Construction questions

[Bestoutwest]

Two questions:
1) With gates-If I buy a 12 foot gate, is the gate itself 12' long or does it create a 12' gap in the fence line?
2) I'm going to build a hay backstop for small bales. Should I build a 2 pole or 3 pole structure?

I'm trying to plan ahead so that I don't have to change things once it's built. :bang:

Thanks

 

[Bestoutwest]

Thought of another one. How apart should posts be for the hay backstop?

 

[SRBeef]

Most gate manufacturers make a 12 ft gate to fit a 12 ft opening between posts. Gate is actually about 6" shorter to allow for hinges. I would check with your supplier to confirm.

Jim

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I always make gate openings 1 inch bigger than what size of gate I am using.

 

[backhoeboogie]

The gates are generally sized to include hinges.

I never use anything less than 16 foot. I prefer 20 foot. Cheaper for me to buy tube steel and weld a cattle panel and a quarter to a 20 foot gate than it is to get a store bought 8 footer. It is stronger than store bought too.

A cow tries to go over the new store bought ones and they get ruined. The steel is not thick enough to repair. Gas company put store bought gates all over the property after they ruint the fences running their pipe lines. Neighbor's bull comes in jumping gates and now I have to replace them anyway.

Price 3 sticks of tube steel either 1 1/2 or 2". Price cattle panels. Consider what you are getting.

The real beauty is you can build a gate 18 foot 9 inches if that is what an existing opening is.

If you don't know how to weld buy yourself a cracker box and start learning. You'll never regret it.