Building a Gate - a big one.

[kdubaz]

The property I live on right now has this really cool backyard setup. I've got my 20X30 garage that's air conditioned and is accessible through the back alley. Then I've got my two sidelots, with these two mammoth gates. Problem is, the gates ****.

See the original owner built them one way, and I guess the last one decided that he should rebuild them using aluminum siding and tin foil. Good times. I had a company come out and quote me for a pair of gates, and it came down to making a decision; Either get gates for the garage, or buy a car.

So I have two gates, and they span a distance of 16 feet on one, 18 feet on the other. I'd like to split them into two separate gates on each one, so I'd have two 8's and two 9's, respectively.

Is there anywhere I can find gate plans or supplies? I'm not sure where to start here, other than to just get some square tubing and start welding. Thanks.

 

[RPH]

Check out the stock gates at Tractor Supply. HD tubing that can be used to mount the flashy effects if needed. I know they have long.

 

[bahamasair]

16 and 18' are small gates. Are the gates that are there now slide gates or double swing or single swing? I like roll gates or cantilevers. The easiest way to build em is get the top bar thats already punched for 3/4 or 1'' pickets and then weld up the bottom and sides with 2x2 galvanized. Drop the pickets through the top rail and space them along the bottom and tack em in. There are plenty of metal supply places that will have the pickets with the spears on top and the top rail & rollers etc.

 

[kdubaz]

Check out the stock gates at Tractor Supply. HD tubing that can be used to mount the flashy effects if needed. I know they have long.

Unfortunately, closest one is in Bakersfield, about 10 hours away.

16 and 18' are small gates. Are the gates that are there now slide gates or double swing or single swing? I like roll gates or cantilevers. The easiest way to build em is get the top bar thats already punched for 3/4 or 1'' pickets and then weld up the bottom and sides with 2x2 galvanized. Drop the pickets through the top rail and space them along the bottom and tack em in. There are plenty of metal supply places that will have the pickets with the spears on top and the top rail & rollers etc.

Right now they're a single swing style, which is what's putting the pressure on the hinges. I can tell that the original owner or builder wanted to do double gates, by the holes in the concrete for a post.

To make things more complicated, I can't really do a cantilever, although I'd like to. The gate forms a 45 degree angle between the outside wall and the garage itself on the one side, so that's not really an option. On the other side, if it were to roll out it would roll either into the street or across the front of the garage.

I'll check today for steel suppliers who can get fence parts, so we'll see what happens.

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Home Depot carries the Might Mule gate openers. I put mine on a heavy, 15' gate and its maxed out. Which I knew it would be. It will pop a fuse every 3-4 months or so. If I had to do it again I would split the gate in two. I just didnt have time and needed it quick. And I might do it this winter if I get any extra time. Mighty Mule carries the extra power arm so its not that hard to do.
And yes a gate co. will charge you big bucks around here also. Makes sence to do it your self if you can weld.

 

[1320stang]

Put wheels on them to support the end of the gates.

 

[IDWRX]

If you are building a new gate yourself, you can get parts pretty reasonably at Amazing Gates. We just bought a gate through them for our courtyard, best price I could find and easy to install. They had quite a bit of stuff for larger driveway gates, so hopefully they can help you out. Also, I believe they are located in Mesa, so not too far away.

 

[sjsfire]

Do you really need gates that wide? If not why not just fence the area and build smaller gates.......to walk thru or take a riding mower thru. You don't say if you need to come thru with a car. Is your overhead door accessed off the alley or do you need to come into the garage from the other end.

 

[tubeman]

I agree with checking out Amazing Gates. I bought mine there and it was cheaper than me welding it up myself.

 

[kdubaz]

If you are building a new gate yourself, you can get parts pretty reasonably at Amazing Gates. We just bought a gate through them for our courtyard, best price I could find and easy to install. They had quite a bit of stuff for larger driveway gates, so hopefully they can help you out. Also, I believe they are located in Mesa, so not too far away.

Well they're not in Mesa, they're in New Mexico according to their site, but I emailed them for a quote so we'll see what happens.

As far as the usage of the gates, I do use them to pull cars and trucks in and out of, pretty much every day, and pretty soon I'll be pulling a trailer in and out of there too. Regardless, I do need to open the gates, and on the one side it's a real pain, and on the other it's not too bad, but it's been progressively worse.

The real issues here are security, privacy and ease of entry. I don't want people to peek over the fence and check out the rides, and then hop over a tiny gate and grab my stuff. If my current gates have one advantage, it's privacy. Those things are huge, and have no holes in them to peek through.

 

[IDWRX]

The real questions are:

1) What are your needs (privacy, strength, height)?

2) What is your style goal?

