Advice on Garage Doors

mhwo · 02-16-2006, 12:11 PM

I just bought some property and will be erecting a pole barn. I have the 04 CC LE with the big tow mirrors. Have been debating whether to use 10 foot or 12 foot wide overhead doors. Anyone with experience in what is a comfortable fit.... please tell me what you think... Thanks

Bayou Titan · 02-16-2006, 12:15 PM

I would get at least 12' doors so that you will have more room to get things in and out of your barn when your Titan in parked in there.

**Blackbeauty** · 02-16-2006, 12:27 PM

I used to wax and detail cars as a hobby - irrelevant, I know. But I bought an extra height overhead door that was 9' tall instead of the standard 8'. It gave me a little more clearance to work on trucks and vans. It was also 18' wide, but that was just personal preference over 2- 8' wide units. In my opinion, wider is better if your wife parks on one side and you park on the other. A 16' wide door just didn't leave her the real estate she needs to get in and out of the Garage Majal! See Rcantu's posts if you have any other concerns about these things...

PuvMan · 02-16-2006, 12:34 PM

now THATS thinking.... i wouldnt have thought of it myself

I yet have to modifiy my garage door to open higher.. I tried to do it one night, but i have a straight arm connecting the door to the track. I think i need an L shaped arm. Plus i may have to move the actual opener further into the garage, and extend the chain track. My guiderails on the side of the door are more than long enough.....

Perhaps on the next warm day I will investigate again.

**Blackbeauty** · 02-16-2006, 12:36 PM

Yeah, my taller door had the "L" shaped arm. I had 12' clear inside so I had plenty of room to mount the track.

PuvMan · 02-16-2006, 12:59 PM

Cool, good to know... perhaps i'll stop by sears, home depot, or lowes and pick one up

Thanks!!

rcantu · 02-16-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty

See Rcantu's posts if you have any other concerns about these things...

yes. if you are married I'd suggest garage door airbags

I replaced it with the same 15' 8" door but if you could go wider if it fits. I've place that truck and another car in there before but it was super tight.

You're doing a barn which I have to familiarity.

mhwo · 02-16-2006, 03:56 PM

Thanks for the input. It will be a 40 x 44 foot pole barn. I will have 2 doors... a hers and mine. I'll probably use 12 foot high and 10 feet wide. I think that will work well.

wrenrj1 · 02-16-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhwo

Thanks for the input. It will be a 40 x 44 foot pole barn. I will have 2 doors... a hers and mine. I'll probably use 12 foot high and 10 feet wide. I think that will work well.

Certainly bigger is better because small stuff can be bigger as well, but big stuff can't get smaller. With a barn that size you never know what you might wanna put in there in the future. Can you afford to put two double garage doors in?

bishop · 02-16-2006, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhwo

I just bought some property and will be erecting a pole barn. I have the 04 CC LE with the big tow mirrors. Have been debating whether to use 10 foot or 12 foot wide overhead doors. Anyone with experience in what is a comfortable fit.... please tell me what you think... Thanks

i would say from exp,go with the 12'. how much more are they charging for a 16' in stead. also if you have the option go with a 8' high door not 7' foot which is standard.prices aren't that much more unless your going with double steal insulated.

bishop · 02-16-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuvMan

now THATS thinking.... i wouldnt have thought of it myself

I yet have to modifiy my garage door to open higher.. I tried to do it one night, but i have a straight arm connecting the door to the track. I think i need an L shaped arm. Plus i may have to move the actual opener further into the garage, and extend the chain track. My guiderails on the side of the door are more than long enough.....

Perhaps on the next warm day I will investigate again.

what size of door and how far do you want to go,reason i ask becuase if you bring it back to much you will jump cables on really mess up your door? there are ways depending what your in tensions are,(car lift or just want more clearence to park your truck.

**Blackbeauty** · 02-17-2006, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishop

what size of door and how far do you want to go,reason i ask becuase if you bring it back to much you will jump cables on really mess up your door? there are ways depending what your in tensions are,(car lift or just want more clearence to park your truck.

Another word of note, it sounds like you have a chain drive opener. I would highly recommend a screw drive for that bigger door. Although it's very true that a chain drive will pull a bigger door, it will cause more strain on the drive and the chain will stretch eventually, requiring periodic adjustments. I put a screw drive on my 18' x9' door (especially since it's double-sided steel & insulated) and have never regretted it. It's quieter, and seems sturdier than the chain drive units IMO. Not to mention, it comes with a drive extension already in the box just for those of us with bigger units..... er.... I mean bigger doors.