Parallel Parking

[Vertigo]

Not pushing in terms of power delivery, but pushing the non-steering end with the steering end, like a rear-wheel-steering vehicle such as a forklift.

Assuming no wheel spin or other slippage twixt tyre and road, the driven wheels aren't relevant here.

I've had this discussion/debate before and it's really hard to describe why you can't always reverse the exact same path.

 

[PMKeates]

I think it's all to do with the fact that the wheels don't turn in unison and are free to move at different rates.

 

[DanTheMan]

I think I'm with you Vertigo. If you managed to reverse into a tight space in a FWD car, due to the tail swing of the rear of the car when reversing, the only way to replicate that when getting out of the space would be to reverse out, which would be pretty impossible?

 

[ste_bla]

All I know is i dont ever bother trying to drive in as its far easier to reverse (esp the transit)

 

[divine`]

I think I'm with you Vertigo. If you managed to reverse into a tight space in a FWD car, due to the tail swing of the rear of the car when reversing, the only way to replicate that when getting out of the space would be to reverse out, which would be pretty impossible?

...no. The car would be able to travel the same path as it did to go in.

If it reversed in, then the front of the car being able to 'swing' is exactly why it drives straight out again, because by applying full lock and driving forwards, the front just 'swings' back out.

 

[mrk]

I P-Park forwards and backwards.

Backwards of course everyone is aware of but for forwards I slowly drive "into" the space making sure the left front wheel goes onto the curb then then turn the wheel "right" so the car straightens up, the front and rear are in alignment with the curb.

Dead easy and no fuss or any downsides.

The only issue is that you can't do this on the high curbs unless you want to potentialy damage the front bumper

 

[Clarkey]

I think I'm with you Vertigo. If you managed to reverse into a tight space in a FWD car, due to the tail swing of the rear of the car when reversing, the only way to replicate that when getting out of the space would be to reverse out, which would be pretty impossible?

what has the drive configuration of the car got to do with anything?

 

[DanTheMan]

what has the drive configuration of the car got to do with anything?

It doesn't, I'm being a noob, my mind was baffled trying to figure out how you would get into a space and not be able to get out.

 

[Dashik]

Its all to do with the radius each wheel turns on. Driving forward if you turn left sharply while moving slowly the rear wheels will turn inside the front wheels. Have you seen car parks when it snows? Cars leave more than two track when they park etc, So when you reverse park into a confined space you get the maximum manouverability from the car by moving the front around the rear. Pivoting on the wheel nearest the center of radius.

Theres a reason why most forklift trucks are rear wheel steer.

 

[Dashik]

If you want to really mess with your head, consider that, due to only one end of the car steering, it's technically possibly to get into a space which you then can't get out of, no matter how good a driver you are

Its not that hard to visualise. Think of reversing into a gap between two posts that you have to turn sharply into due to an obstruction in front of it. Using the manoevrability of the car in reverse means you can get in. Due to the fact that the rear wheels cut inside the front when you move forward then you will hit the post if you have to turn as soon as you start moving. Assuming you dont allow shuffling back and forward to get out.

I tell my pupils when leaving a parking space to get at least halfway out before they start to turn for this very reason. Saves them clipping a car next to them.

 

[commited]

This is the problem, you can't do the exact reverse/opposite going the other way. When you steer going forward, the rear of the car is effectively "dragged" along. When you reverse, you're pushing the rear of the car rather than dragging it and it's not always possible to make the rear wheels (which can't steer) follow the exact same path they took before.

WHAT?! That's ridiculous. Unless you have worn suspension that lets the wheels move around, and you do at a slow enough pace, you can always get out of a space you can get into.