Large vehicles, such as SUVs, pickups, and RVs take up a lot more space than an average car. They also need to have a larger garage and garage door. Those who know about the standard garage door sizes will find that those sizes likely won't do it for larger vehicles.
Garage doors that are 9' wide by 7' high will have trouble handling larger vehicles. Fortunately, we can create custom garage doors in whatever size might be needed. Below, you will find some tips that can help you find the perfect garage door.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Large Pickups and SUVs: What You Should Know About Garage Doors
1- SUVs and trucks are large vehicles. What size garage door do I need to store my SUV or pickup in the garage?
How tall are most sport utility vehicles? JD Power says that SUVs tend to range from 5'5" high to 6'4" high. Pickup trucks are generally between 6' and 6'5". What does this mean for your garage door? Most of the time, your pickup or SUV will fit into a 7' high garage door. Of course, this isn't going to provide as much space as some might like. those who would feel a bit more comfortable with more space should consider a 7.5' to 8' garage door. When it comes to the width, an 8' wide garage door should work well.
Once you determine the right size for your garage door, you can then start to look at the options for various garage door styles. It is a good idea to consider several styles and colors and to check our image gallery to get some ideas.
Do you have a garage that is attached or one that is detached? Those who have attached garages will want to be sure they have insulation. This helps to keep the cool air inside on hot days, and it helps to keep the warm air inside during the winter. Good insulation has the potential to help reduce your electricity bill.
We can provide a range of insulation options. What R-value is right for you? The insulation you choose won't do anything to alter the look or style of the garage door. Those who need a lot of insulation for their garage door will want to consider an R-16 option, such as Vog or North Hatley LP.
In this image, you can see the Standard+ Vog garage door. Here, you see it in Charcoal with a Left-side Harmony window layout. These are larger garage doors, 9' x 7', that can work well for SUVs or pickups.
Do you need to get a double garage door or a second garage door? How wide should a double garage door be?
Ultimately, the answer to this question will depend on how comfortable you are when it comes to parking two vehicles in a relatively small location. In some cases, people will have no trouble putting two cars into a 12' wide garage door. Other people will want to have more space and would be happier with a garage door that's 16' wide.
The most popular double garage doors are going to be 16' high and 8' wide. They tend to work for many different types of vehicles, including large ones. However, you can always opt for our custom-made doors to fit any special needs you might have. Find the option that works well for your needs.
The Standard+ North Hatley LP design for garage doors is seen here in 16' x 8', Moka Brown. It features four vertical lite Orion windows. This is a nice wide door, so two cars can park next to one another.
2- What garage door lift works well for this type of garage door?
The standard option is the most used type of lift. With one of these, you will want to have at least 12 inches or more above the garage door, so it will fit. Those who want the installer on the ceiling will need to have an extra two inches of room.
What if you don't have the needed 12 inches? In those cases, you could opt for a low front headroom lift. This works well for garage doors with less than 10 inches of space.
Inclined tracks will follow the slope of the roof, which can work well for cathedral ceilings.
3- What hardware is needed for a large garage door?
If you have a garage door that is less than 8'1", you can typically use residential hardware without worry. We provide two options for residential garage door hardware—bolted and Dura+.
Differences Between the Garage Door Hardware:
Depending on the garage door model, it might come with bolted hardware or with the Dura+ hardware. You can always talk to your garage door expert and have the hardware switched to the other one if needed. You can also talk with the experts about the various options for hardware systems.
4- What is the best garage door opener for SUVs and pickup trucks?
Because most of these vehicles will fit into a garage door that is 7' to 8' high, you should be able to opt for any residential electric garage door opener.
Learn about the features of the openers and then figure out what's right for you.
- The LiftMaster 87504-267 opener has some great benefits. It is a quiet garage door opener and works on a belt-drive system. It features a two-way microphone and an HD camera, which are accessible through a smartphone. This gives owners real-time access to their garage via their phone.
- The LiftMaster 8500W opener is another option. This is a wall-mounted garage door opener, and it tends to be a nice choice for those who want to have more ceiling space or who have high lift elevation hardware. The motor on this garage door opener is powerful, as well, and is capable of opening garage doors up to 14' high.
- The LiftMaster 87802 garage door opener uses a chain drive system. These aren't as quiet as the belt-drive option. However, it does work well in garages where noise will not be an issue, such as a detached garage. While this option doesn't have a camera, it does have a battery backup, which is helpful if the power goes out.
With all of the models above, controlling them is simple. You can do it right through your phone using the myQ app. This lets you control your garage door no matter where you may be, as long as you have access to the web.
If you want quiet, you will like the LiftMaster 87504-267. This garage door opener also has a battery backup, an integrated camera, and other features.
Garage Doors for Your RV: What Should You Know?
What size garage door will work for an RV?
You will want to know the height of your RV if you are building a new garage, so you can be sure you have enough space. However, you also want to have some added headroom, so you should get a door that is a bit higher than the top of your RV. If it is too tight, it could make getting into and out of the garage harder.
The G-5000, 16' x 18', is a large garage door shown here in Ice White. Those who need to have a larger, wider garage door might want to consider commercial designs like this.
