I went from a 2008 Fusion to this oversized tub. The only reason I bought it, is because I can actually fit in it. Plenty of leg room and getting in/out is a breeze, compared to the kiddie kar I traded in.

Another thing to watch out for are curbs in fast food driveways. Most of these driveways have a curve or two, steering this tub around these curves can be a pain without rubbing a tire...or worse, a wheel on the curb.

 

My solution for the tight drive up window lanes is simple; I don't use them. I park the truck and walk in which results in several benefits, saves gas by turning off the engine, a little walking exercise, and it saves the tire and wheel rubs on those tall curbs they like to install. My truck is over 7' tall and I think it is about 23' long, it will not fit in most parking garages so I don't try those at all. The backup beeper and camera are a great help as well; I believe they are available on the XLT and higher models now. You can also easily install an after market camera.

I've always had at least a longbed supercab so I am used to the bigger trucks but the extra length of the Crew Cab did take a little to get used to.

Mike

 

Sometimes you cannot park, then get out and just walk right in. Some peeps may be on crutches, or use wheelchairs or scooters.

And, in inclement weather, who wants to soak their clothes or freeze their a** off walking into a fast food joint?

 

I went from this...

To this...

This is the smallest truck I have ever owned.
This thing is nothing to manuver and park...it is all what you get use too!

 

Ever driven a school bus, delivery truck, semi? Even a one ton pickup? Our trucks are not big. People drive much bigger trucks on the same city streets every day.

 

About 40 years ago I drove an ice cream truck. Never had to park it in a tight space,though. It is not driving on city streets I worry about, it is parking it in some funky lot.

 

heh... I think Tim might be talking about me here...

in my case, THIS:


Did THIS:


which was over $2,200 in damage (believe it or not). So, we ain't kidding when we say to be careful until you get the feel for the size of these trucks.

 

find the wifes Honda harder to park then the truck hate the little mirrors on cars it is all what you are use too

 

Get the backup camera on the truck. You see a lot of trucks backed because they pulled through the spots, and they are usually not close to the door either. But it is easier to back into a parking spot then to pull in forward. Just like parking a trailer, you can back it in with one try, but it takes 4 times forward and back to pull it in straight. Oh yeah also most truck campers do not recommend them being on a 1/2 ton truck, they do weigh a lot.

 

Careful in those underground garages.

I found a low hanging I-beam with the roof of my truck, when it had just 500 miles on the clock... Haven't got an estimate to repair it yet, but going too. The damage is mostly superficial but I still expect it did a good $1200 worth or more. I have to decide how pretty I want the roof of my brand new truck to be. Right now I am thinking I want it to be pretty.

 

Learn to back it in or find a pull through out in the lot. I've driven tight turning vehicles for years and have just gone back to a full sized truck. Most modern parking lots are made for smaller vehicles. I find I can back in much easier than having to back out. I drove a full sized truck for years before I went to work for a company that provided me with a company mini-van. I got used to the tight turning radius and ease of parking in tight spots. You'll get there soon enough. As for parking in parking garages, the down and dirty is to move somewhere that doesn't have them. I used to live in Houston and that was always a challenge in my old truck twenty years ago. Since then, I've been living in a smaller town, working on the road and don't have to deal with that issue.

Just saying....

 

Don't rely on the camera - those damn things are turning drivers into idiots. We lived in St. Louis and now we are closer to KCMO and I back in everywhere and park in parking garages without so much as a hiccup. I back into spots like an ol' pro. I thinking backing in is easier than going forward. Ha! NO idea why. I don't have a damn back-up camera, nor do I have blind spot mirrors - I can see the back tire through the side mirror and I know where my truck is going.

However, I did have my truck parked in the back of a shopping mall and had some ol' bag run into the backend of it... yes, it was by itself. Agh! I called the police, they were nice and gave the lady a talking to. I didn't want a report b/c I saw no damage - she had literally just parked right into my bumper! I now go everywhere with my tow hitch in

 

I eat out every single day and almost always go through the drive-thru and have never - not ONCE - curbed it in those lanes.