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Hey guys,
Ended up removing 2 out of 5 horizontal braces from my garage door and gained about an extra 3 inches allowing me to fit in the garage.
The green circles are the braces still there, the two red are where they were removed. Everything still functions the same. I would imagine I'm just losing a little bit of stability at the bottom and maybe straining the motor a bit more than normal if there is a bit of sideways movement in the door as it moves along the track. That is a price I'm willing to pay to keep my truck inside though. Thoughts?
Seems that some flat bar across the door where you removed the braces would be a nice compromise. You will gain back some strength and still keep the ability to park inside.
Seems that some flat bar across the door where you removed the braces would be a nice compromise. You will gain back some strength and still keep the ability to park inside.
You're saying run another fat bar across there in its place just in case?
What does that exactly prevent from happening? It's a residential garage door, I'm not debating the truth of your statement at all, just trying to determine if it's worth the hassle since I'll have to rig something nonstandard together. It's not like the panels are being abused or pushed against from the outside at all.
Hey, do what you want. I simply made a suggestion that I would replace some of the structural support that you removed. Pretty sure the supports where there for a reason. Flat-bar is cheap compared to a new garage door. Nothing is rigged, just span some flat bar across it, drill some holes in the flat bar and re-use your screws you removed. Just my 2 cents.
Have you checked how heavy that garage door really is, without the springs? Even if that is an uninsulated door (appears to be) it is a few hundred pounds and looks to be a 2-car garage door, so 8ft across. You are losing a lot of structural integrity when that door is hanging over that truck, you, your wife, kids, pets, etc. I don't know for sure, but I can't say I'd risk it. I honestly don't know how much of the support it can lose before it might just catastrophically fold over one day while hanging in the open position.
I wouldn't trust it over my truck or family in the garage while the door is open.
Ok awesome this has been super helpful. Apologies if my response sounded in anyway but grateful. Glad I reached out to the group as this obviously isn't my area of expertise.
Is this the type of flat bar you're referring too?
I don't think adding a flat bar would do much to help your door. The braces you moved are technically "beams" and they are designed to add strength when the door is raised (horizontal over your truck). Unless the bar was steel and pretty thick it would add nothing for strength, just more weight.
10-06-2016, 10:18 PM
Garage door modified to fit truck, safe??
