What to use for gate posts

[RichZ]

No question that steel is the strongest, but cedar won't rot for many years. I had steel fence posts in my old farm that were put in over 30 years ago, and still show no sign of rotting. Locust fence posts will probably last even longer, and I sometimes use them, but they're so hard that it's difficult to drill them or staple fencing to them.

 

[freewookie]

Okay I bought some 4-1/2" steel posts. How much concrete will it take to fill the centers? I'm figuring a bag or two in the hole around the base.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay I bought some 4-1/2" steel posts. How much concrete will it take to fill the centers? I'm figuring a bag or two in the hole around the base.

Yep, a couple bags at least and go deep especially if you are going to have a long heavy cantilever. Don't want it to 'rock' loose.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Why would you want to fill the center of a 4-1/2" steel post?

 

[dragoneggs]

Why would you want to fill the center of a 4-1/2" steel post?

Pretty much agree with trout here as long as you are starting with thick walled tube.

 

[boggen]

semi's and there long trailers, various larger agriculture tractor and there field equipment. if they are coming/going ever through the gate. make sure the gate can open up wide enough to let them drive through. and/or turn into the drive way without clipping something.

12 foot wide is maybe half way, wide enough for some equipment out there.

 

[freewookie]

Yep, a couple bags at least and go deep especially if you are going to have a long heavy cantilever. Don't want it to 'rock' loose.

I was thinking at least 3.5 ft. That leaves me 4.5 ft to mount the gate.

 

[freewookie]

Pretty much agree with trout here as long as you are starting with thick walled tube.

Because I don't have a welder, which I hope to remedy in the next six months, for the end caps. Leave them open on the top and you'll have them full of dead birds.

 

[dragoneggs]

Because I don't have a welder, which I hope to remedy in the next six months, for the end caps. Leave them open on the top and you'll have them full of dead birds.

Make a nice clean/flat top on the post and use an adhesive to bond a cap on. Don't have to weld that!

 

[freewookie]

Got them in the ground. Got to about 32" before I started hitting rock. Hope it works for a 14' 115lb gate.