Guiding a car past car port posts...
Guiding a car past car port posts...
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Discussion

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

248 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
quotequote all
I've got a car port on the side of my house.

In order to get my bike out easily, I need to park my car as close to the car port posts as possible. Posts are on the left side of the car.

In the old Land Rover it was quite easy - just drive close enough to touch the wing mirrors off the posts.

Sadly modern wing mirrors I suspect are a bit more fragile. And expensive. And don't bend back as easily.


Guess this is simlar to guiding a car in a narrow garage, although I don't really have a reference point on the offside of the car to use.

Any ideas?

Wacky Racer

41,363 posts

277 months

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

248 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
quotequote all
Wacky Racer said:
Now all I need to do is tear down the existing car port and erect one of those tongue out

Although I suspect it wouldn't last long with weather we get up here... eek

sparkythecat

8,101 posts

285 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
quotequote all
MarkRSi said:
Guess this is simlar to guiding a car in a narrow garage, although I don't really have a reference point on the offside of the car to use.
Any ideas?
How about suspending some tennis balls on strings from the car port roof, so you know when they 'just' touch the car side windows, your car is in exactly the right position.

Wacky Racer

41,363 posts

277 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
quotequote all
MarkRSi said:
Wacky Racer said:
Now all I need to do is tear down the existing car port and erect one of those tongue out

Although I suspect it wouldn't last long with weather we get up here... eek
Put some support posts underneath it then....biggrin

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

248 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
sparkythecat said:
MarkRSi said:
Guess this is simlar to guiding a car in a narrow garage, although I don't really have a reference point on the offside of the car to use.
Any ideas?
How about suspending some tennis balls on strings from the car port roof, so you know when they 'just' touch the car side windows, your car is in exactly the right position.
I think I read about that one, was perhaps wanting something a bit more subtle though hehe

Wacky Racer said:
Put some support posts underneath it then....biggrin
nutssillybangheadjester

GC8

19,910 posts

220 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
sparkythecat said:
MarkRSi said:
Guess this is simlar to guiding a car in a narrow garage, although I don't really have a reference point on the offside of the car to use.
Any ideas?
How about suspending some tennis balls on strings from the car port roof, so you know when they 'just' touch the car side windows, your car is in exactly the right position.
This is the answer that I was going to give. Id suggest using cheap £1 shop bouncy balls though.

Crafty_

14,167 posts

230 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
how about sticking a foam block thats a few inches wide to the posts at mirror height.
If the mirror touches them you're wher you need to be. No damage to car, bit more subtle than tennis balls hanging down

GuinnessMK

1,608 posts

252 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
Screw a dressed 2 x 3" timber batten down to the tarmac, concrete or whatever you have as a surface.

Angled approach at the front, then a straight bit down the side, on the off side of the tyre that is away from you. You'll feel the nudge as you reverse in, and with practice you should be able to run in just kissing the timber.


Monkeylegend

29,381 posts

261 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
Silly question OP but presumably you can't fold the wing mirrors in from inside the car? You would already be doing it if you could wouldn't you.

That thread title is a bit of a tongue twister wink

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

248 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
Silly question OP but presumably you can't fold the wing mirrors in from inside the car? You would already be doing it if you could wouldn't you.

That thread title is a bit of a tongue twister wink
I could, but that would involve.

1. Stopping car short of car port.
2. Getting out of car.
3. Walking to nearside of car.
4. Folding mirror.
5. Walk back and get into drivers seat again.
6. Move car under car port...

Then when heading off again.

7. Back car out.
8. Get out, walk round, fold mirror out again, round again to drivers seat.
9. Drive way.


Of course, it also risks scraping the wing against the post... eek

s p a c e m a n

12,116 posts

178 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
I can't figure out what you are trying to do, you want to park your car as close as possible to something on the left hand side?

Monkeylegend

29,381 posts

261 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
MarkRSi said:
I could, but that would involve.

1. Stopping car short of car port.
2. Getting out of car.
3. Walking to nearside of car.
4. Folding mirror.
5. Walk back and get into drivers seat again.
6. Move car under car port...

Then when heading off again.

7. Back car out.
8. Get out, walk round, fold mirror out again, round again to drivers seat.
9. Drive way.


Of course, it also risks scraping the wing against the post... eek
I can see that would be a little bit inconvienient but better than damaging the mirror, seems a no brainer to me. A piece of strategically placed carpet would protect the paintwork on the wing, unless your spacial awareness is really bad.

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

248 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
quotequote all
s p a c e m a n said:
I can't figure out what you are trying to do, you want to park your car as close as possible to something on the left hand side?
So I can get my motorbike out easily on the right hand side of the car, between the car and the house wink

The MR2 is quite narrow so not a problem at the moment, but anything wider might be.

Monkeylegend said:
I can see that would be a little bit inconvienient but better than damaging the mirror, seems a no brainer to me. A piece of strategically placed carpet would protect the paintwork on the wing, unless your spacial awareness is really bad.
I guess that's true yes


Edited by MarkRSi on Sunday 13th January 15:13