I need a GRM solution!

We have a large open area at work, and I'm attempting to get people to park several dozen cars with the front bumpers aligned with a line on the concrete. Ideally, it looks very similar to this:

I need to devise a system that will raise that line (on the concrete) up to eye level, making it easier to line up while inside the vehicle. This system must be: a) less than $100 b) easily portable by one person c) free standing (can't attach to a wall/pillar/etc) d) durable e) able to span roughly 40 yards

Currently I'm using 4ft high orange pylons with a nylon rope strung between them:

This works okay right now, but the pylons are unwieldy for one person, and the rope has a shelf life of about 3 months, regardless of what type of rope we've used.

I've pondered using these guys, but they seem too expensive, too short, and I'm worried the retraction mechanism will fail the first time they get hit with a car:

Help me GRM, what else can I use?

Honestly the pylons and rope seem like the best idea. Use the $100 to buy/build a cart for the pylons to make them easier to move by 1 person and to stock up on rope.

How about you pay a kid $100 to line up the cars as they pull in?

Yeah I don't think you're gonna do much better than that...but 3 months, really? Nylon ropes seem to last forever.

Why does the rope go bad? My lines on my sailboat are good for years.

Use chain or aircraft cable instead of rope?

I have to ask... why is it so important to park cars with that accuracy?

Most things that would be somewhat stable and can withstand abuse will weigh a bit.

Car dealerships do this kind of thing. Usually involves lots of squinting, hand waving, and colorful language.

A cheap laser pointer and a bucket of dry ice?

Put some Floyd on the PA for good measure.

Grtechguy wrote: Use chain or aircraft cable instead of rope?

Oh good idea, finally a use for plastic chain, if you can get some made of UV-stable plastic that should hold up forever, no rust, no problems.

Stringline, 4 eyeballs, and hand waving. Worked for the Egyptians.

Appleseed wrote: Stringline, 4 eyeballs, and hand waving. Worked for the Egyptians.

They parked cars?

How about a 3 foot tall driveway marker with a 1 pound weight as a base that you can sit on the line and drive the car up to until you see it wiggle? (Image not to scale) Just fill the center hole of the weight with epoxy and insert the driveway marker, secure it in place until cured, then you should be in business. Better yet, make it collapsible by epoxying a tube that is just large enough to slide the driveway marker into. Maybe make a few of them to expedite the parking.

Landmines?

Brick wall?

Put a pylon in front of each spot, then place a raw egg on top of each pylon, the simply hire Jan Brady to park all of the cars. Problem solved.

Just build a brick wall or install concrete pylons.

EastCoastMojo wrote: How about a 3 foot tall driveway marker with a 1 pound weight as a base that you can sit on the line and drive the car up to until you see it wiggle? (Image not to scale) Just fill the center hole of the weight with epoxy and insert the driveway marker, secure it in place until cured, then you should be in business. Better yet, make it collapsible by epoxying a tube that is just large enough to slide the driveway marker into. Maybe make a few of them to expedite the parking.

I personally like this best. Alternatively, you could hand out Tasers to, er, 'supervisory personnel'.

Ranger50 wrote: Just build a brick wall or install concrete pylons.

I love how the word "just" can make anything sound simple. ;-)

Yeah, I'm dying to find out the reason for this precision stuff.

dculberson wrote:

Ranger50 wrote: Just build a brick wall or install concrete pylons.

I love how the word "just" can make anything sound simple. ;-)

if they are al the same car you could use something to stop the wheel.

And I thought it was a nightmare to get my wife to park straight in the garage (tennis ball and a vertical line on the front wall worked)!

Osterkraut wrote: And I thought it was a nightmare to get my wife to park straight in the garage (tennis ball and a vertical line on the front wall worked)!

My father claims to have invented that back in the 70's.

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, I'm dying to find out the reason for this precision stuff.

Trying to pack 140ish cars into very limited space. Every car is parked at a (roughly) 45 degree angle to aid in vehicle removal and maximize space. Need to leave? Turn the wheel slightly left and pull forward.

When cars get parked off the intended line by a foot or so, it's screws up the feng shui and make it impossible to move other vehicles out.

This current system was intended to be idiot proof, but my fellow employees have proven to be better idiots.