Gate lock question

[Teachu2]

What happens if your not home and the fire trucks need to get thru the gate ?

Unless you have one of their locks in place, the firemen here use a heavy chain and a heavier truck - repair or replacement of the gate is on the owner.

 

[handirifle]

Hmmm thats a good question. I usually think of that but it did slip my mind. We have a lock box for them on the main gate, maybe similar. Have to talk to them.

 

[oosik]

I don't know who your ?? is aimed at BleedingOrange. In my case, the outer gate will normally be locked only during hunting season. The fire dept/ambulance know that they are authorized to cut the chain should the gate be locked and they are on an emergency run. Should I not be home - the chance of fire/ambulance being called to my property is almost zero. My nearest neighbor is over 2.5 miles away - nobody would ever notice a house/outbuilding fire.

Thats what homeowners insurance is for.

 

[PILOON]

My take on gates.
Been in a rural environment for over 50 years now.
We have had all sorts of thefts, break ins etc.
I made a nice gate but never lock or close it.
Here is why,
Locked gate says I'm not home while opened suggests I'm probably there.
The one time I closed it was the only time they attempted a theft.

Another trick I did was to leave one window without curtains closed BUT with nothing of value in view so a thief could eyeball the contents without needing to break in. So far so good.

Some folks actually have an old unplated car that they leave near their house at all times just to suggest that they are home.

This summer some 12 houses ( out of 75) were the target of thieves but I was passed by as I had my other car in the driveway so I presume they thought I was home.

Now, just in case, I have installed a game cam hopefully to get any perps picture,

 

[bcp]

To avoid the gate as an indicator, I leave mine closed except when passing through. I also make it a point to regularly be seen outside while the gate is closed. 30+ years here with no problems.

And there is always a car here. There MUST be one more car than drivers in the household.

Bruce

 

[two_bit_score]

To avoid the gate as an indicator, I leave mine closed except when passing through. I also make it a point to regularly be seen outside while the gate is closed. 30+ years here with no problems.

And there is always a car here. There MUST be one more car than drivers in the household.

Bruce

Must be!

 

[4570Man]

What are you guys doing for gate locks? Building a heavy duty gate is on my to do list. I need something that's cheap, strong, easy enough to fabricate, and won't get me a hand full of wasps.

 

[handirifle]

Our gate is closed all the time as well. Why tell them when you're gone. Keep them guessing.

Just for kicks, sometime I will be out back where they can see me as they go down the road, shooting one of my guns. That makes them wonder.

Besides, ALL our neighbors watch out for one another. One checks in on our cat almost every day too

 

[bspeedy]

We have a full security system on the house, but I feel that our gate is the #1 theft deterrent on our property. It is always closed except when we are leaving or arriving. An automatic opener is very nice. It is off the road, simple farm gate, painted black with black metal posts. No fancy decoration. I hope it says 'go away' to most people.

Like some, we make sure to target practice occasionally.

Also, our house cannot be seen from the road and the driveway is 1/4 mile long. No outside lights at our house, either. Super dark up there.

We've been there only 6 years and no issues so far.

 

[handirifle]

Mine can be seen easily from main road. First house on dirt road actually. That's a good and bad thing. If they're going to steal from me, I'm not going to make it easy.