Daily Archives2017 January 02

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In the Towing Equipment industry many tow truck dealers use B50 calculations to estimate the expected life before an engine requires overhaul, replacement or other rotating equipment. In the car carrier and wrecker world it is usually described in terms of “miles of operation” in the trucking community.

B50 is the calculated estimate of when 50% of the engines of a certain type will require major repair (repairs requiring dropping of the oil pan or removal of cylinder heads – it does not refer to rotating components attached to the engine) and is often referred to as “average life to overhaul”. These values are indicators of the strength of a design. They are good comparison figures when evaluating the purchase of several different power units.

It is of the utmost importance to just use these numbers as guidelines based on the generalization of the machine at hand. Many factors may disrupt the accuracy of these numbers. As calculated figures, you need to be careful not to require too much of these figures – they are estimates generated using a set of assumptions about operating conditions. As such, B50 values should be seen as indicators rather than guarantees or actual test results.

B50 estimates are typically rounded figures like 400,000 and 500,000 miles — that makes sense when you consider that these estimates are comprised of half a dozen assumptions.

These vehicles typically travel 30,000 to 35,000 miles per year. The B50 rating of 400,000 miles, therefore, suggests that 50% of the specified units would run at least 11 to 13 years before requiring major engine work. The B50 rating is 100,000 miles higher, which suggests a 10 to 14+ year life to overhaul.

Although many start up tow truck companies are unsure how to read into buying older vehicles. The B50 life is a great place to start in addition to bringing a trusted towing equipment mechanic with you to pick up your first used tow truck. A regular mechanic would be able to verify everything under the hood, but a tow truck mechanic will be able to see what needs to be addressed aside from the cab and chassis. This may include hose lines; wear pads, Jerr-Dan cylinders, headboards or placards.

So what are the advantages of making sure to use the right B life when comparing apples to oranges. Four years of customer experience and production with the existing continuing design of engine and fuel system, 24% more displacement for better response and low speed performance. The HEUI fuel system is the most modern advanced electronic control system in the diesel engine field; which has electronic engine control system tailored to work with new tow trucks

Hopefully this information allows the purchase of towing equipment to a pleasant experience that produces the anticipated results that are needed to be a successful operator. It is important to do due diligence when it comes to researching an investment in an industry such as this to prevent possible shortfalls.

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Source by Zack Daniels

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The Ford Lotus Twin cam, the legendary high performance engine of the sixties era. The Mk1 Twin Cam was introduced as a test bed engine in the Mk1 Cortina in 1963 & followed by the Mk II which powered the

Mk II Lotus Cortina – the same engine that was also fitted to the 1968 Escort Twin Cam.

The lotus Cortina & the Twin Cam Escort were instant winners both on the track and in many, many rallies held throughout the world. It is often said that the sixties were the golden years of motor sport, and the firm of lotus and their highly competitive cars were held in high esteem. But the Lotus elan which was publicly released at the1962 Earls Court motor show was the sports car that set the motoring world alight, the elan established a reputation for rapid point to point motoring, as well racking up success after success on race circuits around the world. Lotus was quick to build on those success with the release of the lotus elan 26R, the racing version, which was based on the elan S2 model, only about one hundred 26Rs elans were produced by the factory.

The run of the mill four cylinder ford cast iron engine block provided the base on which the twin cam engine was built, the cylinder head was a Harry Mundy designed twin cam alloy head, which incorporated chain drive to the twin over head cams, which actuated the eight valves. The engine was normally aspirated and fed by ‘twin forty millimetre Weber carburettors, which are characterised by the distinct clucking sound they made when the throttle butterflies are opened.

But despite the high power output of this small four-cylinder engine there are two Achilles heals of this engine, the first being the reputation for water pump failure, which is mostly caused by the engine being left standing for long periods sans any coolant in the block, on the first crank of the engine the dry seal is ripped during the first turn over.

