# Ran my car over a concrete parking block **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 26, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091 "2018-11-26T01:52:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/41 "2018-11-27T18:30:42Z")
What a stupid ass thing to d------What, My Beloved? I did what? When? _Oh, yeh_-------as I saying, mistakes like that happen all the time, so there is really no need to feel embarrassed about it. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/42 "2018-11-27T18:31:41Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > My wife did this in her Toyota Yaris hatchback like 5 years ago. That didn’t weigh much more than a Smart Car. Just me and a random guy walking down the sidewalk were able to lift it up and push it off. You don’t need to lift the entire thing off the ground, you only need to get it high enough to roll over the concrete block. What’s with these little cars? When I was a teen, I managed to drive my Gran Torino over a similar kind of cement obstacle while parking on the grass by a packed restaurant for a Christmas dinner for work. The guys razzed me about it quite a bit during dinner, but as we were leaving one of the guys did a deadlift of the stuck corner of the car enough for me to back out, saving a tow truck. That was an impressive lift. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/43 "2018-11-27T19:15:26Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I’m trying to envision exactly what happened. Do you mean one of these (a taller one)? > > [meaning - Name for the bumper at the end of a parking spot - is it a "turtarrier"? If so, why? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/180064/name-for-the-bumper-at-the-end-of-a-parking-spot-is-it-a-turtarrier-if-so) > > You drove the front wheels over it, and the middle of the car is now sitting on it? Yes, exactly that. But my SmartCar is too low-slung and weakly powered to get itself off of the block that is now sitting underneath it, and I don’t dare scrape or bang the undercarriage further. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/44 "2018-11-27T19:20:09Z")
I do wonder why they need to be tall enough to ground you, as they often are. It seems to me that the kind in the photo I linked would do the job, and not risk damage to a car. Is it to protect pedestrians or something? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/45 "2018-11-27T19:48:08Z")
I doubt there is a standard size requirement for parking blocks. I have seen a bunch of cars with scrapes on the plastic piece under the front bumper. Even some cracked ones. They are a menace, these things. We should revolt. OP have you got the car home yet? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/46 "2018-11-27T20:11:02Z")
Well, sometimes they are between the parking space and a sidewalk, often a sidewalk across the lot that is not raised. In that case, I think potential damage to a car is superseded by physically stopping a car that might (say) inadvertently be put in the wrong gear and hit a pedestrian. But often they aren’t in those positions. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/47 "2018-11-27T20:48:11Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I doubt there is a standard size requirement for parking blocks. I have seen a bunch of cars with scrapes on the plastic piece under the front bumper. Even some cracked ones. They are a menace, these things. We should revolt. OP have you got the car home yet? Not yet. Busy with stuff tonight and I will have to get AAA tomorrow, but pretty much everything I need to do (shopping, etc.) is within walking distance so it’s no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/48 "2018-11-27T21:03:34Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Not yet. Busy with stuff tonight and I will have to get AAA tomorrow, but pretty much everything I need to do (shopping, etc.) is within walking distance so it’s no problem. I’d see if you can get a couple of guys in the shopping center to lift it for you. AAA will get it off, but will most likely drag it off possibly creating (more) damage to the undercarriage. Throw a couple of $10 bills in your pocket before you go as incentives to help you out. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/49 "2018-11-27T21:26:57Z")
Take pictures and post it on You-tube. Msybe it’ll go viral. That would be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/50 "2018-11-27T21:43:44Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > As long as you don’t care what that does to the paint on your tailgate… That truck I had bought used and some prior owner had already done horrible things to the tailgate. The most recent time I did this I was close enough to home to get some wood… My current truck is NICE. > [@Velocity](#): > > Not yet. Busy with stuff tonight and I will have to get AAA tomorrow, but pretty much everything I need to do (shopping, etc.) is within walking distance so it’s no problem. Seriously, consider jacking it up and building a support structure under it so you can lower it back down and then drive it off. You can order “Trailer Leveling Blocks” from Wal-Mart for ~$30 which are LEGO like plastic blocks meant to hold the weight of RVs. Jack the car front up(probably using a lifting point underneath the door, as long as you get the jack under the frame you’re almost certainly fine), until it’s a little higher than the top of the cement, put the blocks down under the tire. Then back the car up, VERY SLOWLY, until it’s parked on top of the concrete. Maybe have a friend spot this alignment for you. Get your brakes set, get out again, move your blocks now that you’re not on them. Put 2/3 of them right up against the concrete behind the wheels, and another 1/3 of them behind that set, so you’ve got two steps down. That keeps your front end off the top of that concrete and doing more damage by falling the whole distance in one go. If you just let it fall it’ll compress your suspension and bottom out on the concrete. Going slow down multiple steps lets your suspension stay fully extended and keeps your bumper/underbody spoiler off the concrete. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/51 "2018-11-27T21:53:29Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Not yet. Busy with stuff tonight and I will have to get AAA tomorrow, but pretty much everything I need to do (shopping, etc.) is within walking distance so it’s no problem. I’m a bit fascinated that someone is so lackadaisical about getting their car unstuck. Outside of summer camping / backpacking trips, I use my vehicle almost every day. If it were stuck / disabled, getting it back in working condition would be a high priority for me. It’s not that I’m unaware that some people drive very little / not at all, it’s just … interesting to see second-hand. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/52 "2018-11-27T22:01:01Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Take pictures and post it on You-tube. Msybe it’ll go viral. That would be fun. Are flashmobs still a thing? A flashmob of a whole crowd of people to show up and lift a car up (and do a little dance) would be fun. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/53 "2018-11-27T23:07:24Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Where’s the hunky bystanders when you need 'em? Also standing by. Although I am a bit ugly & a touch intimidating, I am here for you. I lift the front end of my VW Baja up while my friend shoves a block of wood under the skid plate to hold it up. I often do this to save the time it takes to jack it up with the jack. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/54 "2018-11-27T23:26:35Z")
I am so glad there are helpful folks in the world. Next time I am stuck I’ll drop y’all a line. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/55 "2018-11-28T02:40:33Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Not yet. Busy with stuff tonight and I will have to get AAA tomorrow, but pretty much everything I need to do (shopping, etc.) is within walking distance so it’s no problem. I really wouldn’t want them dragging it up and over the concrete. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/56 "2018-11-28T02:49:52Z")
Well if you’re going to wait, you might a well wait until there is a good snow, then pretend there was no way you would have been able to see the block under thr snow. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/57 "2018-11-28T02:56:25Z")
Just a thought, but given how small the car is, have you tried standing outside the car with the door open, so your weight’s off the suspension, reaching in to try to drive it off? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/58 "2018-11-28T03:09:32Z")
**Velocity** - the gang is right. Get some folks to help you, or do the lift and counter balance onto the ramp thing. I am curious where this is stuck. Why hasn’t someone been after you to move it? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/59 "2018-11-28T03:16:27Z")
Are people standing around looking at it? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091/60 "2018-11-28T12:30:29Z")
Any of your friends have access to a heavy-lift helicopter? Just another thought. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ran-my-car-over-a-concrete-parking-block/825091.md?page=4)