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Garage Door Height ?

TNGW1500SE
Explorer
Explorer
I'm cutting my barn for a new garage door. I'd like to make the door 12' 3" tall 12' wide. The reason is that I have two 7x9 doors (one each side) of the new door I'm ordering and I'd like the panels to match up with the ones on each side. The 7x9's have four 21" panels to get them at 7 foot. If I use 7 panels that are 21 inches it would look better.

My current RV is 11' 10" so I'll fit. I tested it by going under a friends 12' door and it clears.

My question is: Is 12' 3" big enough to get about any RV under? Someday I may get a new one but I'll never be able to get one longer than a 33 footer. I just don't want to regret doing a 12' 3" someday.

PS: I have 14' 6" inside height to the bottom of the trusses.
26 REPLIES 26

2bzy2c
Explorer II
Explorer II
I have 107 doors in my storage facility. All 14' tall. No issues with clearance as in California, the vehicle max height is 13'6"

If the door is balanced properly, any door opener will be just fine so long as it travels 14'.
My advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

bfast54
Explorer
Explorer
Just a question is there any reason why you cannot use a commercial operator if it's attached ???


The commercial operator is going to be more heavy duty
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bluwtr49
Explorer II
Explorer II
14' or as close as you can get.
Dick

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Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Explorer
Looks like Jim Norman is in the 'know'. I would definitely go as tall as you can with it looking alright with the other doors.

Our previous Dynasty was 12'8' and our current coach is tall at 13'4".

Good luck,
MM.
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Jim_Norman
Explorer
Explorer
OK, as a professional in the Garage door industry, 44 years plus, here is what you can do:

you have 14-6 under you current ceiling, assuming you do not want to deal with the trusses, you are somewhat limited. 12-0 wide opening should be adequate, I'd probably go for a 13-0 door, that will give you 18" of clearance, plenty for standard 15" radius tracks and a trolley operator. you could probably squeeze in a 13-3 door. 4 21 " sections gets you to 7 feet and will match your other doors, 4 24" sections gets you to 13-0. To reach 13-3 only stack 3 21's at the bottom. If you have windows in the 3rd section of the other two doors, they will line up fine.

For an opener you have a couple issues, if the building is in anyway attached to your home you have to use a residential operator. There are decent units that will work, but you need to use one designed for Carriage House doors. If the building is separated you can use a commercial operator.
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DSDP_Don
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Explorer
You'll regret it later if you don't go 14'. Very few DP's can dump the air and still drive without modification.
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Trumpet_Player
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Explorer
enblethen wrote:
No, you should install a 14 foot door.


Agree 100%. 14 ft door!
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aguablanco
Explorer
Explorer
Still in the garage door business. The most common size for an RV door is 12x14. You should get as close to that as possible since you will not live there forever and the next owners RV may be taller. Think resale value. I would not use low headroom track on a door that large. You can save some headroom by using a jackshaft opener instead of a drawbar. 15" track would be preferable. Good luck
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Teacher_s_Pet
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Explorer
PS: I have 14' 6" inside height to the bottom of the trusses.



6" Low headroom track would get you a very tight in height sectional door 14' high. If you want an operator subtract a minimum of another 3" for 13'9" maximum high door. If you want a door that operates smoothly with an operator you would want 15" radius track, so 13'-0" high door would be the tallest you could use with 14'6" floor to ceiling height. At least those specs were common when I left the manufacturing side of the industry in 2000.
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enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
No, you should install a 14 foot door.

Bud
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prstlk
Explorer
Explorer
If it's a strait shot with no turns and you have a dp you can dump the air and pull in slowly. My rig is 12 9 so agree a 14 ft door would be best, helps with resale by not limiting your buyers
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Colo_Native
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Explorer
Any RV NO my FW is 13' 3" I would say if you want to fit any RV it would have to be 14' JMHO
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