Entry Gate advice appreciated.

[kirkawilson]

A 'pretty' version of this mechanical-only entrance gate would be interesting. No power...no problem.
Wooden Fence Lifts Upon Entrance - YouTube

 

[Ford850]

I chose double swing gates. I didn't want my approach to look like a factory entrance. I leave one open and the other closed They are 8' apiece. I can drive thru at 30 mph without hitting mirrors, but you'd be surprised at how many folks don't think they can make it. When necessary, I close both and the coyotes, deer, beggars, lost souls and other annoyances can be convinced to go elsewhere. When I need to get hay equipment through, just open both gates.

Because of the landscaping (tall pines on both sides and hay fields on each after that) The swing gates fit into the 'look' I wanted. Mine are just cheap aluminum square tube. Light, no rust, and cheap to replace. If someone REALLY has to come up to the house, they will see signs of other 'welcoming' possibilities. Even my UPS guy would rather walk thru the single open gate than open both drive in to deliver and close both when they leave. Signage reminds visitors of their obstacles, observations and obligations. Miltronic sensors fire alerts in the house and trigger my railroad crossbuck if and when 'something' passes through.

July 21, 211.wmv - YouTube

That RR crossbuck is awesome!

 

[aczlan]

One of the problems with a slide gate is that it needs to be on a ground track if an automatic opener is used. Every roll gate on tires I've ever seen has been manual open / close because they tend to drift. The most durable track systems are the steel V groove roller that runs on an angle iron on flatbar track. That does a pretty good job at shoving ice, gravel, etc. aside and keep running, but driving over that 1.5" angle iron gets old after awhile.

No, it is possible to have them free floating without an angle iron track. We have a chainlink gate at work that is setup that way as does the local scrapyard.
Here is a picture of one (they say that it is "easily automated for remote operation"):

Source: Gates

Aaron Z

 

[oosik]

I have two gates on my mile long driveway - an outer gate and an inner gate. Both are manual swingers - so we all know what that means when I drive to town. I've always wanted some kind of gate openers but foresee a problem. Both gates are far enough away from the house that they are not visible.

How do you handle visitors(friends) that do not know your phone # to call you and get the gate code and/or do not know the gate code and will show up unannounced.

BTW - I really like the way TxDon finished his gate. That's a great example of rural art.

 

[flyerdan]

Aaron, that's what I refer to as a cantilever gate. I've built dozens of them. They are the way to go if you have enough room for the tail. Most roll gates are just a tad longer than the opening and only have support rollers on the side near the opening.
The gate pictured really should have a strongback on it, looks like about a 24' opening. One bit of advice for anyone setting posts for a cantilever; when closed they exert quite a moment arm on the furthest support post, and can claw hammer them out of their set, especially the powder coated ones. When I'd cut posts for a cantilever set, I'd grab a couple handfuls of slugs from the ironworker drop bucket and weld them around the buried ends of the posts to make them stickier for the concrete.

 

[aczlan]

Aaron, that's what I refer to as a cantilever gate. I've built dozens of them. They are the way to go if you have enough room for the tail. Most roll gates are just a tad longer than the opening and only have support rollers on the side near the opening.
The gate pictured really should have a strongback on it, looks like about a 24' opening. One bit of advice for anyone setting posts for a cantilever; when closed they exert quite a moment arm on the furthest support post, and can claw hammer them out of their set, especially the powder coated ones. When I'd cut posts for a cantilever set, I'd grab a couple handfuls of slugs from the ironworker drop bucket and weld them around the buried ends of the posts to make them stickier for the concrete.

Ah, I thought you were calling both the same.
Good idea on the slugs for the far post.

Aaron Z

 

[txdon]

A 'pretty' version of this mechanical-only entrance gate would be interesting. No power...no problem.
Wooden Fence Lifts Upon Entrance - YouTube

I hope they have another access for the fire trucks.

 

[txdon]

How do you handle visitors(friends) that do not know your phone # to call you and get the gate code and/or do not know the gate code and will show up unannounced.

They have to:
1.Honk at the gate and hope we hear them 1/2 mile away and come down to the gate to greet them.
2.Walk up to the house.
3.Put a phone number to call on the access code box.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

How do people with gates handle emergency access?

 

[flyerdan]

How do people with gates handle emergency access?

Two things come to mind; you can install a fire box, it's like the fire alarm boxes on walls in buildings, that will open the gate and keep it open. Problem with them is that anyone can come along and break it to get in. Another more secure device is a strobe detector. It utilizes the same strobe sequence that firetrucks and ambulances use to trigger traffic lights. It's more secure than the pull for fire box, because you have to be pretty close to the strobe frequency to trigger it.