Critique my gate design

[IHDiesel73L]

I'm installing a fence and need to incorporate an 8' wide gate where it runs along the end of the driveway so that I can get my pickup, lawn tractor, etc...into the backyard. The gate will consist of two 4' wide doors which will be hung on 6 x 6 x 10' posts sunk about 30" in concrete. The gates will be pretty heavy as they'll be made of the same material as the fence (pressure treated lumber) plus they'll have extra bracing to keep the frames from sagging. One way I thought to keep the posts from bending/sagging inward from the weight of the doors would be to place a crossbeam (like a lintel) on top of the two posts. This way the beam would act as a spreader, holding the tops of the posts apart so that they can't bend inward. The crossbeam would consist of a 6 x 6 x 10' timber sandwiched between two 2 x 8 x 10' boards. It's a little hard to visualize so I attached a PDF to this post with a quick diagram I whipped up. Clearance from the ground to the bottom of the beam would be 7'-0" so my truck would fit just fine, which is the largest vehicle I'd be bringing through. I don't have a septic in the backyard so I can't think of any other reason I would need to bring very large trucks or equipment back there that wouldn't fit through the gate. I also figure that the post should be plenty stout so I could use it to hang deer and suspend other things with a block and tackle if need be. Tell me what you think...

 

[J_J]

Looks good to me. I would put some gravel under the post so the water can drain, otherwise, don't encase the post in concrete.

 

[IHDiesel73L]

Looks good to me. I would put some gravel under the post so the water can drain, otherwise, don't encase the post in concrete.

I learned that lesson (here on TBN actually) and all my posts will have a gravel "footing." Only the gate posts and corner posts will be concreted in anyway-the rest of the posts will sit on a gravel footing and the holes will be backfilled with tamped stone dust or crusher run as its called in some parts.

 

[jimmyj]

Is there any way you can make it bigger than eight feet? That's pretty tight. I know you say it's big enough but trust me, I have had to make a couple of gates bigger years later and if it's not too hard at the time.....

Anyhow, good luck!

 

[CowwFace]

Is there any way you can make it bigger than eight feet? That's pretty tight. I know you say it's big enough but trust me, I have had to make a couple of gates bigger years later and if it's not too hard at the time.....

Anyhow, good luck!

Hey IH,

My 2cents would be to go at least a bit taller. The threads on TBN about ROPS and hitting stuff are FULL of stories ... Even another 6 to 12 Inches in height would make sure that would not be a problem. And just a bit wider.. incase you ever need to back a double axle trailer etc back there...

Of coarse it's easy to go bigger on your nickle!!

Carry on

 

[hawkeye08]

You might also consider the weight of the gate pulling on the post when the gate is open. The cross piece would certainly do the job when the gate is closed, but unless the gate has a place to rest when open, you could be tipping your posts over time.

 

[Tompet]

I agree with Jimmy make it a little wider. Either two 4.5' gates or two 5' gates...8' width is too tight. I agree with CowwFace...make it a little taller using 6x6x12' instead of 10'...this way you can have at least 8' of clearance for any tractor ROPS etc. I usually agree about not over scaling things but IMO you plans call for a slight bump up in size for stated use. Good Luck with your project!
tp

 

[orezok]

I would consider both wider and higher. You never know when a fire truck or ambulance will have to come into your yard and it won't fit.

 

[Travelover]

I wouldn't put that piece across the top. Eventually you'll want to move something higher through that gate. Instead, I'd brace the gate posts like you'd brace a corner post, with an angled support.

 

[IHDiesel73L]

All good points-thanks. Especially about the fire truck or ambulance-never thought about that one. I think I definitely will go higher but I can't go much wider unfortunately-we live in a fairly tightly packed subdivision and on one side is the wall of my garage and the other side is the setback line for the fence. I might be able to stretch it out to 9', but that would be the max. As long as I can get my Toyota mini-truck back there I'll be happy. As for the ROP hitting the crossbeam I wish I had a tractor that big! :laughing: My John Deere 110 will fit through just fine. Once we move to a larger piece of property I'll have a wider/higher gate. I do need to look for some kind of carrier for the gate though. Maybe I can rig something up with an some old wheelbarrow tires?