Many elan & escort owners have also upgraded from the original dynamo to a modern alternator for the electrical system, the high tension on the belt required to run the alternator places excessive side loads on the water pump which can lead to premature failure… the standard water pump replacement requires that the alloy twin cam cylinder head be first removed, this can lead to a very expensive mechanical repair for the non-practical twin cam owner

The best fix for this problem is to install the newer modular type water pump, making it far easier to remove and replace. The other problem with the twin cam lotus engine is the constant habit of the engine of losing oil pressure on tight right hand turns, many owners choose to ignore this problem at their own peril, lotus twin cam

drivers have been known to simply listen for the bearing rattles then’ back off, and wait for oil pressure to return…. if you hear bearing rattle, the engine is only a few seconds away from a potential engine blow up,

From a cold start, bearing rattle can be tolerated in an engine because it only lasts for one or two seconds while the engine is at idle., but it is an entirely different story when the engine is revving at four to seven thousand revs per minute where even a short oil starvation period can have a devastating effect on the engine bearings, bearing failure is not an if, but a matter of when the engine bearings seize on the crankshaft.

But You’ll Be Pleased to know there is A Fix – But there are really only two options;

1: If you are into circuit racing, then dry sump lubrication is a given, it can be expensive and time consuming to set up and to get it right, but most racers swear by dry sump lubrication.

2: Install A Gated Wet Sump Oil Control system.

It sounds technical but it is not, the gated sump system consists of designing and building a unique apparatus which is installed in the standard twin cam sump or oil pan, it is not expensive to build or difficult to fabricate, it is not complex, and most home mechanics would be capable of building the baffle if they enjoy fabricating with sheet metal, and they also understand how to do a small amount of brazing.

No one but you will ever know that there is a special anti surge oil control system installed in the sump of your twin cam lotus engine. But the difference is that with the gated baffle installed, you will be able take any given corner at high speed in your Ford escort, Lotus Cortina or lotus elan and not have the slightest worry about oil surge, the oil gauge will tell you that the correct oil pressure is being delivered to your legendary twin cam lotus engine, it’s about piece of mind and confidence with high performance motoring. Build it once, build it right, and you’ll have no problems.

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Source by Colin Croucher

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What Kind of welding job pays that kind of money? About 5% of welders are certified 6G code welders. 6G is pipe welding – in fact it is the test for: “All-position pipe welding.” The skill test is to weld two pieces of pipe together which are mounted in a fixed position, at 45 degrees. Because you are welding a round object set at 45 degrees, you are proving your ability in every conceivable position. The weld quality must be very high, because replacing poorly welded pipe joints in a power plant (for example) is very expensive.

How much CAN a 6G Pipe Welder make?

Wages have gone down during the slow down. Not that long ago a “rig welder” (a welder with a welding machine on a truck) in Alberta, Canada would average $330,000 a year, but times are hard, so it is roughly half that much now. Off-shore oil rigs employing 6G welders are paying about $100k a year right now.

There are very few trades in life which are purely “skill based.” In other words, the possessor of the skill is highly paid simply because they can perform the skill (think of a tight-rope walker in a circus). Most high paying trades or skills require specific schooling, plus proof that you can actually “do the skill”, and rarely will the skill require hand-eye-brain coordination to the degree of a tight-rope walker. 6G pipe welding IS a skill like tight rope walking – it requires dedicated, correct practice. Like tight-rope walking, 6G pipe welding also does not require any specific education or graduation certificate in the USA. No one cares where you went to school, or IF you went to school, as long as you show up and you really can weld that pipe joint like walking a tight rope! If you are good at this ONE position, you’ll be put to work. No one CARES where or how you learned the skill and no one cares if you don’t know another thing in this world!

Can imagine this? Imagine a room of 100 of the most highly skilled structural welders (typically union iron workers, working on large building frames) and 100 CWI Welding Inspectors (the best of the welding inspectors, with vast welding book knowledge) and ONE uneducated, illiterate but certified and very capable 6G pipe welder… And there is an urgent need for someone to weld a high pressure pipe joint on a 6″ schedule 40 carbon steel pipe – guess who would be the ONLY person in a room of 201 people who could do it? That’s right, the pipe welder, even though the pipe welder can’t READ!

