Advice on Garage Sim Enclosure Build

[nickpez31]

Hi All - I've got a 2 car detached garage with 10.5 foot ceilings am in the process of building out my sim. I've considered both retractable and enclosure options, and am strongly leaning towards an enclosure. My garage has doors on both sides (1 to driveway, 1 to alley), so I plan to hit side to side. As a result, my door tracks are going to impact the height of the enclosure (I've already converted to side mount openers). The tracks are ~101" from the floor, and I'm debating the following two options from Carl's DIY C Series..

1. 4:3 aspect ratio with total enclosure height of 99.7" (viewable screen area would be 88" x 118")
2. 16.9 aspect ratio with total enclsoure height of 95.7" (viewable screen area would be 84" by 150"). In playing with Carl's DIY builder tool, I can't go wider than 150", so I'd be sacrificing a few inches of height, which I *think* would be helpful

So, what the heck should I do? Sacrifice a few inches of height and go for the more immersive 16:9 or use every available inch of height I've got and go with 4:3?

[davidepope]

The 33% increase in illuminated pixels afforded by going 16:9 will create a more immersive experience even if you’re losing 4” of height. (And from an immersion perspective, you could gain that back, if desired, by standing 4” closer to the screen,)

[jasonreg]

Call a garage opener installation company for a quote. You might be surprised how inexpensive it is to have the rails raised. Mine are within 3” of the ceiling. Makes a world of difference.

[Ronsc1985]

First on the immersion part. I wouldn't make any compromises on layout to increase immersion. You will be playing a golf simulator in a garage. No amount of pixels, screen size etc. will change that fact. It isn't green grass golf or even close except for hitting off flat lies on tees.

As to layout I'd consider changing your orientation. If you go in the same section direction as the door tracks and you set up your mat/screen etc in the middle of the garage there is nothing in the way as the tracks will be on the sides. unless you have seperate tracks for each garage door. In my case the two car garage has an 18 ft wide door so a 10/13/10 cage fit easily in between the rails.

I also use the middle of the garage to park or work on one of my cars by putting a tarp over the mat. I have so much other crap in the garage two cars would never fit anyway.

You have made a good decision with side lift door motors. Mine is mounted in the ceiling and the middle track/motor placement limited the choice of projectors to short throw only. If I ever upgrade anything I'd convert to side lift so the projector type/placement had more flexibility.

[Slow-Jean]

Hi. I had similar questioning before I built mine as well. At the end I went 4:3 as I had limitations for 16:9. I decided to go in the rail direction but I offsetted in the right portion of the garage not centered. I modified the garage door tracks and motor to get the required clearance for my top mounted Uneekor QED. Finally I build a retractable enclosure so I can move the cars in when required. The pictures should give you a better feel. I am starting my starting my forth year with this set up and would not change it. Hope this helps.

[nickpez31]

Thanks all for the perspective. I’m now seriously considering a retractable screen towards the garage door, that’ll allow me a larger screen and the ability to maintain day to day function of the garage. Will report back on progress…floors are getting epoxied in 10 days!

[GunghoGolfGM]

Hey Nick,

If you need any help planning out a retractable screen in your garage let me know. Also, if your going to use a gaming PC you can customize the aspect ratio to fill your entire screen without distorting the image. In this case you could go with the largest retractable screen for your space and not have to worry about maintaining a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio.

Best,
Jake

[langnolen]

Definitely would recommend a jack lift garage door opening on the side, can install yourself, take down the center rail and you are in business. I did the retractable screen and still use my garage all the time. I have a friend that did the raised rails which is good but its so nice having the jack lift he went this way as well. Both of us are on our second builds and no doubt if you are going to be putting a simulator in garage, this is the only way to go IMO. Anyway good luck on you build

[968Cab]

Slow-Jean can you tell me how you made your sidewalls hinged, please? I can't quite make it out in the pictures. Thanks!