How to Find Your Perfect SUV or RV Garage Door in 4 Easy Steps

While most people feel pretty comfortable with standard garage door sizes, it’s a bit more of an unknown territory when you’re looking for a garage door for your RV, SUV, or larger pickup truck. After all, a standard 6 x 7-foot garage door might not even come close to providing the space that you need. Fortunately for you, we’re able to customize garage doors in all sizes and styles. And, we’ve got the four steps you need to follow to find your perfect new garage door.

A garage with different garage door sizes to fit a car, an SUV and an RV.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

First up, pickup trucks and SUVs that are larger than average

1- How big of a garage door will I need to fit my pickup or SUV in my new garage?

Many of the popular SUVs today are 5'5" to 6'4" tall, based on research from JD Power. And most pickup trucks are 6' to 6'5" tall. There may be a rare instance where someone has modified their SUV or truck to be taller, but yours should fit into this size range.

So, with that in mind, know that your standard SUV or pickup can fit into a garage door that measures 7' in height. For those who want a little more wiggle room, upgrade to 7.5-8 feet in height. When it comes to width, 9 feet is usually wide enough for most SUVs, trucks, and cars.

Once you figure out sizing, you’ll get to indulge your creativity and design your own perfect garage door. Feel free to explore our image gallery to see what other homeowners have done, and to check out the many sizes, colors, and designs available from our collection.

The next consideration is whether your garage is attached or detached. Those who have a garage attached to the house should consider insulating the door. This will keep the space temperate and help lower energy costs. If it’s detached, you might be able to forego insulation.

Insulation is rated by a term called R-value, which essentially describes how much protection the insulation provides, with higher numbers meaning better insulation. You’ll love our collection of R-16 insulated doors, including the rustic North Hatley LP and the stylish, contemporary Vog design.

Garage door Standard+ Vog, 9' x 7', Charcoal, window layout: Left-side Harmony

Here is our Standard+ Vog design. This garage door features charcoal finishes and left-side Harmony windows. Sized at 9' x 7', these doors can easily fit most pickups and SUVs.

Next up: will you choose 2 doors or one larger double garage door?

If you do choose a double garage door, exactly how wide should it be?

Mostly, this is a matter of comfort, provided that you choose a size that fits the vehicles. For example, some cars will fit into a 12'-wide garage door if you’re careful about parking them side by side. Some people may struggle with this tight of a space and choose to upgrade to a 16' wide door. Our 16' x 8' doors are the most requested option in double garage doors.

Of course, since all our doors are custom-made, you won’t have to worry about choosing a “common size”—just tell us exactly what you need and we’ll make it or let us help you figure out the perfect size.

Garage door Standard+ North Hatley LP, 16' x 8', Moka Brown, 4 vertical lite Orion windows

Here we have the Standard+ North Hatley LP design, shown in the standard 16' x 8' size, with a Moka Brown finish and four of our vertical lite Orion windows. This door is wide enough for most people to park two vehicles inside without issue.

2- OK, so what lift do I need for my new overhead door?

Standard lifts are the most common type of lift for homeowners. For those who have at least 12 inches above the door, this could be the perfect installation. Remember to leave two extra inches if you are also installing a new automatic garage door opener.

Standard lift garage door elevation

In the event your garage lacks vertical space, you may need a different option. Fortunately, there is a solution: the low front headroom lift. This is a unique track design that’s made for garages that have less than 10 inches of space above them.

Low headroom lift garage door

Inclined track lifts are another option, often chosen by people who have cathedral ceilings in their garage.

Inclined garage door track

3- What about the garage door hardware?

Based on size, residential doors and hardware will suffice for your SUV or pickup truck. In our residential collection, we have standard bolted hardware and Dura+ heavy-duty hardware.

You’ll see their features and specs below:

Picture describing the main differences between the Dura+ hardware system and the bolted hardware system for a garage door.

Most of our garage door models come with bolted hardware, but some will come standard with the Dura+ hardware option. Talk to your garage door expert about the hardware options and which is best for your door.

4- What about the garage door opener?

Take your pick of any residential electric garage door opener, since your vehicle fits into a 7' or 8' door.

Here are some of the most popular garage door openers available today.