Anything worth having requires focused work. What do you think a heart surgeon concentrated on learning while in school? That’s right, heart surgery. Focus on the one thing that will make you money and burn it up like a laser beam! OTS! “Own The Skill!” Be careful NOT to waste time, money and effort on things which will not ever make you money, or which will make you very little money! DO what others are unwilling to put out the effort to master.

Is getting really good at 6G pipe welding as hard as walking a tight-rope in the circus? Most people who fail to learn 6G fail because they think they can do it with very little practice. Intense, concentrated and coordinated practice is the biggest secret, just like with learning to walk a tight-rope. There are a few other secrets.

Welding school may be fun, but here’s what happens to 95% of welding school graduates: They learn all the basics in a year or two of school. They NEVER get to where “The Powers That Be” will allow them to learn to weld pipe. They run out of money and time. They end up running a MIG machine in a trailer factory for very little money, or at BEST, they end up as an iron worker on big-building construction. However, not many big building are being built these days, are they?

What IS happening? Shale gas and oil has been discovered and is being developed all over the USA. The first of 40 new Nuclear Power Plants is under construction. What will soon be in super high demand? 6G pipe welders, that’s what! You can find schools for 6G Welding. You may be able to government help to get your training. Get started! Just Google “6G pipe welding schools.”

What should you do next?

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Source by Scott R. Linden

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The most critical car accessories for outdoor enthusiasts are LED light bars. This lighting apparatus makes driving in dark places more enjoyable and safer as it produces an enhanced light output, in contrast with the light being produced by your car’s headlights. However, if you want to purchase one for your truck, ATV, or boat then you may want to ensure you are buying from a reliable sight. Here are some of the benefits of using these light bars:

Curved Models are Available

For those you want more than simple light bars for trucks, there are some great curved LED versions available that you can use on your car. Curved LEDs usually have an enhanced structural design compared to regular light bars. With an ergonomic design, this kind of light device offers a seamless and perfect fitting for your car. Irrespective of whether you’re going to install in on the bumper or the roof of your 4WD, it will definitely enhance the exterior look of your car.

Improve Night Vision

Put one on your truck is not only for showing off as many people think. They also have some important practical benefits. They can illuminate the road better so that you always see what is ahead of you. In effect, they can offer better general night vision due to their wider coverage. Furthermore, the fact that you can place them in a higher position than the regular headlights on your car makes it easy to see very clearly even under some dark conditions, such as riding in the outdoors.

Some have 3D Reflectors

There are specific models that have 3D reflectors to further improve the capability of the lighting device to generate high-quality output. Compared to the general light reflectors, the 3D reflectors improve the efficiency of extracting light from the LED bulbs. This means this means that such light bars for trucks have a much wider irradiation, besides producing more intense and brighter light.

Made Using Solid Housing

Having great light bars for trucks is worthless if they do not come with a sturdy, reliable housing to safeguard the many internal components. Luckily, LED lights are known for having some very solid housing ratings with dust proof and waterproof abilities. They make excellent additions for off road vehicles and cars since they are very tough and can, therefore, stay exposed for a long time without developing any issues.

LED light bars for trucks are clearly some cool and practical car accessories that your car must have. Check out some of the best deals at http://www.backcountryledlights.com.

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Source by Ryan H. Larsen

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If you want to work on diesel engines, which are considered to be the workhorses that power our nation’s trucks, trailers and buses because they deliver more power and are more durable than its gasoline counterpart, then be prepared for some heavy training. In order to become a diesel tractor trailer mechanic you will need plenty of school and hands-on experience working on heavy equipment vehicles, such as a dump truck trailer, truck engines and buses.

You will also be required to study and learn automotive engines, diesel fuel and ignition systems, brakes, transmissions, emissions, diesel power trains, electronic technology fundamentals and advanced diagnostic systems. Truck trailer repair on a semi trailer tractor is definitely more involved than any other type of vehicle maintenance.

Once you have completed your schooling and have passed your tests, you will have to decide what to do with your skills as a tractor trailer mechanic. Most decide to work for an organization that repairs and maintains their own vehicles and equipment. If you choose this path, then you will more than likely spend most of your time working on their semi trailer tractor fleet, performing preventative maintenance so that the equipment will be safe to operate and to eliminate unnecessary wear and tear on parts that may end up breaking down.

