So, wife is having a hard time judging how to consistently park her car in the same spot everytime. Part of the problem is that are garage is at the top of a heavily sloped drive, so having something marked on the floor won't help due to the approach angle. The old tennis ball on the string has alway been the go to for distance into the garage, but I am struggling with coming up with something that can keep the car centered in the door on approach. Anyone have any tricks? Love to see some pics if you have them.
Garage parking guidance system. Low tech, or high tech!
- Thread starter Riperoo
- Start date
Daddy B
Well-known member
May sound stupid but... Tennis balls on the sides too? 
CSRPenFab
Well-known member
I have one of the two car laser systems from Amazon.com. About $20 and works perfectly. Just taught the wife to line up the center vent on her dash with the red laser dot, and perfect parking every time.
gregtwojeeps
Well-known member
Cyberbear
Well-known member
My father anchored some 4 x 4 pieces to the garage floor to help guide the tires on my mom's car, seemed to do the trick. Like so many women, she had no sense of distance.
RVDan
Well-known member
I have a 2x4 glued to the floor to tell me when to stop, there's no reason you can't glue them on the sides too.
May sound stupid but... Tennis balls on the sides too?
Yeah, was thinking that, attached to the garage door so they are not hanging in the space when the car is not there.
Thanks, I had seen those, that looks pretty simple, are they motion activated or something?
Thanks!!
Hmmm, that is a great idea, that could work.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
6$ Mirror on the wall.....
Jinks
Well-known member
Landmarks. I taught my wife to back into the garage by using landmarks. Clear the door as you back in, aim the left rear fender at the door knob to the house, when the front clears the garage door straighten the car. Once straight, back until the driver is even with the water heater. Stop, get out. Simple, & a lady that wouldn't back a car ever if she didn't have to now backs in every time.......
6$ Mirror on the wall.....
That is a beautiful shop man!! and this mirror idea is looking like a winner!!!
Landmarks. I taught my wife to back into the garage by using landmarks. Clear the door as you back in, aim the left rear fender at the door knob to the house, when the front clears the garage door straighten the car. Once straight, back until the driver is even with the water heater. Stop, get out. Simple, & a lady that wouldn't back a car ever if she didn't have to now backs in every time.......
Yeah, we have been working on that, she just needs to build confidence, i marked the tire location on a virtually perfect park job and she generally hits it with in 6 inches or so, I would like to make it almost bullet proof though. I am really digging the mirror idea. I could see that helping big time.
CSRPenFab
Well-known member
Yes, motion sensor turns lasers on. Easy 5 minute install and a lot cleaner than having **** on floor to trip over or balls hanging on string.
Here's the one I have. $21 on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F6F99G/?tag=atomicindus08-20
sberry
Banned
What about a centering scheme for a hoist?
CSRPenFab
Well-known member
Use the same laser system I posted above. Aim laser at centerline of lift and just line up car as you pull in.
My old garage was only 12 x 24 which didn't leave me much space to position the car. I got one of those plastic wheel stops that glue to the floor with double stick tape so that I could park in the same spot each time. I used one of those laser things to help me center the car when I wanted to use the MaxJax.
RWorth
Well-known member
Ehcrain
Well-known member
For me its a block of 2x thrown down between sharpie marks on the floor. I have two different vehicles which go into the same spot depending on the day. One mark to allow the door just to close and other to prevent the rear bumper from hitting nothing in the garage.
I use the plastic whiffle golf balls tied to a string. I pull in just enough so the door will close then I use a thumb tack to attach the string to the ceiling, I center the ball right on the mirror mount in the front windshield. aim for that and you should be good to go.
gary the cobra
Member
Hey sberry. To line up on my lift I bought a Maxa laser intended for a two car garage and lined up one beam behind the other about five to ten feet front to back and in line with the centerline on my truck hood and drive it on. can't miss.
doorfx
Well-known member
I just got sick of it hitting me in the forehead when I wasn't paying attention!! Lol
Jinks
Well-known member
My wife wouldn't back at all, other than *out* of a garage, & not well then. She thought backing slow meant slowly pushing the gas all the way to the floor, & she began steering as soon as she put the car in reverse. Took a long time to calm her down & convince her to steer only when needed. Then, for a long time if I was anywhere near she would look at me instead of looking in the mirrors. Nearly hit things a couple of times. ****, for the last couple of years she just backs normally & ignores me. She's gotten really good at it!
sberry
Banned
That's not a bad idea, I have the floor marked some and its not a deal if I am driving, there needs a little turn on entrance and it doesn't fool me but others don't always get lined square, I am going to be looking at some scheme on a cold winter day.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Low tech. We use a 3' chunk of 2x4 laying on the floor to set the parking depth of the Fusion to clear the bike parking.
Race car parking by dead reckoning -
Race car parking by dead reckoning -
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HotwheelsYJ
Well-known member
Same laser from Amazon as posted earlier. It's aimed at the bezel above the radio. My Excursion fits with about 3" to spare in front of it.
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https://www.amazon.com/Park-Zone-PZ-1600-Precision-Parking/dp/B0030ICO3U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1480374813&sr=8-3&keywords=parking+sensor
this works great and the batteries seems to last a long time, maybe 2 years? it can consistently get me parked in my garage on the first try. light turns green then yellow as you approach and finally red when its time to stop. makes parking so much easier. it's programmable, you simply park where you want to stop and set the sensor.
this works great and the batteries seems to last a long time, maybe 2 years? it can consistently get me parked in my garage on the first try. light turns green then yellow as you approach and finally red when its time to stop. makes parking so much easier. it's programmable, you simply park where you want to stop and set the sensor.
BUGEYEDBRIT
Member
tennis ball dangling from the garage door motor, once its in the middle of the windscreen, stop.
Total cost -3c$
Total cost -3c$
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
My dad in law had the following set-up for mom's Lincoln on her side, and his Eldo on his - Tennis ball suspended from the ceiling, and 2 lines on the wall that line up with the edges of the car when you back in. When the ball hits the back window, you clear the garage door.
It worked fine until someone who shall remain nameless (
) forgot they always backed their cars in, and pulled the Continental in forward and munched the trunk lid with the garage door.
I didn't become an ex-in-law, but it was dicey for a while...
It worked fine until someone who shall remain nameless (
) forgot they always backed their cars in, and pulled the Continental in forward and munched the trunk lid with the garage door. I didn't become an ex-in-law, but it was dicey for a while...