Garage parking aides.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,049
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From: The second childhood is the best one of all.
Garage parking aides.
I'm really nervous about my wife dinging my Corvette when she puts her Audi A4 quatro in the garage. What parking aides have you tried and where do you buy the good ones?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
One old trick is to nail a tennis ball on a piece of string to the garage roof. Position it at the right height and position to touch the windscreen at a chosen reference. You can put it at the centreline of the drivers eyeline or in line with the rearview mirror. Any reference that suits you.
Drive in and line up with the tennis ball until it touches the windscreen and "Bob's Your Uncle"; you're in the right spot.
Drive in and line up with the tennis ball until it touches the windscreen and "Bob's Your Uncle"; you're in the right spot.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 31
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From: Herndon VA
Funny how the oldest things seem to work the best eh? 
If you are worried about side to side stuff, you can pretty much use the same deal, just hang the tennis ball so that you can tell her "just keep this from touching the side of the car as she pulls in.
The only disadvantage there is the string.
Another way, but not so easy, would be to use some of the typical garage door opener components that are used to create the invisible trip beam they have as a safety feature. Just place the emitter and reflector in the ideal spot, and then set it up so if the beam is broken, something happens. What is up to you. You can get creative there. I know there are some retail systems that you can buy which light up a little "stop" lamp when you cross the beam.
Those tend to work better than the tennisball deal because there is no string or ball to get in the way when there are no cars in the garage, or you are trying to get in and out of the car.
Here's an example of a retail one at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...90337?v=glance
It says it's made by Jeep, but I'm guessing that it can be used with any car???
If you are worried about side to side stuff, you can pretty much use the same deal, just hang the tennis ball so that you can tell her "just keep this from touching the side of the car as she pulls in.
The only disadvantage there is the string.
Another way, but not so easy, would be to use some of the typical garage door opener components that are used to create the invisible trip beam they have as a safety feature. Just place the emitter and reflector in the ideal spot, and then set it up so if the beam is broken, something happens. What is up to you. You can get creative there. I know there are some retail systems that you can buy which light up a little "stop" lamp when you cross the beam.
Those tend to work better than the tennisball deal because there is no string or ball to get in the way when there are no cars in the garage, or you are trying to get in and out of the car.
Here's an example of a retail one at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...90337?v=glance
It says it's made by Jeep, but I'm guessing that it can be used with any car???
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
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From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by KOMPNS8
buy yourself a second vette and make her park outside. 
There you go that's the best idea yet. The cost is a bit more than the tennis ball but far more enjoyable. 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,061
Likes: 266
From: Slower than a speeding bullet................ Fort Lauderdale, FL
I have the laser guided parking assist.... works great.
Puts a red laser light on the hood of the car as you drive in
and when it gets to where you set it, you're parked.
Got this @ Costco for less than $20. Mine works for 2 cars.
Granted, it costs a bit more than going the tennis ball route,
but it's pretty cool, and you don't have string hanging down that
gets in your way.
Puts a red laser light on the hood of the car as you drive in
and when it gets to where you set it, you're parked.
Got this @ Costco for less than $20. Mine works for 2 cars.
Granted, it costs a bit more than going the tennis ball route,
but it's pretty cool, and you don't have string hanging down that
gets in your way.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,049
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From: The second childhood is the best one of all.
Thanks guys. All of these are good tips, especially the 2nd vette idea. 
I think I'll look into the laser. Sounds hi-tech enough. There are no Cosco's in my area. Do you know the brand name of this thing or any other suppliers?
I think I'll look into the laser. Sounds hi-tech enough. There are no Cosco's in my area. Do you know the brand name of this thing or any other suppliers?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg Pa
We use Park-Zone. It's sold at PEP boys. It's a mini traffic light which goes from green to yellow to red once you've reached your pre-set position.
It basically forces you to park in the same place each time.
It great for keeping my wifes minivan away from my toy.
Besides, my wife knows if she were to hit my car I'd become like Jack Nickelson in "The Shining".................Here's Johnny...who hit my car????
It basically forces you to park in the same place each time.
It great for keeping my wifes minivan away from my toy.
Besides, my wife knows if she were to hit my car I'd become like Jack Nickelson in "The Shining".................Here's Johnny...who hit my car????
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,119
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From: Spring Branch Texas
I have the tennis ball thing going to center the cars. If this isn't "mickey mouse" enough, hear it comes ---- I took a "noodle" from our pool (a long, thin tube made of foam with a hole in the middle), stuck a broom stick through it to "make it stiff" (don't go there) and hung it from the ceiling between the doors. This completely eliminates the "door dings" you can get by parking 2 cars in a garage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,119
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From: Spring Branch Texas
Originally Posted by RCK1999
I have the tennis ball thing going to center the cars. If this isn't "mickey mouse" enough, hear it comes ---- I took a "noodle" from our pool (a long, thin tube made of foam with a hole in the middle), stuck a broom stick through it to "make it stiff" (don't go there) and hung it from the ceiling between the doors. This completely eliminates the "door dings" you can get by parking 2 cars in a garage.
DAMN, I can't believe this - I just read my own post telling everyone about my noodle and how I make it stiff before I use it!
What a forum!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,417
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis MD
I have the parking mat, seen here:
http://www.sparkleauto.com/park-smart-mats.html
Only mine is black. They work ok, but I still haven't found a GOOD way to secure them to the floor. I suppose silicone would work, but you definitely need something to keep it from moving around...
http://www.sparkleauto.com/park-smart-mats.html
Only mine is black. They work ok, but I still haven't found a GOOD way to secure them to the floor. I suppose silicone would work, but you definitely need something to keep it from moving around...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 0
From: North Cape May NJ
Originally Posted by RCK1999
DAMN, I can't believe this - I just read my own post telling everyone about my noodle and how I make it stiff before I use it!
What a forum!
What a forum!
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 67
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From: Lewes De.
Go to: improvements.com
you will find the laser one there. I have three and my wife parks her Beamer in the same spot every day! I can look on the floor when she is gone and see the trie marks in the same spot...
you will find the laser one there. I have three and my wife parks her Beamer in the same spot every day! I can look on the floor when she is gone and see the trie marks in the same spot...
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