Parking Aid Recommendations

[LandR]

All,

Looking for personal reviews on parking aids. I don't want to hang a tennis ball from my ceiling but would prefer one of those "mats" that you drive over till you feel a bump and then stop.

This will be for my girlfriend so she doesn't continuously drive into my workbench. I've done research on amazon, but reviews are very mixed. Many of the parking aids are plastic and quickly break or move around easily.

Also, the lower quality ones have low humps that can't be felt on many luxury cars.

A link to one for sale on amazon with mixed reviews
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000F6DNMQ?vs=1

My floors are epoxied, she drives an RS5 audi. This will be used in our parking garage only - not in our car workshop. She has less than a foot of room between where she needs to stop and one of my roller boxes.

Appreciate any thoughts
Sam

 

[Kracin]

a harbor freight rubber wheel chock? find your spot then mark it on the floor

 

[kmccorm2000]

I just lay a short piece of 2x4 on the floor where it needs to stop. Same principle as the mat. Mark the floor where it goes so that it can be moved and replaced when needed.

 

[honcho]

I've used mats. I've used 2x4 on the floor. I know you said you don't want to use the tennis ball but I like the tennis ball best--visual, cheap, hard to ignore.

Hey, if it's just a parking garage, what's the roller doing in there in the first place?

 

[taumac]

I use my garage door sensors set to my bumper and when stops blinking I'm I'm far enough. Btw wife uses it too so



Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[Vvmvbb]

Someone gave me this cheap Park Zone a few years ago. I didn't expect much from it but it has just plain been working for a long time.

Here's how mines set up (I stuck a magnet to the sensor):

 

[exmaxima]

All,

Looking for personal reviews on parking aids. I don't want to hang a tennis ball from my ceiling but would prefer one of those "mats" that you drive over till you feel a bump and then stop.

I got a laser assist for my wife. It is motion activated and puts a red dot on the dash. They cost around $15:

http://www.smarthome.com/7187/Single-Laser-Guided-Parking-System/p.aspx

 

[Dustball]

I use a foot long piece of 2x2 wood as my stop.

 

[ambenz]

I got a 4x4 on the floor...it stops the truck too.
You can paint the same color of the floor if ya want to...
Either hit your head on a tennis ball, or trip on a 4x4, it's your choice.
I like the park zone idea!

 

[dmeadow]

Wife got me one of these for Xmas:

http://diamondlifegear.com/garage-parking-guide.htm

Works great. Doesn't slip around like the old plastic one and the diamond plate is more attractive, not to mention more durable. Downside is it is something on the floor to trip over.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I just lay a short piece of 2x4 on the floor where it needs to stop. Same principle as the mat. Mark the floor where it goes so that it can be moved and replaced when needed.

Doesn't sound like a "2X4" type of guy.

OP, cook up some sort of solution using a motion detector that triggers a light. Could get an off the shelf motion detection jim jam or just use a flood light mounted on the ceiling. Easy sleazy for a guy with mechanical ability.

Or get a more respectful girlfriend.

 

[exmaxima]

OP, cook up some sort of solution using a motion detector that triggers a light.

The laser guide is only $15, and installs in less than 5 minutes (assuming there is already power nearby). I've had mine for over 10 years now.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008D6NK0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[nicksnothereman]

The laser guide is only $15, and installs in less than 5 minutes (assuming there is already power nearby). I've had mine for over 10 years now.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008D6NK0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yeah but to me it sounds like his girlfriend needs something more "stop the car now" than that. Light or noise. Hard to miss a floodlight or an alarm (which some flood lights probably have).

 

[Thumper68]

In my old shop I had the same issue with the wife pulling in to far with my truck, I just moved the retractable work light into a position where it would hit the windshield when she was in the right spot, and it was just over head height when the truck was not there.

 

[LandR]

Love the laser guide idea. Thanks for all the info guys.

Since its motion activated will the laser be on every time I am working on the garage?
I could put it on a dedicated light switch but just want to know if there are different modes.

 

[djjsr]

Another recommendation for the "Park Zone". Works great. I've had one in front of my wife's car for 13 years. Cheap and effective.

 

[shoot summ]

I got a laser assist for my wife. It is motion activated and puts a red dot on the dash. They cost around $15:

http://www.smarthome.com/7187/Single-Laser-Guided-Parking-System/p.aspx

We use something similar, got it off of Amazon. Since my garage is a shop as well I got tired of the laser coming on. I put a screw in plug adapter in the GDO, so when the light is on, the laser has power.

 

[ibedayank]

http://www.discountramps.com/rubber...&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CO3O8oHlmbwCFedAMgodBgIAVA

 

[LandR]

Thanks guys. Placed an order for the laser light and also the diamond plate parking stop.

Will wire up the laser light to the garage door opener, such that it is only on when the garage door light is on.

Will move the diamond plate stop when I need the floor space.

Will post up some feedback when they arrive.

Thanks again
Sam

 

[vanaman]

my buddy modified the idea of the tennis ball. He put an eyelet int he celing and ran the rope though that and attached it to the garage door. so when the door is open it hangs down and shows you where to stop. but when closed its up and out of the way.

 

[exmaxima1]

my buddy modified the idea of the tennis ball. He put an eyelet int he celing and ran the rope though that and attached it to the garage door. so when the door is open it hangs down and shows you where to stop. but when closed its up and out of the way.

That is CLEVER! I like that alot!!

 

[BHR4CE1]

I use the laser thing too

 

[cagullett1]

my buddy modified the idea of the tennis ball. He put an eyelet int he celing and ran the rope though that and attached it to the garage door. so when the door is open it hangs down and shows you where to stop. but when closed its up and out of the way.

Why have I never thought of that!? Genius! I'm doing this tonight!

 

[shoot summ]

That is CLEVER! I like that alot!!

My Dad did the same thing, it was slick.

 

[Scout Driver]

Take one of her stuffed animals and hang it from the ceiling, right where it will touch the windshield when she is in the proper spot.

Scott

 

[Strouty]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145443

 

[skruft]

I have something similar. The emergency release of the door hangs down to the level of the windshield of the vehicle. I know where to stop in relation to that, both front-and-back and laterally.