Designing a brand-new garage to hold an RV or a large SUV? If so, you'll need to know that your requirements will differ from standard garage door sizes. Choosing the right garage door for a larger vehicle, such as an SUV, full-size pickup truck, or an RV will require a little attention to detail.
Why is that? Simply put, a 9' x 7' garage door is unlikely to fit a larger vehicle. There is good news, though. We can custom design garage doors to fit just about any requirement. How do you know what size you need, though? We'll walk you through four steps to determine the ideal garage door size.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Step 1: Let's discuss SUVs and full-size trucks
What size garage door is required for full-size pickups and larger SUVs?
On average, SUVs range from 5'5" to 6'4" in height, according to a survey from JD Power. Unless you've added a lift kit or another modification, your SUV should fall within this range.
In addition, most full-size pickup trucks range from 6' to 6'5" tall. That means a standard SUV or pickup truck will be just fine with a 7-foot garage door. Of course, you may want to go with an 8-foot door if you want some additional clearance or if you have roof-mounted accessories that require some extra height. You should also not have a problem with the average 9-foot width of the standard garage door.
So, now you know a bit more about how to size your future garage door. That means it's time to start discussing a few other things, like how to choose the right garage door model for your specific needs. For inspiration, we highly recommend that you check out our image gallery. It contains a treasure trove of options, including past customer projects to help inform your own needs.
Before we talk about garage doors, let's get the basics straight. Is your garage attached to the house or detached?
Why does it matter? If you have an attached garage, you'll want a well-insulated garage door. If it's not attached, insulation isn't that important unless you use the garage as work or living space.
We can custom design a garage door with the right R-value for your specific needs. The higher the R-value, the more insulated the door will be. However, that won't affect the aesthetics – the insulation level does not impact appearance. Even highly insulated garage doors that fall into the R-16 category look great, just consider the Vog if you have a modern design, or the North Hatley LP if your home is more rustic.
Above, you can see the Standard+ Vog garage door design, in Charcoal. The window layout is left ‑side Harmony. Measuring 9' x 7', these are the perfect garage doors for an average pickup truck or SUV.
Now, here's a question. Will you go the conventional route with a double-garage door? Or do you want to install 2 garage doors?
If you're thinking about going with a double garage door, you'll want to consider width.
Determining the width needed requires thinking about your comfort level in parking two cars side-by-side within the space available. While some people might be perfectly comfortable doing so, others might think that getting two small cars in a 12'-wide garage door could be challenging. Others might find doing that with a 16'-wide garage door is hard to do.
We can say that the 16'-wide by 8'-high garage doors are the most frequently requested models. However, because garage doors are customized to suit your unique needs, there's no requirement to go with this size. We can fit a door to any size garage you might have.
Speaking of double garage doors, this garage door model is a Standard+ North Hatley LP design. It measures 16' x 8', and is a lovely Moka Brown, with 4 vertical lite Orion windows. It's a cinch to park cars side-by-side thanks to the door's width.
Consider the type of lift that works best for your garage door
When it comes to garage door lifts, the standard lift is certainly the most common type of lift on the market. If you have 12 inches of space above the garage door, this might be the way to go. Note that ceiling-mounted garage doors require an extra two inches.
Of course, some garages may not offer the necessary 12 inches for a standard lift. For these spaces, a low front headroom lift can be used.
If your garage has a cathedral ceiling, an inclined track can follow the line of your ceiling easily.
Understand the types of garage door hardware
Unless your SUV or pickup truck measures 8'1" or higher, you'll do just fine with residential hardware. We offer two types – Dura+ and bolted hardware.
Not sure which is right for you? Just compare them to make an informed decision:
Note that some garage doors come with Dura+ hardware. Others feature bolted hardware. You can upgrade to Dura+ from bolted hardware by speaking with your garage door expert. We can also help you better understand garage door hardware options.
SUV and pickup truck garage door opener types
What type of garage door opener will you need with an SUV or pickup truck? Any standard electric garage door opener designed to work with residential garage doors should do the trick.
Of course, because each opener is slightly different, you'll want to compare your options.
- The LiftMaster 87504-267 opener offers quiet operation thanks to its belt drive system. There's also a built-in HD camera and two-way mic so you can keep an eye (and ear!) on your space 24 hours per day.
- The LiftMaster 8500W opener mounts to the wall and is the right option if you need to free up some ceiling space for storage or if your ceiling is low. It's also strong enough to raise doors that are 14' tall thanks to the powerful 24V DC motor.
- The LiftMaster 87802 garage door opener uses a conventional chain drive, which means it's not as quiet as some other systems. It also lacks a built-in camera. However, if your garage is not attached to the home and you're not concerned about keeping an eye on the space, then this is the option for you. It does include a backup battery, too.
Best of all, each of the garage door openers we covered can be controlled from your smartphone by using the myQ app. Monitor your garage, and open and close the door, from any location!
The LiftMaster 87504-267 offers super-quiet operation and includes a built-in camera, a backup battery, and other important features.
Parking an RV? Let's check out what kind of garage door you need
RV garage door size considerations
Designing a space to park your RV? If so, you'll need to measure the height of the vehicle. You also need to remember that you'll need additional headroom above the roof. If the fit is too tight, getting the RV in and out will be stressful.
This is a G-5000, 16' x 18' garage door in Ice White. Commercial designs are well-suited to the extra width required for RVs.
You also need to think about the future. Is there a bigger RV that you'll want down the road? It's always best to plan with the future in mind.
Dreaming of a new RV? This is a Class A model, the largest on offer, but the most feature-packed, as well. Image from Camper Report's website.
