I take my drivers test soon, zj too big?

sevenscrew · 08-29-2012, 06:10 AM

Have 32s (11ish wide) on 4" of lift. I need to figure what vehicle I can use for the test to get my license. Would the bigger tires and steering angles present a harder chance at parallel parking on the first try? I'm confident I can do it with the right vehicle assuming I drive the vehicle a couple days prior to get use to it.

25 feet is the spot opening. 6 feet wide. At the least 2-3 feet in front of front and back bumpers.

My e brake works so it should not fail me the only thing it could is the lift and big tires.

SKorch630 · 08-29-2012, 06:40 AM

I learned and took my test in a yukon XL years ago lol but if youre comfortable with your ability in the vehicle than youre fine. Get two cones and setup a test track if youre worried. I learned a tip in chicago city parking... Line your passenger mirror up with their driver mirror. Full cut wheel to get into the spot, then slowly start going back to straight wheel. The approach is the hardes part. You can fix your distance easy after youre in the spot. Good luck

sevenscrew · 08-29-2012, 07:02 AM

Thank you! the only thing im really worried about is looking back and doing the right attention and steering correctly. i cant palm the wheel i reverse either right? so i cant put my hand behind the passenger's headrest to parallel park unless im backing straight up? I palm the wheel for everything... i drove on the parkway about 10 times since i had my permit for about 1-2 hours every way. and i drive every single day, and do atleast 1 hour of driving a week on average so i have plenty of driving skill. its just i never over the hand steer.. Lol so imnot use to it

nicklopic · 08-29-2012, 08:03 AM

my advice is to practice driving like that as much as possible before your test so youre more comfortable
and be overly cautious, give them no reason to take points off of your score

leadfootny · 08-29-2012, 08:04 AM

It has been quite awhile since I took my road test, but iirc, both hands need to be on the steering wheel at all times..including backing up. I personally would not recommend using a lifted vehicle for a road test. Last thing you would want is for the inspector to have any kinds of trouble getting in, or feel the vehicle is unsafe if it has any kinds of vibrations or other issues that most jeeps have. Or if the person has any kinds of negative opinion on wheeling, could set the tone for the entire road test. Could go either way, but why introduce a variable? IMO, if you have access to a standard car or stock jeep, I would use that over a lifted one.

LouC · 08-29-2012, 08:05 AM

If yo practice a lot you should be able to do it, the ZJ is actually very short at 177 inches long, only 5 inches longer than the '89 Toyoya Corolla I had before the ZJ. I took my road test on a '72 Chevy Chevelle 40 years ago, that was about 3 feet longer and 4 inches wider than the ZJ. Our family car then was a '72 Chev Impala that was as long and wide as a Ford Expedition, I used to park it all the time. The ZJ has nice big windows and it easy to see out of, much easier than my 07 WK.....just practice....

mike9316 · 08-29-2012, 08:27 AM

i took mine in a 93 chevy g20 van believe me the zj i drive is 10x easier than that haha

sevenscrew · 08-29-2012, 08:41 AM

well no other vehicle we own fits the requirements. the vehicle must have a center e brake, or no center console so they can reach the foot brake. my moms stock grand cherokee Idles too high(1 thing it fails requirements one) and the e brake thing is seized that is in between the 2 brake pad shoes for the rotor so it doesnt work at all. also her driverside door only closes halfway (im not sure if they would care) her VC is shot. the steering is really easy to over turn because it spins with a pinky!, the sway bar link mount is broken and we are still looking to get it welded, so the thing sways like a beast!! haha.

I was going to use my grandmothers malibu its like a 90 something but i think the e brake is a foot brake. so im still looking for a nother vehicle to take it in besides my jeep.

I dont want them giving me a bad grade on how theyll have to jump up into my jeep. most girls have trouble getting in lol

nicklopic · 08-29-2012, 09:00 AM

my god... it sucks to live in jersey

it seems as though your GC is your only choice so just make the best of it and practice before hand
in ny the conditions for a vehicle are simply that it is registered, insured, and has a clean inspection.

leadfootny · 08-29-2012, 09:03 AM

Wait, NJ requires a center e-brake? What kind of crap is that? The inspector shouldn't need to have access to any controls on the vehicle as passenger. I could see that being a requirement for learning to drive but not for the test. I would check again to make sure that is correct.

sevenscrew · 08-29-2012, 09:13 AM

i read it right off the mvc site. im goign to call them and ask some questions!

heh, the person i spoke with didnt really sound too smart about it, she just said it has to be insured registered inspected..

so i said, i thought i read somewhere that it has to have a center e brake, and she said oh and yea that too. so i cant really take her word.. she sounded real relaxed lol.

I think ill just try to fix my Moms E Brake and use that. how exactly do I unseize the little actuator piece that opens when the cable pull its? it doesnt spread or anything. the same thing happened on my jeep, but i had a shop fix it when i wasnt into fixing my own jeep.

its a 96 4.0 rear disc brakes.

Foundrydude · 08-29-2012, 03:56 PM

Can I point out the obvious?

If you can't perform those basic maneuvers in your own truck you should be failed. The rest of us use the same roads!

Plan C. Rent a car. You wouldn't be the first.

good luck!

sevenscrew · 08-29-2012, 06:22 PM

well i can .. its just i never had the chance to really try to paralell park. i live in a real small town where parking isnt an issue. the closest thing to having to parallel park is in my grandparents town, and i still dont have to do it there either. its one of the things i never in my life i never really got to try. i did it twice though haha.

and i exaggerated, i CAN over the hand steer, it just feels weird because Im not use to it. I do it all the time in the woods and dont notice it tho lol

**Uniblurb** · 08-29-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenscrew

i read it right off the mvc site. im goign to call them and ask some questions!

heh, the person i spoke with didnt really sound too smart about it, she just said it has to be insured registered inspected..

so i said, i thought i read somewhere that it has to have a center e brake, and she said oh and yea that too. so i cant really take her word.. she sounded real relaxed lol.

I think ill just try to fix my Moms E Brake and use that. how exactly do I unseize the little actuator piece that opens when the cable pull its? it doesnt spread or anything. the same thing happened on my jeep, but i had a shop fix it when i wasnt into fixing my own jeep.

its a 96 4.0 rear disc brakes.

Are you sure you're reading the NJ MVC ebrake guidelines right?

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/RoadTest.htm

Under: "What to bring to a road test", item #5

"A registered vehicle with current inspection sticker and insurance card. Vehicle cannot have a center console unless the emergency brake is accessible from the passenger seat. Examiner must be able to reach either the foot brake or parking brake.".

Heck yes, the examiner can reach the parking brake lever from the passenger seat! I just hope you've fixed that WOT sticking problem and the examiner is left handed!

sevenscrew · 08-29-2012, 07:11 PM

What wot sticking problem xD? I am gonna replace the iac do the idle isn't so dang high. And what are you correcting me on? I'm aware I need a vehicle with a center e brake. Or no console so their foot can reach the normal brake lol