Fences and Gates.

suzy · Jun 23, 2011

Cattle prices sure are up. I had a heifer rustled last week.

Am looking to upgrade a few gates and am having to deal with the reality of locked gates while introducing the new bouncy Pyrenees to the sheep. Trying to decide whether to go with two gates or one for a 17 1/2 foot opening. I guess two little gates will sag less. And I can use a bike lock to hold them together.

J_J · Jun 23, 2011

If these thieves want something, it is hard to stop them. A 12 ga might get their attention, but you almost have to be there. If you electrocute them, it is considered murder. Just make it as difficult as possible. About 10 years ago here in southern FL, someone was butchering cows close to the road using a chainsaw.

A remote camera might be a good investment, and use your smart phone to check on things.

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AHNC · Jun 24, 2011

Popular Woodworing magazine (09-early10) had an article on English Farm gates. When we were prepping the house for sale I got rid of a ton of stuff and regret letting that issue go. Anyway, the gates shown were primarily wooden, but the ideas would certainly translate to pipe. Basically, on a long gate you can run your hinge side of the gate much taller than the gate itself and run a diagonal brace down to the lower rail out in mid span. It will prevent the sag.

As to your wife, feel free to tell her that there is no way that this project could be completed without either a skid steer or backhoe. In fact, the project would be better completed with both.

suzy · Jun 24, 2011

Thanks JJ for the link. My neighbor phoned and the heifer has turned up out on the range with their cows. I've ordered a trail cam which I can move around and see how often the cougar and coyotes are coming through. I could also move it by the gate when I'm away.

Anybody ever use a wheel on the end of a long gate in the winter time? The hinge fencepost is also a bit taller than the gate top so I could maybe run a cable and turnbuckle to the opening end...I see the long gates have 3 hinges vs the 2 hinges on the shorter ones.

Little_Grizzly · Jun 24, 2011

Pretty close to what we did on our gate. Just added a tall (about 4' above the post) galvanized pole to the hinge-side post. Put a cable and turnbuckle between there and as far out as you want on the gate. Gate has been swinging free for oh...about 60 years now. :laughing:

BoFuller · Jul 13, 2011

I have a 20 ft opening between 2 RR ties. I'm thinking I'd rather have two 10 ft gates instead of one big 20 footer. Anybody have any cons with the two gates rather than one big one.
I also have to haul them 85 miles from the fence store to my place, so two shorter ones seem way better.
The fence store is also one of those places that don't stock standard sizes. I just tell them I want two ten foot gates and they weld them up. I believe he said about 75 bucks apiece.

Mousefield · Jul 13, 2011

If you are trying to control traffic on your road then all you need it one gate, say 14 or 16; wide. That's more than wide enough for large vehicles. Just because you road is 30 ft wide doesn't mean you need to gate the whole width. I would just fence the rest of the road and shoulders next to the gate to prevent vehicles from driving around it.

Little_Grizzly · Jul 14, 2011

I vote for two: one 15' and one 5'. Use the small one for foot traffic. The big one is for vehicles. Use both when something truly big is coming through or traffic is in both directions.

BoFuller · Jul 14, 2011

Little_Grizzly said:
I vote for two: one 15' and one 5'. Use the small one for foot traffic. The big one is for vehicles. Use both when something truly big is coming through or traffic is in both directions.

Duh. Why didn't I think of that. I like that idea! :thumbsup:

Hughman · Jul 14, 2011

I have an 18' opening and couldn't find 9' gates so I went with a 6' + 12' thinking I could simply open the 12' side if I was feeling lazy and still pull a trailer through.