I am having to build a privacy fence and gate at the bottom of my
driveway to hide my Travel Trailer.
the fence and gate need to be 8 feet high. The gate will be a double
gate, with a total width of 10 feet.
Can this be done? Each gate will be 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. I
want the gate to open out, and there is a slant of about 10 inches from
one side to the other. Not sure where to start. Anyone with any tips,
or ideas would be great. Thanks.
Darren
"Clint" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:E1Uwe.100510$9A2.11628@edtnps89...
> Sounds similar to what was done at our house (before we moved in). The
> previous owner built two similar gates, but put in a removable post
> between
> them. So when he needed the full span, it was a pretty quick process to
> pull out the post, and move stuff in and out. But most of the time, the
> post and large gate stay in place, and the small gate is used for access.
> Of course, if the OP was putting in the gates strictly for the trailer/RV,
> it wouldn't make much sense to go through that trouble.
>
> My guess (having not done something like that before) is that 5' wide by
> 8'
> tall wouldn't be a problem, so long as your supporting posts are solidly
> anchored. It would be the ones that are 5' tall by 8' wide that would be
> more of an issue. The further you move the center of gravity out, the
> more
> difficult it gets to keep things steady. Moving the center of gravity up
> isn't an issue. If you think of it logically, if you grab a 2x6 (8') and
> try to hold it steady vertically by holding on to one side, no problem.
> Try
> to hold it steady horizontally from one end, good luck.
>
Another approach I have seen done is to simply build the gate with a wheel
attached. Let the wheel hold up most of the weight. When you need to open or
close the gate, you just roll it on the wheel.
One friend who had this loved it. He did have to replace the wheel from time
to time though.
With strong enough posts and some heavy duty T strap hinges you
shouldn't have any problem as long as the gate frame is braced well.
Use an X or Z bracing configuration and be sure to attach the slats or
sheeting at the perimeter AND to the braces to develop some shear
strength to keep it from racking. You could also consider adding a
wheel to each gate, although this is not always possible depending on
the grade situation.
Darren wrote:
> I am having to build a privacy fence and gate at the bottom of my
> driveway to hide my Travel Trailer.
> the fence and gate need to be 8 feet high. The gate will be a double
> gate, with a total width of 10 feet.
> Can this be done? Each gate will be 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. I
> want the gate to open out, and there is a slant of about 10 inches from
> one side to the other. Not sure where to start. Anyone with any tips,
> or ideas would be great. Thanks.
>
> Darren
Hi Darren,
I built a 7' privacy fence and a 7' x 4' gate. You could build a gate
like mine, it has survived one new england winter so far.
Its made from 2x4 clear fir, with 3 coats of sikkens marine varnish.
Here are some pictures: http://www.clsid.com/nsw/fence/index.html
On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 12:40:25 -0400, "Lee Michaels"
<leemichaels*nadaspam*@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>"Clint" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:E1Uwe.100510$9A2.11628@edtnps89...
>> Sounds similar to what was done at our house (before we moved in). The
>> previous owner built two similar gates, but put in a removable post
>> between
>> them. So when he needed the full span, it was a pretty quick process to
>> pull out the post, and move stuff in and out. But most of the time, the
>> post and large gate stay in place, and the small gate is used for access.
>> Of course, if the OP was putting in the gates strictly for the trailer/RV,
>> it wouldn't make much sense to go through that trouble.
>>
>> My guess (having not done something like that before) is that 5' wide by
>> 8'
>> tall wouldn't be a problem, so long as your supporting posts are solidly
>> anchored. It would be the ones that are 5' tall by 8' wide that would be
>> more of an issue. The further you move the center of gravity out, the
>> more
>> difficult it gets to keep things steady. Moving the center of gravity up
>> isn't an issue. If you think of it logically, if you grab a 2x6 (8') and
>> try to hold it steady vertically by holding on to one side, no problem.
>> Try
>> to hold it steady horizontally from one end, good luck.
>>
>
>Another approach I have seen done is to simply build the gate with a wheel
>attached. Let the wheel hold up most of the weight. When you need to open or
>close the gate, you just roll it on the wheel.
>
>One friend who had this loved it. He did have to replace the wheel from time
>to time though.
>
I took 4 cheap $1 lawnmower wheels and glued them together to make one 8" wide
fat tire for my gate. It works great and never ruts.
