Garage clearance

[mcbean7]

Has anyone been able to fit an 06 VLX with Illusion X tower on an Extreme tandem trailer into a garage with a 7' high opening? If so, how?

I'd like to fit this boat into my garage but the opening is only 6'11". The owner says the boat measures 7'4" with tower collapsed.

Are there any adjustments I can make to tower/trailer to get this thing into the garage?

If not, my next option will be to bust a hole on the side of the house and put it inside the house! This Bu will not sleep outdoors. The only problem with this route is convincing my wife to let me do this. lol

[Malibuzer]

How tall is the ceiling in your garage? I am changing my doors out to a single 8 foot high door to fit the VTX inside. I have a 10 foot high ceiling inside though. JUst another option for you to look at. The actual clearance height will also depend on the tire and rim package that is on the trailer.

[mcbean7]

trent,

I've got 10' high ceilings. I was thinking about doing that but wonder if HOA would allow. Everyone has 7' high garage door openings in my neighborhood. Also, what do you think it would cost to add a foot to the opening?

[winddawg]

I wonder if anyone has retrofitted an airbag suspension onto a trailer. If you could collapse the suspension on the trailer you would be good to go.

Modifying the garage door opening I suspect will be very expensive.

-Dave

[Malibuzer]

Mine is going to be around $3000 including a new wall mount opener with windows in the door. I will do most of the work myself. I am lucky as that wall is not a load bearing wall for my house.

[rmarch]

I am in the process of moving into a new house with a 7' high door. Thought I had it all figured out how the boat would fit, measured the length and width but didn't think of the height. House we are in now has a 8' door so really didn't think about it. Of course I noticed the lower garage door after we had the deal all put together. We have an 08 V Ride with an extreme tandem trailer and an illusion X tower. Not sure how the measurements would be different from the boat you are looking at or have. When it was folded down it measured about 7'- 4"to the tower ball. This was with the bimini top folded up and still attached to the tower. After I removed the top the tower folded down further to about 6'10". I can get it a couple of inches lower by cranking the tongue all the way down. I haven't tried it yet but I think it will fit. I will know for sure in a couple of weeks.

[Malibuzer]

Thats how we used to get the VTX into the old garage. It was a bit of a task but well worth it to let the whole boat dry out without worrying about animals or people snooping through the boat. The ball used to just hit the weather stripping around the garage door. Something else to watch for is your racks. My racks had to be taken off because when I was fold down they stuck up higher than the tow ball.

Edited March 4, 2009 by trentj6930

[wakbord11]

i went through all of this when i got my 07 vlx with the illusion tower. mine would not fit into a 7' door opening. i only had 8' ceiling in the garage,,so a 8' door wasnt an option. i actually re-inforced the header over my garage door,, and then cut out 3" of it and ordered a new 7'3" door. it was a "project",,but was worth it once it was done. i would say you need about 7'2" to fit easily. you could do this option,,and wouldnt have any problems with you HOA

[skyskier]

Jack hammer the floor and drop it 2 ft. Don't forget the floor drain. Just kidding.............but not really.

[mcbean7]

Jack hammer the floor and drop it 2 ft. Don't forget the floor drain. Just kidding.............but not really.

LOL. Now that's thinking out of the box!

[mcbean7]

I am in the process of moving into a new house with a 7' high door. Thought I had it all figured out how the boat would fit, measured the length and width but didn't think of the height. House we are in now has a 8' door so really didn't think about it. Of course I noticed the lower garage door after we had the deal all put together. We have an 08 V Ride with an extreme tandem trailer and an illusion X tower. Not sure how the measurements would be different from the boat you are looking at or have. When it was folded down it measured about 7'- 4"to the tower ball. This was with the bimini top folded up and still attached to the tower. After I removed the top the tower folded down further to about 6'10". I can get it a couple of inches lower by cranking the tongue all the way down. I haven't tried it yet but I think it will fit. I will know for sure in a couple of weeks.

If removing the bimini allows the tower to fold down further to 6'10" I think I have a shot at getting it in without any mods to the garage opening.

Keep me posted if this works for you. I'm picking my boat up in 3 weeks and would like to get this figured out before bringing her home. If it does not fit, I need to arrange for her to sleep somewhere else, temporarily.

[mcbean7]

I wonder if anyone has retrofitted an airbag suspension onto a trailer. If you could collapse the suspension on the trailer you would be good to go.

Modifying the garage door opening I suspect will be very expensive.

-Dave

I really like this idea. I wonder what it takes to pull this off and if it raises any safety issues?

[Bobby Light]

I am in the process of moving into a new house with a 7' high door. Thought I had it all figured out how the boat would fit, measured the length and width but didn't think of the height. House we are in now has a 8' door so really didn't think about it. Of course I noticed the lower garage door after we had the deal all put together. We have an 08 V Ride with an extreme tandem trailer and an illusion X tower. Not sure how the measurements would be different from the boat you are looking at or have. When it was folded down it measured about 7'- 4"to the tower ball. This was with the bimini top folded up and still attached to the tower. After I removed the top the tower folded down further to about 6'10". I can get it a couple of inches lower by cranking the tongue all the way down. I haven't tried it yet but I think it will fit. I will know for sure in a couple of weeks.

If removing the bimini allows the tower to fold down further to 6'10" I think I have a shot at getting it in without any mods to the garage opening.

Keep me posted if this works for you. I'm picking my boat up in 3 weeks and would like to get this figured out before bringing her home. If it does not fit, I need to arrange for her to sleep somewhere else, temporarily.

If you have an extreme trailer without the lowrider option you will not get it in that garage without taking ball off the top of the tower every time. What a pain in the butt that's going to be.

