old tennis ball on a string trick

[pablo94sc]

What's the best way to hang a tennis ball on a string to use as a way to know when to stop the truck in the garage? By that I mean while I have the truck parked in there. My **** is too heavy to not dent the hood sitting on it, and reaching over the truck from the side to get the thing in place is challenging - my balance ain't what it used to be. I need some tips here. I know there has to be an easier way to do this, I just can't figure out out.

Btw, this wouldn't be an issue if I wasn't dealing with literally a couple inches of space in front and behind the truck when the man door is opened.

 

[Shiftless]

There are several high tech laser guidance systems you can install, but I like your old school tennis ball on a string approach.
How about just guessing and hang the ball a bit closer to the garage door than that.
Then pull your truck in until your windshield hits the ball. Stop and get out.
Measure how many inches more you need to clear the man door when open.
Then move the truck back out into the driveway and get your stepladder and move the ball mounting point that many inches forward.

Did that make sense? If I have it wrong, go ahead and post a rough floor plan so that all of us can see your problem more clearly.

Anybody else have a better idea?

 

[sselander]

tie a string to a steel nut, slit open the tennis ball. Insert nut. Hang from rafter?

 

[Can I try?]

Adjust the length of string, not the location of the mounting point. As follows:

1) With your truck in place get a general idea where you want your mounting point to be.

2) Back the truck out of the garage

3) Use a ladder to install the mounting point.

4) Cut a sufficient length of string.

5) Attach one end of the string to the mounting point.

6) Attach the other end to the tennis ball in such a way that it can be easily adjusted. For example, poke two holes in the tennis ball opposite each other. Thread the string through the ball. Tie a loose knot.

7) Pull the truck back into the garage.

8) Adjust the height of the tennis ball until it touches the truck.

Success!

 

[BMack37]

You can park the truck and use a ladder to mark the placement to the left of the truck, like literally hand a tennis ball where it should be front-to-back but over the fender. Then move the truck and hang a second tennis ball over the center using the original ball as a reference.

If that sounds too difficult, maybe you can run a horizontal string from one side of the truck to the other, at the height you want. Then move the truck and hang the ball using the string as the reference.

 

[Shiftless]

You can park the truck and use a ladder to mark the placement to the left of the truck, like literally hand a tennis ball where it should be front-to-back but over the fender. Then move the truck and hang a second tennis ball over the center using the original ball as a reference.

If that sounds too difficult, maybe you can run a horizontal string from one side of the truck to the other, at the height you want. Then move the truck and hang the ball using the string as the reference.

I like BMack's second idea better than the one I suggested

 

[Thumper68]

Silly me but I would just measure from a fixed point and then hang the ball.

For many years I used my retractable trouble light the same way.

 

[frank001]

What's the best way to hang a tennis ball on a string to use as a way to know when to stop the truck in the garage? By that I mean while I have the truck parked in there. My **** is too heavy to not dent the hood sitting on it, and reaching over the truck from the side to get the thing in place is challenging - my balance ain't what it used to be. I need some tips here. I know there has to be an easier way to do this, I just can't figure out out.

Btw, this wouldn't be an issue if I wasn't dealing with literally a couple inches of space in front and behind the truck when the man door is opened.

I used the tennis ball on a string for awhile, but finally got tired of running into the ball when I was walking around when working in the garage , or the string getting tangled up with stuff I was carrying.
I like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0008D6NK0/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Very accurate - once you adjust it, you can park your car exactly where you like it, with a tolerance of less than an inch.





http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284998&highlight=frank001

 

[nadogail]

I use the tennis ball and string. The windshield is slanted so I adjust the ball so that when it is kissed by the windshield you are at the sweet spot.

Because of the slant of the windshield there is an adjustment range of a foot in parking the car.

 

[shoot summ]

I used the tennis ball on a string for awhile, but finally got tired of running into the ball when I was walking around when working in the garage , or the string getting tangled up with stuff I was carrying.
I like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0008D6NK0/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Very accurate - once you adjust it, you can park your car exactly where you like it, with a tolerance of less than an inch.





http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284998&highlight=frank001

I use something similar, works great, and it's entertaining too. People kind of freak out when they come in the garage and see a red laser on them, or on the floor...

 

[MushCreek]

I pinned a concrete parking curb to the floor for the wife's garage. That way, I figure she's gonna have to work at it to create a garage door out the back!

 

[maxpower_hd]

Tape a pencil to a broom handle and mark the ceiling while the truck is there. Then pull out and hang the ball and adjust the height. You can also use a clip so you can take the ball off when you don't want it in your way.

 

[Fred W B]

I just sight through the lower front corner of the opposite front window of the vehicle to a known spot on the wall, with my head against the headrest. Can park within less than an inch every time, provided no one has moved the seat. Or just put a marker opposite the side mirror.

Regards

Fred W B

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I'd put a spring mounted pole or flag at the end of the garage. Pull in until it moves, nothing hanging in the middle of the garage. Works with all vehicles, never needs adjusting.

 

[Jon_E]

I'm surprised nobody's come up with this yet:

1. With truck in garage, get a general idea of where you want the tennis ball to touch your windshield. Mark the ceiling with a pencil tied to a stick or something. You don't have to be precise - plus or minus a few inches.
2. Back the truck out.
3. Get on a ladder and install an eye bolt in the ceiling at your predetermined location.
4. Use a piece of string long enough to go from the approximate final location of the tennis ball, up to the ceiling, and then back down to a wall or doorway that you can easily get to. Attach one end of the string to the ball and the other to that wall or doorway spot, going through the eye hook.
5. Pull the truck in, get it precisely where you want it.
6. Loosen the end of the string that is attached to the wall or doorway and slowly lower the ball until it just touches the windshield. Reattach the string to the wall or doorway so that the ball stays in place at the elevation you just lowered it to.
7. Remove the truck.
8. Permanently attach the string to the eye hook. Cut off excess.
9. Pull truck back in. When your windshield touches the ball, you should be right on your parking spot.

