Double Gate Latch

Pondering · Jun 8, 2013

I am looking at installing either two 10' or two 12' TSC 16 gauge, 2" metal tube gates across my drive. I know I can use the snap chains to keep the gates closed, but I'd like to find a manual (non-electric) latch that will accept a lock. I have found several solutions for a single gate, but very few for a double. The one latch I found was almost as much as an entire gate section. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

--Steve

Western · Jun 8, 2013

I think the best thing would be a 2' piece of heavy chain (Logging) Most of the big Box stores carry it. It will be the only thing in 1 piece of someone hits your gates. I Also like that you can have multiple locks for convenience, a lock for utility's, neighbors what ever.

Pondering · Jun 8, 2013

Yeah, much to the dismay of my DW & DD, the logging chain was my first option. Still is if a latch is going to cost almost as much as a gate section

I'm just trying to see if there is anything else still out there. Thanks!

Steve

greasemonkeyok · Jun 8, 2013

If you purchase chain, be sure to get at least schedule 70. Lesser grade of chain is easily breached by bolt cutters.

Thieves with a big brushguard on the front of a 3/4 ton PU will just drive right over a tube gate. Saw the results of it happening to my neighbor's gate.

Check your hinges also. If they can just lift the gate off the hinges, they will.

Pondering · Jun 10, 2013

The way my drive is laid out, the gate is intended to stop honest folk from driving down the drive "just to see where this road thru the woods goes".
Especially teenagers.

At midnight.

With their lights on hibeam streaming directly into the bedroom window despite closed curtains.

"Oops...we can't park here ... "

Hence, my ladies desire for something a bit more aesthetically pleasing than my and your logging chain solution ....

DT86 · Jun 10, 2013

The only thing I can think of, other than a big chain and lock, is duel electric openers.

A farm I rent has an electric gate opener. It can be a real PITA when you are on the tractor and your opener is in the truck, but if it had a key pad in addition to the wireless openers it wouldn't be bad at all. Two neighbors of mine have solar gate openers.

pjbci · Jun 10, 2013

Weld you some hollow square or round tubing on each gate for guides. Slide a smaller piece through the tubing. Weld a "stop" on on end so it stays with one gate and fix it to where you can put a lock behind it when closed. I'll try to remember to take a pic of one next time i go to the field that has this set up but it may be a month before i get back down there.

QRTRHRS · Jun 10, 2013

pjbci said:
Weld you some hollow square or round tubing on each gate for guides. Slide a smaller piece through the tubing. Weld a "stop" on on end so it stays with one gate and fix it to where you can put a lock behind it when closed. I'll try to remember to take a pic of one next time i go to the field that has this set up but it may be a month before i get back down there.

Pondering, I don't know where you live in KY but Casey County where I am bills itself as the gate capital of the world or something like that for the number of gate makers there are. Many (if not most) of these operations will gladly modify a gate to your specs.

I have a number of double gates though I don't worry about security. I put two gate hinge brackets on each gate then run a rod through them. You could do that with a large enough in diameter rod with a hole drilled for a lock and some beating on the bolts to render them fixed. That and the threat of a round will keep the honest people out.