Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Sleeping Policemen

During a long trip last weekend I was facing again a lot of sleeping policemen. I would like to ask you as the more expierenced Morgan driver whether somebody has something like a ground distance control. I have the new plus 4 and the ground clearance is very limited.

I am looking for a simple solution that shows me if there is enough ground clearance. As a matter of course I am passing those critical situations with very slow speed.

I am very interested in your ideas

Long time ago someone told me that's exactly the purpose of sleeping policemen

Ini I just drive over them carefully placing one front wheel usually off side wheel over the bump making sure the other wheel is on the road this does raise the car over the bump so the sump does not hit it!

My duratec plus 4 has good ground clearance but I'm still very careful to avoid driving over the centre of those pyramid type mountains. Duratec and Gdi type engines have similar clearances don't they ?

These sleeping policemen are concerning - with little 'Mogan experience' when faced with these I tend to drive over them ridiculously slowly with left hand wheels going over the hump. My thought is to avoid sump/gearbox cross member contact (as Roger) but with the Plus 4 GDI the exhaust on right (off side) is also very low so keeping this side away from the hump avoids potential exhaust contact. Difficulty is that some of them are difficult to spot.

Interested to hear if anyone has had a problem with these or have we unnecessary concern?

Sleeping policemen are the devils work

I usually wait for an opportunity to drive over both humps together, leaving the sump above normal road level in the middle. Of course, this is very much dependent on how much other traffic is about. To my mind, a much better solution is the 'plateau' type speed hump, where the whole width of road is raised then dropped after a few yards- effective but less problematic. Gerry.

Torsten
Agree the GDI has insufficient ground clearance, much less than my previous 4/4s, but the factory aren't prepared to accept there is an issue.
Check the gearbox mount under the car and see if the two retaining bolts are hanging down, they will be obvious if they are. I had mine ground off back to the locking nut and that gave me about 2 cm of extra ground clearance in the centre of the car which was exactly where it used to ground on speed humps. You will still need to be careful but should be much improved. I have grounded the front chassis cross member occasionally but it was the gearbox mounts that caused the real problem.
Haven't had an issue with the exhaust but then, as we know, the hand built nature of the cars tends to manifest itself in ways that are unique to our own cars.

Anyone who has a Series 2 Roadster will understand that Sleeping Policemen are a clear and present danger. The Plus 8 has almost "normal" ground clearance, in comparison.

My approach depnds on the type.

For the "pillow" type, which has a clear section at curb and centre I do as others suggest, place the car so that the centre gap is utilised, and then drive over slowly.

For the "table" type which in Wiltshire are a car length long a slow approach is all that is needed.

For the "Bump" type, which are mostly 30 to 40cm wide and 8 cm high a very slow speed is vital, 5mph or so.

Be very happy you are not driving in India: every roundabout on the main roads has a series of what they call "speed brakers" before the junction. They are more like "neck brakers"... Bumps

Being the owner of a 3.0 Roadster I approach all speed bumps with trepidation! Even though I have a Mulfab sump fitted, the engine still sits low, and if the sump doesn't hit, the bottom of the bell housing does, often followed by the gearbox crossmember.

I'm interested in the comparison between the Duratec and the GDI ground clearance as I'm considering a narrow bodied version. The 75th Anniversary models are in short supply...canny owners like DaveW hanging on to them...so it may have to be a GDI.