I have found that setting the parking brake to lock the truck in place, instead of that 1" or so of slack that only using the Park selection, to be very handy.

I am often connecting my utility trailer and travel trailer by myself and setting and unsetting the parking brake to be much faster and easier to move, stop, exit to check alignment, re-enter and make another position adjustment.

Also, almost all auto trans selectors will bump into neutral and no further. This is an all forward push motion on a floor mounted shifter, and a mostly forward motion and a naturally slight upward movement on a column mounted shifter. This is a very handy motion to practice as there are many situations you may need to quickly get into neutral without fear of shifting into Reverse or Park. Both Reverse and Park require an unnatural rearward, or sideways motion to access.

 

You would be surprised at how many people do not understand the operation of shifting gears.


Using the parking brake in certain connecting to trailer operations can be very helpful. Good tip.

 

I typically do the same but with a twist. Neutral, pb, and then set the auto into park.

It serves two purposes. Don't have to worry about the gear selector being bumped into gear and you don't get the lurch forward if your truck is backed up an incline.

I usually park my truck this way so that there isn't do much stress on the parking pawl in the tranny.

 

I always use my park brake...........Procedure is D, neutral, apply park brake, release service brake, shift trans to P. That said if I'm hitching to either one of my trailers and have to get out of the truck, right or wrong I just put it in neutral and set the brake. Truck screams and carries on about shifting to P.