Help! Direction of Torque in Equilibrium Problems

[kiwikahuna]

Homework Statement

I'm working on statics equilibrium problems right now. And I have the HARDEST time finding the direction of torque when I'm trying to formulate my net torque equation. I can't seem to grasp the concept of the moment arm and the direction of the force. I've tried to understand the right hand rule but I am still left very confused. Any physics genius who could help me better understand this, I would appreciate it very much.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Doc Al]

Poke around this site: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/torq.html#torq"