What can I use this zero clearance door opener for?

[joseywales]

I have this Miracle Instruments Garage door opener that I bought new. This opener rides in the track, pushes the door up, and requires zero clearance. I paid a decent chunk of money for this thing, but never got around to installing it.

After being told several times a traditional opener wouldn't work, we lowered our door risers and were able to have a traditional opener installed.

Anyway, I've been holding on to this opener, thinking I'd find another purpose. Perhaps raising a train platform out of the way, use it on some other door, etc. But the truth is, I don't have out buildings and the ceiling in my garage is barely over 7 foot (longer story). And, my trains are in boxes.

So, any ideas before I cut this thing loose? Maybe I could use it in a horizontal fashion for something?

As an aside, this guy has a few unrelated products. Seems to be an inventor/fabricator. I have no affiliation. http://www.miracleinstrument.com/

 

[Cuda416]

The sliding opening over the requisite shark tank?

 

[rburke65]

Got a photo? Hard to invision.

 

[joseywales]

I'll try to copy a picture from their site. I barely opened the box, so it's still packed away.

 

[Cuda416]

Got kids with bikes? Maybe something to pull a hanging bike rack up?

 

[joseywales]

Got kids with bikes? Maybe something to pull a hanging bike rack up?

Ugh...I like that idea, but the low ceiling is killing me! To be fair, the low ceiling resulted from the builder being forced to lower the driveway during construction, which then led to a 400sqf great room (or bedroom) above the garage. I use that room as a gameroom. I'll take the finished room, over garage headspace, anytime, but sometimes it's a PITA.

 

[kbs2244]

What kind of after the sale service have you gotten?
It seems he has an answer to a lot of the problems posted here.
If he has a true presence GJ may be a help to him.

 

[bwringer]

Pretty neato product. I have not the slightest idea what I'd use it for, but it seems like it could be useful for a lot of things where you could rig up garage door track. Too bad you couldn't use it outside -- it would make a nice fence opener.

Or, y'know, you could sell it or open your garage door with it.

A friend a while back somehow scored a display model garage door -- basically a three foot wide garage door -- for free, and installed it off to one side of his garage as a motorcycle entrance. He had a remote triggered by flashing the high beam twice as he turned into the driveway, so he could just ride in without stopping.

 

[ard]

Doesn't the wall mount liftmaster solve the same issues? The 'moving motor/rubber cord' thing would concern me, along with the very, very limited parts availability....

But honestly, I'd work hard on finding a project on which to use it!

 

[rsanter]

Secret Santa gift?

if it was me I think I would try to sell it as there is someone out there that would need it.
for many other applications you could buy a HF 110v winch and use that for lifting or moving things

 

[joseywales]

What kind of after the sale service have you gotten?
It seems he has an answer to a lot of the problems posted here.
If he has a true presence GJ may be a help to him.

It's been a few years since I bought it. I do recall having some questions and he was very responsive.

Not sure I looked at the Liftmaster or if it was available, but if it were an option for me, I'd probably have gone that route. For no other reason than the ability to return it and support, although it turned out the Miracle had good support to the extent I needed.

I'll probably just sell it off. I just don't have a property/application where I can use it.