Entry Gate advice appreciated.

[EddieWalker]

I'm in the planning stages of building an entry gate for my place and keep going back and forth between a sliding gate or a swing gate. I have power to the gate already, so that's not a concern. The gate will be on the heavy side, but I haven't made it yet. As of right now, I'm thinking 8 feet tall and 14 feet wide. I'm also looking at different motors to open and close it, but that's not such a big deal since there are so many out there. It will probably be a commercial unit.

Sliding or swing? What is the most hassle free? What are the pros and cons?

Thank you

 

[kelving884]

I'm in the planning stages of building an entry gate for my place and keep going back and forth between a sliding gate or a swing gate. I have power to the gate already, so that's not a concern. The gate will be on the heavy side, but I haven't made it yet. As of right now, I'm thinking 8 feet tall and 14 feet wide. I'm also looking at different motors to open and close it, but that's not such a big deal since there are so many out there. It will probably be a commercial unit.

Sliding or swing? What is the most hassle free? What are the pros and cons?

Thank you

With a slide gate you will have a smaller path to keep clear for the gate to operate.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Whatever you decide to build, I'd make sure it's very stiff so the gate doesn't settle. Lots of cross bracing. I have seen alot of nice gates left open because they are difficult to move.

 

[butlmd]

I've got a sliding gate with a solar opener. Have to replace the battery (deep cycle) every 2 - 3 years. One thing to be aware of is that when an ice storm happens, you'll need to clean off the ice to use the gate.

 

[aczlan]

I've got a sliding gate with a solar opener. Have to replace the battery (deep cycle) every 2 - 3 years. One thing to be aware of is that when an ice storm happens, you'll need to clean off the ice to use the gate.

Given that Eddie is in TX, that shouldn't be a very frequent problem...
I would say sliding.

Aaron Z

 

[bcp]

I see more gate problems from leaning posts than from sagging gates.

Bruce

 

[TnAndy]

I like swinging, personally....sliding just looks too industrial for me.

As for sagging, put an 6inch I-beam in a couple yards of concrete, then put few tons of rock around it and you won't have a post moving problem.

Mine: 2 ten foot gates.

 

[Stimw]

I prefer swing gates and the wider the better.
This pic was the gate at my last home. 2 12' gates for 24' opening. The posts are old utility poles set 5' in the ground.
I made the hinge mounts adjustable to keep it even but never had to adjust because the poles were so ridged.
Spend your money on the opener, I had HF that worked great until it lost the codes and I couldn't get them back.
Then went to a Might Mule and it kept messing up so I ended up just opening the gate manually.
Nothing like two trips in and out of your vehicle to come or go!

 

[johneic]

Eddie: I have been using a swing gate for eight years, old RR ties hold it up. Only caution I can tell you is in that time it has been hit twice by guys pulling trailers, requiring adjustments.

 

[davrow]

Aesthetically it is swing gates every time. Like TnAndy says, slide gates look functional but have no personality.

 

[flyerdan]

If you have about 20' of fairly level straight area on one side of your opening posts, I'd go with a cantilever style, either in round or square material. Once they are set up, they roll super easy, don't have to have a track across the road to run on, and don't require the stopping clearance that swing gates need.
You can get rollers for round or square material, so you can do a chain link style or ornamental iron. I've built scads of chain link ones, up to 56 feet long.

 

[txdon]

Aesthetically it is swing gates every time. Like TnAndy says, slide gates look functional but have no personality.

My slide gate has plenty of personality and works. Most swing gates I see are disconnected.

 

[dragoneggs]

I agree that swing gates typically have more personality but I prefer a sliding gate. It takes less space and you don't generally have to worry about something in its path. If your terrain is flat all around it doesn't matter but if you have sloping ground at the gate location, it might influence whether you go swing or slide.

 

[davrow]

My slide gate has plenty of personality and works. Most swing gates I see are disconnected.

No insult intended, TxDon! Yours is the best looking slider I've ever seen.

But I actually meant the opening action, not the gate. While sitting at the gate watching it open, sliders look mechanical. To those of us with romance in our souls, swinging gates look magical: "Open Sesame". :laughing:

 

[TnAndy]

Spend your money on the opener, I had HF that worked great until it lost the codes and I couldn't get them back.
Then went to a Might Mule and it kept messing up so I ended up just opening the gate manually.
Nothing like two trips in and out of your vehicle to come or go!

I'd agree. I went with Genie brand (no longer make them) linear actuator type openers, and they simply don't hold up long term for an 'every day' gate.

Next, I bought OSCO commercial type, with the pivoting arm. These (master & slave) have held up well, and the thing I like about them is not a single IC or electronic anything on it, except the radio receiver ( and I use a Genie universal receiver for that...which has been replaced 2-3 times....I keep a spare)...all electro-mechanical switches and relays that simply last on and on. Can't buy the model I have any more, but mine will outlast me I'm sure.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thank you. My original plan was for a swinging gate. Because this is going to be a heavy gate, I was going to put a lot of effort into bracing the post to support the weight. Then I was at a house with a rather heavy, long, sliding gate that made me rethink things. I have plenty of room for either swing or slider. The driveway is fairly flat wide, shallow drainage ditches on either side. I was surprised when I measured it and found out my driveway is only ten feet wide. I'm planning on adding 2 feet to either side to bring it out to 14 feet. Maybe even 15 feet. If I go with a slider, I wont need to worry about sag, or bracing the posts to handle all the weight since the weight of the gate will be on the track.

 

[txdon]

My slider is 18' wide.
Harvey set me up with the Patriot opener.
High Quality Automatic Solar Gate Openers & Accessories

I have the solar one, Bernice (mikim) has the electric one.

 

[RNeumann]

BFH! That's short for a big hole and lots of concrete. If you want to do it once and not have issues that will be vital. 14' x6' seems like you would want to have at least a yard depending on frost line and soil type.

 

[lexluther]

Over built is good for gates. I went with two 4 inch schedule 40 iron pipes 21 ft long. Put them in 4 ft of concrete connected across the top by a piece of angle iron until I get something better.

Posts are 14'6" apart and the gate company welded on greasable hinges and the gate motor mount. Apollo controller is great. We have a keypad for entry and exit, and extra remotes were like $10 so we gave them to everyone who visits regularly...

Our main problem has been that the battery and solar panel can't keep up in the winter...we will be trenching this spring.

 

[dragoneggs]

Properly 'staking' the gate posts is of course paramount. But seeing Eddie's work I don't think this is something to worry about. It comes down to the operation of the gate(s) and what is the desired function. Swinging can be grand and inviting... sliding can be slick and efficient.