How to Install Driveway Gates
Installation instructions for DIY homeowners and contractors on the Benner Deer Fence Co. Professional System installation method for installing deer fence driveway gates.
Locate the hinged post location– use a tape measure to make sure there is at least one foot on both sides of driveway. Keep in mind the width of gate being installed.
HINGED GATEPOST INSTALLATION
Dig the hinged gatepost hole twice the width of a normal post hole digger, approximately 3 feet deep. Keep the width consistent throughout the entire hole. Use a digging bar if needed.
Using a digging bar, soften the soil at the bottom of the hole. Put one end of the 2 3/8 inch reverse sleeve into the hole. Position sleeve so that 3 setting screws are at the top and facing gate side. Keep the sleeve in the middle of the hole.
Hold the sleeve in place and keep level. Fill hole approximately 1/3 full with dirt. Use the back end of a sledgehammer handle or digging bar to pack the dirt around the sleeve. Use a sledgehammer to drive sleeve a few inches into ground until snug.
Use magnetic level to check sleeve for levelness. Start adding dry Quickcrete into hole. Fill and pack until 3-4 inches short of ground level.
Check sleeve for levelness. Drive sleeve into ground with a few sledge hammer hits and repack quickcrete. Check sleeve again for levelness.
Slide gatepost onto sleeve. Use stepladder if needed. Post should be about 2 inches below ground level. Check the height of gatepost to make sure it is the required height. (If not, adjust at the bottom by adding or removing concrete). Fill and pack hole with quickcrete to ground level. Check post for levelness. (Keep in mind on which way the gate is swinging. For best results, angle the gatepost slightly off level away from the weight of the gate in its open position.)
Slide one 2 ½ inch male gate hinge onto gatepost and let it slip to the bottom.
SECURE GATEPOST TO SLEEVE
Pilot two 11/64 inch holes through post and sleeve in the following locations:
On the fence line side of gatepost, opposite of sleeve setting screws– first hole at 6 inches from ground, second hole at 18 inches from ground.
Fasten post to sleeve with self-tapping metal screws.
INSTALL BRACE BANDS, BRACE CUP AND BRACE PIPE
Slide 2 ½ inch collar with eye bolt onto the post and fasten a few inches above the height that the bottom metal fence will be. Eyebolt needs to face down the fence line.
Slide the other male gate hinge onto gatepost. Locate hinge approximately 1 foot below planned location of gate and fasten. Hinge needs to face the driveway.
Slide 2 ½ inch brace band with brace cup and eyebolt onto post and secure. Keep the brace band about 3 inches below the top of gatepost. Brace cup needs to face towards the next post on the fence line.
Slide 1 5/8 inch brace pipe into brace cup. Let pipe fall down to the ground on a 45 degree angle towards the planned location of next post in the fence line.
Pilot the posthole for the next post approximately 2 inches away from where the brace pipe rests on the ground.
Insert the line post reverse sleeve into the pilot hole and drive it about 3 feet into the ground in a level position.
Slide the 1 3/8 inch brace band with 1 5/8 inch brace cup onto the reverse sleeve. Keep the eyebolt facing in and the brace cup facing the brace pipe. Slide brace band to ground.
Insert bottom of brace pipe into brace cup and begin to tighten. Keep the eyebolt vertical and check for levelness of the gatepost. If adjustment is needed, slide the 2 ½ inch brace band with brace cup up or down the gate post. (keep in mind the weight of the driveway gate will offset the pull from the top cable and fence which will run off of the gatepost.)\
Slide line post onto reverse sleeve. Install collar with eyebolt and post cap.
APPLY TENSION TO HINGING GATEPOST
MATERIALS NEEDED: 20 feet of 11 gauge nylon cable, 1 medium gripple
String cable through eyebolt at the top of gatepost diagonally down through eyebolt at the bottom of next line post. Pull cable back to eyebolt at the top of the gatepost. Fasten and tighten by stringing cable through medium gripple.
BUILD GATE FRAME
Do not completely tighten the diagonal gate cables until the gate is mounted.
Install female hinges before mounting.
MOUNT GATE FRAME
Bring the gate frame over to gatepost. Have a wood block or rock to place the gate frame on when mounting. Place wood block about a 1 foot past the center of the gate frame towards the latching post location.
Place gate frame onto leveling block. This will allow for easy adjustment when mounting the gate frame.
Determine the location of the bottom male gate hinge. This needs to be at least 4 inches above gate corner. The hinge needs to face towards the gate and be in line with the top gate hinge. Tighten gate hinge.
Mount the gate frame onto the gate post by sliding the female hinges onto male hinges. Tightening the female hinges using a 9/16 inch deep socket. Allow for snow clearance at the bottom and check for other obstacles which may effect the gate when opening.
Check to see that the gate stays level by removing the leveling block. As a reminder, there needs to be tension coming off of the opposite topside of the gatepost to offset the weight of the gate frame.
Finish tightening the tensioning cable(s). Be sure not to over tighten. Tighten just enough to hold the gate in a level position.
Install the gate latch(es) to the latching side of the gate frame just above (and below) the middle gate section.
INSTALL LATCH GATEPOST
Keep the gate in its closed position to locate the latching gatepost hole. Use the San Angelo digging bar to mark the middle of the hole. The bar should fit level inside of the latch and or latches in their closed position. Keep in mind the post when determining this location.
Repeat the digging and reverse sleeve process that was used on the hinging gatepost.
Put the reverse sleeve into the hole. Locate the sleeve so that the post will fit into the gate latch(es). Keep the sleeve in a level position and see if the bottom latch fits over the sleeve. If the latch is not low enough, lower it down to check the fit.
Finish installing the reverse sleeve in the same manner as before. Be sure to use enough cement.
Slide the gatepost onto the sleeve. Check latch fit. Repeat all steps from the first gatepost installation. Be sure to brace post as well as secure it to the sleeve with a self-sealing screw.
Check levelness on both posts and gate frame (adjust if needed).
Install gatepost caps. Slowly pour 1 gallon of water in both postholes.
Allow cement to setup for 24 hours. Fence and cable may now be run off of both posts.