Carriage Door Openers

[scootermcrad]

Hey guys!

I've been reading through threads on building carriage doors. Some REALLY great ideas here! Those doors get insanely expensive...

...and so do the openers!

Question!

I see all carriage door openers using modified overhead roll-up type openers, as well as the heavy gate/door openers like these...

If a garage has high ceilings it makes the overhead type virtually impossible, it seems, and the single door openers with the arms are SUPER expensive. Geesh!! Any other options out there? Anyone just make their own using some gear motors or something?

Somewhere I thought I saw an opener that ran across the door header inside that had a left hand and right hand screw drive (one for the left door and one for the right door) which was driven by a single motor and each door had a two-piece arm, or something. Seems like a simple low-profile way, but I feel like I imagined it because I can't find a picture of it anywhere.

So... Anyone make their own?

 

[rquackenbush]

Oh wow - am thinking about building some carriage doors for the attached and detached garages. Hadn't looked into openers yet, so I'll be following this thread closely.

 

[scootermcrad]

So, any other options out there? Anyone make their own? Maybe some Rube Goldberg looking openers?? HAHA!

 

[Schtauffer]

We have installed standard trolley style openers with the dual-arm deal that you have in your second picture, there. Use an operator with a DC motor and soft start/stop for best results. If you are able to fabricate the arms yourself, you should be able to get away for under $300.

 

[scootermcrad]

We have installed standard trolley style openers with the dual-arm deal that you have in your second picture, there. Use an operator with a DC motor and soft start/stop for best results. If you are able to fabricate the arms yourself, you should be able to get away for under $300.

Yes, but the trolley type have to hang from the ceiling. That's what I'm trying to avoid. The garage that I will be installing carriage doors on has 12 foot ceilings now and will be pushed up to 16 feet when all is said and done. One bay will have a lift, as well. SO! Space above has to be maintained.

 

[scootermcrad]

Bttt

 

[Torque1st]

Standard linear actuator gate openers should work.

 

[-G-]

Gate openers was the most reasonable route that I found for my doors.

 

[scootermcrad]

Gate openers was the most reasonable route that I found for my doors.

What did you end up using?

 

[jharder]

I am planning on making bi-fold doors for my planned remodel of a 40x30 corn crib. The door will be 20'x16' and will not take any headroom away from the interior.