  • The LiftMaster 87504-267 opener offers peace of mind and all kinds of high-tech features that you’re sure to love. It features a premium belt drive for quiet operation, as well as an integrated camera with a two-way microphone and HD graphics so you can keep tabs on your garage in real time.
  • The LiftMaster 8500W opener offers a wall-mounted design for those who lack ceiling space or who just don’t want to use it to mount the garage door opener. Plus, it offers a 24V DC motor that can open garage doors as tall as 14 feet!
  • The LiftMaster 87802 garage door opener is a chain-drive model, so it won’t be as quiet. It also doesn’t include the smart features and camera of other models. It’s a great basic garage door opener for your detached garage or when you just don’t need all the bells and whistles. It does include a battery backup so that you’re always operational, even in a power outage.

And better yet, each of these openers is compatible with myQ, allowing for total monitoring and control from your smartphone!

LiftMaster garage door opener model 87504-267

The LiftMaster 87504-267 garage door opener features ultra-quiet operation, battery backup, a built-in camera, and more!

Secondly, how do you choose a larger garage door for your RV?

1- What about my RV? Don’t I need a much bigger garage door?

For those constructing a garage, especially for their RV, sizing is everything. Not only do you need to consider the height of the RV, but you also need to include headroom for a little extra space. Otherwise, the tight fit could make pulling into the garage an anxiety-inducing situation. There’s no need for that—just add a few extra inches and get a lot more peace of mind.

Garage door G-5000, 16' x 18', Ice White

Take a look at the G-5000, 16' x 18', in Ice White. For those who have large RVs, commercial garage door designs could provide the ideal solution.

And then you have to think about the future—are you going to upgrade to a larger motorhome? If so, you’ll want to go bigger on your initial door just to be safe.

A Class A RV is also called a motorhome.

Pictured is a Class A RV. These offer the most features and creature comforts, but they’re also the largest models. Image courtesy of Camper Report's website.

What class is your RV? That’s going to impact your garage door sizing.

The Camper Report website lists 4 categories of RVs, based on sizes and features:

  • Class A – These are the ones that look like travel or tour buses. They are the most comfortable and include the most features, as well as the largest option.
  • Class B – These are typically the smallest option for RVs, and many fit into a standard vehicle-sized garage.
  • Class B+ – Slightly larger than Class B, these RVs are a combo of features from B and C class models.
  • Class C – These use a modified chassis from a pickup as the base, smaller than class A but with some similar features.

An RV from Class C at night.

Image of a Class C RV from Pixabay.

When installing an overhead door on your garage for an RV, you’ll have to consider the dimensions of your class.

The Jeffsettter Travel website offers a simple breakdown:

  • Class A – Ranges from 12-14'
  • Class B and B+ – Ranges from 7-10'
  • Class C – Ranges from 10-12'

You can discover beautiful landscape by traveling with an RV from Class B.

Image of a Class B RV from Unsplash.

Don’t forget to include rooftop air conditioning units, exhaust fans, etc. Allow extra height for these features, and consider the future, too. For example, do you want to leave extra room for a roof rack addition?

When it comes to garage door width, here’s how sizing is figured:

  • Class A – 10' wide or larger
  • Class B, B+, C – 8-9' wide

We also suggest going up to 12’wide for a Class A vehicle so that you’ve got more room for an easier fit.

Garage door Standard+ Shaker-Flat XL, 10' x 9', Chocolate Walnut, windows with Stockton Inserts

If you have an RV class B or B+, these 9-foot Standard+ Shaker-Flat XL offer a perfect fit. They measure 10' x 9' and feature Stockton insert windows and a beautiful Chocolate Walnut finish.

Already have an RV? That’s going to make it even easier! You can easily calculate the size you need based on the size of your motorhome. If you want a little help, ask our experts to go through the process with you. We can make a garage door perfectly sized down to the nearest inch, so we’ve got you covered.

Don’t forget to choose a door that’s a little bigger than you need just in case you choose to upgrade later!

This garage door found on Houzz would easily fit a Class A RV.

This door from Houzz is a great example of a choice for your Class A RV. If you love the look, consider our Shaker-Flat CC garage door, available in several colors.

2- What about the lifts for RV garage doors?

We have several lift options, including those designed for larger garage doors such as the ones you install for your RV.