It is common for mechanics to handle many different repairs and they may go from working on major engine repairs one day to a simple turn signal problem the next, but they are all equally important to the safe operation of a commercial truck trailer. Of course engine maintenance is becoming increasingly complex, as more electronic components are being used to control the engine operation. Most of the new shops have hand held computers to help diagnose problems and adjust engine functions, which of course means that the mechanics who repair truck trailer machinery and other equipment must be continually learning new techniques.

In the larger shops the trailer mechanic will get their assignments from a service manager or shop supervisor, who have many years under their belts as experienced technicians. They will also normally still assist with repairs on new or used truck trailers, assist in diagnosing problems and will maintain a high level of quality standards. Your role may be varied, as you may be asked to take on an apprentice, you may work as a team with another mechanic or you may assist someone with heavy work, such as removing a transmission or engine. Many technicians may have qualified through years of hands on-work, yet most employers are looking for those mechanics who have completed school training and obtained their certificate.

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Source by Mike Ramidden

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Plastic skateboards are made of several different types of plastics and are relatively easy to make in large quantities by using injection molding manufacturing processes. Most plastic skateboards are considered cheap compared to the wooden skateboards.

Still not all plastic skateboards are flimsy or to be considered lesser. It really depends on the type of plastic used. Most riders like a fairly firm board for tricks with only a little give in the center for hard landings and spring action. All Carbon boards and composite construction boards can hold up to the scrutiny of comparison and some riders prefer them.

Skateboard Trucks that hold the wheels are one of the most important components of modern day skateboards. Generally they consist of an axle, triangular shaped hanger and a king-pin bolt. The trucks are bolted to the face-plate, which is bolted to the skateboard.

The king-pin can be loosened slightly to allow for more or less rigidity making the skateboard able to turn easier or ride stiffer for steering. The rubber grommet helps take up the space when a loser setting is chosen. The trucks on both wooden boards and plastic use the same basic principles and strategies however generally speaking the best trucks will be found attached to the more quality wooden boards.

In the future skateboards will be made of carbon nano-tube construction and they will most likely fly; Hover Boards. Indeed, a hover board will not need to have need wheels or trucks and this will save weight and make them much more aerodynamic for flight. Currently the hover boards are large and cumbersome but that too is changing and many new radical designs are in the pipeline.

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Source by Lance Winslow

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Slack Adjusters are the linkage between operating rod in the brake chamber and s-cam (drum brakes) or disk brakes in an air brake system. The main function of slack adjusters is to transfer motion from air brake actuating rod to ‘s-cam shaft’. They can be adjusted manually for brake lining wear. Chiefly, there are two types of slack adjusters:

1) Manual Slack Adjuster: These need to be adjusted using a wrench and you do this by getting underneath the truck. The Automatic adjuster automatically adjust themselves through the normal use of brake.

2) Automatic Slack Adjuster: In this, the distance between the wall of brake drum and brake lining is adjusted automatically. In a truck or trailer, we must not exchange them with the manual ones and vice-versa. The automatic adjusters are an improvement over the manual ones and eliminate the periodic adjustments. That said, even the automatic ones are not maintenance free.

Be sure to install the new slack adjuster in the same position as the old one or it will not function properly. Also, never use a reconditioned one. Vehicles in which brakes are used frequently, the slack adjuster should be checked more often. Greasing is always recommended in order to prolong the life of the adjuster. In fact, it is recommended to do greasing after every 25,000 kilometers and before the installation of slack adjuster. That is why we should warn the truck and trailer drivers to check the status of brake shoe, brake linings, springs and brake drums.

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Source by Jasvinder Arora

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What is on time delivery?

Just as the name suggests, simply speaking, on-time delivery is the ability of any business to meet the customers’ requirements and deliver the products or services to the customer on time. Perhaps time is one of the most important issues customers are concerned about. Those businesses that do not value time in their manufacturing and order taking process do not tend to succeed. This is a fact, because customers want every order to be delivered according to their time and this is what businesses have to make sure that they achieve.