Sounds similar to what was done at our house (before we moved in). The
previous owner built two similar gates, but put in a removable post between
them. So when he needed the full span, it was a pretty quick process to
pull out the post, and move stuff in and out. But most of the time, the
post and large gate stay in place, and the small gate is used for access.
Of course, if the OP was putting in the gates strictly for the trailer/RV,
it wouldn't make much sense to go through that trouble.
My guess (having not done something like that before) is that 5' wide by 8'
tall wouldn't be a problem, so long as your supporting posts are solidly
anchored. It would be the ones that are 5' tall by 8' wide that would be
more of an issue. The further you move the center of gravity out, the more
difficult it gets to keep things steady. Moving the center of gravity up
isn't an issue. If you think of it logically, if you grab a 2x6 (8') and
try to hold it steady vertically by holding on to one side, no problem. Try
to hold it steady horizontally from one end, good luck.
Clint
"Ace" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Darren
> I had a similar situation. Only I made a 3 foot gate and a 7 foot
> gate. I used the smaller one all the time and both of them when I
> needed to move my RV
>
"Darren" <[email protected]> wrote in news:1120077574.751839.168810
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
> I am having to build a privacy fence and gate at the bottom of my
> driveway to hide my Travel Trailer.
> the fence and gate need to be 8 feet high. The gate will be a double
> gate, with a total width of 10 feet.
> Can this be done? Each gate will be 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. I
> want the gate to open out, and there is a slant of about 10 inches from
> one side to the other. Not sure where to start. Anyone with any tips,
> or ideas would be great. Thanks.
>
> Darren
>
Metal framing and posts. Strong hinges. Everything else is cosmetics.
If you don't weld yet, make a friend of someone who does.
Patriarch
"Darren" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I am having to build a privacy fence and gate at the bottom of my
> driveway to hide my Travel Trailer.
> the fence and gate need to be 8 feet high. The gate will be a double
> gate, with a total width of 10 feet.
> Can this be done? Each gate will be 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. I
> want the gate to open out, and there is a slant of about 10 inches from
> one side to the other. Not sure where to start. Anyone with any tips,
> or ideas would be great. Thanks.
>
> Darren
>
>
My gates are 6 feet high and about 6 feet wide. Put it up about four
years ago and so far so good. I used two of these:
<http://hardware.hardwarestore.com/26-100-gate-hardware-kits/no-sag-gate-
bracket-kit--656550.aspx>
And just used standard fence boards.
I had a minor slant - about 1-2 inches. I used a board the width of the
gate - leveled for the high side - as a base while nailing on the fence
boards. You'll need some fence boards a foot longer than your high end
for the low end. Then cut the top even with a skil saw. If you use the
brackets, make sure you get your hinges placed right and that you leave a
gap at the bottom for any sag due to the boards absorbing moisture. Using
a 'base' board as you put on the fence boards should help with that.
Good luck.
LD
On 29 Jun 2005 13:39:34 -0700, "Darren" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I am having to build a privacy fence and gate at the bottom of my
>driveway to hide my Travel Trailer.
>the fence and gate need to be 8 feet high. The gate will be a double
>gate, with a total width of 10 feet.
>Can this be done?
If you live in a town that has a good fence company you can have them
weld you a metal frame. They can make it to run at the angle of your
yard or driveway and fit between your posts. You then drill holes and
screw your boards directly to the frame. They will never sag unless
your posts move. It costs a little more than building totally from
wood but IMO it's well worth it.
Mike O.
Darren wrote:
> I am having to build a privacy fence and gate at the bottom of my
> driveway to hide my Travel Trailer.
> the fence and gate need to be 8 feet high. The gate will be a double
> gate, with a total width of 10 feet.
> Can this be done? Each gate will be 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. I
> want the gate to open out, and there is a slant of about 10 inches from
> one side to the other. Not sure where to start. Anyone with any tips,
> or ideas would be great. Thanks.
>
> Darren
>
Build a torsion box using 1x4 braces covered with 1/8 particle board.
Cap all four sides with a molding wide enough to span the 1" width (and
maybe a bit extra. Put it together with ss or hdg screws plus some glue
on the caps (you can also use some construction adhesive on the
hardboard). The paint with a good quality primer and ext. color coats.
The idea here is to keep water out of the interior of the door (hence
the caps). It is a very rigid structure and is fairly light in weight.
You should be able to get away without having wheels. Strap hinges
bolted to the frame are a good idea. Buena suerte.
mahalo,
jo4hn