Backing In Large Pickups in Parking Lots

April 23, 2026, 06:20 PM

If you can't back your damn truck, pull in! Smart people, when they buy large vehicles, learn to park and back them. You know, like in an empty parking lot. DON'T do your training at 4pm at Kroger when you're angling for that "close" Parkin slot.

April 23, 2026, 06:35 PM

Prefontaine

It’s a thing here. Not just trucks, any kind of vehicle. They do this right in front of the grocery store or any store. Stop, holdup 3-4 vehicles behind them, put on a show trying to back in. They’ll back in, oh no, didn’t get it, pull up, back up again, and continue to do this 3-4 times. It’s the most infuriating fucking trend I have ever seen, only bested by idiots looking down at their phones will driving. I have literally witnessed this, park out in the sticks. I’m walking in the got damn grocery store or whatever store, and the idiot is still trying to back in, and still holding up the entire parking lot with the bullshit.

April 23, 2026, 06:57 PM

ibanda

Nobody waits on me, I spent my 20s in the valet parking business, you probably wouldn't want to watch me park your car once I went around the corner

Not that I would abuse a customer car, 10 years in the biz without a single wreck. I can move fast enough to scare some people, and I don't need no stinkin backup camera....

April 23, 2026, 07:33 PM

P250UA5

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
I have literally witnessed this, park out in the sticks. I’m walking in the got damn grocery store or whatever store, and the idiot is still trying to back in, and still holding up the entire parking lot with the bullshit.

Yep, I park out further and have made quick runs while people are still trying to get that front spot.

quote:
Originally posted by ibanda:
10 years in the biz without a single wreck. I can move fast enough to scare some people, and I don't need no stinkin backup camera....

5 years working at a couple dealerships, same here.

April 24, 2026, 12:35 AM

OttoSig

This is odd, I find it easier to back in than to pull in as “rear” wheel steering offers a tighter radius.

I also drive a LWB F350 so I tend to park out in the north 40. My wife and kids give me a hard time about it.

April 24, 2026, 06:52 AM

coyotedude

Recently moved to the B/CS area in Texas, to be closer to the kids, et al. Have owned a truck for decades, including current Ram. Seems everybody here drives a truck or big ol' suv, and it's hilarious at times watching folks maneuver their rigs in a parking lot. Also, what's with the brush guards on all these shiny trucks? Bet most of them never leave pavement.

April 24, 2026, 10:09 AM

oddball

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
It’s a thing here. Not just trucks, any kind of vehicle. They do this right in front of the grocery store or any store. Stop, holdup 3-4 vehicles behind them, put on a show trying to back in. They’ll back in, oh no, didn’t get it, pull up, back up again, and continue to do this 3-4 times. It’s the most infuriating fucking trend I have ever seen, only bested by idiots looking down at their phones will driving. I have literally witnessed this, park out in the sticks. I’m walking in the got damn grocery store or whatever store, and the idiot is still trying to back in, and still holding up the entire parking lot with the bullshit.

A thing here? I have seen people backing in for decades EVERYWHERE, not just Texas

.

I'm one of those who back in, and yes, I do it just as quick as many can by pulling in head first. I back into my driveway every single time, have been for decades. Yes, there are those who do not possess the skillset to park this way properly, but I have seen many times a big ass pickup trying to park head-in first, and it take THEM 2-3 times to align up right.

April 24, 2026, 10:49 AM

1860ARMY

Get a Tesla, they do it for ya....

April 24, 2026, 03:23 PM

trapper189

Backing in is much easier. In some places, if cars parked on both sides after I pull in, I wouldn’t be able to back out because I just don’t have the turning radius. In this case, I hadw to pull in or get ticketed for not pulling in:

April 24, 2026, 05:03 PM

4MUL8R

My 3/4 ton is so challenging to park I threaten to sell it. I park far away and pull through whenever possible.

April 24, 2026, 05:33 PM

hudr

Trapper189, I have a very similar pic of my truck in a parking garage in DFW. I had a doctor's appt during COVID, my truck (yes, 4dr, 4x4, long bed f250) was my only mode of transport at the time, and valet was not available. After letting my tow hooks touch the concrete in front and taking my hitch out, I still had 1/2 a lane blocked.
Luckily I was in and out in just a few minutes. If I inconvenienced anyone, I didn't hear about it.