Throughout the entire process of supply chain management, consistent on time-delivery is vital and in fact very important for the success of any business. The SC department makes sure that the products are delivered on time to their clients and respective customers. This can be done by minimizing the supply chain bottlenecks in between the customer and the business by directly selling the product at distribution centers, retail outlets, and company outlets. Businesses need consistent supply of raw material from regular and loyal suppliers in order to manufacture and deliver goods on time to the customers. If any lag takes place in between this process, the production and delivery of the products would get late resulting in late delivery to the customers.

Thanks to the advancement in technology, many software are now used to efficiently manage the entire production and supply chain process. Every firm involved in manufacturing sector should be looking for various factors on daily basis in their supply chain process in order to ensure on time delivery to clients and customers. Material lead time is the average lead time it takes for suppliers to deliver the raw materials for manufacturing. A historical analysis of this time can be taken to know the fluctuations in timings and correct them whenever possible. As a result suppliers are contacted or new suppliers are arranged to minimize that time. Many companies have introduced the concept of just-in-time to lower their costs of inventories and increase the manufacturing and earning potential of the business. This is the Japanese concept where raw materials are arrived at manufacturing plants just in time before the manufacturing actually takes place. It saves a lot on time, space and costs of ordering raw materials.

Although this is a good approach to save on finances it is certainly not the best one when supply chain process involves getting raw materials via outsourcing to low cost countries where supply often lags well behind time. This disturbs the entire production process as well as the marketing efforts of the company and results in late delivery of products and finished goods. Late delivery of finished goods frustrate clients and disrupt business activities.

Supply chain management is a crucial and important aspect of every business involved in manufacturing industry. In order to successfully dominate the market, companies make sure to minimize any bottlenecks in between them and their loyal clients. To do this, SC department makes sure that the raw materials are arrived in time and used for converting into finished products. This helps and ensures right delivery of products to the customers at the right time with the right quality.

No company would want to deliver products to their customers later than the promised time period. This is done in order to create a long term relationship with client for continuity in businesses. However, if not followed correctly, businesses could face with worst ever results:

1. Loss of customer confidence – When businesses deliver products late, it brings their clients into skepticism and doubts regarding the serious deadline issues faced by the company. Once in a blue moon if late delivery takes place, customers might not get affected by it. However continuous late deliveries of products might result in serious circumstances for the company and the first one being loss of customer confidence. The customers and clients lose confidence in the business that fails to deliver their products on time.

2. Loss of relationships – One of the most serious costs that any business has to pay for late delivery of its products is loss of relationships. Those clients who are new would instantly cut their relationship with the current businesses and move on to develop relationships with new ones.

3. Loss of profits – When customers would not pay for late delivery of products, businesses would eventually lose and continue to suffer in terms of its profitability and revenue. A time might come that business might just get bankrupt.

4. Delays in cash flows – Cash flows in and out of the business but continuous cash flow outs lead to a serious and alarming situation taking place within the company. This could bring business process in a severe credit crunch and financial crisis.

5. Inefficiency – The company is not using its resources efficiently. This in turn leads to high costs of production when it comes to a full stop. The business has to incur for the production cost and employees’ salaries and wages.

6. Loss of reputation – The so called “brand image of the product” would be completely destroyed by customer if products consistently fail to reach him/her on time. This results in bad reputation of the company where it has to get actively engaged in reputation management techniques in order to announce press releases to cover up bad aspects of their management.

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Source by Yasir Saeed

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Hours of Service rules are the rules set forth by the US Department of Transportation’s division of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) governing the working hours of anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). This includes truck drivers and bus drivers. These rules limit the number of (daily and weekly) hours spent driving, and regulate the minimum amount of time drivers must spend resting between driving shifts. A driver of a CMV is also required to keep a record of working hours using a log book, outlining the total number of hours spent driving and resting, as well as the time at which the change of duty status occurred.

A driver’s hours of service are regulated by both federal and state agencies. On the federal level, hours of service of drivers are part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). They are issued and enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) of the Department of Transportation (DOT).

If you are a truck driver who operates a commercial motor vehicle, you should know the basics of Hours of Service, and if you are an aspiring truck driver, or just someone who yearns for knowledge, here are a few basics to a truck drivers Hours of Service Rules:

11 Hour Driving Rule: All time spent behind the wheel is considered driving time. After 11 hours of driving time, you must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before you can drive again.

