“Since the LiftMaster 3800 is the only serious contender in this category,
that’s the one to consider.”
A jackshaft garage door opener is designed for garages with non-traditional ceiling detail. Not all garages are designed to accommodate traditional chain drive, screw drive or belt drive garage door openers.
Jackshaft Garage Door OpenersGarages with vaulted or cathedral ceilings, with a very low ceiling height or with obstructed ceilings such as those that are used for storing canoes, bikes, etc., are ideal for jackshaft openers.
This type of opener is also known as a wall mount garage door opener as the device is mounted on the wall to the right or left of the garage door. There are no rails connecting the garage door to a garage door opener, so the ceiling stays clear.
The jackshaft garage door opener is simply attached to the garage door’s torsion bar. An electrical outlet must be located within 6 feet of the unit.
Pros and Cons of a Jackshaft Garage Door Opener
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PROS
- A jackshaft is advantageous for garages with unusual ceiling designs not suitable for traditional garage door openers.
- You can use the extra ceiling space for overhead garage storage.
- There is no garage door motor unit hanging over your car.
- A jackshaft opener is quiet and can be a good choice if you have living space above the garage.
- Jackshaft openers are suitable for sectional garage doors up to 14 feet tall. If you have an RV garage, this is a good choice.
CONS
- The price of a jackshaft opener is generally higher than for most chain, belt and screw driven garage door openers.
- This type of door opener is only applicable to sectional garage doors.
LiftMaster 3800 Residential Jackshaft Opener
There are only two credible brands of jackshaft garage door opener in the market and the LiftMaster 3800 is one of top models. It has a 200-watt light that is remotely operated and can be located anywhere you please. It has an optional EverCharge® Standby Power System that powers the unit in case of power failure. The remote lights up if your hand passes over it. It really is a high-end unit.
If you know much about Jay Leno and his cars, it might impress you that Jay uses LiftMaster 3800 openers on his home garage doors. If you don’t like Leno, his jackshaft openers are still pretty cool – and very quiet.
The LiftMaster 3800 includes the standard features of all Chamberlain LiftMaster openers such as the Protector System® safety sensor, Sensing and Security+ rolling code technology. It can also be manually operated in case of emergency. Warranty for the motor is lifetime and 5 years for the parts.
Customer ratings on the Liftmaster.com site are very good with roughly 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 16 reviews. On Amazon.com, the numbers are even better. Of 74 total reviews, 59 rated 5 out of 5 stars, another 6 gave 4 out of 5 stars and only 9 gave 3 or less. The Liftmaster 3800 is about $300 on Amazon.com
iDrive Torsion Garage Door Opener
Wayne-Dalton was an innovator in the wall mounted garage door opener category with its iDrive torsion garage door opener, but time took its toll on this model. After several years and very mixed reviews, Wayne-Dalton discontinued the iDrive. Parts are still available for this model, but the opener itself is history.
ZAP 815RLC Residential Jackshaft Garage Door Opener
In the residential market, the ZAP 815RLC is about the only other option. With very limited availability, the ZAP model is not a real contender. A $385 this model is also pricier than the LiftMaster.
Jackshaft Garage Door Opener Summary
If your home is suitable for this wall mounted garage door opener, the jackshaft option is worth a look. Since the LiftMaster 3800 is really the only serious contender in this category, that’s the one to consider.
Quiet, DC power, optional battery backup, a full complement of safety and security options. And, hey, Jay Leno uses these on his home garage doors. What else do you want?
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