum ground clearance is 5.6 inches or 142 mm. Just an interesting tidbit. 8)

**Tideland Prius** · 02-27-2005, 09:54 PM

oh? that was one hell of a tall hump I went over. Interesting. Thanks Rick

02-27-2005, 12:50 PM	#1
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,176 Times in 849 Posts Friends: 31	Ground Clearance I heard the ground clearance for the Prius is 5" or thereabouts. I have a question. Is that too low? or was it I just happened to go over something that was too high? Here's the situation: I was entering the N. Parkade of my university. Some crew were working on pipes and they had one running across the road leading to the entrance and across the road on the exit side. They had a nice yellow hump to cover the pipe. I had a full load of people. So I slowly go over and then a loud scraping noise could be heard after the front wheels cleared the ramp . So I figured it must be because I had 3 people in the backseat that compressed the rear suspension. So on the way out, the others decided that I should clear that yellow hump over the pipe before they get it. So I did, slowly.... then <scrap>. So, we've concluded it wasn't because I had 3 people in the back but that the car is too low and or the wheelbase is too long for its height (or the hump is too high although I saw a MINI Cooper S clear it) __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package 25/10/04 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Kit, LED lights 2008 Deep Black smart fortwo passion coupé - sold (6.1L/100km) 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Technology Package 29/08/09 OEM All-Weather Mats, Homemade Console Pads, LED lights, 5000K HID, OEM Fogs, Euro Mudguards, OEM Cargo Mat, Heatshield "Ask an Expert" on Facebook I am not employed by Toyota, and the opinions expressed by me as a Prius Expert are not those of Toyota.

02-27-2005, 02:13 PM	#4
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 13,430 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 220 Thanked 581 Times in 449 Posts Friends: 16	Re: Ground Clearance I few times I've had those "mud" flaps catch on a pothole or a sharp driveway approach. Especially if you transition from a pickup or an SUV, it's important to keep in mind that any car will be much more sensitive to road obstacles. I checked the bottom of the parking ramp at my condo and there are plenty of scrapes where cars have bottomed out. Sometimes you'll see sparks if somebody hits the ramp (Going up or driving in) going too fast.

02-27-2005, 03:56 PM	#6
lscritch Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Reno NV Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Ground Clearance Frank, Please explain the term "breakout angle."

02-27-2005, 05:40 PM	#7
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,146 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	break in angle refers to the angle between the center of the axle at the bottom of the tire and the front lowest part of the bumper/valance panel and break out is from the same spot on the ground and the lowest part of the body of the car so that would be the front lower lip of the reat wheel arch. On the rear wheel it's the angle from the ground under the axle center to the front wheel rear arch and breakout is to the rear bumper or valance panel. Have a look at a picture of a H1 Hummer and you'll see great break in and out angles, and the person who owns it pumping fuel into it mind you. This will be why the Mini got over the bump and Prius didn't. Tideland, one other thing you could try is to cross it at and angle, that sometimes helps. __________________ You can quote me on this, People who drive vehicles that idle at a traffic light, are idiots. mine 2k3 avg. 5.36 for 46,915Km Best tank 4.4L per 100K 64.2 Imperial 53.4 U.S. gallon, MiniScanner, SilverStars, block heater, winter lips, in as of Oct 15, out on April 25. In again on Sept. 21st. her's 2k4 "B" avg. 6.01 for 42,317 Km Best tank 4.02L per 100K, CAN-view with OBD11 module and flashloader, SilverStars, 06 Chrome grill bar, Michelin HydroEdge, upper and lower grill blocker,upper out as of April 7, lower out on April 28. In again on Sept 21st.

02-27-2005, 09:29 PM	#9
rick57 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Circleville, Ohio Posts: 567 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Ground Clearance Just fyi, I checked and the minimum ground clearance is 5.6 inches or 142 mm. Just an interesting tidbit. 8)

02-27-2005, 01:45 PM	#2
V8Cobrakid Green Handyman Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A Posts: 3,701 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 36 Thanked 109 Times in 102 Posts Friends: 6	a fair amount of cars have this groun clearance. the pipe was in a bad spot. a good portion of luxury cars wouldn't be able to make it over it. the mini does have a smaller wheel base though. shrug

02-27-2005, 01:46 PM	#3
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,146 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	5" of GC on this WB doesn't provide much breakout angle. The Mini with the shorter WB will have a greater BO angle. 3 in the back won't help but I'd plan on another enterance/exit.

02-27-2005, 03:49 PM	#5
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,176 Times in 849 Posts Friends: 31	Frank, that hump over that pipe was temporary when they were fixing whatever they were fixing at the side of the road. There is only one road leading to/from the parkade. Hmm, yeah so it is the wheelbase vs. ground clearance factor.

02-27-2005, 09:14 PM	#8
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,176 Times in 849 Posts Friends: 31	alright! I'll try that the next time I come across a hump that seems a little high.

02-27-2005, 09:54 PM	#10
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,176 Times in 849 Posts Friends: 31	oh? that was one hell of a tall hump I went over. Interesting. Thanks Rick

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