Preffered gate openers?

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For all you guys that build gates what brand/model of gate opener do you find works and lasts the best? I'm needing one for a 14-16' gate (swinging gate) I'm going to be putting up on my driveway later this summer or fall, won't be anything too fancy so it will be fairly light. Does have to be solar powered since it's 1/2 mile  from my house. The only kind I've ever seen are Mighty Mule..... I figure there is something better out there.HH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200X
Reply:I dont build gates, but have a gate... and I have a Chamberlain Elite which I have been very happy with.  They make a solar powered swing gate setup (from what i saw online goes for around 900-1000 bucks) and apparently you can get a 30% tax credit for the total cost of the system not including the gate its self, which should get you about $300 off your taxes and get the price down to 600-700 bucks.Hope this helpshttp://www.liftmaster.com/consumerwe...x?modelId=1463
Reply:One more good reason for being married on a cold eve as U return to the ranch... have your gate opener in her lady Noconas  with ya as U pull into the drive'Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Apollo is the best for the money spent and they have solar. I put in my first over twenty years ago and have never needed to go back for any thing. If you have any questions just Pm me. They are made in San Antonio.
Reply:Anyone know if they have a wireless intercom so that someone at the gate can buzz the house and ask for the gate to be opened?   My driveway is 1200 feet long.  The solar would eliminate running power that far.  Now if I can solve the communication between the gate and the house....
Reply:Reading this thread reminded me of my first gate opener.I wanted to put a automatic gate opener on our front gate.  Wife thought I was lazy and they were too expensive.So I did what any self-respecting Redneck would do,  I built one.I had a swinging metal gate.  I mounted a whole toilet with a bucket under the toilet connected via a cable over a pulley to the gate.  I had water at the gate for the flower beds.So all I had to do was flush the toilet and the weight of the water would cause the bucket to drop and therefor swing the gate open.  I put a small hole in the bucket to allow the water to drain out and then a spring would pull the gate shut.  This only worked from the one side. I still had to get out to open the gate from inside the property. But it was a work in progress.All you had to do was drive up to the gate, roll your window down,  reach out and flush the toilet and presto,  gate would open!   I did all this while the wife was away for two days.  When she came home and drove up to the gate and read my little sign that instructed you to flush the toilet to open the gate she was not happy.  She thought a commercial gate opener was not so expensive after all.   But in the time it took me to get my store bought gate opener and take down my Redneck gate opener the local newspaper got wind of my gate opener and came out and took pictures and put it in the paper.  Needless to say my wife was not happy!   She wanted me to put the toilet in a box or something so people driving by wouldn't see the toilet mounted at the gate.  Her biggest concern was what if someone actually would use the toilet!  We did live in a Redneck area so it would not be out of the question.
Reply:Originally Posted by burnandreturnReading this thread reminded me of my first gate opener.I wanted to put a automatic gate opener on our front gate.  Wife thought I was lazy and they were too expensive.So I did what any self-respecting Redneck would do,  I built one.I had a swinging metal gate.  I mounted a whole toilet with a bucket under the toilet connected via a cable over a pulley to the gate.  I had water at the gate for the flower beds.So all I had to do was flush the toilet and the weight of the water would cause the bucket to drop and therefor swing the gate open.  I put a small hole in the bucket to allow the water to drain out and then a spring would pull the gate shut.  This only worked from the one side. I still had to get out to open the gate from inside the property. But it was a work in progress.All you had to do was drive up to the gate, roll your window down,  reach out and flush the toilet and presto,  gate would open!   I did all this while the wife was away for two days.  When she came home and drove up to the gate and read my little sign that instructed you to flush the toilet to open the gate she was not happy.  She thought a commercial gate opener was not so expensive after all.   But in the time it took me to get my store bought gate opener and take down my Redneck gate opener the local newspaper got wind of my gate opener and came out and took pictures and put it in the paper.  Needless to say my wife was not happy!   She wanted me to put the toilet in a box or something so people driving by wouldn't see the toilet mounted at the gate.  Her biggest concern was what if someone actually would use the toilet!  We did live in a Redneck area so it would not be out of the question.
