Entry Gate advice appreciated.

[aczlan]

I've seen some pictures of this while searching for ideas and they all seem pretty high off of the ground. Whatever I end up doing, it has to be coyote proof. I like the idea of the sliding gate being on wheels and just an inch or two up from the track. If I go with a swing gate, it will also have to be close to the ground, but I do that on my other gates by pouring concrete after the gate is installed and building the concrete up to the bottom of the gate. So either way works for me and keeping out coyotes. I just don't see how I could do this with a cantilever gate.

Why not? You would just need to have the rollers on the cantilever gate set so the the top of the roller is just above the grade of the road. I might still put a roller (or a HDPE skid) on the tip of the gate to keep it from digging in if someone hangs on it it or if you end up with small pile of dirt/sand in the way.

Aaron Z

 

[flyerdan]

Definitely, if the road is fairly level across, there is no reason that a cantilever couldn't be just an inch off the road, low enough that a cat couldn't crawl under it. A strongback stiffens them up and keeps them tracking true. Wind is an issue primarily if it's filled with privacy link or wood slats; we'd build gates for vineyards and they supplied the wire, it was designed to keep animals out, the bottom had 1.5 x 6 openings and it gradually went to 8 x 6 at the top, which was about 82", if I recall. It kept the small critters at bay at the lower end and the deer out at the top. Kind of a modified field fencing wire, it keeps the animals out and is nearly invisible at eye level if retaining the view is important.

 

[hosspuller]

Sliding gates have an advantage in locking. Drive it into a pocket, then it can't be pushed open. Also wind is not a factor when operating. For personality: only limit is your budget and talent. I'd like a set of tuned chimes stacked on the side of the road. As the gate operates, strikers on the gate play a tune on the chimes.

 

[joefromga]

There are lots of places around here with tight spaces that have gates that tilt up 90 degrees. Neither slide nor swing.

Pretty cool to watch them work.

 

[RLWATSO1]

For you folks that use solar for your gates, how is that system? I'm planning on a 16 ft wide slider gate but we do not have power to the end of the drive (1700 ft to the house) so we will be using solar. We live in eastern Ohio so not really an ideal solar area. I'm just kinda worried we will run out of power if opening/closing the gate several times per day.

Thoughts?

 

[joefromga]

Solar works fine but not with a tiny 5watt panel that usually comes with the gates. A large 30w panel will work fine with a sealed battery.

The problem isn't that it can't power the gate but it doesn't work at night and cloud cover/rain makes a 5w panel nearly useless. You need the extra to cover those times. But with a large panel it will work fine.

 

[MacLawn]

I vote for sliding gate. Just seem stronger to me. Unfortunately, my land slopes a lot where my driveways are, so I don't think I could get a sliding gate to work, but you can.

 

[zzvyb6]

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

 

[JRobyn]

For you folks that use solar for your gates, how is that system? I'm planning on a 16 ft wide slider gate but we do not have power to the end of the drive (1700 ft to the house) so we will be using solar. We live in eastern Ohio so not really an ideal solar area. I'm just kinda worried we will run out of power if opening/closing the gate several times per day.

Thoughts?

Just make sure to get an operator with a controller that is designed for solar. I use Nice-Apollo. The controller has tons of options you can set to minimize battery drain. Their controller box holds a regular automotive lead-acid battery, so you can use a group size with lots of CCA. One recommendation I have heard is to buy a battery with the longest FULL REPLACEMENT warranty you can find (Sam's Club), and then trade in just prior to expiration. That seems a little unethical to me, and I don't think it will be necessary in my case. I use a 20W solar panel in a quite shady area (diffuse shade through trees) and it stays up to voltage just fine winter or summer, even during extended cloudy periods with an average of about 5-6 open/close cycles per day.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have a swing gate and after 3 Mighty Mule replacements with tenants I gave up.

What happened is people would force the gate just enough to squeeze through and that was enough to bend the worm drive.

Seen some real nice heavy gates but that is for another time and budget.