My first driveway gate - any tips ?

[CATMAN]

If you use the two gate method. I recommend you overlap them by two feet so they can attach to each other and the wind won't bang them around when they are hanging in the air. A 30 foot opening, one would use two 16' gates. My Dad uses this method at his second farm. The one gate that rarely gets used sits on a concrete block most of the time, if you are just driving a pickup thru. You can open both for a semi,tractor and disc, or planter; then we carry the concrete block to the side at those times. These gates are heavy livestock gates(brand name:Sioux) mounted on 6 1/2 "diameter x 8 foot long fence post with 52" above ground. Wind may not be a concern in your area.

 

[Soundguy]

I was planning on 6" x 6" post about 4' deep - sound OK ?

Thanks again.

If you go with squares.. yeah.. 6x6 is fine.. I like the rounds myself.. so that is like a 6-8 for the bigguns'....

Soundguy

 

[dmccarty]

I was planning on 6" x 6" post about 4' deep - sound OK ?

My gate is "temporary" so my posts only go in 2-3 feet. The pipe gates I have are very light. I did put in concrete and lots of rock to lock the posts. The gate has done far better than I had expected. Deeper would be better the heavier the gate.

Square posts, 6x6s and 4x4 are what I used, are ok but harder to line up than round posts. Round posts would be easier. I used square because that is what I could get easily at the time.

Later,
Dan

 

[N80]

I use 6x6 posts and one 16' tube gate. Keep hinge pins pointing up to make removing the gate easy for repairs (the 'proper' way, I'm told, is with the hinges pointing at each other...no time for that). There is a chain around the hinge end and the post to keep it from being stolen. Sixteen is about max length for a gate you want to swing without sagging and dragging. My hinge pins are on bolts that go all the way through the post and are secured on both ends by nuts. This allows for easy adjustment and tightening up when things sag. I keep it tight and it swings clear of the ground.

There is fence and trees on either side of the gate. The gate is no obstacle at all for anyone determined to get in. Gates for those kind of folks are big, heavy, and super expensive. And they usually scream 'There is something behind me that is worth stealing'. My tube gate and poorly maintained dirt road is almost unnoticeable.

 

[sandman2234]

Since you have a sawmill, why aren't you building your gates out of mahogany or some other cheap wood?
David from jax

 

[450EXC]

I have 6x6 already milled up and ready to go, but also some larch logs waiting, so I could find a couple nice logs and use them as round post.

I see the cheaper blue gates at TSC come with 8-10" lag hinges and the better red gates have threaded rod to go through the post. They also have the threaded available seperatly. The frost depth is about 42-48" up here and I spent all that money on the backhoe for the tractor.

Might have to change gears though, no Mohagany around but ther are a few oak logs waiting for the mill. How big of post for a 16' Red Oak gate.

 

[AlanB]

I would go with the threaded, all thread type mounts with nuts on each side.

Gives you more chances to fix things as they sag, get hit, folks sit on them, etc. etc.

 

[Soundguy]

I used to use the lag hinges.. but now only use them on 12' or smaller gates.. anything 14' + I use the 'thrue thread with nuts on each side as mentioned.

Works MUCH better..

I also use end wheels on any gates 12'+

Soundguy

 

[GaryM]

If you let your post extend about 12' out of the grond and put a crossbar at the top, the posts and gate will never sag.

 

[BTDT]

Here is a quick drawing of gate I would like in the future. Put up poles (I would use metal) and it needs crossbar at top (I forgot that in drawing). Then use standard overhead door panel (1) or framework covered with expanded metal. You could decorate with star, deer cutouts, horse cutout, etc. Hook up like a regular garage door. Poles would have to be tall enough to allow bottom of panel to clear your tallest vehicle (or you could have panel rotate back at top of pole for clearance). If your close to electricity this would work good, or I'm thinking a remote gate opener could be rigged to pull panel up and down. This would eliminate the swinging gate problem. Next problem would be with Fire Dept. access. Still working on that.