Who makes a good gate opener?

[Chaz]

I've got 2 eight foot wrought iron gates that swing open. Who makes a reliable opener for these? The reviews for the "Mighty Mule" are dismal even though the price is attractive.
If you have an opener what has been your experience?

 

[jstroede]

Liftmaster

John

 

[rwhite692]

Gate openers are very much a "you get what you pay for" kinda deal.

I did an install at my folks place about a dozen years ago, we used ELITE (Chamberlain/Liftmaster) and it was well-built stuff, it has never needed a second of attention in all this time since, and it gets used pretty heavily.

As you go to compare the various openers, you can get a pretty good idea regarding to what degree the manufacturer has it's "ducks in a row", by simply downloading and reading the .pdf installation / operation manuals.

 

[tomshep]

My gate controller is Apollo from the installer and it *****!!!

Hope you do better.

Tom

 

[slghmmr88]

The X was pretty good except was very difficult to work in the rain or snow, hard to get started but once she was out of the car, moved pretty quickly, but very noisy and took way too much maintenance in the off times. Also installation was expensive as was the maintenance although the removal cost was insane, so I would advise against this model.

 

[mebedave]

Chaz, I have the GTO pro series opener. Somehow mighty mule and GTO are associated. I think its marketing, the mighty mule is more residential and sold in big box stores and the GTO is more their heavy duty pro series it's not just lables the gto is built way better!!! I have both, I first bought the mighty mule and loved it! Then I moved from that house and took it with me, I still have it in a box. Then when I moved into the house I now live in I had the need for a gate opener. It needed to be a dual gate opener the other was not. Although I could have just bought another mighty mule arm and make a few changes to make it work as a dual,but I ran into the GTO pro. It is built very well and heavy duty, designed to last for years!!! I have had my Gto for 8 years now and the only problem I've had was a lighting strike that fried a resister in the main panel that controls the openers. I called Gto/might mule they have a very good tech support told them my opener was not working ( I did not know at the time I had a lighting strike) the tech guy had me over the phone while he was on stand by do a few test and then he asked did i have some lighting lately,I replied yes, why? He told me based on a few test he had me do that a resister was toast that protects the main board and other components from lighting. He had me flip a few switches inside the main panel that bypassed the resister and that got my gate working again. He then told me I could keep running like that and he was going to send me a new main board for FREE!! He did not have to do that because the system is not warranted against lighting strikes, he did it anyways.
I installed the new board but this time I drove a ground rod right next to the opener control box and grounded it,now sense I grounded it 6 years ago I have had hundreds of lighting strikes and no problems with the opener at all and I mean that things runs everyday in the snow,rain and heat of Kansas weather. I'm very very happy with the GTO and would buy it again if I needed one. The mighty mule is also a very tuff opener but for the extra money the GTO much better. I found this link for you. Good Luck!

http://www.gtopro.com/PRO-SW2000XL-PRO-SW2002XL-Professional-Swing-Gate-Openers-s/48.htm

 

[the_saint]

The X was pretty good except was very difficult to work in the rain or snow, hard to get started but once she was out of the car, moved pretty quickly, but very noisy and took way too much maintenance in the off times. Also installation was expensive as was the maintenance although the removal cost was insane, so I would advise against this model.

haha.

I am trying to plan many aspects of my place and will make sure to avoid the X. Already have one of those too, and I understand the pain.

 

[Crusty Nut]

GTO 500 is a good unit for the price. I had one at my old place and just installed a new one at my new place. Get the solenoid lock with it. It's automatic and without it, the opener arm is the only thing holding it closed.

 

[rasit]

I second Liftmaster. Been around for years and all parts are available and replaceable. I just got one working that was sat inoperable for five years. Downloaded the manual, ordered parts on-line, installed parts, adjusted everything as per manual and it works great.