Anybody build their own gate opener?

[Chaz]

I've been looking for a gate opener, and all the reviews are HORRIBLE ! Even the fairly expensive models. Has anyone here built their own out of an old garage door opener or such? Lets see what you've got.

I have 2 eight foot gates that are on ball bearings and move easily.

 

[bgarrett]

A guy here used a garage door opener. Chain type, just run 110 volts to the motor on the gate post, build a little box to cover it to be weatherproof. your remote will work it too, If you can get one at a yard sale total cost would be almost nothing

 

[6t7gto]

 

[NotSoSimple]

I have a Mighty MUle 2500XL. Have had it for 3+ years now and have had zero problems with it. I was sketch as well based on the reviews, but I have a fairly light gate.

 

[rsanter]

I though about it using a chain drive garage opener. Take a look how the real ones are done and you will see they are not that complex
The one problem I see is that if you get any sticks or rocks on the track the thing will sence it as an obstruction that will make it reverse. If you don't think you will have that problem then I think you are set

Bob

 

[upndown]

That's a pretty good idea on the video. Except the first time it rains that baby is toast! Sand and dirt are not a screw drives friend, also if you live where it freezes it's not moving!!

 

[Stuart in MN]

My next door neighbor uses a garage door opener to operate his gate. The gate hangs from an overhead support rail, and slides open to one side, so the opener is mounted on that overhead rail. He built a small sheetmetal weather cover for the opener's drive motor, and it seems to work pretty well.

 

[AndyL]

Liability... you'd have to be nuckin futz to DIY...

That said, 99.999999999999999999999999997% of the time, the openers aren't installed to the factory required geometry, general contractors and gate builders decide they know what works better than the manufacturer, the installer never verifies or corrects, and the whole system falls apart into a godawful mess that never works right...

Every gate I've worked on that's been a nightmare, has not been installed to factory requirements, and requires days of rework to make it right...this is where the world falls apart, you need drawings from the gate supplier and opener manufacturer, and you need to ensure they're adjusted to work together, AND get installed that way...

 

[LutzTD]

WOW likely darwins going to take care of this guy first time it rains, nothing like 120VAC attached to a moving metal fence...........