Need more room in garage

[mossyoakglock]

My truck is about 1" too long for the garage. I like our house but part of me wishes we didn't buy it (the wife loved it and as they say..Happy wife = happy life) but there were too many things we wanted to pass it up. So, now the truck lives outside and with the trees we have, it constantly drops acorns and walnuts on the truck and I've already had to have some dents removed from them falling.

Is there any way to modify the garage door and maybe move it out 2-3 inches to gain the space to put the truck in?

The wall is made up of 3 concrete blocks with the drywall the rest of the way to the ceiling. The other option would be to cut out a section and allow my truck to "tuck" into it.

We do not want to remove any trees and do not have the room to build any sort of covering/carport. Are either of these ideas feasible?

 

[bazzateer]

Thinking outside the box here but if it's only about an extra inch you want (don't we all?!!) could you instal some ramps to drive the front wheels onto as you park? That might allow the extra inch you need. A neighbour years back has a 60s Barracuda which would not fit in his standard UK garage, he did this and it gave the extra space he needed to close the garage door.

 

[OccupantRJ]

If the situation allows, you could build a 6 foot or so bumpout in the wall of the garage to allow the front of the truck to tuck inside. This would also allow for a workbench and toolbox to fit there, which for automotive work, is where they would be needed. Outside the house, it could be made to look like a bay window, if needed for appearance sake.

 

[aero]

remove the bumper

 

[nehog]

remove the bumper

Funny! I was going to suggest this too. First thought was pull off the rear bumper!

Is the rear wall load bearing or not? If not, easy to bring it out a few feet.

Or, get a smaller truck?

 

[Jarhead0408]

X2 on the ramps.

I wouldn't use car ramps just because it might be aggravating to try to line up every time you pull in. You could easily build one full truck width ramp out of wood. Just make sure you build it heavy duty.

 

[mossyoakglock]

My wife suggested removing the bumper and putting on a rollpan, but I hate them so that's out.

I would consider a smaller truck or SUV but it's tough when the truck is paid off and I don't really want to be in another truck payment. I have a crew cab now but even if I went to an extended cab, they are both the same overall length so no win there.

 

[mindwarp]

Ah, I was gonna suggest the change to a smaller car but you already thought of that...
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[AZ Pete]

Photos would help. I think that you could add onto the front or back of your garage, depending on what's out there and what your roof line is.

Know what you mean about short garages are. We bought our house in '97, and it never occurred to me that a three bay garage would be too short for a full size pick-up...

 

[BD1]

Call a mason [bricklayer], ask him about chopping out the block and replace
with what is called a ''soap''. Or just removing block for bumper. Depends
on how fancy you want it. If replacing with soap a lintel may be require.

 

[wssix99]

My truck is about 1" too long for the garage.

Is that with the truck pulled all the way up to the drywall? I have a similar situation, but the truck fits with the bumper all the way up to the drywall. I built a contraption to bring the truck up to that point every time, which I can share...

If you can't physically fit it in at all, I'd recommend notching the front wall to accept the front bumper.

 

[bad_idea]

I think a ramp built similiar to one at a dealership would get the inch you need. Can you weld? Know anyone? I would estimate 3 sticks of 2x2x1/4" angle should get it done. The void space under the ramp could be useful storage space. No permanent modification to your home either.

 

[rsanter]

How about firing out the front wall on the outside so you can move the garage door to the outside by 4 in or so

Bob

 

[slghmmr88]

What kind of truck? Some trucks can have the bumpers tucked in tighter to the body for a cleaner look. Mine is a 93 chevy and it is high on my list of mods, gonna tuck the front aprox. 1/2 to 3/4 and the rear initial plan is to tuck an inch and possible narrowing to fit tighter. Will know more when I finish replacing the siding on the house and finish body work and painting on the bass boat taking up my garage.

 

[machine_punk]

I would think that you would be able to move the door 2-4 inches. It won't be easy, or fun, or probably look 'quite right' in the end, but most garage doors are set back several inches.

When a garage door is installed, the installer puts in the rails first, then mounts each section of the door, then, at the very end, mounts the trim around the door (the piece which actually makes it weather tight). I suspect you could uninstall the door, drill all the holes 2-3 inches further out, remount the door, remount the trim, then touch up the paint.

If that won't work, you could build a mini roof across the front of the garage door, frame that in on the sides, and move the door out a good foot. In then end, it would look like a 'design feature,' and add a little interest to the front of the house.