A lot of these garages will have high walls that go beyond the garage door itself, sometimes as high as 18 or 20 feet. This is where our high lift tracks and vertical lift tracks can come in handy, installing for easy opening and closing while leaving plenty of headroom above the RV.

A technical drawing of a High Garage Door Lift

Sloped roofs can benefit from the inclined track design we offer, allowing for extra headroom or just a design that perfectly fits your pitched ceiling.

Image of an inclined garage door track

When you’ve got limited headroom, ask about how low front headroom lifts for your RV garage door. They’re perfect for garages with less than 10 inches of overhead clearance.

Image of a low-headroom garage door track

3- Don’t I need heavier-duty hardware for this big garage door?

Fortunately, this isn’t a concern that you have to worry about, either. Anytime a garage door is made over 8' tall, we upgrade it to commercial hardware so that it provides proper function and durability.

Check out the types of commercial hardware:

We divide our commercial garage door hardware into 3 categories: Light Duty, Heavy Duty and Super Heavy Duty

We’ll help you decide which type of commercial hardware is best based on your door size, weight, and other factors.

4- Finally, there’s the stronger garage door opener you have to consider

So, you’ve got the perfect garage door in the ideal size with a design that you love. Now, you need a way to open and close that new door. We have you covered with our selection of options for an industrial-strength LiftMaster garage door opener.

We suggest wall-mounted openers for Class A RVs.

We love the LiftMaster H, one of the leading industrial door openers available today.

  • The wall-mounted design keeps the ceiling clear
  • You can install this opener at an easy reach, making reprogramming and other maintenance easier than overhead openers
  • Reduced vibrations and noise
  • Also works with myQ!

LiftMaster H wall-mounted commercial garage door opener

The LiftMaster H comes with peace of mind built in, thanks to the myQ app. You’ll be able to monitor and manage your door from anywhere.

Enjoy vacations with less stress when you install a LiftMaster opener.

So you took off in the RV for a weekend road trip. You woke up late and were in a hurry to beat traffic, so you didn’t double-check the garage door—or did you? With the myQ app, you can rest easy knowing your door is closed and that you can keep an eye on it while you’re on the road.

The myQ app makes it easy to know what’s going on in your garage, no matter where you are.

A woman checking if her garage door is locked on her smartphone by using the free MyQ app.

Use the myQ app to check your garage door! You can open and close your door with just a click, from any location around the world!

Perhaps you haven’t even thought about your garage door at all—suddenly, your phone buzzes with a notification that you’ve left the door open. Imagine how much safer you’ll feel knowing you’re protected even from your own absentmindedness.

The homeowner gets a notification on his smart phone “Alert Occurred – The garage door remains open" and sees that the neighbor who walks the dog as the last to come out from the garage door.

Your garage door opener will let you know if the door’s been open too long. Then, just go into the app, and with a single click, you can close the garage door instantly!

So, let’s talk garage door shopping—are you ready?

From small sheds to huge commercial-size doors for Class A RVs, we can help you find the perfect garage door.

As mentioned, we can customize garage doors to the exact height and width desired, and we can even help you figure out what those dimensions are. Remember, each garage door is custom-made to order.

Measure your garage door with these tips or reach out and contact us. One of our trained experts will come to take the measurements, help you understand how we determine size, and make sure that your garage door is the perfect fit.

Garage door Eastman E-11, 16' x 8', Black door and overlays, 4 vertical lite Panoramic windows

Do you like this sleek, dark design? This is an Eastman E-11, 16' x 8', in Black, with 4 vertical lite Panoramic windows.

Here’s an even better idea—design your own garage door now!

Who doesn’t love a cool app? When you’re in the market for a garage door, our Design Centre has everything that you need. You’ll be able to choose from 10 colors, 35 designs, and tons of customization options to get the perfect look for your new garage door. It’s free and easy to use, and you can even choose details like hardware, windows, and more.

With easy access from your phone, you could even customize the perfect RV garage door from your RV!

And if you’re interested in a free quote, we can deliver one via email. To be sure that your design is perfect, upload a picture of your garage and try on the various doors in the Design Centre until you find your favorite look.

If you’d like, give us a call at 416-661-5151 and the team at Barmac Garage Doors will guide you through the selection and installation process, including design, insulation, hardware, and more.

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