just put them on pocket door hardware with longer tracks.

Thanks Terry.

Surprisingly, Johnsons makes a 12-foot long track and sells a kit with all the hardware. As you say, very similar to pocket doors. Just learned, our contractor does not want to use this, but was not clear as to why (he sometimes gets set in his ways, but may have a real reason and I have to finish the conversation with him later). Meanwhile Could you think of any reason he would take this position??

"Just learned, our contractor does not want to use this"

It takes long header to create the opening. and care to get eh pocket tracks in correctly (they do not go on the structural header).

Johnston hardware is the best stuff around.

Brickeyee, What would be placed between the header and the track? (Johnson's instructions say to screw the track into header).

its just your finished jamb. if your going to use a 12ft track then theres not going to be a alignment problem. its a simple application. use long enough screws that go through the jamb into the header.

L. E. Johnson is the company that has all the answers. Ask them for some advice.
The contractor may be shy because he's never done it before and his EGO won't let him tell you that.

I'm about to take on this project with the exact same closet door opening. Did the bi pass doors work out?

We're about to use Johnson Hardware on a 14' walk-up closet using the Johnson 100MD hardware. Even though this isn't a load bearing wall, we're going to use a structural quality lam beam in order to insure straighness and prevent any issues -- especially since we're thinking about hanging hardwood doors in the opening. Should work fine and look beautiful. Not sure why the "contractor" a few years ago was hesitant to do this.