Crew cab size and parking garages....
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Crew cab size and parking garages....
I'm looking to get an F250 short bed crew cab in the next couple weeks and have a quick question on parking it... I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee now (much smaller obviously) and we also have an 02 Escalade (larger but, still not as long as the crew cab). I work in Philadelphia and usually take the train in but, sometimes drive in too. How bad is the short bed crew cab to park in parking garages?
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It's a challenge, but doable. I'd be way more cautious about the height than the length though. That's what sometimes stops me. Even if you pass under the height bars at the entrance, there are inevitably sprinkler pipes, angled curves, etc. which will narrow things down even more.
In terms of length, be prepared to drive to the top of the garage looking for an easy spot to park in. I'd rather park easily (with plenty of room to get out again) and walk a bit farther, than to spend a lot of time wedging the truck in, and retrieving it again later.
Duncan
In terms of length, be prepared to drive to the top of the garage looking for an easy spot to park in. I'd rather park easily (with plenty of room to get out again) and walk a bit farther, than to spend a lot of time wedging the truck in, and retrieving it again later.
Duncan
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From: Gilbert
I have about the same wheelbase as you (sc, long bed) and I used to park in my garage here at work all the time. That all came to a halt when I lifted it. As previously stated, watch your height. If the antenna hits the clearance bar, you might want to reconsider parking there, otherwise drive SLOWLY (my antenna sticks up about an inch or so above the cab, giving me that much extra room)...
And like Frobozz said, do yourself and the people you'd park next to a favor and park where everyone else doesn't. Otherwise you're gonna have some unhappy people parked next to you, and you never know where that's gonna lead to.
Our trucks are parking spot pigs...
And like Frobozz said, do yourself and the people you'd park next to a favor and park where everyone else doesn't. Otherwise you're gonna have some unhappy people parked next to you, and you never know where that's gonna lead to.
Our trucks are parking spot pigs...
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Illinois
Hi,
I live in Chicago and drive a sd250 8 ft bed. I had to check around to find a garage with a larger entrance so I could fit. Check around , most are made so a tow truck can jusssst slip in the newer garages are usually setup that way. Just remeber to try and park in such a way that the other folks don't block you in because of your size!!!
I live in Chicago and drive a sd250 8 ft bed. I had to check around to find a garage with a larger entrance so I could fit. Check around , most are made so a tow truck can jusssst slip in the newer garages are usually setup that way. Just remeber to try and park in such a way that the other folks don't block you in because of your size!!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Huntington Indiana
roof height
Just measured our 04 and it stands 84" high at the roofline
.Makes my wife very nervous when I go into ramps with 2" of clearance
Last edited by bigredtruckmi; Mar 10, 2005 at 06:25 PM.
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I have the same truck (F-250, CC, short bed) and live in a city built around the compact car (Boulder, CO). Parking can be tough at times, I usually back in because it's easier. The mirrors are great and the rear sensors allow you to back within 10" of what's behind you, I can't get near that close parking forward. Watch out for garages, I went in one with a sign in the front that said 6'10" drove up to the top level couldn't find a spot then I see a 6'8" sign, no way to turn around so I went for it. The F-250 is published at 6'8" so I must have barely made it. I avoid garages whenever possible but you should be able to fit in most.
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I am currently finishing a concrete parking garage project in the NW. Minimum height allowed by national building codes is 7'-2", while ADA van accessible stalls and drive isles are required to be 8'-4" clear to allow for the modified vans, this applies to all piping beams, conduits, etc. That is why you will usually find the first level of a parking garage with more headroom than the rest of the levels. My 04' 4x4 CC SB had less than an inch of clear in one of our local parking garages on the nonADA van levels. It was a little to nerve racking for me, so I quit parking in garages, unless they were ADA levels. My 05' is a different story, it has yet to go into a parking garage.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Georgia
8'4" is at the aft end of the cab! If you add a topper you will need to measure at the aft end of the camper. (The butt end is higher on SD's) Dont forget to add for the bike rack/kayak hauler!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) they remove themselves with a load crunching noise.
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I ran into this problem (literally) about 3 years ago. Cleared the height sign with plenty to spare then 20 feet into the structure the sign changes. No where to go had to lower tire pressure to get out. Now I carry a mini 12volt air pump. So just what everyone else said watch the height and set yourself up to back in. Good luck parking garages suck.
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Never, never, ever trust the height of those white tubular things that hang from chains in parking structures. If you do, you'll end up spending 6 hours buffing out white paint, polishing and waxing your roof. Then, when it's all shiny, you can admire the scratches that didn't fully buff out as well as the nice creases and dents.
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From: Scranton, PA
Parking with these trucks is definitely tough. Length, height, and even width. I feel that these trucks are wider than my previous '94 f-150. I think the stock height of my crew was 6'9". I measured from the ground to the top of the back of the cab. I don't know where the previous poster got 8'4"? I have also been to Philly and parking is a pain. As mentioned before watch for clearances, and always back in to a spot it is much easier. I have a crew cab long bed, so parking for me is even worse. When I first got the truck i was really worried about parking and driving it in general. But after a few weeks I got used to the size and learned where I should park and not park. The short bed won't be to bad.