Parking pad for garage

KenSilver · 11-15-04, 04:06

I bought two garage parking helpers yesterday at a car show, and they work quite well. When you run your front wheel up to the pad, you feel the first bump, then settle into the second bump. This positions the car accurately.

In practice it works well enough, but I had to put them on a rubber mat because they kept being pushed away by the wheel on the shiny paint surface of my garage floor.

The real test will come when my wife gets to use hers (she's out at the moment). Machinery, technology and her are -- well, let's say they're not quite compatible!

KenSilver · 11-16-04, 11:46

No-one has any comments, improvements or congrats?

MongooseGA · 11-16-04, 12:08

Congrats!

Is this the same company that makes the wall guards for your doors?

NYV6Coupe · 11-16-04, 01:42

I put a 2" x 4" x 8' board on the floor to position the car where I want it & I put a couple swimming pool noodles on the walls to protect the doors.

Cheap & it works so I can spend money on more useful stuff like a PC & pads, Poorboy's, 4*, Pinnacle prodcuts ........

Jimmy Buffit · 11-16-04, 02:34

Thousands of folks hang a ball from the ceiling in front of the driver. When the ball meets the windshield. Stop. Simple. Effective.

Jim

KenSilver · 11-16-04, 06:33

Quote:

Originally posted by MongooseGA
Congrats!

Quote:

Is this the same company that makes the wall guards for your doors?

Yes, I bought one those too. Will put a pic up when I mount it.

KenSilver · 11-16-04, 06:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy Buffit
Thousands of folks hang a ball from the ceiling in front of the driver. When the ball meets the windshield. Stop. Simple. Effective.
Jim

Sure, for folks in moderate climes! We live at the top of a hill (alt 900 meters) and there is a constant wind. It would be like playing tennis with your car

KenSilver · 11-29-04, 08:03

Update
^^^^^
They don't work too well.

I'm now looking for something to anchor these pads to the floor. Even the rubber mat didn't do the trick to hold them in place. As soon as the front wheel hits the front of the parking pad - even before it gets to the first bump - it pushes the pad along the floor.

Anyone got any ideas on how to secure them to the painted floor?

Glue won't work. Scuffing the paint is not practical. Using concrete screws might be the answer, but I could have done that with a plank and saved myself the purchase.

Ken Silver
--------------
1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...

paco · 11-29-04, 08:46

There are a couple of cheaper options you could explore.

1. Cut a piece of 2x4 to size from the wall to the tire's edge. Mark a spot on the wall or floor where to line it up. As soon as you hit it. You're there.

Cheap. About $2. Easily moveable.

2. Tennis ball trick discussed above.

3. Put a cheap $3 gym locker mirror on the side wall, next to the nearest obstruction that you are trying to avoid. Presto. Easy way to gauge where to park.

The key in my opinion is not to have anything permanently fixed to the floor. Otherwise, Murphy's law will come into play and you'll forever be tripping over the freaking parking marker! It'll get it in the way when you try and sweep etc.

The wall guards are interesting and I almost picked those up last winter. I seem to recall some 1/8th or 1/4th rubber at a local build it center. I'll try and see if I can rig something this winter for my fiance that looks nice as it can be a tight squeeze for her in the garage.

Paco

Paco

saling4 · 11-30-04, 02:58

How about some velcro and a couple spots of liquid nails? The velcro would allow you to move it and the liquid nails would only make small spots under the pad.

Brian

audio1der · 11-30-04, 04:08

Adhesive velcro strips.

Either that (my best suggestion), or place the parking mats far enough back on the rubber mats, that the wheel of the car rests on the mat before hitting the first bump. That should hold it in place. I have to use my old rubber winter mats under my ramps, or I get the same thing.

az57chevy · 11-30-04, 04:53

Could you put sandpaper or those slip prevention strips from a hardware store to keep them in place?

Also I used plumbing insulation tubes (to prevent hot water loss) around nearby shelving to prevent the inevitable dings