Intro & Garage door opening height question

[HemiRambler]

First post so I thought I'd jump right in with a quick intro and a question!

Intro: Long time car nut - Several Years ago I finally put an addition on my small garage - life's never been the same... that was the best money I spent in a long time - it was ALOT of work but worth it!!! I only farmed out the concrete work - eveything else was done by me and a few buddies.

Question: As you can see in the picture my old truck is kinda tall and I keep it in the front garage. While the door opening IS tall enough the door itself doesn't open all the way to the top. Common design issue from what I can gather. So my silly question is: What slick (read easy) ways can I change this to open more - other than maybe a garage door opener. I looked it over and nothing jumped out at me - the cable angle gets "worse" as you go so high. Just curious as I thought maybe this is a common issue with an easy fix - or is that simply wishful thinking?

 

[HemiRambler]

hmnn so do I jackhammer the floor or what?

I guess this is a much less commn problem than I thought!

 

[AndrewBigA]

please post more pics of your garage. one isnt enough.

 

[ddawg16]

My rollup clears the header of my garage.....

I'm assuming that you do NOT have an opener on it and your just depending on the torrsion spring to raise the door....if so....yea...your going to end up with it hanging down about 2-3"

If that is the case....an opener is about the only way to solve the problem. I have enough track that my opener pulls the door up all the way.

 

[texas-saluki]

if you are trying to avoid having the opener in the middle of the garage... get one of these http://www.liftmaster.com/consumerweb/products/pflresidentialjackshaft.htm

I got one when I replaced my garage door this summer and love it. Works great and is fast and super quiet

 

[HemiRambler]

ddawg16, Yeah the rollup is fine - I normally keep the truck in the front garage with the traditional style door and as you guessed the dreaded torsion springs. That 2-3" is killing me. There's got to be some slick (read lazy) way to make this mor euser friendly than the chunk of 2x4 I've been using ;-( Maybe I will have to toss in the towel and add an opener - not sure if I like the idea of that hanging down in the middle of teh garage either... hmnnnn decisions decisions.

AndrewBigA I'll dig up some teasers ;-)

 

[HemiRambler]

Texas-saluki, You've given me an idea. Thanks!!!!!

 

[rarevair]

Chop the top on the Truck 3" .

The switchplates are great, I am inspired. Bought some diamond plate ones and put them on this morning . . . what a disappointment . . . just what I need, another project.

 

[HemiRambler]

Thansks rarevair, I made those years ago before I ever saw anyone else's- I still like mine better - but I suppose I am a bit jaded ;-)

Well to update my dilema: While scrounging around at the Industrial Surplus store today I found an old Genie garage door opener - and for 25 sheckles I figured I ought to try it out. Had to notch one wall tie, but other than that it was a staright forward install. Works great EXCEPT I didn't get the "laser eyes" and as I am told THAT is the reason the "one touch" won't work for going DOWN. You have to hold the button the entire time to get it to close without autoreversing. My buddy tells me it will work correctly once I hook up the laser eyes. Notching the wall tie was a bit of a pain but I'm glad I finally did this!!

Now my search for a CHEAP sensor begins!!!! I wonder if those have to be genie brand or not??