Navigating the 4R into a parking spot?

[mrblah]

going from a full-size pickup to a 4runner, this is night n day easier. Of course, its not as easy as parking a car or CUV.

Its easier to back into a space or if you insist on parking head in, turn as wide as you can when you try to park.

 

[slowveloce]

The one thing that i notice is that even when i think I'm pulling into a parking space pretty close to the left (driver's) side of the spot, I open the door and I'm farther away than i thought. Still not exactly sure why, but now i just park where it feels like I'm almost touching the driver's side stripe, and it's about perfect.

I am the exact opposite, I'm almost always on that line....

 

[dride]

Taking up two spots is a dick move


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[Sparkkky]

I do the same thing! Everyone will whine and complain but I tell them to suck it....it’s my truck! Ever since I got the 4Runner, I’ve gotten into the habit of parking ass first...so much easier than head first.

Sometimes backing in is the only way I can park my F350 crew cab 4WD long bed!

 

[wcjeep]

Pull through parking first. Back in parking second. Never park near the door. Usually park just uphill of the cart return, never downhill.

 

[zoomzoom]

It's nice to know we share the same challenge!

Right now, I actually do park further away from other vehicles

But sometimes that is not always possible due to things beyond our control.

I will practice more! I will practice reversing into a spot too!

 

[zw470]

Coming from an 18' long F150 my 4Runner practically parks itself. Even then it's still the 2nd easiest vehicle to park that I've owned, only thing that beats it was my 2010 Wrangler.

 

[jhguth]

going from a full-size pickup to a 4runner, this is night n day easier. Of course, its not as easy as parking a car or CUV.

Its easier to back into a space or if you insist on parking head in, turn as wide as you can when you try to park.

Easier and also a lot safer. Backing in has been required at a couple places I've worked because of safety.

 

[UncleVerne]

I've had my 4runner for 14mo now, came from a 2007 Silverado crew cab w/ 6" lift.

I'm sure it is me still trying to learn where I am in space after driving the same truck every day for 10 years, but I find my 4runner harder to park. I could almost perfectly park the Silverado with barely a glimpse at the spot (except in parallel parking spots). Now, I park cattywampus all of the time in even the widest of spots.

 

[duck911]

I traded my Tundra for my 4Runner, so parking for me, comparatively, is a DREAM!

I've been running 50-50 front end vs ass end first. The backup camera makes back-in parking a breeze.

 

[Dropzone]

i taught my kids how to park with some traffic cones and a dozen eggs..

 

[RysiuM]

Taking up two spots is a dick move

Only if you park like a dick (line between wheels) :bounce:

In Poland most parking lots near grocery stores are designed for Fiat 500, and 4Runner is almost always to long for one spot. In such places I always park in "through-spot" meaning when my front is in line to parking line, my ass is over the spot behind. In most cases the width of parking spot is enough to park 4Runner between lines.

Same thing for my 1995 ext cab Tacoma (4x4) - to long to park in one spot:

In some paid parking lots or modern parking garages parking spots are just long enough for 4Runner to fit. But the spots are still to narrow to park "front first". I always do back up into parking spot over there. I don't have backup camera but I have sonar sensors (I love them) that tell me about something I'm about to hit. I perfected parking "ass first" just by looking into both mirrors (to see corners) and listening to sensors (when they start continues sound I have about 1 foot to go).

Same thing with my Tacoma but instead of sensors I have backup camera. I mean I still use both mirrors for clearance and backup camera for "touch'n go" distance from my rear bumper.

This is what I see:

This is what I get:

 

[flatspin]

The 4Runner is easy to park. I HATED parking my old full size extended cab pickup so I got rid of it for something smaller and bought a 4Runner. If you continue, maybe something smaller might be in order.

 

[jrandom]

Pull through parking first. Back in parking second. Never park near the door. Usually park just uphill of the cart return, never downhill.

Wise words : You wrote all I had to say... I'd add always try to park uphill of any opening car door too

 

[Double Dubya]

A company I worked for required employees to back in for safety reasons. With a little practice it is almost a quick and easy as pulling in.

 

[johnbt]

Be thankful you didn't have to learn to drive on a 1959 Chevy Impala. :car:

Impala wheelbase = 119 inches 4Runner = 109.8
Impala length = 210.9 4Runner = 190.2
Impala width = 79.9 4Runner = 75.8

 

[Banzai]

Regardless of what kind of vehicle you're driving, parking nose-in and forcing yourself to back out of a parking spot is the worst way to park. When you're ready to leave you have to be aware of other vehicles and people behind you, and you have to rely on your mirrors and turning your head in both directions. If you backed in or pulled all the way through you have a clear view of everything.

The argument I've heard against backing in is that it's not possible to load groceries/gear in the back/trunk because there's no room to get the cart back there. I disagree. Just don't park with the rear of your vehicle right up against the line separating your spot from the one behind it. I've never *not* been able to get my cart behind my vehicle.

 

[sarcoid]

I've always thought of backing into a spot this way; when you backing into a parking spot you have had full view of your surroundings and you are more aware and comfortable with your vehicle.

Alternatively, when you're backing out of a spot, you've only been in the vehicle a minute or so. You're performing a maneuver that's pretty complicated with limited sight lines. That always seems like more of a chore and a headache than just simply pulling forward with greater visibility.

I always look to back into a spot as much as possible.