So I was just curious what is the secret to getting exactly in the middle of a parking spot? am I the only on that ends up in the spot straight but with to much space on one side. I could park my pontiac montana on a dime. But I can't seem to get the hang of parking my F150. I hope I dont sound like an dumb dumb. But like I said I get in the parking spot just not in the middle I allways end up on one side or the other? Hope you can help. thanks

 

Its harder to judge when parking a truck then parking a car. I find it easier to back into spaces. I can park better backing in then pulling into a space.

 

I agree with fordman. Try backing into a spot because then you can use your mirrors to guide you. If you cant back up or dont like to try doing a 3 point turn. Pretend like your going to park in the spot next the spot you want. Stop. Reverse and crank the wheel the opposite way. Put it into drive. Glide right in. I am pretty damn good at parking. Backing up, pulling in or parallel. I learned to drive on my moms excursion and then I when I got my license I drove it to school and had to park in tiny spaces they provided. Practice a little more and you will get it!

I actually find it harder to park a smaller car directly in the middle.

D

 

Go to a parking lot and do a trial run on an open spot, and when you get it centered properly, back out and pull in again, making a mental note of where the parking line intersects with your hood as you approach it. You have fairly limited vision in a large truck so you just have to kind of develop a feel for it as you drive the vehicle more.

 

Just back in. I still can't pull this huge *** truck into a parking spot straight on half the time. I can back it in on a dime pretty quick though, especially with a backup camera.

 

Find a parking lot with a long straight line. Park your vehicle so that your passenger side tires are just touching the inside edge of the line. Make a mental note of where that line intersects with the hood of your truck. Do the same for the driver's side of the truck. Now practice driving up to the line at a 90 degree angle and turning your truck onto the line so that it is just touching it. Do this until you can do it every time, and it seems way too easy. You should now have a feel for where your vehicle is, based on the lines of a parking space. Parking should be a no brainer once you've developed a "feel" for where your ride is. In fact, once you've developed this "feel" for one vehicle, it's easier to do for other vehicles.

 

It just takes time and practice to get it right and learning where the corners of your truck are and how it turns. When I got the truck I am driving now I hated tight parking lots and now I can park it in just about any spot as long as it's not to narrow. It is easier to back a truck into a parking spot than it is to drive it in.

 

Also another tip, if you are pulling into a spot and there is a window or some sort of object that has your reflection in it, use that to help guide yourself.

 

Use your mirror's and practice in a empty parking lot. These truck's are easy compared to a tractor trailer rig!

 

^This.

These left and right imaginary points on your hood will also keep that big rig in your lane as you go down the road.

 

I agree backing in is much easier. I found the little 'fish eye' mirrors for blind spots are helpful in gauging how are you are from the lines if you can't back in. Good luck Melissabeth!! If you find any tips post em up, I know I can't park straight half the time.
Rhonda

 

I'm suprised no one has said this-

With a car you turn the wheel and the whole car turns.

With a truck, its so long you have to "lead" the back wheels and bed length with the front tires. Compared to a car, my 98 actually has better steering response (lock to lock) so I pull the front a little farther than I would a car (get the rear of the truck basically where I want it) and then swing the front end into the spot. The rear tires should follow and you'll end with a perfectly straight line. I can do this 98% of the time. I honestly can't remember the last time I had to back up to retry parking. I tend to back in 50% of the time. Mostly because its faster response to the fire station when I'm parked at my house and secondly when I'm at work I can see better for oncoming traffic in the parking lot than backing out and hoping some jackarse isnt doing 70 and creams the side of your bed.

 

I find it much easier to either take 2 spots or just use the handicap----they're much bigger.

Just kidding. Practice in an open lot as mentioned earlier, you'll get it.

 

You should have seen some of the wierd looks I got at the Hospital Sunday when I took up eight spots with my truck and the fifth wheel.

 

I like to back into spots when possible. I got in the habit of doing that after i got my windows tinted, it was safer to back in during the day at work, and drive out at night.