Gate Width?

Bill VA · Sep 23, 2016

Going to put up a gate between a couple of fields. You folks have a favorite gate width - "if I'm going to go to the trouble of putting up a gate in the first place, it's going to be this size...."

Always one gate or two gates so the post doesn't have so much stress on it - with a wide opening?

Just curious.

Thanks!
Bill

Butch(OH) · Sep 23, 2016

May sound obvious but measure up whatever the widest thing that needs to go through it and add a couple feet for clearance if used infrequently or a lot more, at least 4 foot? if used very day. You also need to add if you don't have a straight shot in and out. Example the normal gate on our home place was 14 foot. Our 40HP tractors and implements of the day went though them easily except the combine and it took some careful driving and jockeying to get it through but that was once a year. Personally I would double gate anything over 12-14' If your buying steel gates avoid the temptation of lowest price because the low end is pretty poor quality stuff in my experience.

Bill VA · Sep 23, 2016

Yea - I got the obvious part of it. Just looking hear other folks ideas.

Truckpuller83 · Sep 23, 2016

Bill, I'd say it depends how many times you would pass through these particular gates... Hay season or every trip in and out of the place. Up here in our part of Va with the equipment we have (close to yours) we have pretty decent luck with 16' for the gates we use occasionally as long as you put a rest block on the non-hinge side. 2 10' or 12' make for a nice opening as well and put a lot less stress on the posts. Just my 2 cents.

coonie minnie · Sep 23, 2016

I wouldn't go less than 2 12 foot gates. (24' opening). We did that in some pasture gates here. With that wide of an opening, we can get the combine through with the head on, etc.

DoubleR · Sep 23, 2016

Two short gates work better than one long gate. That is if you are going over 12-14 ft. If you have livestock go with 2 inch rather than the 1 5/8 inch.

tomNE · Sep 23, 2016

I would make it an overwidth gate. 24ft heads usually need 25-26 ft, to get thru. make it with gates of different widths.

brutus49DC · Sep 23, 2016

A 16 footer is good for normal traffic. If you have wider machinery or might have in the future adjust accordingly and put in a wider one right away.

Hay hay hay · Sep 23, 2016

I agree. 16'plus use rest block on opposite post to eliminate sag.

retired farmer · Sep 23, 2016

At least twenty four feet or wider.

paul · Sep 23, 2016

I used to like a 16 foot sturdy gate, but any more a pair of 12 footers works well, put a pipe in the ground and have a pipe that slips in for the center. Can open a single gate for most chores with a pickup or small tractor or moving cattle, but the 24 feet comes in so very much handier when needed with the mowers and even rakes, the baler and rack, the drill to reseed, etc.

The good 12 footers are a little cheaper than a sturdy 16 foot, can't afford or want to support a heavy 20 or bigger single gate......

Paul

David G · Sep 23, 2016

6 row gear BARELY fits in 16', would go at least 18' on single gate.

James Howell · Sep 23, 2016

We installed double gates on all entrances to our farm.

Two twelve foot gates at easy, wide access locations to the hay fields.

Hay customers with all sizes of trucks and trailers have no problems driving in or out.

Hope this helps.

Gate Width?

Bill VA

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Butch(OH)

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Bill VA

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Truckpuller83

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coonie minnie

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DoubleR

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tomNE

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brutus49DC

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Hay hay hay

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retired farmer

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paul

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David G

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James Howell

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