Gate wheels and latches

[julesp313]

Looking for recommendations for specific brands or types of gate wheels and latches. We have vinyl board fencing with tubular steel gates, and approximately 5% of the gates open easily. Adding a wheel to the gate would make life so much better! One gate had one but it had rusted through and broke off the first time I opened it. For latches, all the gates have the chain type where you hook it through to secure - not awful but I feel like there’s a better choice.

Appreciate any and all suggestions!

[Bluey]

Latches, you are on your own, there are millions of those of all kinds and I think we have some of all of those.
We just make whatever is there work.

On the gate wheels, we have two kinds, one is a smaller wheel, for smaller gates and works well, the other is for the really heavy gates and works great for any, is just more expensive.
We have two of these big ones for some very heavy gates and they work very well:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too…FYS3wAodaSYPRw

We also have two of those, but they are not as good as the bigger ones, tend to get stuck in ice and ruts more:

https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail…FUe2wAodrtcI9w

There are others there, but they tend to be more flimsy, not sure they would hold to heavy use.

[Scarlet_Gilia]

I have used and like the Co-Line wheels and latches .

Just be aware that the latch requires a gap between the gate and post; the wheel works better with a gap also.

[HungarianHippo]

I have these latches and love them:
https://www.qcsupply.com/surelatch-twoway-latch-only.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=productfeeds&gclid=CjwKEAjw4vzKBRCt9Zmg8f2blgESJADN5fDgWxSDM8nKnu7ICTdvhonPy-gY8OUgfONFOYLiUnjCvhoClE3w_wcB

you can unlatch, open, and re-latch even a 16-footer with half a bale of hay in your arms.

[Garythesquirrel]

@HungarianHippo

I have these latches and love them:
https://www.qcsupply.com/surelatch-twoway-latch-only.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=productfeeds&gclid=CjwKEAjw4vzKBRCt9Zmg8f2blgESJADN5fDgWxSDM8nKnu7ICTdvhonPy-gY8OUgfONFOYLiUnjCvhoClE3w_wcB

you can unlatch, open, and re-latch even a 16-footer with half a bale of hay in your arms.

I have the same latches on my gates and love them!

[TheJenners]

@HungarianHippo

I have these latches and love them:
https://www.qcsupply.com/surelatch-twoway-latch-only.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=productfeeds&gclid=CjwKEAjw4vzKBRCt9Zmg8f2blgESJADN5fDgWxSDM8nKnu7ICTdvhonPy-gY8OUgfONFOYLiUnjCvhoClE3w_wcB

you can unlatch, open, and re-latch even a 16-footer with half a bale of hay in your arms.

Do you WD40 them from time to time? There is one on the gate between my place and the neighbor’s, and it seems frozen… But I also have no idea how often it was used before I moved in, and I’ve only opened it twice in a year.

[julesp313]

Thanks for the inputs! I do have that type of latch on one small vinyl gate, but I can see how it is way easier than the chain option. I need to check all the gates for clearance between gate and post - I know some have sort of sagged to the point where there is no clearance so until we reset the posts, I’m likely stuck with the chains.

i definitely need the beefier wheels! At least two of the gates open onto areas so rutted with old hoof holes, I’ve turned my ankle a bunch of times. Those ruts are a whole other issue I have to figure out as I can’t even mow over them!

[clanter]

@julesp313

.

i definitely need the beefier wheels!

actually you need a beefier gate post … do you have vinyl board fencing that is vinyl clad lumber or pure vinyl that is hollow tubing?

[HungarianHippo]

Rather than wd40, which isn’t very durable when fully exposed to the weather, I put a dab of white lithium grease in the slots where the latch thingamajigs travel up/down, and I also put a dab on the underside of gate knob thingy – the part the protrudes out from the gate and rests inside the latch. This really helps it open smoothly, especially for the big heavy gates-- you dont’ get that metal-on-metal scraping sound, they just glide open.

[mestle]

Hi, I just got this gate wheel for a heavy gate that is low to the ground and I am pleased with it. I put it more toward the center to keep it level and it works very well.

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Helper-Wheel-Chain-Fence/dp/B009W2Z9VW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1499528312&sr=8-8&keywords=gate+wheel

I also like this type of latch: They were originally called “kiwi latches”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007OUGERC/ref=asc_df_B007OUGERC5065984/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395009&creativeASIN=B007OUGERC&linkCode=df0&hvadid=194861420852&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3734456773393948048&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018506&hvtargid=pla-314066276082

The cheaper ones are straight from the curve to the end of the hook, they are okay but I like the ones that curve inward slightly better. Horses can’t open them, they don’t freeze shut and can be operated easily with one hand. I do use a big eye screw instead of the large staple to deposit the hook into.

Mary

[julesp313]

Mestle - I do like those latches but I’m not sure if they’ll work with the vinyl posts and steel gates. I’ll have the husband do some thinking!

Clanter - the posts are lumber filled, the boards are hollow vinyl.

[Bluey]

We use mostly chain latches, works best for us.
If a gate is hit or sags, you still can open them.
Had cattle rub or hit gates with sliding latches and bend them where you could not slide them.
Chain latches can be opened from horseback also and not much for something to get hung on.
The snaps do freeze in the winter.

[fjordmom]

Love the kiwi latches mentioned above. Have them on all our gates. So easy to open and close with one hand, even in the winter with thick mitten on.

I boarded at a place that used those double latches. Saw more than one horse get snagged on the part that sticks out if someone was sloppy bringing them through the opening. I am not a fan at all.

To keep our gates from sagging we have a short 4x4 block right next to the gate post (on the open side). It’s dug into the ground and attached to the gate post. It supports the closed gate on the bottom, so it doesn’t sag or get weighted down by deep snow or someone climbing on it. (They will get an earful if they climb on it though.) Good sturdy posts supporting the hinge side are important. Most of our gates are 10 footers, the heavy duty metal the you get at TSC. None have wheels on them. In 10 years they’ve never had a sagging problem.

We do use the wheels on the few 16 foot gates we have. Got the wheels at TSC too.

[julesp313]

I bought the Co-line wheels to try and we shall see how that goes - I may need to size up for the larger gates. We just bought this place and I counted 14 gates (plus one vinyl board gate) so we are dealing with a lot of hard to open issues! Down the road we will redo many of the posts (lots of frost heave issues) but for now, the wheel seems like a good interim assist. None of the gates are set up with enough clearance for those latches that I would like so we are stuck with the chain type for now. Small steps towards progress!

[HungarianHippo]

@julesp313 good plan. And trust me, when you fix each gate /gate post, you will revel in their free, level swing and easy latching. Fixing up a farm is definitely a “one step at a time” kind of deal, but you’ll own the improvements and take pride in them Been there, enjoyed that.