Ranch Type Entrance

[jgrreed]

Agree with everything above. When I built mine I saw a lot of nice gates around, but always wondered "now who do you call to build, or get advice, on building those??".

This is how mine where conceived and built. I had some very skilled help to execute it, but the design is mine. These are an entrance to the front pasture, not the yard, so they may be a little small. It's definitely wise to consider future equipment that may need to enter your yard.

Fab-ing the gate hardware was my excuse to buy my welder, plasma cutter, and metal chop saw!! They've seen little use since, but the rudimentary metal skills I learned that week were great. I'd been waiting a long time to try that, and they'll get lots of use here soon.

I really like the thought of wood/rock/wrought iron together. I think that's a truly timeless look that will never be 'out of style'. Cultured stone would make a very nice option.

Lighting, a gate opener, and security are also considerations. Lighting can be LED solar. Some openers can be solar. Security/intercom can be wireless in many situations. Please don't add any motorized 'features'....!!! I can just see the galloping team of wrought iron silouhettes..... uuggghhh!!

Having said that, a trenched 110v along with wires for security would be best.

We built it on the ground, and erected it. I'm trying to find pics of how we did it, but maybe it's better I don't, to avoid scolding from the safety police.... There was my 4720 and a CAT 303 mini-hoe involved, both absolutely maxed in terms of reach. I picker-truck or zoom-boom would've been much better, but we made 'er work!!

The ground there is very 'compactable' so they're only 4' down. We jumping-jacked the crap out of the hole in several layers as we backfilled. In regular soil it should 1/3 of total height in the ground - so I'm told.

Big posts that aren't just tele poles can be hard to find. Look for sawmills or pressure treaters in your area. Ken Chaluk near Edson AB was fantastic for us.

The metal was just plate, sucker rod (the dowel rods), and 7" pipe that I chopped up into the rings. I used ready-rod to make the adjustable part of the upper hinges.

You'll need some tools - chainsaw, LONG boring bits - maybe an extension, forstner bit, 1/2" drill with lotsa power, chisels, etc.

DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG!!

After you have a gate, they you need a rustic, yet elegant, sign to label your 'ranch'. Either a unique handle, or a family name. I was going to get a friend with a waterjet table to do mine and hang it from the horizontal part. The Hinton place is to be the "Grand Trunk Ranch"..... The CN Mainline is about 50' from my property line. That section of it used to be the Grand Trunk Pacific when the Railroad was making it's way across Canada. My neighbor's place is the "Iron Horse Ranch".

Take lots of time, take pics of ones you like, plan it out (that'll force you to remember high school trig, uuggghh, it made my head hurt), find the materials you want, be safe, and have some fun!! I'm planning on building some in Regina. I'd like to use Timberframe style this go round, but we'll see. The pic below shot through the chainlink is a gate that was custom built by a timberframe builder in Black Diamond. The fancy timberframe building is the Iron Goat Pub in Canmore - just put it in as an example of what I'm thinking with the wood, rock, and iron. That was built by Sterling Timberframes in Canmore (excellent builder).

I'd definitely need skilled help for that!! Any takers....?? Beer will be free, as will steaks, and maybe some Rider tickets.....

-Jer.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I like wood entrances too.

 

[Avadon]

Good info, Avadon, welcome to the site.

Thanks for having me. I'm sure this thread will keep coming up in google searches and the info I found may be of use to others. It took me a while to collect it in from several sources. In Spring I hope to start my own ranch entrance. :drool: Should be awesome when it's completed. :thumbsup:

 

[Avadon]

One thing, which may be obvious, that I forgot to say in my original post, is find a place to purchase your logs or obtain them legally. In some areas if you cut down a tree over a certain diameter you can get an enormous fine (in the thousands) so before you go fall a tree on any land you don't own, really look into it.

Anyone have any good links for pouring footings?

About the best I found so far was this

Post and Beam Foundations

 

[Avadon]

Can anyone here tell me why this is poured this way?

Wouldn't it be better to bring that concrete footing up to the soil line so you just have one massive rectangular pillar under the soil and then the smaller pillar coming out of that.

Also when they say crushed rock or concrete.. isn't the best thing concrete with crushed up rocks in it.. so as to not use as much concrete in the pour.


I also was under the impression that cinder blocks are less strong than pouring a concrete form that is reinforced with rebar and may have crushed rock also in it.

 

[Kyle241]

I like that first pic in your first post (Avadon). It appears to be the entrance to a vineyard. I would like to do something like you're doing but don't have the expertise nor tools to the metal work. I would like to try to do something next summer to the entrance of the drive so I have time to plan. I wouldn't mind seeing your progress if you can post pics along the way.

 

[aczlan]

Can anyone here tell me why this is poured this way?
Wouldn't it be better to bring that concrete footing up to the soil line so you just have one massive rectangular pillar under the soil and then the smaller pillar coming out of that.

That design will resist being pulled up and out of the ground MUCH better than a single massive pillar would.

Aaron Z

 

[beppington]

Can anyone here tell me why this is poured this way?

Wouldn't it be better to bring that concrete footing up to the soil line so you just have one massive rectangular pillar under the soil and then the smaller pillar coming out of that.

Also when they say crushed rock or concrete.. isn't the best thing concrete with crushed up rocks in it.. so as to not use as much concrete in the pour.


I also was under the impression that cinder blocks are less strong than pouring a concrete form that is reinforced with rebar and may have crushed rock also in it.

That's the way tower bases & guy anchor foundations (called "deadmen") are done. You're utilizing good ol' dirt (free!, already on site) to help secure the foundation, adding weight on top of it:

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I am the one that originally started this thread in 2007. Since that time I did complete my entrance. The picture shows how it turned out. It is not nearly as elaborate as the ones shown in other posts in the thread, however it did turn out to have the look I wanted and cost me virtually no money. It is made from cedar trees cut on the farm. I also made the gates. That did cost a little but not too much, less than cheap metal farm gates and much better looking I think.

I posted a thread that had pictures of the construction and erection process. The erection turned out to be a bit of an ordeal given that I only used front end loaders and two tractors. Everything worked out OK with no damage to people or equipment. I would link to that thread, but I don't know how to search it out. Anyway here's the pic.

 

[Kyle241]

I am the one that originally started this thread in 2007. Since that time I did complete my entrance. The picture shows how it turned out. It is not nearly as elaborate as the ones shown in other posts in the thread, however it did turn out to have the look I wanted and cost me virtually no money. It is made from cedar trees cut on the farm. I also made the gates. That did cost a little but not too much, less than cheap metal farm gates and much better looking I think.

I posted a thread that had pictures of the construction and erection process. The erection turned out to be a bit of an ordeal given that I only used front end loaders and two tractors. Everything worked out OK with no damage to people or equipment. I would link to that thread, but I don't know how to search it out. Anyway here's the pic.

Jerry, nice entrance! There is nothing like using what you have to make something. I like the gates as well, wish I could have something like that up here but snow will be a hassle in winter.