Hydraulic vs Bifold hangar door?

[AV8ER]

Inquiring minds wonder about the advantages of one style over the other? Cost, maintenance, operation in heavy wind, safety, ease of installation, etc. Please weight in with your experience (and particularly with a brand if you have used one you liked (or didn't)).

Thanks,

Tim

[UnPossible]

I have a Higher Power 44' x 16' door and it is great. What I liked about the Higher Power is that door swing up and in... so when fully raised ~1/2 of the door is in the hangar and 1/2 is out.

Some of the other hydralic doors just swing up, which seems like it would put a huge load on the hangar structure.

I've had my door for 5+ years now and it just works. - 0% maintenance needed so far.

[Mel]

I have Hi-Fold doors on both my hangars. One since 2003 and the other since 2018. Wouldn't have anything else.
I particularly like the auto-latch. To open or close, just punch the button and walk away.

I don't like the one piece doors that swing out. Danger of hitting something parked too close that you can't see from inside.

[Mike S]

Another vote for Higher Power.

Easy assemble, and to install, and doesnt impose any load on the building when open.

[RV6_flyer]

Higher Power hydraulic is what I have and I like it a lot but just coming up on 3-years. The only thing I dislike is that the door uses "Dead Man" switches. Must hold the button till all the way up and all the way down. The remote control is the same way. Nice thing about the remote control is I can start to open the door as I taxi in and it is completely raised when I taxi up. I typically shut down with nose pointing into the hangar and then rotate airplane 180 and back it in.

[Dbro172]

Originally Posted by Mel

I have Hi-Fold doors on both my hangars. One since 2003 and the other since 2018. Wouldn't have anything else.

I don't like the one piece doors that swing out. Danger of hitting something parked too close that you can't see from inside.

agree with this 100%. I once parked outside a friends hangar with a door like this and as I was stepping inside side the man door, noticed he was opening the hangar door and it was tipping outward - dead sprint to pull the RV out of the way

[Jpm757]

Just finished installing a 44'X12' HiFold door to my 50'X50' hangar. Installation was surprisingly easy using a fork lift to hold the door in place while you bolt the hinges to the header. Cables and locking mechanism already pre- adjusted, plugged it in an works like a charm. Very sturdy and well made steel frame. Door opens to 11'5"" only losing 7" of clearance. A very good value.
https://i.postimg.cc/YqHcC480/20200824-111450.jpg
Door $6800
Sheeting & Insulation $1000
Shipping $800

[jnmeade]

I have two Hi-Fold doors and like them very much. They are a good value and easy to install. My 16 year old daughter and I installed one with my loader tractor.
On the other hand, my friend has an hydraulic door and likes it very much. I am impressed with it. If I were buiding again and wanted to spend the money I'd go hydraulic. I'd put in a pioneer coupler so I could raise it with my tractor hydraulics if the power went out.
Whichever door you use, keep in mind to add in the weight of insulation, sheeting, etc., to the door load. It's easy to get the door over weight.

[Carlos151]

I’ve got a 44 ft by 16 ft Schweiss bifold door that I’ve been very happy with for the last 5 years. They’ve got a pretty good comparison for the two types of doors on their website.

[woxofswa]

https://www.kitplanes.com/airpark-living-continued/