hanging large gates

[ferguson_tom]

Hi Everyone,

 

We need to fit a couple of large gates to the side of our house but they are not going to be used regularly just for when we need to bring our caravan out so once every few weeks or so. We are fitting two 14ft gates (4.2m in new money) and have a few questions. When closed i will have a removable post in the middle of the two gates which will take the weight.

 

Am i better to use wood or steel I-beam? How deep does the post need to go in the ground? How big a whole do i need for the concrete?

 

Thanks, Tom

[figgy]

Use galvanized steel as it won't swell when wet. Why not put wheels on your gates to support the weight, no center post needed then.

 

Have a look at galvanized farm gates they come in some good widths and don't need center supports.

Edited May 15, 2017 by figgy

[Me matt]

I would suggest a pre cast concrete utility post (one with holes though it) then bolt timber plates to it for mounting hinges.

They will need to be at least 24" deep (but when digging be careful, keep an eye out for sevices).

If hung correctly you shouldn't need a removable post between them, drop bokts will be fine.

Where are you getting the gates from?

[oldypigeonpopper]

hello, gates like that need substantial post foundations, steel posts would be my advice, are you getting them made ? do not forget the drop so you might need to have them higher when open, worth considering to get professional advice, figgys idea of wheels is good

Edited May 15, 2017 by oldypigeonpopper

[CharlieT]

We have a huge number of double gates around the farm.

 

I always use square galvanized steel receiving posts set into a galvanized sleeve set into a concrete square 3'x3' so they slip out easily. You can get cap's to fit the sleeve when not in use to stop rubbish or animals from fouling it. Receiving posts are about £40 and 14' galvanized gates about £68, all exc VAT.

 

Forgot to say, the ground socket (with cap) are about £15.

Edited May 15, 2017 by CharlieT

[Walker570]

Galvanised gates have a nasty habit of disappearing with regularity. Shop around for a good engineer and have some made up and have your address and post code written on there, easy enough with a MIG. In addition have a 'box' welded on and a substantial sliding lockable bar. At 14ft the wheels are the best idea and saves having to hump a centre post in and out all the time. If I am reading this correctly your talking about a 28ft wide gate opening ..... just how big is your caravan?

I can e mail you a photo of mine if it helps. That is a 14ft gate ..two 7fts. PM me.

 

Ahh! Just recollected your avatar. Does the caravan go behind that?

Edited May 15, 2017 by Walker570

[ferguson_tom]

Can always count on PW massive for great advice. Cheers gents.

 

I am going for wooden gates as simply they will look nicer on the side of my house and found a person locally with brand new ones available for only £100 each.

 

The center post was also for extra security as behind them will be a caravan and IFOR trailer and i thought it wouldnt take much to just pull them apart if there was no center post for support but i may well be wrong if you guys feel drop bolts will provide that anyway.

 

Yes you are correct the gap is 28ft, the issue is the caravan sits parralel to the road just behind a hedge which is to the side of my house so in effect you parallel park it. The caravan is a big TA so you need that space to get it in.

Edited May 15, 2017 by ferguson_tom

[clakk]

Being a victim of travelling scrap dealer,s i wouldnt just have the centre post Tom,have a drop in security post behind each gate as well and alarm the gate using lock alarms like motorbikes have .Its delay security they,l wait till your out to try and relocate your van so make it as hard as you can and as noisy as possible atb

[Me matt]

You could always use a wall plate for hanging on the house side- i would if i were doing the job. Properly anchored drop bolts will be fine for securtiy, timber 14ft gates will go well on conrete utility posts trust me, makes hanging them very easy. Use shear off bolts where possible for added security.

[Old farrier]

Hi

Inward or outward opening?

Strongly advise you not to hav them open both ways it's a pain as the gateway is narrowed substantially by hanging this way

If security is a problem wooden gates are only a cordless saw away from disappeared metal is the way to go there about the same weight

 

Usually apply rule of thirds for the posts 1 third in the ground 2 thirds out of the ground

 

All the best with the project

 

Of

[figgy]

You can get sprung wheels for wooden gates on galv plates to help with the weight. No matter what you do for locking a couple of minutes with a battery recip saw and the wooden gates are off.

[team tractor]

This is one of the last pair I made in iroko

We hang then on 10"sq posts or brickwork.

These were about 14' in total

[team tractor]

You won't get through a proper set of wooden gates or no easier than metal gates.

I'm a believer it's how people make stuff.

[ferguson_tom]

Thansk again everyone. I will stick with the drop bolts then and save me another hole to dig.

 

I am not expecting the gates to be much cop security wise it's more a deterrent and as it's to the side of my house onto the main village road it's just so it doesn't look so obvious the trailer is there by passing cars.

 

Both trailer and caravan have got hitch lock and wheel-lock, I don't worry too much about theft as if someone really wants it they will have it, plus they are insured for enough so can easily get a replacement.

[scotslad]

Have u seen 14ft wooden gates before and lifted them??

Wots ur joiner/gate maker say about them/advise?

 

Quite unusual to see a wooden gate longer than 12ft and can be very heavy, i think u will encounter problems in the long term without some support on the nose of the gates (even if u put some timber under the nose to suport them when closed) I would be putting a centre post in

 

For a normal field gate ur usually looking at a gate post 8" round and into ground 3'6"-4ft (with ur extra length i'd go 4ft atleast), must admit not a big fan of concreteing gate/strainer posts in even when dug in. But if ur not sure how to pack them ur probably better to concrete them in.

Can u get a local fencer/farmer with a knocker to put them in for u?

 

Usually i'd advise to put the hinges on inverted, (if using a timber post) u need a drill throu crook for the top hinge normally and a drive in crook for bottom upside down so gate can't be lifted of its hinges, which won't really be a problem with a 14ft timber gate anyway

Also timber gates can be a pain to hang as usually put those band hinges on them so don't have as much adjustment as a metal gate.

 

Personally i'd advise against a timber gate and if u think a agri gate is too agri looking go to a local welders and see if he can make a pair for u.

Thats a nice looking set team tractor has made above, get them powder coated/galvanised and jobs a good 1

 

Years ago i worked on a few big motorway jobs and in usual back to front thinking on big jobs they specify really heavy strong gates but supplied the standard post to hang them from, a few years later it's quite rare to se a motoerway gate swinging and closing correctly as they've all sagged and the post will have bent slightly with the wieght

 

 

Ps

I'd imagine u'd be better to hanfg the gate on the road side face so only open into the road, as the way i'm picturing it u couldn't open them inwards if the caravan was there or close them after u had parked it, unless u have a lot more spac than i'm imagining

Edited May 16, 2017 by scotslad

[ferguson_tom]

Rather than digging holes and back filling with concrete if i were to use steel channel could i just drive them straight into the soil using a post whacker or sledge hammer? obviously got to be careful of services.

Edited May 16, 2017 by ferguson_tom

[scotslad]

U could possibly/probably drive timber ones in. if ur using steel posts u'd have to concrete as soil dosen't grip the steel the same way.

I'd imagine timber gates might look strange with metal gate posts