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Old 01-06-2025, 10:01 AM   #1
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Garage Door for 25FB

We are building a new home and have an opportunity to add a garage bay for the Airstream. We currently own a 25FB. I am curious to hear peoples experience with garage size and in particular what would be considered a good garage door opening size. Our current plan is 10' wide x 12' tall door.
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Old 01-06-2025, 12:57 PM   #2
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I would go 12 x 14 in the event you move on from an AS or to appeal to someone with a larger/taller RV when reselling.

Also, a 10' door is going to be a little narrower on the usable opening so you'll have max of about 8" - 9" on each side but it will probably be less due to the awing arms, bumper sticking out beyond the edge of the trailer, etc...
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Old 01-06-2025, 01:02 PM   #3
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I once rented a storage space with a 10 x 12 door. It was too tight and too easy to make a mistake...I eventually moved it to outside storage. Go bigger.
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Old 01-06-2025, 01:11 PM   #4
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:I pull through my 11 ft. wide gate regularly. While it's doable I would be much happier with 12 ft. I have a more or less straight shot approach on both sides still I have to be careful. With all the extra things hanging out the AS is over 9 ft. That's tight pulling through backing in would be less fun If you do decide to put in a narrow door installed a front hitch on the TV it's much more maneuverable and you can see better.
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Old 01-06-2025, 02:02 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OrangeCrush View Post
I am curious to hear peoples experience with garage size and in particular what would be considered a good garage door opening size. Our current plan is 10' wide x 12' tall door.
If I were you, Orange Crush, I would flip the dimensions. My RV garage door, now complete, measures 12Wx10H. You need a minimum of 12 wide for maneuverability.
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Old 01-06-2025, 02:39 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffb831 View Post
I would go 12 x 14 in the event you move on from an AS or to appeal to someone with a larger/taller RV when reselling.

Also, a 10' door is going to be a little narrower on the usable opening so you'll have max of about 8" - 9" on each side but it will probably be less due to the awing arms, bumper sticking out beyond the edge of the trailer, etc...
We did 12x12, but would agree that if we ever move to non-airstream 5th wheel the 12 foot height will be an issue. Our 28 ft usable depth will likely limit the likelihood of that, though.
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Old 01-06-2025, 04:43 PM   #7
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I would consider 12x12 the minimum door size

My 23' FC is 8' x 9.75'. My storage unit has a door that's 12' wide x 14' high, and after a season of going in and out of this size door, I personally wouldn't want to have to back into an opening less than 12' wide. I've found this size gives me enough wiggle room to not feel worried when backing the rig in. Could I get it into a 10' wide opening? With enough clear runway and time, yes...but I wouldn't want to have to on a regular basis.



My current 14' high door is of course way more than enough for the Airstream, a 12' high door would also be totally comfortable and worry-free. A 10' high door...not so much.


So if I were building my own storage spot, I would use a 12x12' door.
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Old 01-06-2025, 11:14 PM   #8
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I've been storing my 1994 Excella in our barn for years now. The door we use is about 4" wider than the total width of the trailer with the awnings and all other components.

There is no feasible way to back the trailer into the barn using my Suburban, and we use instead our small compact diesel tractor. Every time I pull the trailer in/out of the barn it is nerve wracking and a real nail biter. I use a spotter who has to run back and forth from side to side since I can't clearly see the edge of the door opening once the trailer starts to go through.

We make it work, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. We're currently trying to figure out how to retrofit a wider door on a 180-year-old barn.

Get the largest door you can for the space you're building. If 12-ft is possible do that. If wider is possible, then go wider. You'll never complain that the door is too wide, but you'll surely regret getting a door which is too narrow. It's just not worth the trouble for the few bucks you'll be saving.
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Old 01-07-2025, 10:10 AM   #9
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Hi

There is an "interesting gotcha" in this:

There is the size of the "hole in the wall" for the garage.

There is what's left after the garage door goes into that hole in the wall.

As noted above, the door hardware sticks out a bit on the sides. The other issue is that the door itself may or may not stick down into the opening as well. That part depends a bit on how high the ceiling is *inside* the garage. It also depends on how much unobstructed space there is. If you just happen to have this great big beam running across the ceiling .... that can be an issue. I have empirical data on this ....

What I would want is at least 12' x 12' completely clear going into the garage. I would also want at least 3' on each side past that once you got into the garage.