A gate is one of those things that a dedicated guy with a couple days and basic construction knowledge (swinging a hammer or welding, either way) can build on the cheap in any style imaginable. What are you shooting for? That will help us find a plan to suit your desires.

 

[kdubaz]

The real questions are:

1) What are your needs (privacy, strength, height)?

2) What is your style goal?

A gate is one of those things that a dedicated guy with a couple days and basic construction knowledge (swinging a hammer or welding, either way) can build on the cheap in any style imaginable. What are you shooting for? That will help us find a plan to suit your desires.

Ok, sure.

1. I want the fence to be 6 feet high, if not a smidge taller, so that I can keep prying eyes away. I'd like it to be fairly strong, but it doesn't need to take a mack truck ramming into it or anything. Privacy though is the most important thing, because I don't want anything to be able to see in there.

2. Style? Right now I'm looking at the standard steel frame with wood slat inserts, enough to cover it up pretty good but not enough to see into. I really don't need some crazy look to it, it needs to be more functional than anything.

 

[IDWRX]

http://www.buildeazy.com/house_property_makeover/driveway_gate_5_07_page1.html

 

[markb1]

You are right, get some 2x tubing weld up rectangle, get some hinges from a gate supply co., cover with wood.

Make sure your post base is good. Depends on soil type, clay moves with moisture content. You don't want your post to move( sagging gate a year or two later)

Most gate operators will give you max weight and length. Over twelve feet is hard to break inercia and get started... (motor size increases w/ gate length)

Make your hinges adjustable at post to fine tune. you can see in the pic that I used washers to space the upper hinge out.

These gates are each 8"X8" and post base is 3" cube of concrete they moved a little in 10+ yrs. A little at the post is a lot 8'out.

A barrel type hinge would be good.

 

[bahamasair]

Id go double swing for sure instead of the 1 big single. You will also **** when you feel the weight of each leaf with the wood added lol. I usually build a regular gate with pickets and either get 4x8' sheets of light gauge galvanized steel or sheets of 1/8" thick king starboard plastic and mount it on the inside of the panel.

 

[mike944]

You are right, get some 2x tubing weld up rectangle, get some hinges from a gate supply co., cover with wood.......

Don't forget a diagonal tube. a plain rectangle will just sag over time.

Attach a diagonal tube from the upper corner on the hinge end, to the lower corner on the free end.

 

[kdubaz]

http://www.buildeazy.com/house_property_makeover/driveway_gate_5_07_page1.html

Great link. That's along the lines of what I was looking for, thanks.

You are right, get some 2x tubing weld up rectangle, get some hinges from a gate supply co., cover with wood.

Make sure your post base is good. Depends on soil type, clay moves with moisture content. You don't want your post to move( sagging gate a year or two later)

Most gate operators will give you max weight and length. Over twelve feet is hard to break inercia and get started... (motor size increases w/ gate length)

Make your hinges adjustable at post to fine tune. you can see in the pic that I used washers to space the upper hinge out.

These gates are each 8"X8" and post base is 3" cube of concrete they moved a little in 10+ yrs. A little at the post is a lot 8'out.

A barrel type hinge would be good.

Well honestly I'm not going to motorize either one of the gates. It's cost prohibitive, and really not that important to me. Although I do use the gates daily, I can get out of the car to open them, I'm not quite that lazy. Yet.

As for the hinge, I was debating a barrel hinge. I've seen some at my local welding supply store, but I figured that I'd have to weld those to the bars and the posts. Right now there are steel bars bolted to the fence and the garage, so so I can just weld the hinges direct. You point about adjustability is well taken though, so maybe I'll figure out a way to bolt it in on one side instead.

 

[PhantomEB]

And plain ole angle iron works just fine, dont need square tubing. After all screwing the boards to the steel works just fine. I doing it this way when I get my place as you can drill and screw from the back side and not see screws on the wood face of the gate. Another reason I say angle iron over square, is weight savings. The lighter the gate, the easier it is.

Size, I couldnt imagine NEEDING 16' or 18' between posts, not when you can easily get away with 10' tops?

 

[markb1]

He may need it to swing a trailer.

 

[agoogol]

I had various reasons to get a big gate done in a hurry and got these from Home Depot:

http://www.foxhomecenter.com/fence/adjustagate.htm

Worked just fine, except for that whole measure twice cut once thing.

 

[G M]

Here are the gates I just built this year. One is 8' the other is 12' I wanted to match the rest of the fence so I made the frames out of 1x1 steel and then bolted the Home Depot cedar panels on. I don't use the gates that often so it was good enough for me. The hinges are some old ones from like 50 years ago that were laying around. My posts are only 4x4 cedar but I would recommend a 6x6. Right now I am working on my homebrew 14' cantilever made out of steel and rolling on v groove wheels.