Installation of Single Drive Gates

​

View Vinyl Horse gate line drawing picture

​​​

The first thing you need to do is attach your hardware to the posts; “J” Bolts for the hinge post and the Sure-Latch for the latch post. To mount the “J” Bolts measure down from the top of the post and drill a 3/4" hole exactly in the center of the post. (Do not try to drill the holes straight through)

 

1. For 2-rail fence with 11 " spacing mark down exactly 9" and 29"

2. For 3-rail fence with 11 " spacing mark down exactly 10" and 30"

3. For 4-rail fence with 9" spacing mark down 12" and 41"

4. For 4-rail fence with 6" spacing mark down exactly 11" and 35"

 

After you have drilled your 3/4" holes you need to install the “J” bolts sleeves on the inside of the post. To get the lower sleeve in place you will need to use a pliers or vise-grip, clamp the pliers on the sleeve and slide it down the inside of the post and start the “J” Bolts through. Leave the front face of the “J” Bolts about 3" from the post. Do the same on the top. Snug the nuts.

 

On the latch post, mark down 9" from the top of the post, place the latch on the post with the top of the latch on your 9" mark, center it and mark your 4 holes on the post. Drill the holes you just marked using a 3/8" bit. Hold your latch in place run the bolt thru, place that flat washer on, then the lock washer, then the nut, follow the same procedure for the other 3 bolts. Tighten bolts. To install the hook mark down 9" from top of the post center it and drill 3/8" hole. To install hook with 5/16"X1" bolt and flat washer and lock washer and nut and tighten.

 

Now you are ready to set your posts, if you need an opening of 12' you need to set your posts 12'- 7" inside post to inside post. The same applies for 4 ft or 6 ft and etc.  We recommend setting your hinge and latch posts in a minimum 12" diameter x 36" deep concrete footing.

After your gate posts are set in concrete you need to install your rails, cut them to the proper length, notch the rails and plug the ends with newspaper or duct-tape them shut, and snap the rail in place.

 

Now you are ready to fill the posts with concrete. You need two pieces of 1/2" x 5' re-bar for each post. Fill each post about 1/3 of the way with concrete and slide the re-bar down, keeping the re- bar near the center of the post. Bring the concrete to within 5-6" of the top of the post. Allow concrete to cure 3-4 days before hanging gate. Don't forget to clean the posts before the concrete sets up on them. Cement cleans very easily when it is wet.

 

Now you are ready to assemble your gate. Measure inside post to inside post and subtract 7 1/2" and cut your rails. Lay the stiles on a flat, clean surface. 

(Look on the inside of the stiles, there will be a "T" for top) Slide the rails into the hinge stile make sure that the rails are tight against the stile.  Square the rails to the stile and run the 3/4" screws in. Slide the center stiles on and then the end stile, square the end stile and run your screws in.  Now measure and get the middle stiles centered between the end stiles and run your screws in. Flip the gate over and run the screws in on the other side.

 

Now you are ready to hang the gate, simply remove the “J” Bolts and place them in the hinges on the hinge stile (one up and one down). Slide the “J” Bolts back through the post and tighten the nuts. Level the gate by adjusting the “J” Bolts.

 

Place the striker on the latch stile, the pin wants to be set so that when it slides into the latch, it rides up and lifts the gate a little to take the pressure off the hinge post. Mark the holes, drill them and bolt the striker on.

 

To install the safety chain and hook, attach chain to the top striker bolt, and the hook to the far top latch bolt.

 

If you follow all instructions and be accurate, everything will look great.

 

Installation of Double Drive Gates

 

Instead of a hinge post and a latch post, you have 2 Hinge posts, so follow the above directions for the same placement of the 3⁄4” “J” Bolts and filling the posts with concrete.

 

Now you are ready to assemble your gates. Measure inside post to inside post and subtract 12” and divide by 2 because you have 2 gates. Cut your rails. Lay the stiles on a flat, clean surface. (Look on the inside of the stiles, there will be a “T” for Top)  Slide the rail into the hinge stile.  Make sure that the rails are tight against the stile, square the rails to the stile and run the 3⁄4” screws in. Slide the center stiles on and then the end stile, square the end stile and run your screws in.  Now measure and get the middle stiles centered between the end stiles and run your screws in. Flip the gate over and run the screws in on the other side. Duplicate the other gate.

 

Now you are ready to hang the gates.  Simply remove the J-bolts and place them in the hinges on the hinge stile (one up and one down). Slide the J-bolt back through the post and tighten the nuts.   Level the gates by adjusting the J-bolts

 

The Double drive latch comes with 2 pieces: the latch and the receiver. One piece goes on each gate and is placed above the drop pin brackets.  Measure down about 12” from the top of the stile for the placement of the latch.

There are 2 drop pin brackets for each gate. These go on the bottom of the gate to hold the drop pins which go into the ground. You want to allow enough room for the pin to drop into the ground a few inches and also to clear the ground with enough space when opening the gate. 

 

The chain kit includes an 18” piece for chain and a hook. Bolt one on each gate on the same bolts that hold the latch, or the drop pin brackets, whichever you prefer.