Electric gate for driveway?

[ukiltmybrutha]

Hi,

I want to pursue an electric gate for my driveway. I am done with the wooden gates currently in place for a variety of reasons.

I have ok mechanical skills and a pretty good electrical background.

The posts for the wooden gate as they sit are way outside of the driveway. The gates are much wider than the driveway.

I am not so great with wood work but would like to do this myself.

I would like a gate style that will not allow small animals to go in or out.

I would like a gate that slides side to side or if necessary 2 gates that swing in and out.

I am sure that posts about using my existing wooden gates will trickle in but they are very heavy and have become highly problematic in wind....buncha boat sails.

I want to go metal and maybe throw something on top for privacy.

Any ideas on how to get started?

Better pictures to come.

Thanks.

 

[tarmy]

Here is mine. Made this about 14 years ago…over 800 lbs and over 26’ clear cantileverEd in snow country. Love that LiftMaster opener.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Any ideas on how to get started? What to consider?

Thanks.

 

[Walkers]

Measure your opening, pour a concrete curb that width on one side of the driveway for track. Track is inverted 1" angle welded to flatbar screwed to the concrete. Build a gate frame, 2x3x.125 tube works well. Add v groove wheels to the bottom. Infill the gate with whatever you like. Build a latch post 4x4 tube works well, put 1/3 of the height in the ground. Build a mid post/s with gate rollers, this post holds the whole works up, make sure it is stout.

An operator of any fecent quality statt at 2 grand. If you still want one after uou build the gate let me know and I'll fill you in on that.

 

[ericm]

The sliding gates need space to one side for the gate to go when its open. If the gate(s) pivot on hinges, then you need space for them to swing. For example if they swing out to open, you need space to pull in off the road with enough clearance for the gate to open and not hit your vehicle. A sliding gate needs a track for the wheel on the end to run on, if it's not cantilivered like tarmy's. Mine's inverted angle iron in a concrete base.

You'll need a way to open the gate when you go in and out. Radio controllers like garage door controllers are nice, you don't have to open the window to operate a keypad when its raining.

You need a way to open the gate for visitors and delivery people. An intercom is nice for that. They make Wifi ones so you don't have to run wires to the house.

Emergency services (fire dept) need a way to get in. On my gate controller there's a key switch for the fire dept key.

The gate needs power. Solar + battery is common when there's not power out to the gate. Your gate needs to be operable when the power is out even if its manual.

Mighty Mule makes cheap gate openers and controllers that people often have problems with. Door King is more expensive but better quality.

 

[tarmy]

If you are in snow country you want a sliding gate…way less snow to clear.

Power vs. solar

Is the gate security for a big area….cause then more fencing is part of it

I have a security camera that watches over my opener area that gets triggered if the gate opens or of anything big moves through.

The gate opener itself needs to be thought through for gate size and weight and battery backup/power

 

[ATC]

Here is mine. Made this about 14 years ago…over 800 lbs and over 26’ clear cantileverEd in snow country. Love that LiftMaster opener.

We have a larger, commercial version of that at work for our parking lots and truck entrances. Works very well.

 

[walta]

I built this remote controlled chain hoist from an HF hoist and a cheap Chinese control board.

Do you need a gate or is a chain enough for you?

Walta

 

[ATC]

I built this remote controlled chain hoist from an HF hoist and a cheap Chinese control board.

Do you need a gate or is a chain enough for you?

That's a genius idea, but based on the OPs requirement below, I doubt it would work for him:

Hi,

I want to pursue an electric gate for my driveway.

I would like a gate style that will not allow small animals to go in or out.

I want to go metal and maybe throw something on top for privacy.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Sorry for any perceived absenteeism. Digesting all of this.

Thanks.

 

[dcg9381]

Any ideas on how to get started?

Having done this a couple of times, you need to decide the dimensions of your gate. From your photos, you're probably going to want a dual-swing gate. You want steel. Steel is heavy. The first thing you'll probably want to do is determine where the gate will swing from and how you're going to weld hinges up for 2 swing doors. I usually do that by building a heavy steel frame and then concreting into the ground.... You'll need two.

If you're a welder, you can make the gate doors fit the opening. If you're not and you're buying steel swing doors, you'll need to figure out what doors you're going to start with.

Dual swing has the advantage of less heavy individual gate doors. It has the disadvantage of twice as much electronics and hardware.

"Consumer" grade openers have been awful to me.. Particularly Mighty Mule.

I'll take some photos of a gate that I've got under construction now in a bit..

 

[dcg9381]

I'd say that you need an "overhead" diagram with dimensions of what you want to build. And then you need to pick a "gate opener" because the gate opener will determine the design of a few things.

My neighbor just drilled 3' of posts into the ground and will do a simple gate that way.

