Hanging Gates - Corral Build

R_Walter · Mar 5, 2010

The tripods seem like a good idea. You just got to lift them up and over the gate twice it seems. Once when you set them up to help plumb the gate and then, at the end, when you're all done.

flusher · Mar 5, 2010

GaryBDavis said:
I'm just starting a corral project and have about a dozen gates to hang. I usually hang them in place with the tractor FEL, put some blocks underneath, shim things until it is about right and weld away. But that's hard to do with just one person, so I built a couple of tripods with winches on them. I still set them in place with the tractor FEL, but use the tripods to get things just right. It's quite a bit faster and turned out pretty good. I'm curious if anyone else out there does it like this or has something better.

Ah--working alone--you have to be smart and clever. Those tripods are really neat. Congrats on an excellent solution to your problem.

wroughtn_harv · Mar 7, 2010

GaryBDavis said:
I doubt my corral will be done by the time you start yours. One of the best books on the market for corral design is Humane Livestock Handling by Temple Grandin. She's the subject of an HBO movie "Temple Grandin" that came out last month and there's some good stuff in the movie about cattle behavior. Still, I recommend the book.

On a side note, I got to go to an advanced screening of the movie and meet Temple herself. Pretty cool having her sign my book.

I've been a fan of Temple's since she did the book circuit on the public radio stations. I got to see the movie last weekend on HBO and fell in love with her all over again.

One of the things she talks about that has helped me is how she sees things in pictures. I can really understand that. All you have to do is look at TexasDon's atv bridge project and you can see how I usually have a pretty good picture in my head of what a finished project will look like before I start it.

It's also nice to see someone talk about autism like it's a blessing in its own way. Much better perspective than the retarded concept that seems to be so popular.

GaryBDavis · Mar 7, 2010

Yep, thinking in pictures is required skill if you want your projects to turn out looking like some forethought went into it. Some of my earliest projects lacked that so it must be a skill that can be learned.

Then again, I've got a budy who is one of the best mechanics I've ever met - he can fix anything. But he lacks the ability to picture something in his head before he builds it. His stuff always turns out looking like a two year old was involved.

I thought the movie was real done very well. My wife is a Special Ed certified teacher so we both enjoyed the movie. Glad to hear you know of her.

Stampeder · Mar 21, 2010

Hi Gary, see you've been busy as usual.
You and Harv come up with the best ideas. Love the tripods and the gate hinges. Are you going to use Harv's horse gate latches? Your place must be coming along very nicely by now.

Keep up the great idea sharing, we all appreciate it.

Glenn.

Stampeder · Apr 13, 2010

Gary:

Have some quick questions about your fencing here.
Are you coralling horses or cattle?
What gauge is your 4x4 fencing?
At what interval are you welding it to the pipes?
How high off the ground is your lower pipe?
I have to put mesh fencing between the barn and the house as the horses and donkey reach through and destroy my wife's plants. She is not happy so it's become a high priority item.
Looks like I"ll have to build Harvey Lacey's unroller and stretcher. Thanks for posting that a while ago Harv.
Thanks.
Glenn.

GaryBDavis · Apr 13, 2010

Hey Glenn, the corral is coming along nicely. Below are my answers.

Stampeder said:
Gary:

Have some quick questions about your fencing here.
Are you coralling horses or cattle?
A: Cattle and maybe goats in the future.

What gauge is your 4x4 fencing?
A: It's 8"x4" openings with 4 gauge wire. It comes in 5'x20' pieces and runs about $40 a panel. It's kind of hard to find, but is perfect for corrals. The 4" height keeps in smaller animals and the 8" width allows you to get a boot in it for climbing the fence. The panels with 4x4 spacing usually come in 6 gauge which is too thin for my taste. I prefer 4 gauge.

At what interval are you welding it to the pipes?
A: 10' for low pressure areas and 8' in high pressure pens. 10' is fine, I used 8' for the pens as I wanted smaller 16' and 24' widths to work with rather than 20' and 30'.

How high off the ground is your lower pipe?
A: It's a 3 rail fence with the rails at 6", 36" and 66" off the ground (measured from the middle of the pipe rail). That puts the top of the fence at about 67 high.

I have to put mesh fencing between the barn and the house as the horses and donkey reach through and destroy my wife's plants. She is not happy so it's become a high priority item.
Looks like I"ll have to build Harvey Lacey's unroller and stretcher. Thanks for posting that a while ago Harv.
Thanks.
Glenn.