1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Darn that low ground clearance

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Marine Ray, Dec 27, 2019.

  1. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2017
    1,138
    939
    0
    Location:
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Today's PP math lesson: low clearance+high centering on a mound of ice=calling a tow truck. Me in Truckee, CA today.

    20191227_140908.jpg
     
    noonm and bisco like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    You're not lowered are you? Not that it's much to begin with.
     
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,686
    6,375
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Where's an urn full of burnt coffee when you need it?
     
    Marine Ray likes this.
  5. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2017
    1,138
    939
    0
    Location:
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    No, not lowered.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2012
    1,150
    741
    0
    Location:
    Lancaster Co PA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    darn.

    looks more of a problem than when i got my Gen3 stuck on wet grass.
    I had to use a tow strap wrapped around a tree pulling with my pathfinder.

    I still praise the Prius(s) as being the most reliable of any car in snow.

    But ice, any car is a non-winner in a battle.
     
    jerrymildred and Marine Ray like this.
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I scraped my bumper on a high curb today :cry:
     
    Data Daedalus and KCWhitney like this.
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    No one would help you with a push:whistle:?

    If you’re passing through Truckee, are you on the west side of the pass now:)?

    Safe travels(y).
     
  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    If it is truly high centered, human foot power is unlikely to push it free. It needs more force than that, or a lift up.

    Hmm. On comparatively hard ice, in a pinch, maybe jack it up, then push it forward off the jack? May repeat a few times until past the high spot?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    If you follow the gradient of the ground and extrapolate, it ain’t that high centered ;).

    I’ve done my fair share of pushing in winter conditions:cool:.

    Good tip about the jack, but given the situation, that jack would be a tough one given the lack of ground clearance:(.
     
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    If that extrapolation told the whole story, then it wouldn't be high centered in the first place.

    When undercarriage crossmembers or protrusions embed themselves in ice or dense snow, resistance to horizontal motion becomes very high. It becomes the same as trying to push or pull a plow blade or anchor through the ground material. Even a couple bolt heads sunk into ice by the pressure can create a strong anchor.

    As have I. Human-powered pushing is for when poor tire traction is the primary issue.

    But when high centered, that tire traction loss is secondary. The primary problem is that much of the 'traction weight' is no longer on the tires, but is shifted to the hidden anchoring protrusions of the undercarriage digging into the high resistance frozen stuff.
     
    Marine Ray likes this.
  12. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2017
    1,138
    939
    0
    Location:
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Thanks for the idea. Considered that option and gave it a shot. She was pretty well high centered and the entire area in front was icey. Besides, gave me a chance to use the roadside assistance from my insurance company :)
     
    fuzzy1, dig4dirt and Raytheeagle like this.
  13. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2017
    1,138
    939
    0
    Location:
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    My apologies. My photo does not do the situation justice. The passenger side was the high centered area. Yes, driver side doesn't look that bad.
     
    fuzzy1 and Raytheeagle like this.
  14. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2017
    1,138
    939
    0
    Location:
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    PS - although not needed (because the tow truck hooked on both sides of the rear suspension), the tow eyelet is located with the jacking package in the charging cable storage area.
     
  15. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    1,074
    707
    0
    Location:
    Washington, the state
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Ray, what tires are on the car? If you have the original 3-seasons, yep, you're stuck. If good snow tires, it looks like a push forward--if there's room to go ahead--or a push back just enough to get it moving--would be worth a try.

    So-called all season tires are pretty much worthless on ice. The new all-weather tires with the winter certification are good on snow but again not much good on ice.
     
  16. Mikhail Bond

    Mikhail Bond Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2019
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Socal
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    see my thread. just added something.
     
  17. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2017
    1,138
    939
    0
    Location:
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The original Nanos. Fortunately the tow truck got me out and no under carriage damage.
     
  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    He noted that the photo doesn't show the real problem, that is on the other side.

    This incident is a high-centering. When it is really high-centered, even great snow tires won't get it out. There simply isn't enough traction weight on the drive wheels, and too much anchoring weight embedding the undercarriage protrusions into the grounded ice.