These are steel frames that I had a mason come out and build masonry around after I poured pads. I did not design for a gate opener (I'd do it slightly differently with an opener) but I wanted a dual-gate with a 24' opening.... A 12' steel gate door is heavy.... Largely this is scrap steel. I have another neighbor that used I-beam that simply put it 3' into the ground with concrete, which will handle just about any gate you throw at it.

 

[rsanter]

You for sure need a metal frame for long term durability.

After that you need to look at how much privacy/visibility you want.
You could just put the wood on the metal frame, or you could use some kind of metal mesh.
The metal mesh will allow wind to go through, the wood not as much.
Sliding has some advantage IMO as the weight bears on the track and not on a post.

I have seen garage door openers modified to move sliding gates, otherwise buying an opener is in your future.

Look at options for if the power is out and also look at access for the fire department/emergency responders.
Some people will also keep a manual gate in addition to the powered gate. The manual gate can accommodate the emergency’s and power outages but then there is another roadway/access to deal with. They do make “grassroad pavers” (see TT24 from NDS) if you don’t want asphalt/concrete. Also a gravel road is an option

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

You for sure need a metal frame for long term durability.

After that you need to look at how much privacy/visibility you want.
You could just put the wood on the metal frame, or you could use some kind of metal mesh.
The metal mesh will allow wind to go through, the wood not as much.
Sliding has some advantage IMO as the weight bears on the track and not on a post.

I have seen garage door openers modified to move sliding gates, otherwise buying an opener is in your future.

Look at options for if the power is out and also look at access for the fire department/emergency responders.
Some people will also keep a manual gate in addition to the powered gate. The manual gate can accommodate the emergency’s and power outages but then there is another roadway/access to deal with. They do make “grassroad pavers” (see TT24 from NDS) if you don’t want asphalt/concrete. Also a gravel road is an option

So I have a side gate that can be walked through already but not driven through. Very important consideration.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

I'd say that you need an "overhead" diagram with dimensions of what you want to build. And then you need to pick a "gate opener" because the gate opener will determine the design of a few things.

My neighbor just drilled 3' of posts into the ground and will do a simple gate that way.

These are steel frames that I had a mason come out and build masonry around after I poured pads. I did not design for a gate opener (I'd do it slightly differently with an opener) but I wanted a dual-gate with a 24' opening.... A 12' steel gate door is heavy.... Largely this is scrap steel. I have another neighbor that used I-beam that simply put it 3' into the ground with concrete, which will handle just about any gate you throw at it.

Thanks for the ideas. I will make a diagram although I am terrible at drawing.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Having done this a couple of times, you need to decide the dimensions of your gate. From your photos, you're probably going to want a dual-swing gate. You want steel. Steel is heavy. The first thing you'll probably want to do is determine where the gate will swing from and how you're going to weld hinges up for 2 swing doors. I usually do that by building a heavy steel frame and then concreting into the ground.... You'll need two.

If you're a welder, you can make the gate doors fit the opening. If you're not and you're buying steel swing doors, you'll need to figure out what doors you're going to start with.

Dual swing has the advantage of less heavy individual gate doors. It has the disadvantage of twice as much electronics and hardware.

"Consumer" grade openers have been awful to me.. Particularly Mighty Mule.

I'll take some photos of a gate that I've got under construction now in a bit..

This is in snow territory although it hasn't snowed for a while like the rest of the mid-atlantic/northeast it is coming so I will need to have a sliding gate. Thanks.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

I built this remote controlled chain hoist from an HF hoist and a cheap Chinese control board.

Do you need a gate or is a chain enough for you?

Walta

If things were more simple that would be perfect.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

If you are in snow country you want a sliding gate…way less snow to clear.

Power vs. solar

Is the gate security for a big area….cause then more fencing is part of it

I have a security camera that watches over my opener area that gets triggered if the gate opens or of anything big moves through.

The gate opener itself needs to be thought through for gate size and weight and battery backup/power

Yes, large area. I too have multiple security cameras around it that are solar and independently triggered. I am going to go with a sliding gate.

 

[dcg9381]

This is in snow territory although it hasn't snowed for a while like the rest of the mid-atlantic/northeast it is coming so I will need to have a sliding gate. Thanks.

Good point.. For those that don't know the openers with "arms" do not always do what they need to do in ice/snow.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

So primitave questions perhaps as I noodle this but necessary....

1) Are there all in one kits that include the gate and opener Together?

2) If I decide to "create" a sliding gate, will any type that I have created work with a gate opener (will be solar as a reminder?

3) It looks like my choices are metal or wood. What makes more sense for a metal sliding gate if privacy is required? I hear rumors that there are "things" on Amazon are available to cover an entire metal gate so that no one can see I don't know what that "thing" is and whether or not it exists in that context and won't blow away with the wind.

Thanks.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

I built this remote controlled chain hoist from an HF hoist and a cheap Chinese control board.

Do you need a gate or is a chain enough for you?

Walta

Yeah...cool but need a gate due to small animals.