Here's a piece of advice. You might find that in a couple of years, you want to get a larger RV. It is better to have a garage door that is already a bit larger and that will accommodate that larger RV in the future.
In the image above, you will see a Class A RV. This is the largest RV class, but it is filled with a host of features. This image is from Camper Report’s website.
The RV class you own will be key in determining which garage door is best for you.
The Camper Report notes that there are four categories for RVs.
- Class A – these are the largest RVs with the most features. They look like a tour bus.
- Class B – At the opposite end, this is the smallest class for RVs. Some of these could even fit into a standard garage door.
- Class B+ – These are an amalgam between class B and C. Generally, they are a bit larger than Class B RVs.
- Class C – Have similarities to Class A, but they are smaller. These are made atop a modified pickup chassis.
Here is a Class C RV image from Pixabay.
The various dimensions of the classes need to be accounted for when building a garage and choosing an overhead garage door.
The following information on RV heights comes from the Jeffsetter Travel website.
- Class A – 12 and 14 feet (on average)
- Class B and B+ – 7 and 10 feet (on average)
- Class C – 10 and 12 feet (on average)
Here is a picture from Unsplash of a Class B RV.
When measuring RV height, make sure you include anything that has been installed on the roof, such as the air conditioning. Again, keep in mind that you should try to get a little extra space, just so it's not such a tight fit. This will also give you some added freedom if you want to buy a larger RV down the line.
What about how wide the garage door should be? With Class A vehicles, you should have at least 10', but 12' will give you some added comfort. Class B, B+, and C RVs can usually fit well with an 8' or 9' wide garage door.
The garage doors in this image are 9' high, and they could work nicely for Class B and B+ RVs. The Standard+ Shaker-Flat XL garage doors here are 10' x 9' in Chocolate Walnut and have windows with Stockton Inserts.
Double-check the measurements of your vehicle and then make sure you have a garage door where it will fit. Remember, going a little larger now is often a good idea.
Image found on Houzz. This garage and garage door would be large enough to hold a Class A RV. If you like the look of this garage door, you should consider the Shaker-Flat CC garage door design.
2- What lift options are best for this large garage door?
Because RV garages are usually bigger than those for other vehicles, the roof doesn't work well with a standard garage door lift. Instead, you will want to talk with us about different lift options.
You might want to consider a full vertical track lift or high lift track for the garage door. This can give you more room for the vehicle.
An inclined track works well for some ceilings since it will follow the roof slope. This can give you some more space above the RV, and it is a good option for those with cathedral ceilings.
Low front headroom lifts are good options if you have less than 10 inches of space over the garage door.
3- What sort of hardware is needed for these large garage doors?
Big garage doors need the right hardware. Fortunately, you will find that you don't have to worry about your hardware when you buy from us. Once you have a garage door that is more than 8' high, residential hardware is replaced by commercial. This ensures you have a stable, solid garage door.
3 types of commercial hardware are available for different garage door uses.
In the image above, you can determine which hardware will be best for your garage door.
4- Remember your garage door opener!
You want to be sure you have a great garage door opener that is strong enough for this large door. What you should choose is an industrial-strength LiftMaster garage door opener.
Quality wall-mounted openers are fantastic, particularly if you have a Class A RV.
Check out some benefits of industrial door openers, such as the LiftMaster H.
- More space near the ceiling
- Easily accessible
- Less vibration and quieter operation
- Access it on the myQ app
The LiftMaster H works with the myQ app. Control the garage door no matter where you are!
LiftMaster helps to keep the garage safe.
Are you taking off on a vacation with the family? Are you going to be gone for a few days? Maybe you left the house in a rush, and you can't quite remember if you closed the garage door. When you have one of these garage door openers that can be accessed with the myQ app, you can check on your door from anywhere. You can even close the garage door using the app.
Use the myQ app to check the garage door from anywhere.
Maybe you forgot about opening the garage door. Don't worry, as the myQ app will send you a reminder if the garage door has been open for a while. You can then simply use the app to close it.
With the right garage door opener and app, you will get a reminder to shut an open garage door. Just use the app to easily shut your garage door. The peace of mind is amazing.
Is It Time for a New Garage Door?
Regardless of the size or type of garage door you have in mind, we can help you get just what you need. No matter the height or width, we can create custom garage doors just for you. You can provide us with the measurements of the garage door opening, and we can get started.
Of course, if you don't know how to measure, we can help with that, too. Here's how you can do it. Alternatively, you could always contact us. A professional can come to your home to handle the measurements for your garage door.
How do you like this garage door? Here, you see an Eastman E-11 that measures 16' x 8'. It is seen here in black and has four vertical lite Panoramic windows.
Guess what! You can design your own garage door.
You can use the Design Centre, an application that is free and interactive. You can determine the look of your garage door, and even see what it looks like on your home. It is a fast and easy way to get an idea of the designs you could choose. We have more than 35 designs and 10 colors. You can even determine the types of windows, decorative hardware, etc.
The app is accessible on your phone.
Upload a picture of your home to the Design Centre and see how it looks in the app. You can also receive a free quote by email. Find the garage door that is perfect for your needs.
Of course, you can also call 402-333-8988 to talk with an expert at ACS Door Services of Omaha. We can help you with each aspect of the garage door design, and our installers can get it on your door in no time.
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