I have a bit of trouble parking my truck, especially at Walmart. I can never get in the spot straight or sometimes not at all without hitting another car. Shes not the tightest turner, but I dont want to park way out in the lot so i dont wave to worry about hitting anyone. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

backing in works best for me.

chris

 

Swing wide. If you're still crooked, back out and try again. Works for me.

 

buy some orange cones, practice. lol

 

It's not you, it's WalMart's parking lots. My Expedition has a great turning radius, but their spots and aisles for parking are very narrow!

 

Wal Mart has the smallest parking spaces. TRUE done on purpose so they can get more spaces per lot thus more shoppers in the stores. They have run into local trouble that dictates space size in many cities but they don't care.

 

i dunno what to tell ya, lol. I can turn into a parking space going the opposite direction than i am. My bronco turns it in with out a problem even if there is cars on either side of the space. Go out and get a bronco, then your troubles should go away. lol j/k about that last part, .

I agree, get some cones and just practice, put them 6 feet apart, thats about like a wally world space, lol.

 

Few steps that work for me:

1.Pull right up about 10' past the parking spot you want and be right in the middle. Doesn't matter if cars are coming or are in the way. They will beep their horns and will backup or move when they realize you don't care they are there. Don't worry they'll get out of the way. Just smile and wave to them when they toot.

2. Crank the wheel all the way to the direction you want to go.

3. Back in and if you happen to be cutting in too tight let up on the wheel a bit.

4. Truck should be parked perfectly centered between lines with rear bumper about a foot away from the back line so old guys won't hit you while they pull in.

5. Above four steps must be accomplished in a minimum of 5 seconds. No pulling forward to get centered between the lines and you must squeal the tires while backing in. Just smile and wave like you did in step 1 if anyone looks at you funny.

Seriously, just work on the parking. It does help to back in and then it's easier to see where the rice burners and people are while you drive out. When you back in make sure you pull up enough, it's better to pull up a bit farther than you have to then not enough and limit the steering wheel travel so you are centered in the lines when you back in.
If you must pull in, be in the middle and turn the wheel tight. With a long truck, you might have to start turning the wheel a bit while backing out of a place. Don't turn the wheel though until you get mostly out and are about 3 ft from the end of the car.
Sometimes when pulling out in a tight area I have to pull out and then back up to get out.
It isn't easy parking a big vehicle, but I've never had the problem you are having. I don't consider my F150 a big vehicle and can park without problems. An Econoline is a little harder to see out of while backing up though. Depends on what you drive. I learned how to drive with a full size van so I've never driven anything small. I've been hauling trailers for a few years and I can parallel park with a good sized one. I guess it's in your blood for some, but for others it's just something to work on.

I agree with peppy. Practice, but make sure you practice parking next to your neighbors car!

 

Heck with it, just take two spots. Keeps the dings and dents out of the truck if you are taking up both spots. Besides, other people can park in the rest of the lot.

 

Yell at the people that park crooked.

 

I think we posted at the same time.

I agree, sometimes I do take two spots because some people don't care when they dent your vehicle or they have a little kid who rams a cart into the side of your truck.

Most of the time I park at the end of the lot as excercise can help you if you can walk that far. However, if I do park at the end of the lot someone else will park next to me. You really can't win.

Park diagonally and really annoy people or if you have something really big like a CC LB Dually, take up four spots.

Hope this helps. Let's not turn parking into rocket science.

 

Ummm, the back of the parking lot might just be best after all. I would expect that your insurance company is not to fond of your hitting other cars and is adjusting your premium accordingly.

 

i always back in it does help.but if you don't want to park further from the store.you know the last spot.yes you have further to walk but atleast you don't have to worry about hitting anyone or anyone hitting you!!

 

You mean that part of the lot gets used?
I've never seen anyone parked there. Usually people keep driving around the lot waiting for that front spot to open.

If they only knew they could be in & out before that spot even opened up 1 hour ago by parking in the back of the lot.

 

Let me let you guys in on another little secret. My dad hurt his ankle on the job a few years ago. Just before he retired, they gave him these little blue tags you hang up on your rear view mirror. You guys know what I'm talking about. These parking spots are always up front and there is normally lots of space on the sides so there aren't any worries for dents. Just watch out for those poles though.

I try to park in normal spots, but if there aren't any other spots and there are other handicapped spots available, incase someone else comes along in greater need of one than I am in; I go that route.

Have your grandma, mom, aunt or someone get you one of those blue thingies. If they don't have one, go whine to the doctor and call him during his lunch break complaining how you knees hurt after walking so far in the parking lot. He'll get tired of you and give you one adventually. If someone accuses you of parking in a handicapped, point to the tag in your truck and then clutch your heart while mumbling something about heart problems to them.