Cantilever telescopic gate

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 11:00 am

Hi,

Looking to install a driveway gate and due to layout restrictions it will have to be a telescopic gate. That is fine, but I'm having some problems with the guide track - I don't want a track that will sit proud on the surface. I would prefer the track to be flush/recessed.
So that got me thinking about whether I could get a telescopic cantilever gate made. I've seen them online, but I've no idea about the complexity of making one.
I know the gate will be used very irregularly, hence why I don't want the track sitting above the surface (driveway is also on a slope + turn so greater potential for it be compromised.

Are these gates complex to make? I had thought that they might be prone to wander laterally but I've not seen one in the flesh.

I've only seen one supplier of flush fit guide track in the UK for £161 per 3m.
https://www.rollingcenter.co.uk/product ... gate-track

Bob225 · Post by **Bob225** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 11:23 am

Can you make it self-supporting ? Rails are a pita to keep serviced

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 11:25 am

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 11:25 am

Bob225 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 11:23 am Can you make it self-supporting ? Rails are a pita to keep serviced

What do you mean by self supporting? Is that different to cantilever?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 11:42 am

Gates that "slide" must have a track of some description or they can/will wander off from where they are supposed to be. If the track is at the bottom of a slope it will soon fill with all sorts of crud making the track useless.

Why not have a swing gate with the lower part rising / telescoping as it opens (Supported on a wheel)

: wheel.jpg (14.28 KiB) Viewed 3701 times

You can also get "Uphill gate hinges" Click here

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:13 pm

Swing gate won't work for the site due to the layout of the kerbing and orientation of the pillars. A sliding gate is the best solution as it can be hidden behind the wall. Only question around the design is whether it can be done without a track (cantilever + telescopic) or must have a track (telescopic).
The splay wall is not as wide as the entrance, hence the need for a telescopic gate.

The crud in the track can be resolved easily enough, plus you can get a brush to run ahead of the guide wheels - I'd just rather avoid having a trip hazard and would like to have it flush or not required:

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:26 pm

Don't know about the telescopic bit but there's several videos on youtube of people building their own cantilever gates from scratch. Done right, with the correct rollers, they don't wander.

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:23 pm

arco_iris wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:26 pm Don't know about the telescopic bit but there's several videos on youtube of people building their own cantilever gates from scratch. Done right, with the correct rollers, they don't wander.

I think one or the other is relatively straightforward to implement for an experienced metal worker and installer. It's the combination of both in order to avoid the guide rail is the issue.

I'm seen the kit they use for telescopic gates using wire rope and pulleys to ensure that the leading gate travels at twice speed of following gate and for my case I'd be happy for the lead gate just to pull the following gate by means of a bump stop dragging it out behind it. Similar for closing - just a bump stop pushing the following gate closed ahead of the lead gate.

Not sure how if you combine both methods how you can prevent them wandering as you'd expect the telescopic implementation to have some free play in it - especially as it extends towards the extreme.

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:30 pm

Looked again after posting and there ARE telescopic cantilever gates shown - and kits - pricey though, I should think.

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:42 pm

arco_iris wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:30 pm Looked again after posting and there ARE telescopic cantilever gates shown - and kits - pricey though, I should think.

Do you still have a link for them?

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:50 pm

Just put in the youtube search "telescopic cantilever sliding gate" and a whole load appeared e.g.

How about a rising gate?

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 4:52 pm

Ahh - thanks. I had seen that first video. I thought the mechanism was a lot more convoluted than I required. I see their standard telescopic gate kit is just under £500, but additional bits necessary plus gate on top of that. Barrier Components seem to be the agent.

As the gate will be mostly open (I expect it will only be used (closed) 2 - 3 times per year) so unfortunately a rising gate would be sticking up in the air with nothing to camouflage it. So that option will not suit.

Bob225 · Post by **Bob225** » Tue Mar 01, 2022 6:47 pm

A cantilever does what it says it has its rollers on the cantilever point, making it a trackless floating gate

eg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdZUUKLsG7w

Grumps · Post by **Grumps** » Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:13 pm

A Track we use - although for a similar but different purpose - is from,

https://www.coburn.co.uk/product/66-1-g ... eel-track/

Available in lengths up to 3m.

There is a firm in London, can't remember the name at present, that offers the same - amend that, try SDS London and search for same, but in Stainless Steel.

I actually have, somewhere, the Engineering Drawing of the Track, supplied by SDS.

https://www.sdslondon.co.uk/

TBH, the height of the track is barely perceptible.

The application we use the track for is sliding doors that are hung from the top. The bottom assembly consists of two "roller's" (with roller bearings), approx 15-18" apart, that are on a curved 'spring' that is 'centre mounted'.

However, it would only work on a virtually horizontal surface.