3rd Car Garage Ideas for Airstream Storage

[Jezibels]

Anyone of you have a 10'H door ? I need to see what a 10' door looks like, we are adding on a 3rd car garage (10'H x 12'W x 27'-35'L), want to use a not so big door opening (so it doesnt stand out in the subdivision), will 10'H x 10'W be sufficient to pull a 24' Airstream into (with roof AC)?

Can you post pics?

Thank you!

[kevinb]

The carport my tradewind is under has a 10' high opening, works fine. sorry no pics yet I'm techno-challenged, My garage has 9' doors, looks ok 10 should not look bad either.

Kevin

[wmarsha]

Hi Jez-my 85 31 footer would BARELY clear with the orig style (hi profile) AC on it, and my axles are starting to settle a little-so there is a minor warning as to the trailer fitting under a 10 foot door. Also, remember: a door is usually framed in-such framing can actually be smaller (shorter and narrower) than the actual 10' opening-check your door choices carefully and frame accordingly. Another idea if you are afraid that a 10 foot door will look out of place: design your exterior door openings with a facade above them such that a removable facade can be made to camofluage the larger opening-then they will all look the same from the curb. Utilizing such a facade will allow you to maximize the height of the 10 foot door. It will just take a little more thinking on the construction side of the coin-don't just tell the contractor (or whomever) "...I want a 10 foot door..." Tell 'em: "...I must have a 9'-11-1/2" (or whatever) clear opening on my 10 foot door..." I believe it can be done no sweat.
just my 2 cents.
ol' Bill

[wmarsha]

uhh, I am not sure what photos of doors will do for you. My 10 footers are all in/on a pole barn, not a garage-I used a minor facade/framing change to my house garage so I could get my 1 ton E series van under a 7 foot door opening-the van is 85 inches tall. so, instead of framing the door opening with 2x6 I used 1x 6 and gained a full inch-just barely enough...careful measuring is what you need to do-also consider the angle of approach of the TV/trailer-going into my pole barn, i am dead flat-but in a driveway, you may have the trailer at an angle which could effectively make the trailer taller-possibly-it will depend on your actual conditions. draw yourself an side elevation sketch of how the TV/Trlr will approach the garage to determine if it will be level enough (and straight enough) to go into the door correctly.
well okay, there's 4 cents' worth.

[Jezibels]

Thank you so much for the advice Bill and Kevin! You know what Ill have to do is get on a ladder and measure the trailer from highest spot on AC to the ground. All the specs I can find do not include the exterior height with the AC unit. There is a black tank vent pipe that is pretty high too up there.

[azflycaster]

Getting out the measuring tape is the safest way to go. 10 feet should be fine for most units, but it pays to double check. Give yourself some extra clearance, if you install a new axle(s) that number could change.

The 12' wide with a 10' wide door should be fine for parking the trailer (7 1/2' wide), but if you plan on doing any work it might be a little tight.

[dstalzer]

We have a 10' by 10' garage door on my garage that we built before getting our 2005 AS Classic and it fits with about 4 inches to spare overhead. The door is a standard roll up garage door that is 10' tall. I do wish the door was wider since the 2005 Classic is the wide body and does not allow for any errors when backing in. We are planning to downsize our home soon and build on at least an acre lot. When we move we will build a larger garage that will have a 12' X 12' door.

Dennis

[Jezibels]

I may go ahead and shoot for a larger door opening after all your posts. Bill brought up a good point the angle, I will have to back in at an upward angle. I have the contractor coming today for a bid. I should try a 11 or 12' High door and 12' wide, with an overall garage width of 15'. I'd like to polish her etc and be able to walk around her too.
The Village requires an architects' seal on the plans so maybe they can dream up a good design!

Im so curious as to the bid prices I will get. I have not the slightest clue as to what a 3rd car garage will cost!

Better keep playing the lotto!

[kennethowens]

I did a brief search and found this webpage
with a listing of different Garage Door mfg's.
Residential Garage Doors

A "Vaulted" frame inside the garage would allow
you to work on the top while inside the garage.

IMHO, 10 ft will do, but 12ft would be better.

What you are doing will be very nice...but not
inexpensive.

[clancy_boy]

I know of a very nice 11'6" high garage in a neighborhood near me that was specifically built for a new MOHO. All the measurments were at the door opening for total access height measurements and did not take into account the slope from the road down to the door along the driveway. Needless to say, the slope "added" alot of height to the MOHO and it now still sits on the driveway - 2 years later.

Take into account the tow vehicle attitude (will it be off the curb) when backing into the garage. There are truss designs that allow alot more interior room in the overhead - you do lose attic storage. Consider a roll up door - they give more height access as they do roll completely up above the framing, don't overhang the trailer if the door is open while you want to work on it - are somewhat more secure for storms - cost less too.

[Shacksman]

My shop door is 12 x 12 and I have to be carefull to go straight in. 10' high could work if on a level driveway as long as there isn't a power door opener, as that hangs downs enough to be in the way. I would be more worried about the 10' width as it would not leave any room for a mistake. Don't forget the awning arms hanging out.

[Jezibels]

Boy Im glad I asked you guys about this, I have completely changed my mind about the size of the opening! Ill tell the contractors to bid a 12'H x 12'W door opening and the garage to be 15' wide. I do have to back in at an incline as well as a slight angle. If I get some drawings together Ill post them!

[vinstream]

I have a 10' by 10' door on my shop and have no problem getting trailers in and out! Yes I need to be carful but it will and does work! Note that the shop inside of the door is bigger than 10' by 10'. I would put at least 2' on one side and 4' to 6' on the other. My garage door opener does hang down slightly, but in your set up a garage door opener would be not needed!

Todd

[Jezibels]

Todd, The picture is worth a thousand words! Thank you very much for posting this!

[kennethowens]

What is missing in "Vinstream's" picture is the AC unit on top.
It is difficult to really judge a thing(the photo) if the critical
height element aint there. Now you must "imagine" an 18" to
24" AC atop.

Your Post#12 - YES.

[LisaP]

Reframed an existing opening to a single garage. Just added on more panel on top with a shed roof and corbels. Now it matches the rest of the house. The exisiting ceiling was 11.5' tall. Works great. Neatly out of sight but not out of mind! Protected from the elements. We remove the antenna before we store it.

[LisaP]

We off set the door opener to miss the AC.

[WILDRTEXAS]

LisaP, Sweet...You did it. Congrats. The garage looks outstanding!

[dstalzer]

Here are a couple pictures of our garage that was built for a 25' Airstream with a 10' by 10' door. Snug fit, but it works great. Insulated so no winterizing and protects it in the summer heat when we are home.

Dennis

[Jezibels]

Lisa and Dennis, those are two great lookin garages! Your garages are on the same side of the house as mine will be, can you open the trailer door while its in the garage and go inside the trailer, to load it for a trip, or do you pull it out to do load?

Also do either of you have an incline?