Avoiding Gate Sag

[RonR]

Initially I wanted to put in one of the forest service type heavy duty gates, but the cost ended up being more than I wanted to spend. I have a cable attached to two trees and stretched across my road now that keeps most vehicles out - except the renegade atver's.

I noticed when I drove by our local air base that they've added something to the 8' high chain link fence, which already had barbed wire on top.

They've placed a heavy (maybe 1") steel cable about 30" above ground level and secured it to the fence. About every 30 yds, they have a 6x6 steel post anchored in concrete with the cable attached to it.

I'm sure the goal is to keep someone from driving a truck through the fence easily..................

Looks to me like it will work.

ron

 

[texasjohn]

1bush2hog , you are dealing with numerous issues. Bottom line, somebody wishes to mess things up, they will.

I will address the post sagging problem you wish to avoid. To start with, use the strongest posts you can afford and bury them as deep as possible. 4 feet is good. Welded metal pipe posts and H brace near the top of the posts (not centered) is best, my opinion. If you use treated pine, I would NOT use concrete. I have done this and they rot out in a few years. Yes, the ads say something line "30 year ground contact" but, trust me, they rot and are a pain since this is an important fence corner/post. I would get a tamp bar and tamp them into the ground using rocks/gravel which allow water to drain away from the wooden post.

The very best and cheapest tensioning device I have found is to go to TSC and get some high tensile 12.5 gage wire and rachet tensioners. Tensioners are $3.00 or less. Wire is galvanized, withstands lots and lots of pull. I permanently install the rachets and high tensile wire whereever I need a tensioning wire. Then, later, if a post starts comming out of the ground or something gives all you need to do is to retension the wire with the rachet. There is a handle you can get that makes the rachet tightenting procedure very simple.

Best wishes!!