Can A Truck Fit In A Garage?

We all know the importance of maintaining the value of an investment by keeping a new vehicle in a garage. However, not everyone considers the full realities of parking a vehicle in a private or commercial garage before they buy one. In light of the problem, we have put together some comprehensive research to help you avoid garage complications.

Can A Truck Fit In A Garage?

Can a truck fit in a garage? You can fit most compact trucks in a garage as you would with a passenger vehicle. However, larger, full-size trucks often require some advanced planning and additions to the size of your garage. Fitting a truck in a garage and comfortably fitting your truck in the garage are two different stories.

The advantages of a garage-kept vehicle make it critical for truck buyers to consider the full list of factors before they put the money down for a new truck. There are different strategies and difficult considerations to make before you purchase that next vehicle. Keep reading if you are about to scale up your ride.

Parking a Truck in a Garage is More Difficult than You’d Imagine

Many people don’t even give a second thought to the complications involved in keeping their truck safe in the garage. If it fits in a parking space at a store, it probably fits in your garage, right? Wrong! Trucks, especially full-size trucks, have critical clearance limits. You have to pay careful attention when you are entering any parking garage, overpass, and when driving near trees and other overhead obstacles.

Many big rig truck drivers have found themselves stuck under bridges and were forced to release air out of their tires to back out safely. When you drive a truck, you also have to consider the cargo attached to your vehicle. There are now apps available that will help you navigate the best route for hauling large objects that require overhead clearance.

Of course, commercial garages all have a bar that lists the clearance height before you enter it. Always be aware of clearance height and pay careful attention to signs when you are entering any vehicle enclosure.

Measuring the dimensions at home and ensuring that your vehicle complies with maximum weight and size limits is of paramount importance. Let’s consider the full range of subjects below.

Home Garage Clearance

The volume of space available in your garage can be calculated using the traditional tape measure or by using a Smart Phone app that measures from Point-A to Point-B without making any contact.

While the app may be useful for measuring the width and height of your garage, a tape measure has a reach advantage because you can extend it without climbing a ladder.

When considering the volume of space available, you also have to consider other obstructions, such as support beams, tool chests, and other items built into a finished garage. Even the motor and chain assembly of your garage door opener should be calculated and considered if it is the lowest point that your truck has to pass under.

And when making these calculations, you also want to calculate safe clearance distances that allow you to walk and move around the vehicle once it is parked.

A lot of homeowners forget to include a comfort zone in their calculations and settle for a tight squeeze. While this may be bearable at first, it can add a sour note to a long day and eventually get under your skin.

Weight Distribution

The gross weight of your vehicle is printed on the sticker located on the driver’s side door. The sticker also provides the max payload capacity, which is important if you are going to park your vehicle with a full load.

Considering these figures, you should determine if your garage can handle the weight over a prolonged period of time.

If your garage doesn’t have a finished floor, the weight can pose a problem when the soil absorbs runoff and softens. If you have a multi-level garage, it may not be rated for a half-ton pickup to sit up there all day with a full load.

Generally, however, weight should not be a problem if your garage was built to code and has a solid concrete floor capable of distributing it.

If your floor is already cracked from water damage or has a weak foundation, adding additional weight may aggravate the situation. Individual considerations must be determined in advance if you think there may be an issue.

The Advantages of a Garage-Kept Vehicle

Keeping your truck in a garage protects it from the paint-dulling effects of sunlight and acid rain. It also protects the body from wind erosion, hail, freezing rain, and temperature changes. All of these environmental factors diminish the value of your truck and reduce your personal appreciation.

Not only does the paint fade, but even upholstery starts to look dull after just weeks sitting in direct sunlight. And because many manufacturers are switching to lighter metals, in an effort to improve fuel economy and to meet strict EPA standards, this means that even freezing rain can put some serious dings in the body panels. The Ford F-150 body panels, for example, are only made of aluminum, a very delicate metal.

While it is possible to use a protective paint film, sealants, and wax to reduce the effects of weather on a truck, storing it in an enclosed garage is the best defense. Using the aforementioned items will help to maintain the integrity of your finish while out on the road.

Measuring Up Your Truck to Fit

When you are shopping for a new truck, the most convenient method of measuring the dimensions will be asking the dealership for specific information.

If you are buying the truck through a private party, you may want to research the dimensions online or call up a dealership to see if they can help. If you are near the vehicle, using the measurement app, previously mentioned, is one of the easiest methods for sizing it up.

Truck Safety

You should also consider truck safety and visual obstructions that might make pulling out a big truck dangerous. If you are not able to back up your truck and there is low visibility, make sure that you buy a truck with a backup camera.

Backup cameras are standard equipment on all new vehicles because they save lives. Many puppies and children have been run over by busy parents because they relied on intuition to navigate and didn’t consider the grave risks.

Other obstructions might be low hanging trees that are near the garage, an A/C unit, or garbage cans. Always ensure that there is sufficient space for all your vehicles and equipment to maneuver and fit neatly inside the garage.

While it is possible to grin and bear it when additions are out of the question, you might want to consider storing one vehicle under a car cover instead of parking it in the garage.

Oil and Fluid Leaks

Another aspect of keeping your vehicle in the garage is the possibility of fluid leaks. The full synthetic oils that are now used in most new trucks have a tendency to leak from any micropores in the gaskets.

These gaskets may only be a few years old and already leaking. Coolant, transmission fluid, and differentials are another source of leakage to monitor carefully.

It is better not to lay down any kind of tarp or sheeting. Sheeting will retain moisture in the concrete and lead to premature erosion and cracking. A lot of drivers are smart and put a square of cardboard just below the engine bay to reduce the possibility of leaks staining the concrete.

A Snug Fit

If your vehicle is still a snug fit and there isn’t much that you can do about it, you may want to consider trucks fitted with a sensor that alerts you with progressive beeping as you come dangerously close to objects. This is an extra set of eyes to ensure that your property isn’t damaged.

The acceleration on many of these new vehicles is touchy. If you are not careful, you can easily smash right through a garage door. Many mechanics have done it by hitting the gas instead of the brake or revving the engine while thinking that they were in Park.

You can also try putting foam rubber padding around any support beams to reduce the chances of scraping your door on a post. Other such soft barriers can be improvised to accommodate other tight fits that are a little too close for comfort.

If you follow of these tips, you should have no problem deciding on whether you want a Bigfoot or just a toy Toyota to park in your garage. Renting different truck models from the dealership for a few days to see how each might work out is another method that could prove beneficial.