Most of us have a pretty good idea of the average size of a typical residential garage door. If it’s a single door, it’s usually 8 or 9 ft. wide and 7 or 8 ft. high. If it’s a double garage door, the width is typically between 14 and 18 ft. wide. You might be wondering if this is enough space for a SUV (sports utility vehicle) or an RV (recreational vehicle). While the width is pretty standard, what you need to think about is height. In many cases, an 8 ft. high door isn’t going to handle an RV very well.
In this blog, it is explained exactly what your ideal option is based on how large your vehicle is. You should take a moment to consider the following information if you are going to buy an SUV or RV for your existing garage or if you are building a new garage whether attached or detached.
Let’s Start with SUVs
There are all sorts of sizes of SUVs, so we should start by determining a range. Most SUVs are going to be somewhere between 5½ ft. (1.675 m) and 6 1⁄12 ft (2.1 m). That means that a seven-foot door might be completely reasonable. However, there is something else to think about first. Do you plan to ever use a luggage rack on top of the SUV? If your answer is yes, that can add a few good inches to the height of the vehicle. In that case, you want an 8 ft. door instead.
While it isn’t required, we also recommend that you consider the length of your SUV. If your garage already exists, the length should be fine, but it can be good to measure it to make sure. Most SUVs are anywhere from 15.4 ft. to 16.9 ft. in length. You also want to think about width when the doors to the car are open. You probably don’t want a passenger dinging up the door when they get out of the car. You may be able to organize your garage to add enough room that this isn’t a problem.
What About Those Huge RVs?
When you purchase an RV, it can have a height of up to 9½ ft. In addition, you may want to add an air conditioning unit, satellite dish, solar panels, or a combination of the three. Height restrictions can become an issue on some roads, but the lowest limit tends to be 13½ ft, so you want to stay a good amount below that. But remember, this is only road restrictions. It doesn’t count fast food drive through restrictions, covered bridges, and more.
That said, when it comes to garages and vehicles with extra height, there are plenty of garages at 12 ft. high. When thinking about width, around 10 to 12 ft. should be plenty. You should also know that in most cases, people who have RVs will build a separate detached garage in the backyard for the vehicle.
In the same size category, you can also think about fifth wheel trailers which might be pulled along behind an F-150 or similar pickup truck. The height here is not a problem, but roof addons can be. The length is the biggest challenge since these trailers can range from 22 ft all the way up to 40 ft.
The Way a Garage Door is Measured
The first thing you should do, before you make a purchase of an RV, is to measure your current garage’s width and length. The process is simple and straightforward. Take a measuring tape and measures from the interior of a door jamb to the other. The height is done in the exact same way. Your garage door is the same size as this opening is.
If you are instead building a new garage for your vehicle, the most important dimension is the headroom or clearance over the head of the door. Basically, this means the distance from the floor to the first obstruction in the way. That might be ducts, tanks, or a truss. You should take measurements and include any of these things.
Any questions?
Then contact us at 519-326-5888 before you build your garage or buy an SUV or RV. We know garage doors better than anyone else. We are fully able to advise you and explain the best choice to make based on your specific needs while also respecting your budget. We will gladly provide you with a quotation by email.
Alternatively, stop by and meet us at our showroom. From the comfort of your home, use our Design Centre to choose the garage door style that best suits you. For inspiration, take a look at our image gallery for numerous beautiful examples.
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