Sommer Direct Drive vs Liftmaster Jackshaft?

[JasonSpangler]

Does anyone have experience comparing the Sommer Direct Drive Opener and the Liftmaster 3800 Residential Jackshaft Opener? Both units seem to have good reviews here and elsewhere.

http://www.directdriveopener.com/

http://www.liftmaster.com/consumerweb/pages/productmodeldetail.aspx?modelId=834

I'm looking for the most quiet opener with reliability and durability.

I'm planning on pairing the units with nylon rollers and rubber vibration isolators to further quiet the noise.

Thanks!

 

[Bimmer74]

I want to bump this, too... I'm facing the same question and found this dead thread.

 

[Matt M PA]

While I cannot exactly compare the two...I looked at both. In the end, I didn't have quite the clearance to the side to fit Liftmasters. At least when I bought mine, the Sommer units were substantially less expensive.

I've written on these forums several times that I am well pleased with my two Sommer openers. On one door, the opener is mounted all the way to the edge to keep it out of the way for a mid rise lift.

So, perhaps not a comparison...but at least a positive review for the Sommer operators.

 

[JimmyTheMonkey]

I bought my Sommer direct drive off of Amazon. Note that Costco sells it even cheaper, maybe $50 less.

I'm a big fan. I don't know anything about the Liftmaster, but I would definitely replace my Sommer with another one if it ever fails. Only annoying thing is that it you have to have the photo eyes plugged in for it to work.

Also, FWIW, Sommer tech support is excellent. It's just one guy, but he returns calls quickly and helped me figure out a couple of issues that I had from trying to customize the install.

 

[AndyL]

Your comparing apples to oranges???

A 3800/8500 would pretty much be comparable to a zap ... And Raynor's got a rebranded version, otherwise - totally different.

The sommer could compare to a chamberlain or liftmaster whisper drive plus.

Honestly I generally stick to the chamberlain lines - in this neck of the woods the other brands have 0 dealer support, even genie - our dealers aren't properly stocked with repair/maintenance parts... Meanwhile every service truck I know has just about every part for any vintage chamberlain stocked...

 

[JakeKohl]

I don't understand...these are two completely different styles of opener. The 3800 leaves the overhead clear and clean, the sommer drives from the center and requires the support structure of a normal opener. I have two 3800s and they've been great. They've freed up space for overhead clearance and storage above the garage door.

 

[Bimmer74]

I bought my Sommer direct drive off of Amazon. Note that Costco sells it even cheaper, maybe $50 less...

Only annoying thing is that it you have to have the photo eyes plugged in for it to work.

I can't find it on Costco.com, but it was only $265 on Amazon, with the keypad.

And ALL of them nowadays must have the eyes plugged in to work. Thank a lawyer...

 

[Bimmer74]

I don't understand...these are two completely different styles of opener. The 3800 leaves the overhead clear and clean, the sommer drives from the center and requires the support structure of a normal opener. I have two 3800s and they've been great. They've freed up space for overhead clearance and storage above the garage door.

I get this, and if I had the time/energy to totally redesign my garage door tracks, then a jackshaft would be the way to go.

Right now, though, I just need to make this work, and doing another "normal" opener seems quicker and easier... my ceiling is low, so the door ramps downward as it moves away from the opening, so it's impossible to balance perfectly.

 

[Matt M PA]

I mounted one of my Sommer openers at the far end of one door. Meaning, it is connected to the very upper right corner of the door with the tracks all the way to that side too. I needed clearance for a midrise lift.

Sommer explained that as long as I have the spring over the door (NOT the long springs along the tracks) their unit could be mounted on the end to retain over head clearance.

 

[JimmyTheMonkey]

I can't find it on Costco.com, but it was only $265 on Amazon, with the keypad.

And ALL of them nowadays must have the eyes plugged in to work. Thank a lawyer...

I have not seen it at Costco.com, just in the store. They have had that same package with the small keypad (not the big one) for around $160-180 the last 4 or 5 months at the local Costcos near me in Atlanta.

 

[Bimmer74]

$180 would be a bargain... Amazon sells it for $228, but the keypad for outside is normally $40 (!).

The Germans really squeeze their customers on the accessories.

 

[JakeKohl]

I get this, and if I had the time/energy to totally redesign my garage door tracks, then a jackshaft would be the way to go.

Right now, though, I just need to make this work, and doing another "normal" opener seems quicker and easier... my ceiling is low, so the door ramps downward as it moves away from the opening, so it's impossible to balance perfectly.

The liftmaster doesn't require much of the shaft protruding past the bearing...I seem to recall 1" or 1.5" was the minimum. I initially thought I would have a problem by just looking at how my doors were installed but I had more than enough material for the opener.