JONA Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 Hi, bringing my Chrysler handicapped van down on a move to Lakeside. There has been some question about the ride height of vehicles clearing rough streets or - I call them "speed bumps" to slow traffic speed in places like parking lots. Any idea about how high these things are? Thanks for your help. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 There is no set height for these topes, and there is quite a variety of styles. Some are steel balls embedded in the pavement; some are low, smooth, wide concrete bumps; some are high, short, annoying strips, and some are like "watchout" bumps. You should be fine 90% of the time, but once you determine for yourself what your van can handle, you can have the muffler raised probably a good four inches, like I did in my Buick Allure, at several local shops, for a very small price. Ironically, most of the parking "lots" lakeside have no speed bumps at all... just the highways and neighbourhoods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned small Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 1 hour ago, ComputerGuy said: There is no set height for these topes, and there is quite a variety of styles. Some are steel balls embedded in the pavement; some are low, smooth, wide concrete bumps; some are high, short, annoying strips, and some are like "watchout" bumps. You should be fine 90% of the time, but once you determine for yourself what your van can handle, you can have the muffler raised probably a good four inches, like I did in my Buick Allure, at several local shops, for a very small price. Ironically, most of the parking "lots" lakeside have no speed bumps at all... just the highways and neighbourhoods. Topes[spead bumps] are all over the roads in Mexico except the toll highways. You will find them in every town and overnight as a surprise when somebody decides to open a fruit stand in front of their farm.Only a few will give you trouble with 6 inches of clearance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JONA Posted September 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 Thanks so much for the information. My van is fit to handle my power wheelchair so switching vehicles is not an easy option.Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanMexicali Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 People with extra low clearance vehicles slow down, then stop at topes that they know they will not clear, then slowly drag their vehicle over them with a scrapping sound and some at a 45 degree angle and apparently with no damage to the undercarriage of their vehicles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JONA Posted September 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 If there are some of these road topes 6 inches tall then I'm in trouble.I have a conversion van but the stock height was only 5.4 inches clearance. We can clear the bumps here in North Carolina. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 The only cars I've seen that have trouble with Topes here are very low slung sports cars. Regular cars and vans have no trouble at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted September 19, 2016 Report Share Posted September 19, 2016 You never saw my Buick then... Oh, and check that bump going into the SuperLake parking area: it's so gouged by mufflers, you'd think it was being chiselled at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyfull Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 We gain about an inch and a half by having "high heels" which are actually springs put on our car. I think it was around 500 pesos. They last about 6 months. At least that was our experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hud Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 My problem is the gas tank, and those topes over 12" that I try sideways. 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 We have a 2016 Honda Fit and the road clearance is 5.31". We have had no problem with any tope from Chapala to Jocotepec except the newest one at the entrance to Super Lake Grocery Store. We have to take that one at an angle and very slowly but we don't drag bottom that way. Really don't think you will have a problem with the clearance that you have stated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside7 Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 7 hours ago, JONA said: If there are some of these road topes 6 inches tall then I'm in trouble.I have a conversion van but the stock height was only 5.4 inches clearance. We can clear the bumps here in North Carolina. Jon 7 hours ago, JONA said: Thanks so much for the information. My van is fit to handle my power wheelchair so switching vehicles is not an easy option.Jon I think a bigger issue will be finding suitable parking space to load or unload the wheelchair...Lakeside is very wheel chair unfriendly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hud Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 Mexico is certainly not wheelchair friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lulugirl Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 I don't know why anyone tries that tope getting into SuperLake. I turn at the light by Absolut Fenix & enter that way. Doing that while going west eliminates holding up traffic behind me while I wait to ruin my car on that ridiculous hump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcscats Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 You go across the taller speed bumps at an angle and that works for almost all the topes with most cars. Stow and go where the seats fold down in the floor on Chrysler mini vans tend to hit but most mini vans have no problems as long as you pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cartero Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 It's a combination of clearance and wheelbase. 5.4 on a mini is no problem but as the wheelbase extends you need the angle to shorten the impact. I'd check out lift kits before coming here. While someone had one for 500 pesos I think I paid about 3-thousand usd for a total lift, front and rear, on a jeep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryB Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 I had my Triumph TR4 IRS raised 2.5 inches by the tire shop on the libramiento on the recommendation of my mechanic. They were very careful and the job is unnoticeable. I don't remember the cost but not memorable. No more problems with topes. San Juan Cosola was the worst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned small Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 Friend of mine had an extra leaf put on his ford ranger and nothing on the front. You barely noticed the topes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shmiller Posted September 21, 2016 Report Share Posted September 21, 2016 My, three row, normal, Chrysler mini-van has a hitch on the back for towing so the ground clearance is a bit more shallow. The only problem I've had is backing out of driveways and the hitch hitting the street, which occurs here in Mexico and in the USA as well. I've never had a problem with tope or speed bump clearance even when the van is fully loaded. Hope this helps. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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