[wakbord11]

I am in the process of moving into a new house with a 7' high door. Thought I had it all figured out how the boat would fit, measured the length and width but didn't think of the height. House we are in now has a 8' door so really didn't think about it. Of course I noticed the lower garage door after we had the deal all put together. We have an 08 V Ride with an extreme tandem trailer and an illusion X tower. Not sure how the measurements would be different from the boat you are looking at or have. When it was folded down it measured about 7'- 4"to the tower ball. This was with the bimini top folded up and still attached to the tower. After I removed the top the tower folded down further to about 6'10". I can get it a couple of inches lower by cranking the tongue all the way down. I haven't tried it yet but I think it will fit. I will know for sure in a couple of weeks.

If removing the bimini allows the tower to fold down further to 6'10" I think I have a shot at getting it in without any mods to the garage opening.

Keep me posted if this works for you. I'm picking my boat up in 3 weeks and would like to get this figured out before bringing her home. If it does not fit, I need to arrange for her to sleep somewhere else, temporarily.

If you have an extreme trailer without the lowrider option you will not get it in that garage without taking ball off the top of the tower every time. What a pain in the butt that's going to be.

i am suprised u can get it down to 6'10" i would think that would certainly work. remember,,if u "pull" the lever on your door opener,,u should be able to actual push the door all the way up the track so u can use the full 7' opening in your garage.

[rmarch]

I was starting to second guess my measurements. Here are a couple of photos not sure on how to upload pics hopefully this will work. The level is at 7ft, the tower is as far down as it will go and the tongue is lowered all the way but wheel will still move left or right. There is 2" from ball to level. This may not work if you have much slope to your drive way. The new drive is flat, so I will be able to back part way in and drop the boat and push by hand the rest of the way.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp265/r...ch/DSCN0177.jpg http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp265/r...ch/DSCN0176.jpg

[68Slalom]

I am in the process of moving into a new house with a 7' high door. Thought I had it all figured out how the boat would fit, measured the length and width but didn't think of the height. House we are in now has a 8' door so really didn't think about it. Of course I noticed the lower garage door after we had the deal all put together. We have an 08 V Ride with an extreme tandem trailer and an illusion X tower. Not sure how the measurements would be different from the boat you are looking at or have. When it was folded down it measured about 7'- 4"to the tower ball. This was with the bimini top folded up and still attached to the tower. After I removed the top the tower folded down further to about 6'10". I can get it a couple of inches lower by cranking the tongue all the way down. I haven't tried it yet but I think it will fit. I will know for sure in a couple of weeks.

If removing the bimini allows the tower to fold down further to 6'10" I think I have a shot at getting it in without any mods to the garage opening.

Keep me posted if this works for you. I'm picking my boat up in 3 weeks and would like to get this figured out before bringing her home. If it does not fit, I need to arrange for her to sleep somewhere else, temporarily.

If you have an extreme trailer without the lowrider option you will not get it in that garage without taking ball off the top of the tower every time. What a pain in the butt that's going to be.

That's what we had to do until I put the damn thing in storage, it's hard to have it so far away but you can't have it all.

[mcbean7]

How difficult is it to take the ball off? Does the ball just screw off?

[Malibudude]

trent,

I've got 10' high ceilings. I was thinking about doing that but wonder if HOA would allow. Everyone has 7' high garage door openings in my neighborhood. Also, what do you think it would cost to add a foot to the opening?

I've never read any HOA docs that had such restrictions on such a modification.

[jim05rlxi]

trent,

I've got 10' high ceilings. I was thinking about doing that but wonder if HOA would allow. Everyone has 7' high garage door openings in my neighborhood. Also, what do you think it would cost to add a foot to the opening?

if you have the ceiling height the most expensive part is the new door

[bigD]

I did an 8' door with windows, you don't notice the difference unless you were specifically looking for it. I also have a HOA.

[showtime]

I can get my 06VLX on an Extreme trailer in through a 7 foot door but it's abit of a chore. I hook the boat to my ATV cause the ball is soo low to the ground and with the wife in the boat holding up the over head door the ball on the tower will rub the weather stripping coming out. In fact it needs to be replaced this year but that will happen when i change my door to a 9 footer, to much hassle. Once it's out of the garage i have to dolly off and re-hook to the Tahoe. PITA. Raise your header if possible. I also will be doing the work myself but after calling around it's cheaper to order a whole new door than order a single custom panel to fit your measurement. Trent, did you find this as well?

[Malibuzer]

I can get my 06VLX on an Extreme trailer in through a 7 foot door but it's abit of a chore. I hook the boat to my ATV cause the ball is soo low to the ground and with the wife in the boat holding up the over head door the ball on the tower will rub the weather stripping coming out. In fact it needs to be replaced this year but that will happen when i change my door to a 9 footer, to much hassle. Once it's out of the garage i have to dolly off and re-hook to the Tahoe. PITA. Raise your header if possible. I also will be doing the work myself but after calling around it's cheaper to order a whole new door than order a single custom panel to fit your measurement. Trent, did you find this as well?

I actually have double doors that are going to be replaced with a single. I will be installing a whole new header as part of the project. We will probably be adding some rock accents for the front of the house while I have all the siding torn off. Here is a pick of the front as it is right now.

[skyskier]

If you are not already aware...............garage doors have a minimum space requirement between the top of the door opening and the ceiling. I used a low overhead quick turn track kit to gain a few extra inches on the door opening.

[badluck]

It is pretty easy to lower a trailer.Just a little welding where the axle tubes are. and some low profile tires.2 to 3 inches no problem and it looks cool. I would probably raise the garage door myself.

[dalt1]

Prop guard will start hitting if you go too much lower. I guess it depends on the terrain you have.