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Old 01-07-2025, 10:55 AM   #10
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Garage Door

Quote:
Originally Posted by OrangeCrush View Post
We are building a new home and have an opportunity to add a garage bay for the Airstream. We currently own a 25FB. I am curious to hear peoples experience with garage size and in particular what would be considered a good garage door opening size. Our current plan is 10' wide x 12' tall door.
10’ X 12’ is what my Shop bay has which gives my AS plenty of clearance.
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Old 01-07-2025, 11:17 AM   #11
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We have a 2014 FCFB with 16" wheels. Its garage door is 10x10. There is about 3" of clearance in height and about 9" on each side. It works but I have a corded trailer mover to get it placed so that the trailer door can swing open.

I do back it in with the tow vehicle but maneuvering it in the garage with the truck would be hard and risky.

A 10x10 is the absolute minimum. Bigger is better.
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Old 01-07-2025, 11:45 AM   #12
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Garage door size

I concur with Jeff B831. Since you have the opportunity while building, make the garage big enough to appeal to a new buyer if that comes to pass. My RV port is 12' wide and I feel is it the bare minimum required. I have to come in on an arc as I do not have enough room to back in a straight line. Once the trailer is in, there is not enough room on the sides to do any sort of cleaning or work at all. I would concur with uncle bob that you need at least 3' on each side of the trailer, preferably more if you plan to do any sort of work on the trailer while it is parked in the garage. Good luck!
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Old 01-07-2025, 11:45 AM   #13
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No more winterizing!!!!

You will not regret the heated storage! Our door is 10' high and 10'2" wide. We have a 25' FC FBT without a lift kit. My ceiling is 11' high so I do not have a lot of room to get on the roof when she is inside. In fact, we cannot lift off the AC cover without a 2nd person. If we had it to do over again we would go with 13' ceilings and the door would be 12' wide and 12' high. This would allow us to install a lift kit and leave plenty of room to remove the AC for maintenance (if needed).
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Old 01-07-2025, 03:23 PM   #14
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Ours is 14 wide x 12 high. It's great. I could live with 12x12, but 14 is better width. Sorry photo rotated.
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Old 01-07-2025, 05:30 PM   #15
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What he says…

Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffb831 View Post
I would go 12 x 14 in the event you move on from an AS or to appeal to someone with a larger/taller RV when reselling.

Also, a 10' door is going to be a little narrower on the usable opening so you'll have max of about 8" - 9" on each side but it will probably be less due to the awing arms, bumper sticking out beyond the edge of the trailer, etc...
Our 25FB lives is an industrial garage we own. She likes it! It’s got a 12W x14H door. I wouldn’t want less.

I’d add two considerations… 1. the path to place or remove the trailer 2. the tool you plan to use to move the trailer in and out.

Given other obstructions, I have to place or remove the trailer while turning. For me, 12’ wide feels tight. I sometimes use my tow vehicle. I also have and use a Trailer Valet. If you have a long, straight run to align the trailer you would have a better chance to be happy with a narrower door. I don’t have that option.

Ask yourself this… what would I do with the two feet of wall I gained by using a 10’ door vs 12’?
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Old 01-07-2025, 07:25 PM   #16
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I have a Quonset hut with a 14’ x 14’ door at each end. It is great for easily angling the 25FB so that it only takes one side of the Quonset. For simply backing up the trailer straight, I would not go less than 12’ wide.
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Old 01-08-2025, 12:41 AM   #17
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I built in 2019 and put in a 16’ wide by 12’ tall door for our 28’ Classic Widebody.
I really would hate backing into a narrower opening.
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Old 01-08-2025, 06:07 AM   #18
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We recently built a new home with an RV garage attached. The garage itself is 18' X 35' with a door that is 14' wide and 12' tall with a 14' ceiling height. This works really well for us. I back in with the driver's side tight to the door frame and that leaves room to get down that side and plenty of room on the passenger side to load things in and out.
Could we get by with only 12' wide? Sure, but for a few hundred more, we like the convenience of the wider door. The extra height is just for resale value. If someone had a boat or bigger RV to store.
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Old 01-08-2025, 07:30 PM   #19
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12W X 14T and 50’ deep and wired for 50A. While your current unit is smaller, consider every residence is for sale at some point. This size allows for growth, 5th wheels are 12’10” tall and upwards to 40’ lengths; Class As are similar but up 45’ lengths. A garage of this consideration becomes a major attracting selling point (RV or workshop) and allows flexibility for now. Your 10’ W doors gives you 12” clearance on each side, give yourself a bit of breathing room, someone will be spotting for you as you back in.
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Old 01-12-2025, 10:26 AM   #20
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Door on each end!
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