A lot of people out there know the basics of standard garage door sizes. Maybe it seems like selecting one for a big vehicle isn't going to be any more complicated. Those with an RV, SUV, or pickup should realize that those typical garage doors may not always work. However, we have some good news here. Our gorgeous doors can be made any size for whatever vehicle you have and it doesn't have to be a massive process.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Before we talk garage doors, let's look at massive trucks and SUVs!
1 - Your vehicle towers over cars so what size should your garage door actually be?
JD Power shows that most SUVs are going to sit between 5'6" and 6'4". Unless you've made major changes to the vehicle, they'll be in between these two measurements.
With trucks being around six feet to just under six and a half feet high, both these and SUVs are going to be perfect in garage doors of around seven feet high. Want a little extra room? Go up to eight feet and enjoy the ease of getting in and out. The typical nine-foot width is going to be fine for most vehicles.
With measurements in hand, all you need to do is start perusing our image gallery for ideas you might not think of yourself. Let yourself get into the process and you might be surprised how exciting it is!
Will you have an attached garage with home access or are you more interested in something detached?
When it sits next to the house, insulation is a must. Its inclusion ensures the home stays at a comfortable level in extreme temperatures.
You have choices when it comes to insulation, but it comes down to the specific R-value you desire. Don't stress, no matter what you go with, it won't have any effect on the aesthetic of the garage door. Choose top R-16 insulation to protect the inside from the weather. Go with something that has a totally modern vibe like the Vog or select a country style like the North Hatley LP.
The Standard+ Vog garage door fits tons of garages. The one above has a left-side Harmony window design and comes in Charcoal color. Each door is nine feet by seven feet and can accommodate a pickup or SUV.
Do you want a set of garage doors like the image above? Or are you into the idea of a larger door for your vehicles? There are a lot of things to consider.
Think things through as you make a decision. Are you adept at parking cars close to each other or does it make you nervous? A 12-foot opening can be used with two cars, but it can be very tight. Even a 16-foot opening might make two cars feel a bit too close for comfort, not to mention the larger size of SUVs and trucks. We'll work with you on a custom project and make sure you get the size you really want. It doesn't have to be a standard choice.
Feast your eyes on this stunning Standard+ North Hatley LP design. It measures 16 feet by 8 feet and comes in a warm Moka Brown color. It offers 4 vertical lite Orion windows and has enough space for two vehicles to come in next to each other.
2 – Which lifts work for these doors?
The standard lift is going to be the type of lift seen most often. You'll need a foot of space to install it. Want the opener above the garage door? Make sure your space over the door is at least 14 inches.
When you're working with under a foot of space, a standard lift won't cut it. At under 10 inches, a low front headroom lift is an optimal garage door lift.
Have a large slope on the ceiling? For this or a cathedral style, go with an inclined track instead of one that sits flush from end to end.
3 – With this garage door, what hardware works best?
Pickup trucks and SUVs tend to do well in garages of eight feet of height or even less. Thankfully, residential hardware works just fine in this case. However, you'll need to make a choice between the more durable Dura+ or the more affordable bolted hardware.
See the primary features of each option:
Make sure to speak with your garage door expert. They'll give you a list of options and insight about openers. Go with a garage door that has a standard bolted set of hardware or consider Dura+ hardware instead. In most cases, you can even switch them out but make sure you get the details of the door and find out if that's a possibility.
4 – With so many garage door openers – which is best for trucks and SUVs?
You've made it through the tough stuff so let's move to something simple. With doors of only seven to eight feet of height, any residential electric garage door opener you put your eyes on is going to work for your pickup garage door.
Want options? Check out the diverse features on top garage door openers.
- The LiftMaster 87504-267 opener is a premium residential garage door opener for the modern home. It has a high-definition camera and opens up in near silence for total convenience. With a belt-drive motor and a two-way microphone, use the myQ app to secure your garage door from a tablet or smartphone.
- The LiftMaster 8500W opener is great for anyone who is open to a garage door opener on the wall. The good news is that this leaves extra space above the door. Store anything you want. This robust and durable opener has a 24V DC motor and it can pull up doors as high as 14 feet without any trouble at all.
- The LiftMaster 87802 garage door opener comes with a chain drive system so it makes a bit more racket. It's less expensive and has the basic features needed to close and open the garage door whenever needed. Another great feature on offer with this opener is a battery backup. Use the garage door even with no power.
Want more amazing news? All the features of these garage door openers work with the myQ app. Monitor and control your garage door on the road or from home.
The LiftMaster 87504-267 does its job in near silence. It comes with a battery backup and a camera so you can look out over your garage. Choose this luxury model and feel like a King or Queen of your domain.
Have an RV instead of an SUV? Let's talk garage door specifics!
1- How tall should an RV garage door be?
Building a custom garage? Changing up a garage you already have? Make sure you know the height of your RV. Then add on some headroom so it's not a squeeze to get inside. There will be no worry about getting in and out fast when you need to!
The Ice White hue on this G-5000 garage door (16 feet by 18 feet) turns heads. Go with a more commercial look when you need a big space for an RV.
Maybe you'll decide to upgrade to the best and brightest RV in a few years. Add on a slightly larger garage so there's no need for a new garage door when the time comes.
Big and full of amenities, Class A is the ultimate motorhome. These are full of creature comforts to enjoy. Image provided by Camper Report's website
Do you know the class of your RV? You should make sure before you purchase a garage door!
The Camper Report website has tons of info on the four major categories of these travel vehicles.
- Class A – Designed to look like a bus, these RVs are massive. Great tech and comfort features make these the dream vehicle for many.
