As you may or may not know, I inherited my dad's 2011 Ford F150.

I am having a terribly difficult time, figuring out how close I am to something in front of me. It is making parking very difficult.

Has anyone discovered a trick?

I usually feel like I'm right up on the car, about to hit it, and when I get out, I'm about two or two and a half away.

Thanks in advance,
Dwaine

 

Depends on how ugly you want your truck to look. On larger vehicles you can put a vertical pole (aka snow plow marker) on the leading right hand edge of your bumper so you do not clip cars when going down narrow streets or when plowing. This serves to help mark the location of things in front of you too when parallel parking. I make my own for the rear of my trailers with a LED at the top, especially helpful when backing down a hill or driveway AND when putting a trailer into the garage .

For most people, the obvious answer would be a camera behind the grill, suitable to being subjected to road conditions. An RV or large (tractor trailer) truck camera system would be the choice as I do not think a $50 rear bumper camera would be up to the job.

 

I have the same problem because the size and variables are so hard to judge. Sometimes I have to get back in and move closer. Then you have extensions of rear bumpers to look out for. You just have to practice what is comfortable for you. I used to have to park behind the same vehicle and I just gauged it over several attempts to where I knew exactly where to stop, but that was just one vehicle. My Honda has front proximity sensors which helps alot. I guess you could get some aftermarket setup for the front.

 

You simply need to drive it more, get more comfortable with it. And in time you’ll be able to feel how long it is.

 

I'm getting a new back camera anyway, so I'll just put the camera I have on the back on the front of the truck. I'll be able to see it perfectly.

Now I just need to be able to gauge the sides of the truck. Ha ha.

 

I pretty much find this with each new/different vehicle buy. Just takes awhile. Even when I drive my wife’s Subaru, which I don’t drive much, there’s some rethinking that has to kick in.

 

It's definitely harder with my 2014 F150 Super Crew with 6.5' bed than with my 1995 Bronco. The Bronco's short wheel base and minimal overhang make parking it as easy as a Civic.

Practice. And this is also one reason people back into spots. The backup cam lets you see exactly when your rear bumper is at the parking space's line.

 

In Japan and other areas they add pole mirrors to the front bumper that allow you to look in front of the vehicle

They also add it to the rear bumper on the blind side.