Gas Station Driveway Bell

[WoodsTruck]

Not sure where to post this question so I thought this was as good as any.

I'm working on a garage at our local high school to park our concession trailer in. When I'm done I will paint guide lines down the floor on each side of the trailer so the driver can get reasonably close to center of the bay. My issue is how to let the driver know when to stop the trailer so the back doors can still be opened once parked. I had the idea of something similar to a gas station driveway bell to be placed for the rear trailer tires to make contact when enough is enough.

Any thoughts on this or something better? I'm building it with the idea that the driver is operating solo so a spotter is not an option.

Thanks

 

[The Cobbler]

can you paint lines where the tires would end up being?

 

[Git]

They make laser parking indicators like this one. You mount it on the ceiling, it is powered by a small transformer and has a built in motion detector.

When it senses motion, it turns on the laser which shines a spot on your car. If it is the same vehicle all the time that is towing the trailer, you just set it up so the laser shines the spot on your dash or steering wheel for example. You line up the red dot and you stop

 

[Rc_Guy]

Wheel chocks behind the trailer tires and back up slow when close to them.

 

[SkinnyG]

Something like a curb or chock fixed to the floor could work well, although it would leave a trip hazard when the trailer is not in place. Personally, I like the bell idea.

 

[matt_i]

Wheel chocks behind the trailer tires and back up slow when close to them.

I like this for simplicity. An exotic solution would be a transmitter and receiver photoeye setup which illuminates a red-green stoplight for the driver to see.

If you don't want to secure the chocks to the floor (trip hazard when trailer is gone) I would paint the chocks, label them, and tape the areas on the floor where they are to be set to avoid any errors or people borrowing them for a doorstop somewhere else.

 

[joe_padavano]

Well, we could make this MORE complex...

The tennis ball hanging from a string so it bumps the windshield when the position is correct is the century-old solution.

 

[dwasifar]

Well, we could make this MORE complex...

The tennis ball hanging from a string so it bumps the windshield when the position is correct is the century-old solution.

I use a wiffle ball. You don't have to poke holes in it.

I think he's backing in, though.

 

[bradpac]

I would paint a spot on the floor to place wheel chocks. Then actually carry a set on the trailer, good insurance for when you have it set up elsewhere too. Like fire engines chocked at the station and in the field.

 

[WoodsTruck]

The trailer will be towed by different coaches when they use it so I can't set it up with a single tow vehicle in mind. I thought about a wheel chock but I don't want the thing being jostled that much when the tire hits the chock too hard. Again, paint lines would be fine if I could ensure a spot was going to be present to warn the driver.

 

[rk_tek]

Driveway alert kit that uses a photosensor cell and sounds a 'ding' just like the old gas station hoses but it's electronic. You can mount the base station with the speaker near the door so the driver can hear it. Should be able to get it for under $100.

 

[mike93lx]

The trailer will be towed by different coaches when they use it so I can't set it up with a single tow vehicle in mind. I thought about a wheel chock but I don't want the thing being jostled that much when the tire hits the chock too hard. Again, paint lines would be fine if I could ensure a spot was going to be present to warn the driver.

How fast are you backing up? It will get jostled far more when in transit

 

[WoodsTruck]

How fast are you backing up? It will get jostled far more when in transit

Good question. I'm attempting to build everything like its a rental. Build it tougher than it needs to be and simpler the better.

 

[vavet]

I think the driveway bells are driven my air. I don’t think a slow mushing of the hose would create a ring. If you’re backing A trailer through a door into a garage, you’re going to be moving very slowly....unless you’re a lot better and confident than I am.

 

[diesel_dan]

I think the driveway bells are driven my air. I don’t think a slow mushing of the hose would create a ring. If you’re backing A trailer through a door into a garage, you’re going to be moving very slowly....unless you’re a lot better and confident than I am.

A neighbor has one to let him know someone is coming up his driveway - he got it from an old gas station and it just uses the air trapped in the line to ring the bell. I'll have to ask him on if it works when a vehicle is moving slow - I think that is a valid point...

 

[diesel_dan]

OK, emailed my neighbor and this is his response (I didn't think about weight, but he did):

"It should ring if the vehicle is heavy enough to compress the hose to create a puff of air to actuate
the sensitive diaphragm. Sometimes my golf cart is not heavy enough to compress the hose in cold
weather."

 

[Rag Roc]

Driveway bell operates on 115v. It has a power cord on the bell / diaphragm assembly to just plug into the wall. They are still available new by doing a search. A light foot stomp activates mine. Brings back my old pump jockey days, and makes me smile.

 

[kbs2244]

If a 4x4 on the floor scares you, just hang an old tire on the wall at bumper height as a cushion.

 

[kerrynzl]

The chock of wood is what I use [2 x 4] it is simple .

or this https://www.innovations.co.nz/p/out...9TmZ9m6o3eeEu87bAl87EC4stu-SMsJkaAkwSEALw_wcB

But if the OP wants one for an enclosed rental trailer, you can make a "distance alarm" and have it mounted directly to the trailer wired via the reverse lights or taillight circuit.
That way the trailer can be reversed anywhere and the rear doors can swing open.

 

[diesel_dan]

Driveway bell operates on 115v. It has a power cord on the bell / diaphragm assembly to just plug into the wall. They are still available new by doing a search. A light foot stomp activates mine. Brings back my old pump jockey days, and makes me smile.

Yours must be "newer" - neighbor's requires no power. He has an air hose across the driveway w bolt and hose-clamp on one end, then he plumbed it to hardline (don't know what) to the house (maybe 100' away?).

I like best the painted lines where wheel chocks would go. Anybody backs the trailer close and THEN puts the chocks out behind the tires and that is pretty fool-proof. Just need to train each new coach on the drill...

 

[jrj3rd]

Milton Bell. Plugs into wall and air just makes it ring. Use one in the garage on my wife's side so she has a stopping point. She loves it. Still easily available at miltonbells.com or Amazon.

 

[hh76]

I'd vote for chocks of some sort. Either permanent if the trip hazard is ok, or portable.

With the portable, it forces the driver to get out and walk behind the trailer, which may avoid the running over something left in the garage stall.