Sounds much more complicated that it actually is.

 

[maxpower_hd]

My method was to just eyeball the height part but the eye bolt is a good idea. I did beat you to the punch with the pencil on the broom handle though. LOL

 

[shoot summ]

I just sight through the lower front corner of the opposite front window of the vehicle to a known spot on the wall, with my head against the headrest. Can park within less than an inch every time, provided no one has moved the seat. Or just put a marker opposite the side mirror.

Regards

Fred W B

I actually used to do something similar for my wife, piece of tape on the wall that she lined the rear view mirror up with.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I gave up on the string years ago... I use colored .080" nylon weed wacker line.... It just looks better then string....

 

[CJ7VFR]

I use one of those three light park assist things. It works great and the three lights (Green, Yellow, Red) are just like a traffic signal, so my wife knows that when it's green your good, when its yellow you have to slow down, and when its red you stop.

Here is a picture of one similar to mine. The only difference is mine are gray in color instead of black:

I can get within an inch of where I want to be every time.

I tried the ball on the string thing for awhile, but as others have said it was getting in the way whenever I wanted to work the cars. That is not really a problem, but there were a few times when I moved the ball to work on my wife's car, and I forgot to put the ball back when I was done!! Guess what happened......

That is why I bought the part assist.

Jim

 

[kblazer87]

If the proximity to the wall is as tight as you say why not put the ball close to the wall and use the hood or fender as the guide? Seems to me it would be very easy to measure that distance with the truck parked in its spot with the added benefit of not having the string and ball in your way that much.

 

[pablo94sc]

Some really good ideas I need to try. Here's a visual of the situation. Tight fit.

 

[bazzateer]

You built the garage too small!

 

[grommit]

Is it possible to put an eyelet in the ceiling and put the string thru the eyelet then attach it to the garage door? This way when the garage door is closed the ball will be lifted to the ceiling. The ball will only be down when the garage door is open.

 

[pablo94sc]

You built the garage too small!

I bought a house with 28'x21' garage. At least it isn't one of those 19x19 garages these new homes are being built with.

Is it possible to put an eyelet in the ceiling and put the string thru the eyelet then attach it to the garage door? This way when the garage door is closed the ball will be lifted to the ceiling. The ball will only be down when the garage door is open.

That's a neat idea. I may have to look into doing that!

 

[Shadowdog500]

I hung a tennis ball in the garage where my wife parks her car.

I screwed an eye in the ceiling and another on the wall in front of the car. The string runs from the ball to the eye hook over the windshield to the eye hook on the wall. That way I could adjust the height of the ball while standing in front of the car. I also put a loop in the string to hook onto the wall eye, so I could easily raise the ball up when working in the garage withou a car.

Chris

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I've done this in a lot of garages over the years, but I use a golf ball. It makes a little click when you hit it, and is easier to hear than see. Works better at night.

I just get a screw eye and turn it into the golf ball.



JBP


.

 

[LigouriRd]

I pinned a concrete parking curb to the floor for the wife's garage. That way, I figure she's gonna have to work at it to create a garage door out the back!

I did something similar for my side of the garage, used a chunk of wood so its less permanent. I just gotta be careful not to kick it.

 

[arrowhead]

Use an engine lift to hold the ball temporarily (might need a stick to extend the boom) and you can adjust it until you get it where you want it, then install a permanent ball on a string at the same location

 

[CTyankee]

That is a tight fit. Any chance you can flip the door swing and have it open into the house?

 

[pablo94sc]

That is a tight fit. Any chance you can flip the door swing and have it open into the house?

Exterior door. :/

 

[lynnbilodeau]

I bought a house with 28'x21' garage. At least it isn't one of those 19x19 garages these new homes are being built with.



That's a neat idea. I may have to look into doing that!

My step dad did that and it worked very well. Door down, ball up.
He used a small pully, so the string wouldn't fray. Was up there many many years. He died at 101.

 

[eborcim]

I just used a dayglow weighted fishing bobber.

 

[pima67]

Or try what I have: a 2 inch bloc of Styrofoam on the end of the string. Not as annoying when hitting it while walking around in the garage.

 

[hd54kh]

Working in the garage with no vehicle the string is in the way. I just mark the wall to line up with my shoulder as I pull in and stop the vehicle there. In my new build I'll have a profile of the vehicle with an vertical line under it for the different rides I move in and out.

Terry

 

[67CarGuy]

Had the tennis ball setup at my parents house since the 1990s. Sounds like some of you are overthinking this.

 

[djjsr]

I use one of those three light park assist things. It works great .........

Jim

I use this also. Works great. You can usually find them for $25-30 on ebay or amazon.

 

[sealioo]

I used a couple of these to mark where my tires should go, and park by feel. If you need something more pronounced, you could always stack two on top of each other. I've found it's the easiest way to mark where I should stop without being annoying when working in the garage.

http://www.harborfreight.com/self-adhesive-rubber-safety-step-tread-98856.html

 

[Slednut]

I don't use a ball, just have a string hanging.

 

[ZRX61]

I just sight through the lower front corner of the opposite front window of the vehicle to a known spot on the wall,

I use the outer edge of the passenger side door mirror aligned with the corner of a shelf.

 

[i.ride]

http://amzn.com/B000F6DNMQ

These work great and don't get in the way.