Jackshaft garage door opener?

[bbarton]

Planning a garage remodel (add electric heater, insulation, drywall, ceiling lighting, etc), on our attached 12x25 garage. One item on the agenda will be replacing the 1970s era Sears garage door opener. I am thinking i would like to replace it with a jackshaft opener so that I can remove this drop ceiling storage thing and have more overhead clearance. The garage has a gable roof, so with this drop ceiling gone it could have 9.5ft ceilings at the ends that go up to 12ft at the peak, which I think would be nice!

Any reason I should reconsider a conventional chain /belt drive overhead opener, besides the lower cost?

Attached a couple photos of the garage /drop ceiling area for reference.

 

[38Chevy454]

You will like the jackshaft style. Quiet and no linkage extending out like you have now. They area a bit more cost. You look to have sufficient room at the side and the right type shaft to hook up the jackshaft opener. Only issue is you will need electric by the opener at top front of the garage door, not at the center of garage for the traditional type opener.

 

[HotrodHR]

Get rid of that eyesore!

Install a Liftmaster wall mount and you'll be one step closer to installing a highlift kit.

All kidding aside, I replaced a standard style with a Liftmaster wall mount (shaft drive) in my detached garage shop when I installed the lift rails. I couldn't give away the old opener (it was two years old)!

If I ever have to replace any on my house three car garage or on my rental property I'll spring for the extra bucks and install a Liftmaster. Other than adding a wall plug it's much easier and looks cleaner.

 

[bbarton]

Thanks for the feedback. Adding an outlet shouldn't be an issue, have some other electrical work needed for the garage (wiring in Electric heater, can lights), most of the walls are currently open and the one that isn't(shared with the house), will be, when I add insulation.
Looking forward to sprucing up the garage ...need to finish the kitchen first though.

 

[bbarton]

Get rid of that eyesore!

Install a Liftmaster wall mount and you'll be one step closer to installing a highlift kit.

All kidding aside, I replaced a standard style with a Liftmaster wall mount (shaft drive) in my detached garage shop when I installed the lift rails. I couldn't give away the old opener (it was two years old)!

If I ever have to replace any on my house three car garage or on my rental property I'll spring for the extra bucks and install a Liftmaster. Other than adding a wall plug it's much easier and looks cleaner.

Highlift...hmm....so you're saying with the wall mount/jackshaft opener, I could install new rails that mount directly to the ceiling at an angle, so i would have the drop brackets? Color me interested


Edit : so with the high lift track, the garage door could be set up like this? Existing in red((Bottom), proposed in blue (Top)

 

[James-W]

I had considered getting one for my garage, but it was roughly double the cost and I didn't think I would gain all that much by getting it. I have the regular type opener with a belt drive rather than a chain. If I had to do it over again I might go that route because I think it would look "cleaner" but I don't think it would work any better.