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A simple stop sign on a pole is, in my opinion, the best and cheapest way to know when to stop in your garage.
There are parking aids that cost hundreds of dollars with proximity sensors and green, yellow and red lights. This Sharper Image garage parking stop sign is just a sign: when your bumper touches it and it moves, you stop. It also has flashing LEDs that kick on when you bump it. I paid about $13 for it on Amazon. That exact model is no longer listed, so the button goes to a similar flashing LED stop sign.
- Weighted base does not slide around when you brush against it
- Adjustable height for low cars or tall SUVs
- Flashing LEDs make the stop point obvious
- Cheap and dead simple
- Probably a rebranded generic sign
- The LEDs are a bonus; the sign moving is the real signal
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Why a stop sign beats a tennis ball
When I was a kid, my dad hung a tennis ball from a string in the garage, and we drove in until it touched the windshield. It worked, but it was a little ghetto, and I used to swat at it with a tennis racket and mess everything up.
A parking stop sign does the same job in a cleaner way. You set it where your bumper should stop, and when the sign moves, you are there.
The weighted base
The base is about 8 inches round and Sharper Image branded. When I picked up the box I could hear sand in it, so it is maybe half to three-quarters full.
That is what I like most. One of the other signs I reviewed had a light plastic base that slid around if you just brushed it walking by. A heavier base like this is ideal.
Adjustable height
There are four pole sections, about a foot each, that connect on top of a spring. You can build it as tall as you need: maybe three sections for my Fiat, all four for my GMC Terrain, or just two for something low like a Corvette or a Countach.
The sign has a reflector and LED elements. Pull out the little plastic tab to connect the watch batteries, and the LEDs flash whenever the sign gets bumped. They are pretty bright.
About the buy link
The Sharper Image sign I reviewed is no longer listed on Amazon, so the button goes to the PARKEZ flashing LED parking stop sign, a similar garage stop sign with flashing lights. Check the listing for its base and height details.
Verdict
Even if the LEDs ever quit, which happened on one of my other signs, seeing the sign wobble when you touch it is a clear sign to stop. For about $13, with a weighted base and adjustable height, I really like this one.
FAQ
How does a garage parking stop sign work?
You place it where your bumper should stop. When the car touches the sign it moves, and on this one the LEDs start flashing, so you know to stop.
How tall does it go?
With four roughly one-foot sections, you can get about four feet plus the base and sign, and you can use fewer sections for lower cars.
What powers the lights?
Small watch-style batteries. Pull out the plastic tab to activate them.
Why does the weighted base matter?
A light base can slide around if you brush against it. The sand-weighted base keeps the sign where you put it.
Is this an affiliate link?
Yes. The buttons are #ad affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra.
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