- Class B – Small and secure, these are models that are easy to use and store. Most of the time, they fit in traditional garages.
- Class B+ – Take the best of B and C RVs to get a B+. They'll be a bit larger than B RVs and have quite a few great features.
- Class C – Medium-sized and built on a modified pickup chassis, these RVs give you comfort but without taking up as much space as the most humongous RVs.
Imagine the fun of driving a Class C like the one above courtesy of Pixabay.
RVs of different classes are unique sizes. You need this information to select the overhead door that works best.
The Jeffsettter Travel website gives a basic idea of RV heights based on class:
- Most Class C vehicles will be from 10 to 12 feet high.
- Both B+ and B RVs tend to be seven to 10 feet in height.
- And Class A motorhomes are tall at 12 to 14 feet on average.
Take in the beauty of a Class B RV straight from Unsplash.
As you measure, don't forget about any accessories on top of the motorhome. Luggage racks and air conditioners can make the RV taller. Make sure your measurements consider all these factors to get a garage door that matches your needs. Add on a few extra inches if you think you might upgrade to a new RV later. You never know!
As for the width, those are easy to determine. Most of the time, Class A RVs are going to need 10 feet. Go up to 12 feet for the best results. When it comes to C, B+, and B motorhomes, select an eight-to-nine-foot garage door and you're good!
Measuring 9 feet to the top, the Standard+ Shaker-Flat XL measures 10 feet wide and has a magnificent Chocolate Walnut hue. The Stockton inserts make this a gorgeous garage door for B+ and B RVs.
Things become even more simple if you own the RV that will be in the space. Have one of our technicians do the measurements for you. Your custom garage door will fit to the inch and look great to boot. Remember that choosing a larger garage door is better than one that might be too snug.
Wow, look at this garage door from Houzz. It's made for Class A RVs. Into this design? Think about installing a Shaker-Flat CC garage door.
2 – Which lift fits best with a garage door for RVs?
There are dozens of lift options to choose from. For big vehicles and RVs, the roof might look different and a standard door opener isn't going to be the best lift to choose.
For a roof with a slope, install an inclined track. It looks great with the design and gives you additional space.
Not working with excess headroom? That's okay. A low front headroom lift is the ideal option if there's 10 inches or less of space to the ceiling.
3 – I need a huge garage door – what hardware is appropriate to keep it working flawlessly?
Good news! With a big garage door for an RV, hardware is going to be strong. Instead of residential hardware, doors of 8' or more come with commercial hardware. It's durable and designed for heavy use.
When your garage door needs commercial hardware, there are 3 major options:
Everything from the garage door materials to their weight can impact the commercial hardware that works best.
4 – Add on a garage door opener with great features!
Your dream garage door is ready to be installed. However, you still need a garage door opener system. Since the garage door could be up to 14 feet high, your best bet for operation is an industrial-strength LiftMaster garage door opener.
Especially if you have a Class A RV, we recommend a wall-mounted opener.
Try a durable industrial door opener like the LiftMaster H.
- Provides more headroom and ceiling space since the garage door opener is elsewhere
- Installs at a reasonable height for quick and simple access
- Creates next to no noise and minimal vibration
- Can be used through the myQ application
Get a look at the LiftMaster H. Use it to access the myQ app and you can check in on the garage door from any location!
Protection and security courtesy of LiftMaster. Enjoy all your trips a little more when you have no need to stress about your garage.
The SUV is hours from home, and you can't wait to get to your favorite vacation cottage. The kids weren't packed in the morning so you're running behind and worried about what you forgot. Between the traffic, bathroom stops, and other concerns, things are tense. But oh no! Did you forget to close the garage door? What will you do?
Don't end your road trip due to a burning question. Anyone in the car can open the myQ app, check the garage door, and close it if that was forgotten.
Monitor the state of the garage door when you use the myQ app. Anytime and anywhere, that garage door will be secure!
It doesn't matter if you forget to close the garage door and notice when you're in another state. Nobody needs to visit to close it. Use the myQ app to handle things even from a distance.
Are people constantly coming and going from the garage? Download a free app and stop the worries. The garage door opener app will alert you when the garage door is open too long for peace of mind. Tap your phone screen to close it.
It's time. Start the shopping process for a great garage door!
Need a garage door for a tiny garden shed? Want a massive door for the RV? We have a solution to meet your needs.
It doesn't matter how wide or high the garage door is. Each one is made to order and fully customized. There's no need to do any research on your own. Bring in the measurements and we'll take over.
Finding it a struggle to figure out the size of the garage door opening? Here's how you can do it. If you prefer, contact us. An experienced pro will visit and get all the info you need for a fabulous garage door.
Are you a fan of the design of the Eastman E-11? This stunning door has a Black door and overlays, measures 16 x 8 feet, and comes with 4 vertical lite Panoramic windows
Ready to be the talk of the neighborhood? Create a custom garage door yourself!
Want to try your hand at creating a garage door as gorgeous as your home? Take a gander at our Design Centre. Choose the accessories, colors, and designs that bring you joy. Upload a photograph and see how it looks on the home's façade. Over 10 colors and 35 designs are available for use. Go wild with creativity and create a one-of-a-kind garage door!
Any smart device that can download apps and reach the Internet will do to design an RV garage door. Do it at work, on the road, or in the comfort of your home.
After you take your time getting creative, speak to us about a free quote by email. Inexpensive, custom-designed, innovative garage doors are waiting on you!
Get in touch with us today at 603-524-4778. A qualified technician at Laurent Overhead Door Systems will walk you through the ideal size, perfect design, and custom features for a modern garage door. Accomplished garage door experts will get it in place to use for years into the future.
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