Slope/Tilt Guage

[Hum2]

Hey guys, I just bought a tilt gauge off E-bay and it is pretty good for the price.

I am buying a second to place on the side of the OH console for pitch. The pic shows placing one for roll on the back side of the OH console...great for those with a sunroof and the short OH console. I mounted mine for roll between the 2 front air vents...perfect.

Ric

OMAHOG/IHOG
Hum2@cox.net

[alecs wife]

I agree Phill. Maybe the green zone should be 0º - 23º witch is the factory spec & the other zones should be labeled risky and travel at your own risk.

I did think about the liability and really feel that GM is under specing for the those same concerns.

What bothers me is that other new SUV's are specing their trucks with the proper lingo. Such as the LR3 45º ascend and descend & 35º side slope & 27" water fording. Why does GM choose to use percentages is very misleading and is a marketing ploy to show a high number. They know that 23º sounds very low compared to other trucks. That's why they use 40% knowing most people will misinterpret the number. Why can't they just list max specs so that we don't have to guess.

I can say with confidence that the H2, without additional weight on the roof, can safely traverse a 35º side slope on 37" tires @ 18psi.

[Texas Red]

Keep us posted, Paragon. I'd be interested in one also.

[DRTYFN]

I like it. It'll be much better for mounting on the dash between the air vents.

[alecs wife]

Nice link!!! Did you notice they have a digital version? Might be worth looking into.

[PARAGON]

You may have it smile at you in percentages if you like!

[chilichaz33]

I think this company out of PA has gauges that cover many ranges, Rieker Instruments. They make inclinometers and tilt indicators.


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TheGoodHummerMan:
Ric,

After all the discussion and reading the various viewpoints and opinions, I think I have changed my mind about how these gauges are basically useless... Just like you point out, they might provide interesting data when off-roading. Also, they would actually serve a useful purpose if, during a walk-about--- checking the trail ahead--- you could take the gauge out of the H2 and approximate the hill's slope BEFORE driving on it.

Personally, the gauges that show 0 to 45 degrees seem less useful than the gauges calibrated from 0 to 30 degrees. If you had the second gauge and the ball bearing goes off the scale, you could just say that it is "TOO" steep?

I think that the lower range of 0 to 30 would also make it easier to more accurately read what the slope actually is too...

Maybe I will use velcro to attach the gauge so I can remove it for gauging slopes while walking around?

Now I have to find out where the 0 to 30 degree gauge was available...

Ed <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[PARAGON]

You can get the lit and digital versions but obviously we only have the lit in a 25 degree model right now. The biggest problem with trying to bring these to the market is the fact that you can buy the cheapo lev-o-gauges for $10-$15 and it certainly cost at least that to even make these. The problem with them though is that they have to mount flat on a perfectly vertical surface in the vehicle to be accurate.

If you see any of those at tiltmeter.com that you feel you would like, let me know. We can custom make any of these or make a whole new line. R&B is the manufacturer that I am working with on the distribution.

About the digital ones, in many situations they are not good for a quick glance since they are not a visual reference.

[unaslob]

hum2,

I have the same gauges, they are more for the passengers then for me. putting one one the overhead console is mostly useless. placing it that high on the truck and that far forward makes the device woefully inaccurate. they are only useful if as close to the center of the truck in the vertical plane

unaslob

they do look fancy though

[PARAGON]

Pic 3

[PARAGON]

I've mentioned these to Jason but haven't officially "hit" him up about selling them yet, but Trail Duty (http://www.trailduty.com) has them in stock now if you want one. If you do get one, I think you will be surprised at how low of an angle (as compared to it's true capabilities) the pucker factor kicks in and knowing that you have more tilt available before it is unsafe.

For instance, both the H1 and H2 specs say a 40% side slope. That is about 23 degrees or so. But that spec from Hummer is with a maximum payload on board and a large margin of safety. I'd be curious to know the max angle some have been in the H2.

[chilichaz33]

Yep, your angles to %grade are pretty close. I found another inclinometer made by a company called Rieker, may be worth checking out. Has a nice look, and they have been around awhile.
I think you can buy direct, but they are also stocked at West Marine.


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PhilD:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TBarrow:
I want to better understand what a true 40 degree side slope feels and looks like.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



You'll roll over!

A H2 cannot (safely) traverse a 40 degree side slope, it can traverse a 40% side slope.

A 40% or 60% slope is not the same as a 40 or 60 degree slope.

Percent slope is calculated as the altitude change for a horizontal distance divided by that same horizontal distance. IE: A 40% slope is one where it rises or falls 4 meters for every 10 meters traveled.

If I recall correctly, the equation to get slope % from angle in degrees is percent slope = tan(angle_in_radians ) * 100%. A 100% slope is only 45 degrees.

A 40% slope is 22 degrees.

A 60% slope is 31 degrees.

Do not confuse slope and angle, they are two different measurements, and disastrous results may occur if you confuse the two.

Ric, If you want, I'll pick one up at West Marine and mail it to you, just LMK. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

H

[mbdougl]

your drink might spill though

[Fever]

Write me down for at least one.

T

[HummerLV]

a 40 degree grade up or down is not the problem
it's the side slope that's the problem, i don't think my pucker factor could do that slope shown sideways

[5spd]

I have one that came stock with one of my toys...(no comments please, I aready know, )...and if you are looking at it instead of the trail, then I should think you deserve to roll, not that I would ever want anyone to though!
I have never looked at mine at all when wheeling, just a gadget for the passengers to look at and go Oh sh*t that was steep. Your 6th sense will tell you much better whats safe and whats not.

[PARAGON]

Una, actually that's not entirely true. The angle of the truck is the same throughout so as long as you have it mounted correctly to begin with, it really doesn't matter where you mount it.

It needs to be perfectly vertical in the vehicle, not leaning forward or aft and obviously needs to be level and at zero when the truck is on a flat surface.

Along these lines, I am picking up a line of gauges that are a little better than the lev-o-gauges. They will come with a special mounting bracket that will allow them to mount just about any where and let you keep it set correctly. I am going to be the distributor and hopefully will have some out in the stores by the first few months of next year.

You'll be able to mount these on top of the dash, on the windshield, on the face of the dash, etc.

[Beastmaster]

Anyone try these? These are lit:

http://www.tiltmeter.com/page10.html

[PARAGON]

Here is a example picture. I should have better artwork later this week. The base of the mounting bracket has holes and can use bolts or 3M tape. It will move 180 degrees on the vertical so you can mount it just about anywhere and still get the gauge to be level and perfectly verticle. I'll keep you posted.

[PARAGON]

Pic 2