Hard time judging front end

I went from a 1990 Civic hatchback, to a 1995 Integra, to a 2005 CRV..now to the Tacoma. This thing is humongous. I'm wary of parallel parking and pulling forward into spots right now as I've only had the truck for a little over a week...

 

78 Chevy C10, to a 68 Mustang, to a 86 Chevy K30, to a 94 Dodge D250 club cab with 8' bed.
Long, shorter, longer, much longer.

I drive a big forklift on job sites though so am used to being inches away from cars while driving heavy equipment. Any vehicle feels small to me on the street.

 

It's a 1911, cocked with safety on. The way the gun was designed to be carried... If you look closely you can see the thumb safety is on

 

Cocked n locked proper way (for primary weapon)... chambered and loaded no safety on drop gun, bang... got it! or nothing in the chamber empty qwick draw mcgraw style and miss...or worse...

Got it carry on.....

 

Condition 1, (cocked and locked) has been utilized for 100 years. It bothers a lot of people who are unfamiliar with the 1911, because it looks scary.

The 1911 (Series 70) has 3 safeties, the thumb safety that is flicked off when ready to fire, the grip safety that prevents the trigger from releasing the sear unless the pistol is gripped properly and the sear disconnector that prevents the gun from firing unless in battery.

Early examples could possibly fire if dropped muzzle first (even with the thumb safety on) due to inertia acting on the firing pin. This brought about the Series 80 1911s that have a firing pin block. Many shooters do not like Series 80 style guns because the trigger is not as light and smooth as the classic version. Modern manufacturing tolerances and the use of lighter alloy firing pins allows new(ish) Series 70 1911 to pass the "drop test"

 

yep....i check into a front camera just for the issue you describe, just have not done it yet. been in mine for over a year and still do not pull in far enough when parking.

 

Empty, cocked, locked and on a vinyl floor.

 

I've had 13 months and 13K+ miles of "time" behind the wheel. Love my truck but the front end still seems long to me compared to my 12' Tundra and my wife's Lexus SUV (which I HATE to drive-shitty vehicle IMO). Even after 1 year I still find myself leaving to much room between my front end and any object in front of me when I park--even pulling into my garage.

 

Let's all get used to the long hood; in a couple of years every vehicle will have them unless the new administration gets rid of the dumb pedestrian crumple zone requirement. It is silly having a hood that long and makes the truck asymmetrical.

+3 for backing into a spot. If I am pulling straight in I park way away from the door and drive through from the other side but when I need to put it in an exact place I back in. The camera is nice but really it is the mirrors that are the most important. Many drivers of all ages and walks of life really don't know how to use the side mirrors properly; learn to use them.

 

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...^^^... I forgot about "curb feelers" lol.

 

To answer you question directly, this is what I do.

I know that the front end drops pretty much straight down. (Maybe a couple inches at the black bumper part)

And where the hood disappears really is where the grill drops. It took me a full time pulling up to a trees on the land to test myself and get a feel for the front end. Just like you do to understand your mirrors and backup camera. Just more annoying to keep getting out and inspecting the front.

 

Something like this may be helpful to add a camera in the front.

http://www.anytimebackupcamera.com/

 

Yes, though we have cheaper home-grown solutions as outlined above by JMaddy13 and also by @Hoangde

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...mera-gps-switches.458293/page-8#post-14291961
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-tacoma-front-and-rear-camera-mod.473033/

 

...^^^... Do those side mirrors fit Gen. 3 Tacomas ??

Been looking for some good mirrors with small mirror inset for better wrap-around-sight.

Or small mirror inserts to put on OEM side mirrors. Trying to find real glass inserts.

Thanks.

 

I also have the same issues. My 91 Dodge Dakota was easier to judge as far as pulling into a parking space. I've added stick on round mirrors to the side mirrors. I can look at them and see if I'm within the lines. Also, it's easier to back in to a space as some have suggested. My main thing is judging where I am with the front end. Decided yesterday to get the wife to spot me when pulling in to a space so that I can judge where I am. I'll do that a few times until I get better at it. As others have said, it's practice. And you can practice in an empty lot as well as far as judging the front space clearance.

 

If you guys want a long hood I have a '62 Cadillac you can park your trucks on with room to spare

 

i did the tennis ball on a string in my garage.....

 

Just curious - when you're sitting in driving position, not leaning to either side, can you see any part of your truck in the side mirrors?