April 24, 2026, 05:54 PM

Rawny

In situations like that, you would be justified to straddle two spaces diagonally, or pass through half way to the space across from yours.

April 24, 2026, 06:47 PM

Fredward

The farmer's wives are the farmers. The get a big Suburban or F350 dually 4wd and really can't even drive them forward, let alone backward. I don't know why they don't just get something like a Corolla and leave the truck to Papa. We're talking horse farms here, so money really isn't an issue. I live in an area where you sometimes see a Masareti parked at the Wal_mart.

April 24, 2026, 07:32 PM

Prefontaine

quote:
Originally posted by oddball:

A thing here? I have seen people backing in for decades EVERYWHERE, not just Texas .

I'm one of those who back in, and yes, I do it just as quick as many can by pulling in head first. I back into my driveway every single time, have been for decades. Yes, there are those who do not possess the skillset to park this way properly, but I have seen many times a big ass pickup trying to park head-in first, and it take THEM 2-3 times to align up right.

No, not what I said. Backing in right in front of a store, and making a fucking show out of it. Holding up other vehicles, taking their sweet time, etc. Nobody gives a flying fuck if you back in or what. This is a new trend of “look at me”. They take their time, need 4-5 attempts. They enjoy holding everyone else up.

April 24, 2026, 08:32 PM

oddball

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:

No, not what I said. Backing in right in front of a store, and making a fucking show out of it. Holding up other vehicles, taking their sweet time, etc. Nobody gives a flying fuck if you back in or what. This is a new trend of “look at me”. They take their time, need 4-5 attempts. They enjoy holding everyone else up.

I back in to a spot at times in parking spots right in front of a store, and don't make a fuckin show of it. In fact, what you seemingly constantly see, I don't see it at all, what seems to be ghetto behavior. In fact, the only slow parkers I see are people, usually much older folks, who have a tough time pulling straight into a spot, and I'm patient and don't get aggravated. I rarely have my head explode off of parking lot situations, except for pedistrians pushing their carts in the way of cars.

But people deliberately fucking with YOU while backing in? Never happened to me, never seen it, neither has my wife, I just asked her. What fucking places do you go to?

April 25, 2026, 11:01 AM

egregore

If newer trucks were not so damn huge, with high stances and beltlines causing poor visibility, no cameras or other parking aids would be needed (provided you can turn your head enough). The same goes for SUVs (with small, high-mounted rear windows, maybe worse), and even sedans to an extent.

April 25, 2026, 11:13 AM

Gustofer

I have the same truck as trapper (except with a topper). I always back in (or pull through so that I'm facing out). Two reasons: First?...Quick exit. Second, and far more annoying, is that even if I have six empty parking spaces on either side of me, some douchebag will pull in directly next to me making it difficult to exit if I'm not backed in.

April 25, 2026, 11:36 PM

Icabod

Coffee stands. We use one that is a stand alone, one lane, two windows, in and out. Then there are 4x4, extended cab, long bed, with lifted body.
When one of these try’s to get coffee, they block the first lane. You can’t go around due to a building. Plus you have someone right behind you.
Worse, most can’t just drive around. They swing wide, then have to back up. I had one that had to get out of his truck and walk to the window.

April 26, 2026, 12:58 AM

Rey HRH

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
It’s a thing here. Not just trucks, any kind of vehicle. They do this right in front of the grocery store or any store. Stop, holdup 3-4 vehicles behind them, put on a show trying to back in. They’ll back in, oh no, didn’t get it, pull up, back up again, and continue to do this 3-4 times. It’s the most infuriating fucking trend I have ever seen, only bested by idiots looking down at their phones will driving. I have literally witnessed this, park out in the sticks. I’m walking in the got damn grocery store or whatever store, and the idiot is still trying to back in, and still holding up the entire parking lot with the bullshit.

I think it's become more common now that most cars have guiding lines when you're backing up. It shouldn't be that hard at all.

"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.