M_P

 

[rquackenbush]

Have you thought about replacing your garage door with carriage doors? That way, the door is in the framed opening instead of inside of it. That would also get rid of all the overhead rails / opener hardware.

 

[angzt]

We had the same problem. But only if the plow was installed. In the winter months, the last thing you want is to keep having to take a plow on and off. So we blew out the back wall (it was constructed of cinder blocks) and just extended it out another 4 feet or so. We didn't do the whole wall though. Just a small enough cubby hole to drive the plow in straight and be able to drop it. Then on the outside we shingled the top and added siding. Blends right in with the rest of the garage!

 

[Ryf]

take off the back bumper and put in a roll pan? hate it or not, its the cheapest solution
find a different bumper?

add a bumpout if lot allows?

oh yeah... park outside?

 

[alberto]

If the front of the truck is touching the front wall and it is drywall, frame it out like a window (cripple studs, header, etc.).and cut out the drywall on the inside of the garage. Depending on whether you have 2x4 or 2x6, you'll easily get another few inches out of it, more than you need it seems.

 

[MScott]

I just picked up a copy of "Dream Garages" by The Family Handyman (excellent BTW.) It has plans and instructions for building a "Garage bump-out" which would fit your needs exactly if you have the room.
For another idea, I have a friend who has a small older garage that was "bumped out" on the garage door end so that the door was moved outward by a couple of feet. Certainly more work than the one above, but it would work if you do not have room to bump out the back.

 

[e-tek]

slghmmr88......You know no one is reading what you are typing, right? It all sounds like this to us: "cleavage,cleavage,cleavage...."

 

[BD1]

slghmmr88......You know no one is reading what you are typing, right? It all sounds like this to us: "cleavage,cleavage,cleavage...."

He was typing something ?????????????? Never noticed either !
You are right !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mister Moose]

I'm sorry, but every time I read this thread title on the forum page, I think:

"Oh, yeah, that's right up there with

Need more twenties in my wallet
or
Need more cold beers in my fridge
or
Need to get going on the Honey Do list
or
Need more sockets
or
Need more days off."

 

[pain]

We need pictures so we can give better input.

 

[mossyoakglock]

I just picked up a copy of "Dream Garages" by The Family Handyman (excellent BTW.) It has plans and instructions for building a "Garage bump-out" which would fit your needs exactly if you have the room.
For another idea, I have a friend who has a small older garage that was "bumped out" on the garage door end so that the door was moved outward by a couple of feet. Certainly more work than the one above, but it would work if you do not have room to bump out the back.

Where did you pick this up at?

 

[mossyoakglock]

This is what I'm working with. The concrete wall is less than 3' tall and about 3" wide from the drywall.

 

[MScott]

Where did you pick this up at?

Magazine rack at a Shoppers Drug Mart. It's like a higher quality magazine.
Should be available anywhere magazines are sold.

 

[Lippyp]

I don't think a ramp would work with a truck as the top of the tailgate will just stick right back out, just imagine taking a flat length of wood and pivoting it arouns the middle, bottom goes in and top goes out, it might work with a car with a sloping trunk but not a truck or SUV with a flat back end.

 

[djkeev]

What's on the other side of the concrete wall? Air or dirt?

Dave

 

[mossyoakglock]

Bricks for the exterior of the house and then air.

We thought about cutting out the face of the blocks about 3 inches and put a piece of steel under the 2x4 base for support and then finish and frame up the cutout

 

[jannejan]

How's it going with this OP?

 

[PoorOwner]

I park on a ramp and it definitely shortens the effective horizontal length of the vehicle. Simple geometry.

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Well, if the other side of the brink wall is 'outside' and not another room in your house, then there's your solution - a bump out. Just have to engineer something to replace the block wall. Is the ground on the other side of the block wall relatively the same height, or is the garage partially sunk in to the grade?

 

[mossyoakglock]

Well I haven't been able to get anything done with this yet. We've had a few unexpected expenses come up so this has been pushed back.

Hopefully I can get something done soon with it though.

Now that we have determined that a bump-out is doable, how would you guys do it? I know that I am going to need some sort of bracing to support the wall but still trying to figure out the best way to cut out the wall and make the actual bump-out.

I'm open to all suggestions.

 

[Thirsty]

Park it diagonally.