14 Consecutive Hours on Duty: A commercial motor vehicle driver cannot drive a commercial vehicle after 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty. A driver cannot drive again until they have 10 consecutive hours of rest. Lunch breaks or other off-duty time do not extend the 14-hour period. The 14 hours are consecutive from the time a driver starts their tour of duty.

60/70 Hours of Service Rule: Drivers working for a company that does not operate motor vehicles every day of the week must not drive after accumulating 60 hours on duty during any 7 consecutive days. If your company operates vehicles every day of the week, you must not drive after accumulating 70 hours on-duty time in any 8 consecutive days. You may, however, continue to perform non-driving duties after reaching these limits and not be in violation. (On-duty time is defined as all time from the time you begin work or are required to be ready for work until you are relieved from work and all responsibility for doing work).

34-Hour Restart: The regulations include an optional “restart” provision. This allows you to “restart” your 60 or 70 hour clock after having at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.

Duty Status Record: In order to check your compliance with the above-stated rules, drivers must keep track of their hours of service. Your motor carrier has the option to select the format which best suits its operation. This is also known as a log book.

Driver fatigue is a serious problem. It is one of the leading causes of heavy truck crashes, and when you consider that thousands of deaths each year result from accidents involving commercial motor vehicles, you can see why there are regulations to keep tired drivers off the road. The hours of service regulations are based on the sensible idea that if you drive too long, you get tired… and dangerous.

Following the rules and keeping good records can help you avoid costly citations and fines, or even being placed out of service. Most importantly, following the rules may prevent an accident, possibly even save a life. -JJ Keller “Driver’s guide to hours of service”

These are just the basics of the Hours of Service rules. If you would like to find out more, please click here

Noah Ostroff

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Source by Noah Ostroff

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When designing a new home or garage it is very important take the time to consider what garage door sizes will work best. It is important not to assume that you will only need a standard size door. Once you have made the decision it is more or less irrevocable. In addition you also should consider increasing the size of your garage and that includes the height of the garage walls as well. It really is hard to beat an oversize garage.

Even if you presently own only a single medium size car you should seriously consider spending the extra money to make your garage larger and that includes the garage doors. Standard garage door sizes include 8’x7′ and 8’x16′ sizes. These sizes will accommodate a medium size care comfortably but not a large SUV or ordinary pickup truck. In many cases an 8 foot high just will not give a pickup enough clearance vertical clearance and many times the trucks mirrors will not make through the 7 foot width.

If you work with your builder and architect you will find that it will not cost that much more to increase the garage wall height. Doing so will give you a lot more options in terms of the capability. A garage with 10 high side walls will easily accommodate a 9 foot garage door. So why do you need a 9 foot garage door? If you own a pickup truck you will sooner or later have it loaded with a high load and that load will easily make it into the garage and out of the weather. If you load up the roof rack of your SUV with a luggage box in most cases it will not clear a standard 7 foot high garage door.

When it comes to garage door sizes width is also a critical consideration. If you own a boat or utility trailer you will find that they are frequently close to 9 foot wide. This means your toys are going to be sitting out in the weather because they are too wide to fit through the standard 7 foot wide door. Even a person who handles a vehicle and trailer well will appreciate the extra width of a 10 or 12 foot wide door when back up the load into the garage. The extra width may also keep people from banging your truck mirrors.

In many cases people will opt for the standard 16 foot double garage doors. These doors do give you the width you need to back in your pontoon boat and other wide loads. Again having a 9 or 10 foot high door will allow you to back it in without taking down the bimini or hard top.

Designing and building a home with an oversize garage is a good investment in the value of your home. Even if you never use the garage to its full potential it will appeal to a larger market when it comes time to sell your home. Using large garage door sizes will allow the next owner to store all his or her toys in the garage. This is especially true if your oversize garage is enclosed with the best garage doors as well. In terms of garage doors pricing spending a small additional amount of money to oversize your garage may increase the value of your property substantially.

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Source by Jim Kesel