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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,384
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Driveway Gate and Opener Questions
I am considering a metal railing type gate for my driveway. I plan on a single swing door, and I will put a heavy steel 4x4 tube in concrete for the posts. The actual door may be aluminum. Once I have the door attached to one of the 4x4 posts and swinging smooth, then I am going to need the opener...
There seems to be a ton of back and forth reviews on the openers. I saw a video of the mighty mule from tractor supply and that thing is way too slow. I hear Apolo might be good? What do you run and how to you like it? My door won't be more than 12-15 feet and if I go aluminum it should be really light - but I would prefer heavier duty than I need. |
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05-04-2015, 06:31 PM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 3,172
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Mighty mule here...slow but it's fine. Solar and battery s/u and all is good.
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1986 3.2 Carrera |
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05-04-2015, 06:51 PM
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Preferred pronoun:Maestro
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Group W Bench
Posts: 11,351
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I've had two Mighty Mules. The cheap one worked okay but needed regular adjustment. The more expensive one (sorry, don't remember model numbers as it's been a number of years) was very good, requiring only minimal attention.
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When in doubt, use overwhelming force. |
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05-04-2015, 07:17 PM
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Bollweevil
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Fulshear, Texanistan
Posts: 3,363
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I had a Mighty Mule on solar at our previous house and had no issues with it (8 years) working a chain link gate. We have an Apollo at our current house running off 110 V. The gate is 15' and heavy. It is definitely more robust and more powerful than the MMule. If your gate is 14-16' and heavier I would go with the Apollo. I think a MMule would do fine for a lighter gate.
Just my opinion.
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Jack 74 911 Coupe 2.7L - K21 Option - S suspension |
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05-04-2015, 07:28 PM
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We ha kind of had it up to here with MightyMule last year, not very dependable. We moved up to a semi-commercial grade by a company called "GTO Access Systems." Only catch is they sell to dealers and not the general public, but they are not hard to find. (This is a sliding chain drive BTW)
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2021 Model Y 2005 Cayenne Turbo 2012 Panamera 4S 1980 911 SC 1999 996 Cab |
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05-04-2015, 07:53 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,612
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Lift Master. 6x6 post set at least 4-5 feet down. 3 loop detectors and install a lamp for light at night. The choice of remote is important too.
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05-04-2015, 11:15 PM
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non-whiner
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Slightly right of center
Posts: 5,235
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Lift master pulling a 25'x6' retractable gate. Works great and has a mobile app that alerts me when the gate opens/closes and I can control it remotely.
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"Too much is just enough." |
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05-05-2015, 04:48 PM
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Went out to measure again...thinking of a whole new direction with the door(s).
Maybe doing 2 doors. I see there are aluminum 2 door options that come up to 12ft wide. 12ft seems awfully narrow. The driveway is wider than that (but I planned on narrowing the entrance a little to reclaim some garden space). How wide is a comfortable width or is 12ft plenty? |
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05-05-2015, 06:34 PM
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I use the servants, I mean that is why I employ them.
Last edited by quicksix; 05-05-2015 at 06:52 PM.. |
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05-05-2015, 06:50 PM
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Quote:
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2021 Model Y 2005 Cayenne Turbo 2012 Panamera 4S 1980 911 SC 1999 996 Cab |
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05-05-2015, 07:20 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,612
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25ft is a standard 2-way parking lot aisle. 35 would be one that a garbage truck or delivery truck would use.
A swinging gate is quicker and needs minimum 2 look detectors. I have a third placed 30' back to open the gate as I leave. |
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05-05-2015, 07:23 PM
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You do not have permissi
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: midwest
Posts: 40,015
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Quote:
Go with 8x8+. Modern pine has now become cheap fast growth wood full of water that will warp at the drop of a hat. Pull any 2x4 out of a box store and by the time you get it home it has become a pretzel. A swing gate post stem needs soaking in waste oil for the section below ground, rubberized sealant over that, triangular concrete base, drain stone with a water overflow drain, and an angled surface skirt to divert all surface water. Then the opener will operate every single day. with regular maintenance. |
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05-05-2015, 07:28 PM
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It'll be legen-waitforit
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 7,006
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Just dig a moat with a draw bridge...
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Bob James 06 Cayman S - Money Penny 18 Macan GTS Gone: 79 911SC, 83 944, 05 Cayenne Turbo, 10 Panamera Turbo |
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05-05-2015, 08:21 PM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,676
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Quote:
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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05-05-2015, 08:26 PM
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Quote:
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2021 Model Y 2005 Cayenne Turbo 2012 Panamera 4S 1980 911 SC 1999 996 Cab |
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05-05-2015, 08:26 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,612
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Quote:
6x6 steel box tube. You have to make it thick enough steel to weld on. I can check the thickness of our steel, but it's almost 1/4" thick. A wood post is pure silliness. |
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05-05-2015, 08:36 PM
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1985.5 Porsche 944 2.5L Supercharged 
911 SC
Panamera