Reply:And they say German engineering is over rated. .No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:OMG now that's some funny $hit right there
Reply:Meanwhile I like the idea immensely and figure it would bring a  smile at our second  gate to the barn/shop area. That one  isn't used by company atall and would be interesting as folks drive by?  You have created a monster maybe Grandpas name ~ Krueger~ guess it is just in our nature.Last edited by PapaLion; 07-30-2010 at 02:02 PM.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:king metals have a lot at good prices
Reply:Thanks for the input guys. Don't think my wife would go for the toilet gate opener either...... pretty sure someone would use it around here too!HH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200X
Reply:Wife just told me not to get nostalgic and even think about "inventing" anything!!!
Reply:I installed a solar powered 1550 ETL Apollo single gate opener from Solar Discount in Az.  Cliff is very knowledable and provides good service.  We get alot of traffic between all of us 10 neighbors, paper delivery, UPS, Fedex, gardeners, and workers, and a 40 watt panel keeps the battery charged.  We had lightning hit a big cottonwood about 50 feet from my house and the gate, it took out internet, phone, and the mother board on the gate controller $250.http://www.solardiscount.com/Merchan...ry_Code=APOLLO
Reply:We install a lot of Liftmaster model 412 solar swing gate operators.  I'd personally stay away from Apollo's and I think the Liftmaster products are better (plus they have surge protection (lightning)).  Liftmaster also makes a wireless gate controller (Liftmaster GAPLM).  I don't use them for my installations but I hear they work in the right conditions.  Good luck.
Reply:gto pro
Reply:Originally Posted by burnandreturnReading this thread reminded me of my first gate opener.I wanted to put a automatic gate opener on our front gate.  Wife thought I was lazy and they were too expensive.So I did what any self-respecting Redneck would do,  I built one.........flush the toilet to open the gate she was not happy.  She thought a commercial gate opener was not so expensive after all....
Reply:And what about US Automatic - any experiences and insights to share?Gate opener reviews
Reply:Originally Posted by dieselbeefgto pro
Reply:I was searching info about the difference between price and quality. What do you think about this guys? I found this blog http://www.gate-motors-blog.com/gate...inal-products/ and read this article. But when i looked at their shop and compare the price of European brand and US/China i get a little confused. Comparing US Might Mule set for 580 $ (with 2 arms):http://www.mightymulestore.com/Rodeo...r-p/rg-mdd.htmand this one for nearly 1000 Euro! is sickhttp://www.botech-shop.com/came-ati/...698640170.htmlWhat do you think? It's better to invest in brand or cheaper openers also can be reliable for years?
Reply:I have built three swing and one commercial heavy slide gates. All with apollo (now apollo/nice) openers and controls. They seem to be daily heavy duty. I have repaired several GTO models, they seem a little lighter. Make sure they are built with good, heavy duty hinges or wheels on sliders.
Reply:One of the new features on the Apollo/Nice control board is a soft start and stop. That feature really saves wear and tear on gates from when they slam to a stop or start at full speed like they used to. It pretty important to build gates that hang or slide level and consistently. Use heavy duty bearings or rollers.
Reply:Originally Posted by blackbartOne of the new features on the Apollo/Nice control board is a soft start and stop. That feature really saves wear and tear on gates from when they slam to a stop or start at full speed like they used to. It pretty important to build gates that hang or slide level and consistently. Use heavy duty bearings or rollers.
Reply:Originally Posted by 123RowenI read that now most of new motors got this function. But at all i got other question. Did you ever hear about any kind of security for gate automation? My uncle has been robbed and thiefs stolen a 2x NICE TOONA set. Is there any possibility to secure motor for thiefs?