Garage parking
Discussion
I like to keep one of our cars in the garage, it's a single garage so space is tight, but enough. There's quite a bit of other stuff in there but as long as the car goes in the right position, all is good.
Wondering what you all use to ensure your car goes back in the same position each time? Tennis balls hung from the ceiling? Anything else?
Front to back is pretty easy but what do you use to make sure you don't go too far over one side?
Wondering what you all use to ensure your car goes back in the same position each time? Tennis balls hung from the ceiling? Anything else?
Front to back is pretty easy but what do you use to make sure you don't go too far over one side?
Dan17 said:
I like to keep one of our cars in the garage, it's a single garage so space is tight, but enough. There's quite a bit of other stuff in there but as long as the car goes in the right position, all is good.
Wondering what you all use to ensure your car goes back in the same position each time? Tennis balls hung from the ceiling? Anything else?
Front to back is pretty easy but what do you use to make sure you don't go too far over one side?
Spatial awareness?Wondering what you all use to ensure your car goes back in the same position each time? Tennis balls hung from the ceiling? Anything else?
Front to back is pretty easy but what do you use to make sure you don't go too far over one side?
When I used to use our old garage it had carpet tiles on the walls, I'd usually line up my mirror with those as I knew I was far enough back.
That said, I didn't keep anything else in the garage other than a set of wheels. New garage is bigger but still empty of stuff but I'd use a mark on the wall if it's a, 'how far back?' you need to park.
That said, I didn't keep anything else in the garage other than a set of wheels. New garage is bigger but still empty of stuff but I'd use a mark on the wall if it's a, 'how far back?' you need to park.
Alex_225 said:
When I used to use our old garage it had carpet tiles on the walls, I'd usually line up my mirror with those as I knew I was far enough back.
That said, I didn't keep anything else in the garage other than a set of wheels. New garage is bigger but still empty of stuff but I'd use a mark on the wall if it's a, 'how far back?' you need to park.
Good ideas, thanks Alex, I can certainly put something on the wall to line up with.That said, I didn't keep anything else in the garage other than a set of wheels. New garage is bigger but still empty of stuff but I'd use a mark on the wall if it's a, 'how far back?' you need to park.
Carpet tiles - the paint on my garage floor seems to come off it I park on it, so I have four carpet tiles on the floor in the right place for the four wheels when parked. I line up the o/s rear wheel with the tile using the side mirror and the rest will be in the right place.
Saves having a tennis ball swinging around to smack me in the face when I forget.
Saves having a tennis ball swinging around to smack me in the face when I forget.
k it up. Fluffy dice hanging from ceiling. Measured and set up with a marker on the back wall to also give the lateral position. Line up the string with the marker and drive straight in and stop when the dice touches the windscreen 
Works fine for the normal cars.
For the American pick up .... which is too big for UK garage doors. First remove wing mirrors, approach door very slowly making sure it is all square, hang out window looking at corner of front bumper and aim to miss door frame by approx 5 and no more than 10 mm. Keep steering neutral and drive forward until touching dice. Get out making use of carpet stuck to wall, breath again
Works fine for the normal cars.
For the American pick up .... which is too big for UK garage doors. First remove wing mirrors, approach door very slowly making sure it is all square, hang out window looking at corner of front bumper and aim to miss door frame by approx 5 and no more than 10 mm. Keep steering neutral and drive forward until touching dice. Get out making use of carpet stuck to wall, breath again
A couple of blocks of wood on the floor that the tyres butt up against when the car is in the correct position. My parents did that on their driveway for years (the end of the drive closest to the house had a 6ft vertical drop into the front garden so it was important not to over-reverse)
One of the neighbours had, shall we say a rather strong liking for a tipple, and would reverse hers off the end of her drive about once a year on average.
One of the neighbours had, shall we say a rather strong liking for a tipple, and would reverse hers off the end of her drive about once a year on average.
Sebring440 said:
Spatial awareness?
I used this in my previous tight single garage for the sides. On one side I had maybe an inch or two to spare to but after some practice I could get it in the same spot every time.
The photo suggests there was lots of room at the front. There wasn’t, I had an inch or so to play with so I put a WiFi camera on the wall at the back and used the cameras phone app to display the picture from the drivers seat.
It worked, never touched the wall!
Cloudy147 said:
Sebring440 said:
Spatial awareness?
I used this in my previous tight single garage for the sides. On one side I had maybe an inch or two to spare to but after some practice I could get it in the same spot every time.The photo suggests there was lots of room at the front. There wasn’t, I had an inch or so to play with so I put a WiFi camera on the wall at the back and used the cameras phone app to display the picture from the drivers seat.
It worked, never touched the wall!
I'm guessing you line the car up then push it back? That looks tricky alright.
I reverse into mine, not all the way I need to as the side door to the garage allows me to open the drivers door further. I line it up on the left as far as I can by looking and using the mirrors and I am conscious to mind the mirrors at the tighter opening where the main door is!
It's just judgement but pieces of carpet etc help not to mess it up too much. There's no special thing.
I recently picked up a dehumidifier, it's a must if you don't have a dry garage.
I reverse into mine, not all the way I need to as the side door to the garage allows me to open the drivers door further. I line it up on the left as far as I can by looking and using the mirrors and I am conscious to mind the mirrors at the tighter opening where the main door is!
It's just judgement but pieces of carpet etc help not to mess it up too much. There's no special thing.
I recently picked up a dehumidifier, it's a must if you don't have a dry garage.
I had a similar problem before I moved. My cars were in single garages in a block. I always lined up the passenger side of the car as close to the wall as possible. I never looked at drivers wing mirror on the basis I knew if I was close on the passenger side I would be fine on drivers side.
Then in terms of depth work out a landmark on the wall in line with “A” pillar of car that gets you to the required depth. I could reverse park into the garage pretty quickly once I got used to it. Also carpet on the wall next to door. Brick wall vs car door only has one winner.
Then in terms of depth work out a landmark on the wall in line with “A” pillar of car that gets you to the required depth. I could reverse park into the garage pretty quickly once I got used to it. Also carpet on the wall next to door. Brick wall vs car door only has one winner.
One suggestions I've seen (in addition to the tennis ball on string) is to screw a piece of wood to the floor lengthways on the side of the tyres. Then fit another transverse piece as an "end stop". To park you then let the tyres "rub" along until it hits the stop.
May not work if you have staggered wheels.
May not work if you have staggered wheels.
Dan17 said:
Good ideas, thanks Alex, I can certainly put something on the wall to line up with.
Bit of no nails and some carpet tiles, job done haha. If you park up perfectly with some help, then mark up where you want them. Only downside is if you buy a bigger car but easy enough to peel off and move.
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