Community Forums

machman72 · 09-05-2008, 01:04 AM

Looking for some advice here. I am planning on building a shelter for my RV. I am building it with a possible newer rig down the road. What that rig would be is unknown at this time. Too far in the future. My current Southwind has a "tight" clearance of 11 foot 6 to the top of the AC Shrouds. What are the "tight" clearance on other rigs out there? I want to build in enough clearance for the future, yet don't want a tower in the sky either.

machman72 · 09-05-2008, 01:04 AM

Looking for some advice here. I am planning on building a shelter for my RV. I am building it with a possible newer rig down the road. What that rig would be is unknown at this time. Too far in the future. My current Southwind has a "tight" clearance of 11 foot 6 to the top of the AC Shrouds. What are the "tight" clearance on other rigs out there? I want to build in enough clearance for the future, yet don't want a tower in the sky either.

GaryKD · 09-05-2008, 01:40 AM

Hi Steve,
I think 13' 6" or about that is the maximum legal limit. If you can, build the opening to fit that size. My coach is 12' 7" to the top of the Sat dome. Larger (in price and length) are going 13'+. Consider not only the coach height but anything that may be put on the roof. I have antennas that are well over the 12' 7" to the top of my Sat dome.

For me, it would come down to the size of the garage doors that are available.

Blue Ribbon · 09-05-2008, 01:43 AM

Go on line to the many manufacturers web sites, and you will find height. Something sticks in my mind of 12' 6" - I don't recall seeing any coach listed at 13', though I generally don't study arefully the 1/2 million dollar coaches, as there is no hope of owning one down the line.

I keep hoping to win the lottery, but now a friend of mine has told me that I have to buytickets with my own money before I have a chance of winning. What a downer! :-(

FlyingDiver · 09-05-2008, 02:20 AM

Our King Aire is 13'4" to the top of the spotlight, which is the tallest spot. Legal limit is 13'6", so you could use that as your guideline, if you're optimistic.

joe

Route 66 · 09-05-2008, 03:32 AM

Many folks install a 14' high door as anything will clear.

Hitchhiker · 09-05-2008, 03:52 AM

Back in 2000 I had a 5th wheel that was 11' 9" so when I built my building I made it 12' high. The next year I traded for another fiver and that one was 12' 2" tall so I had to excavate the floor (gravel) about 4" to gain clearance.

Last year we swapped again and this one was 13' 2", I had to hire a contractor to raise the building, added 18" to it so now I have 13' 6". I recommend at least that height because that's the statuary height limit for our highways and I don't think any OEM will build one taller than that.

machman72 · 09-05-2008, 04:40 AM

13'- 6" from the OEM, will that be the base height of the unit itself, or will that include, as stated above, the "extras" that get mounted to the top such as satellite domes.

rvten · 09-05-2008, 08:15 AM

After haveing a Pole Barn with a 14' high door. I would not go with anything less. Where I am now my door is only 12'2". My last 2 class A's just made it. Now we have a class C no problem.

Rockhouse · 09-06-2008, 02:10 PM

Recently built a "barn" fitted with two 14-foot doors to house stuff, including the MH.

RVThere · 09-06-2008, 03:19 PM

Steve,

The other thing to consider is you may want to go up on the RV roof while it is in your shelter. So although your door should be 14' high, you may want to give yourself a few more feet inside the shelter so you are not crawling around on the roof due to lack of headroom.

Submustang · 09-06-2008, 05:22 PM

My garage has 13 ft doors whcih gives me 12' 10" of clearance. If I was to do it over again I would go with 14ft. Also nothing less than 12ft wide. Even at that my mirrors only clear by a couple inches on each side.