Wall-Mount (Jackshaft) Garage Door Openers: Is the LiftMaster 98022 Right for Your Garage?

Short answer: a wall-mount (jackshaft) opener sits on the wall next to your garage door and turns the torsion bar directly. No rail across the ceiling, so you keep the space above the door. In the Twin Cities David installs all types of wall-mount openers, mostly LiftMaster’s current model, the 98022 (it replaced the 8500W, which is discontinued).

When a wall-mount opener makes sense

• High or cathedral ceilings, where a ceiling rail would hang low or need a long drop.
• Storage racks, a car lift or a loft above the door that a rail would block.
• Low headroom where a ceiling opener barely fits. See our guide to low-headroom track and radius options.
• Quiet: no long chain or belt running over the bedroom above the garage.

What your garage needs

From the LiftMaster 98022 product guide and David’s own installs:

• Torsion springs on a bar above the door. The opener mounts on the end of that bar. Doors with extension springs on the sides normally need a torsion conversion first.
• Door size: the 98022 is rated up to 14 ft high, 18 ft wide and 850 lb.
• About 3 inches of clearance above the torsion bar, plus wall space beside the door for the unit.
• A power outlet near the unit. David checks this on the first visit.

LiftMaster 98022 features (per LiftMaster)

• 12V DC motor, battery backup built in: the door still works in a power outage. That matters in a Minnesota ice storm.
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for the myQ app: open, close and check the door from your phone.
• Automatic deadbolt lock that locks the door each time it closes.
• Timer-to-close: the door closes itself after 1, 5 or 10 minutes, or a custom time.
• Warranty: lifetime on the motor, 5 years on parts, 1 year on battery and accessories. David adds 1 year on his labor.

Source: LiftMaster 98022 product guide. Compare the whole lineup in our LiftMaster myQ opener guide or see LiftMaster opener installation.

Real install work by David (not stock photos)

Wall-mount vs. ceiling opener: quick comparison

Common questions

What is a jackshaft (wall-mount) garage door opener?

A wall-mount or jackshaft opener mounts on the wall beside the door and turns the torsion bar directly, instead of hanging from the ceiling on a long rail. The ceiling above the door stays open for storage, a car lift or high ceilings. LiftMaster’s current residential wall-mount model is the 98022; the older 8500W has been discontinued.

Will a wall-mount opener work on my garage door?

Usually yes if the door has torsion springs on a bar above the door. The 98022 is rated for doors up to 14 feet high, 18 feet wide and 850 pounds, and it needs about 3 inches of clearance above the torsion bar plus some wall space beside the door for the unit and a nearby outlet. Doors with extension springs along the tracks normally need a torsion conversion first. David checks the garage before quoting.

Does the LiftMaster 98022 work when the power is out?

Yes. According to LiftMaster’s product guide, the 98022 has an integrated battery backup, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for the myQ app, an automatic deadbolt lock that locks the door every time it closes, and a timer-to-close feature. The motor carries a lifetime warranty, parts 5 years, battery and accessories 1 year.

How much does a wall-mount garage door opener cost in the Twin Cities?

David’s installed LiftMaster openers range from about $650 to $1,500 depending on the model and the garage. Wall-mount models are quoted after seeing the door, because torsion setup, wall space and wiring vary. Installing a new door and opener together is cheaper than doing them separately (see the BUNDLE offer).

Written by David Tuito, owner and technician of David’s Urgent Garage Door, St. Louis Park, MN (family-owned since 2019, MN State Contractor Registration #IR790255). LiftMaster is named for reference; specifications per LiftMaster’s 98022 product guide.