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Garage door opener extension kits for 8 ft doors, matched by rail
Updated
If your door is 8 ft tall, the opener in the box will not open it all the way. Genie says its retail openers are made for 7 ft doors and that 8 ft doors need an extension kit. Chamberlain says the same of its retail rail models. The catch is that the kit must match the rail, not only the brand. Genie lists five different 8 ft kits.
Which kit fits which pick
| Opener | Rail | 8 ft kit | Maker says the kit is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genie QuietLift Connect (3053-TKV) | 5-piece tube rail | Genie 39026R (EKTB) | Genie 5-piece belt drive tube rails |
| Genie Chain Drive 750 (7035-TKV) | 5-piece tube rail | Genie EKTC (39027R) | Genie 5-piece chain drive tube rails |
| Genie SilentMax 1000 (3042-TKH) | C-channel rail | Genie EKBC (37302R) | Genie 3-piece belt drive C-channel rails |
| Chamberlain C2212T | Multi-piece rail | Chamberlain 7708CB | Chamberlain chain drive rails |
| Genie Chain Drive 550 (2035-TKV) | 5-piece tube rail | Genie EKTC (39027R) | Genie 5-piece chain drive tube rails |
The Genie matches come from Genie's own kit page, which lists models 2035 and 7035 under EKTC, model 3053 under 39026R and model 3042 under EKBC. For the Chamberlain, the listing for the Chamberlain 7708CB says it is for Chamberlain chain drive models on 8 ft doors but names no model numbers. Chamberlain support says to use the parts page in your manual to order the correct kit, so do that before you buy.
As soldWith the maker's extension kit
- Genie QuietLift Connect (3053-TKV)7 ft8 ft
- Genie Chain Drive 750 (7035-TKV)7 ft8 ft
- Chamberlain RJO20 Wall Mount14 ft14 ft
- Genie SilentMax 1000 (3042-TKH)7 ft8 ft
- Chamberlain C2212T7 ft10 ft
- Genie Chain Drive 550 (2035-TKV)7 ft8 ft
- Genie B6172H Wall Mount14 ft14 ft
Genie's five kits
- EKTC (39027R): 5-piece chain drive tube rails. Models 2033, 2035, 2036, 3035, 7035.
- EKTB and EKTR (39026R): 5-piece belt drive tube rails. Models 2055, 3053, 3055, 7055, 7155 and several named models.
- EKBC (37302R): 3-piece belt drive C-channel rails. Models 3042, 4042, SilentMax 1000 and 1200.
- EKCC (37301R): 3-piece chain drive C-channel rails. Models 3022, 4022, ChainMax 1000 and 1200.
- EKSC (37303R): 3-piece screw drive C-channel rails.
A belt kit will not fix a chain opener, and a tube rail kit will not fit a C-channel rail. Match the model number on the opener's label to the list.
Doors between 7 and 8 ft, and over 8 ft
For a 7.5 ft door, Genie's staff reply on that page says that without a kit a few inches of door may hang in the opening. For 9 ft, Genie says its kits only work up to 8 ft and suggests a wall mount or a dealer model with a one-piece rail. Chamberlain says its retail rail openers can go to 10 ft with the right kit, and that doors over 10 ft are generally semi-commercial and need a professional installer.
A longer rail needs more ceiling
- Standard rail (7 ft door)128 inches
- 8 ft rail142 inches
- 10 ft rail166 inches
On Chamberlain's chart the 8 ft rail is 12 inches longer than the standard rail, and the longest installed length goes from 128 to 142 inches. Chamberlain says the 8 ft kit is a single longer rail piece that replaces the header section, and the 10 ft kit is two pieces. Measure the clear path on your ceiling before you order. A wall mount such as the Chamberlain RJO20 Wall Mount or the Genie B6172H Wall Mount avoids the rail, but it needs a torsion bar.
Run your own garage through the fit checker, or compare all 7 picks on the roundup page.