One of the most important considerations when choosing the right garage door size is going to be the type of RV you own.
According to the Camper Report website, there are 4 RV classes:
- Class A – These are the largest and most comfortable. They're bus-like vehicles and come packed with features.
- Class B – These are small RVs that may fit in the garage with a conventional garage door.
- Class B+ – Larger than Class B, these RVs blur the lines between B and C.
- Class C – Slightly smaller than Class A, these RVs are built on a modified pickup truck chassis.
Image of a Class C RV from Pixabay.
As you can imagine, each RV class has its own dimensions. You'll need to measure your RV before choosing an overhead door for your garage.
Not sure about dimensions? The Jeffsettter Travel website explains height differences across the four classes:
- Class A – Average height between 12 and 14 feet
- Class B and B+ – Average height between 7 and 10 feet
- Class C – Average height between 10 and 12 feet
Image of a Class B RV from Unsplash.
When you measure your RV, make sure you do include anything that's on top of the vehicle – that AC unit, for instance.
This should give you the height you'll need for your garage door. We also recommend a little additional height for comfort and safety, as well as making it easier to install accessories on your RV, like a roof rack, that might raise the height.
When it comes to width, you'll need to know the minimums:
- Class A – At least 10 feet wide, but we recommend a 12-foot-wide garage door
- Class B, B+, and C – We recommend an 8- or 9-foot-wide garage door
Standing 9 feet tall, these garage doors are perfect for a B or B+ class RV. They're Standard+ Shaker-Flat XL, measure 10' x 9', and Chocolate Walnut in color. They feature windows with Stockton Inserts.
Already own an RV? Then you don't need to estimate. You can measure the vehicle directly and take all the guesswork out of the process. Just tell us your dimensions and we can custom-make garage door sizes to fit any needs. We do recommend that you follow a slightly oversized design to allow for plenty of space.
We found this garage door on Houzz and it would easily fit a Class A RV. Think this is the right option for your home? Check out the Shaker-Flat CC garage door.
Choosing lifts for an RV garage door
RV garages usually offer more space than conventional car garages. That does mean that the roof design prohibits the use of a standard garage door lift. The good news is that there are plenty of lift options to suit your needs.
In many cases, RV garages have additional wall space well above the top of the garage door. For this type of situation, a full vertical lift track is a good option. You may also benefit from a high lift track. Both will give you ample space over the top of the RV.
What about sloped roofs? In this case, an inclined track will follow the slope of the ceiling, which is a great option if your RV garage has a cathedral ceiling.
What about low ceilings? If your RV garage ceiling is particularly low, we recommend using a low front headroom lift. These are ideal for situations where you have 10 inches or less over the garage door.
RV garage door hardware requirements
Worried that residential garage door hardware isn't going to do the trick? You're right, but, thankfully, any garage door over 8 feet tall requires commercial hardware. It's much stronger and will ensure that your door stays securely in place.
Saying that, there are 3 types of commercial garage door hardware on offer:
We suggest that you choose commercial garage door hardware based on the dimensions and weight of your garage door.
You still need a garage door opener…
By this point, you know how to choose the right garage door for your RV. However, you do still need to choose a garage door opener. Why? Well, a 14'-foot-high garage door is almost impossible to lift by hand. We recommend an industrial-strength LiftMaster garage door opener.
And, if you have an extra-large Class A RV, we suggest installing a wall-mounted opener. Especially if you have a Class A RV, we recommend a wall-mounted opener.
Why go with something like the LiftMaster H? Here are just a few benefits:
- Additional ceiling space and no need to account for extra room for your RV
- Wall-mounted garage door openers are easier to access if you need to program them
- Wall-mounted garage door openers are quiet and reduce vibrations
- Operate your garage door through your smartphone with the myQ app!
The LiftMaster H is compatible with the myQ app, so you can control your door from anywhere you have Internet access.
Get peace of mind with a LiftMaster garage door opener
Your family camping trip is getting off to a rough start. Despite your urgings, the kids left packing until the last minute, which meant that you were already running late before you even left the house. You loaded up the RV in a hurry and finally got on the road…but wait. Did you remember to close the garage door?
You have a couple of choices. You could worry about the door being open all weekend. You could be even later and go home to double-check that you shut it. Or you can check the status of your garage door using the myQ app.
The myQ app lets you check and operate your garage door from anywhere.
If the door is open, the myQ app lets you check its status. Even better, the app will send you a reminder if the door's been open for a long time with no motion. Then, all you have to do is tap a button to close it.
Forgot to close the garage door? The myQ app will alert you if it's been open for a long time. Then just use the app to close it!
Is it time to shop for a new garage door?
About to take on a new project? No matter what it is, from a storage shed to a new garage for the RV, we can help you find the perfect garage door.
We manufacture garage doors to your unique specifications. Every garage door we build is custom-made. Just let us know your measurements and we can help.
Struggling to get an accurate measurement for your garage door opening? Just follow these simple instructions. Of course, you're also welcome to contact us, and we'd be happy to send an expert out to handle it.
Love this look for your home? It's an Eastman E-11, 16' x 8', Black door and overlays, 4 vertical lite Panoramic windows.
Want even better news? We let you design your own garage door!
Want to really customize your garage door? It's as simple as using our Design Centre app. Interactive and intuitive, you can sort through 10 color options and 35 design choices to find the perfect option for your needs. That includes windows, hardware, and so much more.
Best of all? You can use the design app on your smartphone so you don't have to leave home, or you can design the door while camping in your RV!
Ready to get started? Just request a free quote.
We also include you to call us at 508-752-4677 and a member of Door Systems Worcester will walk you through your options and help you make an informed decision.
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