Owning my first full size truck, I now have to worry about how far in I am when pulling into my garage. I needed something to tell me I'm far in enough so the garage door doesn't scrape the tailgate or rear bumper. I looked at different devices online and settled upon a cheap, simple and effective solution.

My first parking aid was the traditional $5 ball and string solution. I hung an antenna ball from a string to touch with the windshield but that wasn't the best solution since it was dependent on where you park the truck laterally. When it's just my truck in the garage, I park about 3-4 feet from the left side wall. With my gf's car in the right hand parking spot, I have to park closer to the left side wall. The hanging ball and the curvature of the windshield puts you in a different depth each time.

So I investigated other devices. I read about the $25 parking mats which work like mini-parking blocks. When your front tire hits it, you're in. Looking at the reviews from other people, they were saying the double-sided tape didn't always stick. There were also $25 cones or flags that you could watch as you pull in. Once your bumper hits the flag pole, you'll see the flag move and you're in. The problem with those is if mat or cone moved, you're done. They also end up in an awkward spot in the garage. When the truck is not in the garage, you have to walk around them. Besides, those devices didn't solve my concern about the side-to-side positioning.

Next I looked into laser pointers and lights tripped by sensors, costing $50 and up. Those seem to work fine but they are also dependent on the side-to-side position of the truck since they often sense the front of the truck.

In the end, I settled on a simple device -- a $20 mirror and about $5 of hardware. I hung a mirror in the rear left corner of the garage.



I mounted the mirror using a hinge along its right edge and held the other edge with a turn buckle and two eye screws. This gave me the ability to adjust the angle of the mirror. The mirror is also out of the way of every thing else so there's no risk of the kids accidentally moving it like the parking mats or flags.



Then I put a piece of tape along the right wall close to the garage door.



When I pull into the garage, I watch my drivers side mirror and this is what I'm looking at. Once my rear bumper lines up with the blue tape, I'm in.



With the garage door closed, you can see I am really close without any guessing. I get to maximize the space in front of the truck.



That's all! I just thought I'd share...

 

Nice idea. Thanks for sharing. Is that a Police Department sign I see???

 

Good thinking. Reps for a simple and inexpensive solution to a common issue!

 

That is a really good idea!!!
That also would NOT work at my house.

Everytime I get the garage cleaned out, my wife brings more 'stuff' in.

I've got two tennis ***** hanging from the garage ceiling, using curtain rod cord.
One for my wife's van.
One for my wife's Camry.

My poor, old, tired truck sits outside.

 

Thanks.

Shhh! The event was over and no one was looking!

 

That's a VERY cool idea.

At least your truck fits. Mine doesn't.

 

i use the tennis ball method but in order to fix the guesswork i hang it so that it touches right where the rearview mirror mounts so when it hits right there its in just right

 

I just screwed a block to the floor.

 

Good advice. I`m sure that will help alot of peeps but unfortunately not me as I`m too big to fit.
Reps given!

 

Glad I'm not alone with this problem

 

I park my '78 in our garage since I'm slowly restoring it. But I just back in until I hit something and see it move