Gate Operator Buying Guide for Homeowners and Business Owners

If you’ve settled on an automatic gate, you’ll need a reliable and high-quality gate operator. These machines seem simple: they open your gate when you’re passing through and close it afterward. However, this straightforward task requires precision engineering and high-quality electronics. A malfunctioning gate opener can injure or even kill you. It’s not something to cheap out on.

If you want a gate opener that’s safe to operate and lasts long, there are a variety of factors you should consider before buying.

Your Gate Dimensions & Weight

Gates are large pieces of metal, wood, or composite that need a considerable amount of force to move. Some gate openers are made for lightweight gates, while some can open and close heavy, wrought iron or steel ones. Make sure that your gate operator’s capacity is the same or exceeds the weight of your gate.

The Way Your Gate Opens

The usefulness of your gate operator depends a lot on how your gate opens. If it’s a single or double swing gate, you may need top or bottom mount or ram-type openers. If you have a sliding door, you’ll need a gate opener that has a chain mechanism.

The Type of Gate Operator

There is a wide range of gate operator types to choose from, depending on your preferences and your electric gate repair technicians’ capabilities.

Remote-Controlled Gates

This is the most popular and basic type of gate operator. It lets you control your gate using an electronic device. It should, at least, have a close or open switch.

Bluetooth Remote-Controlled Gates

This type of gate allows you to use a Bluetooth remote to close or open your gate. You could even use your smartphone to operate it. 

Radiofrequency Gates

This is similar to a remote-controlled gate. It uses a slow and unreliable radio frequency to send a signal, so it’s not as popular.

The Best Electric Gate Opener Brands

Armed with the above information, find an automatic gate opener from trusted and reputable companies. Here are leading brands you’ll never regret choosing.

Ghost Controls:

Ghost Controls provides easy-to-install automatic gate openers, making it a favorite among professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. You can get a single heavy-duty kit for just $469. If you want solar power, you’ll need to add $100.

Mighty Mule:

This company also offers DIY swing gate openers. What’s good about it is that their products have smart capabilities, so you can use your smartphone to control them.

ALEKO:

ALEKO provides a wide variety of gate opener parts for sale. Its items are suited more for contractors who want to customize a gate operator for their clients.

U.S. Automatic:

This company provides a range of gate opener kits. Its Patriot model can operate swing gates up to 800 pounds and 16 feet. Each item is Underwriter Laboratories (UL)-certified, so the safety of their gate operators is guaranteed.

 Check for Quality and Ease of Use

Your gate opener, like your gate, is going to spend years outdoors. They’re always exposed to the elements. You want to make sure that your gate operator is of high quality to survive everyday use. Here are a few reminders before you finalize your purchase. 

  • Check every part of the gate operator, from the mount to the internal hardware, to ensure that it’s not flimsy or break easily. 
  • Read the specifications sheet to ensure that it can withstand extreme heat and cold.
  • The spec sheet should also tell you how much pulling force the gate operator has. Never settle for anything below 500 Newtons. A gate opener with a low operating force may end up being sluggish.
  • Make sure your gate operator has an emergency release, too. This way, you can use it even during an outage.

Having an automatic gate offers convenience and security for your home. The flawless operation of your gate depends highly on the quality of your gate operator and its installation. 

Get Your Gate and Opener Professionally Installed

Now that you have the ideal gate and gate operator, it’s time to have them installed. While some gate openers are branded as “DIY,” you don’t want to take any chances. Get it installed by a professional gate contractor like 4 Sure Gates.

We provide gate installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement services in Dallas and Fort Worth. Our team has over 15 years of experience, so you can trust us to get the job done in no time.

Call us today to get an estimate or arrange for an installation or repair.

When Is a Manual Gate Better than an Automatic Gate Opener?

Gate Operators

When you have the option to choose between a manual gate or an automatic gate, automatic gates always seem like the smarter option. Automatic gates, after all, have a lot to offer. Automatic gates are convenient, modern, can increase your property’s value, and make your home more appealing to buyers when you decide to sell it. In fact, automatic gates make life a little bit easier, like when you have your hands full and can’t open the gate manually. Or, when you drive home in the pouring rain and don’t have an umbrella or raincoat with you. 

Electric or automatic gates, in a lot of ways, make perfect sense. However, there may be times when a manual gate does the job or maybe even does it better than its automatic counterpart. 

Here are examples of scenarios wherein installing a manual gate is the most sensible option:

1. You Have a Low Fence & Gate

Low fences and gates are more of an aesthetic touch than an actual barrier between your home and the outside world. Their purpose is to improve your home’s curb appeal, not its security. If the gate is lower than your shoulder, it’s not much of an impediment either. You can easily reach over the other side and unlatch the gate if ever you’re locked out.

If this is your gate’s design, two of the most important qualities of automatic gates would be moot. The perceived improvements from installing automatic gate openers won’t be that significant, so you can do without them.

2. You Don’t Have a Garage or a Mile-Long Driveway

Automatic gates are impractical not only when their promised benefits are negligible, but also when they go overboard. It might be excessive, for example, to install an automatic sliding gate if you don’t have a car; your house is only a very short distance away from your gate, and no one in your household uses a wheelchair or crutches.

3. There’s Not Enough Space Between Your Swinging Gate & the Adjacent Wall

The U.S. Health and Safety Authority’s guidelines for powered gates state that there should be at least 500mm or about 20 inches of space between the swinging gate and the fixed object on its path (e.g., a perpendicular wall, the adjoining fence, the gate pillars). Swinging gates are crush hazards, so they must stop at the specific point that leaves 20+ inches of space between the gate and the nearest fixed object. 

If the gap between the hinges and adjoining wall or fence is less than the required distance, a manual swinging gate would be safer than an automatic one.

Other Benefits of Manual Gates:

Here are a few more reasons to consider keeping a manual gate instead of switching to an automatic gate system:

  • You spend less on electricity.
  • You spend less on materials, installation, and maintenance.
  • You have more control over the speed and angle when you open and close your gate.
  • You’re not inconvenienced when there’s a power outage.
  • Your gate will always be functional and independent of key cards, number codes, or fingerprint scans.

These are all excellent reasons for sticking with good old manual gates. If your residence is near or within Dallas-Fort Worth, we can install customized, manual gates at your convenience!

Take a look at our gate designs and tell us your needs and preferences. Contact 4 Sure Gates at (817) 965-7873 or fill out our contact form today.

A Buying Guide to the Best Automatic Gate Openers

An automatic gate opener is a good investment in improving your property’s safety and security. It gives you the convenience of opening and closing your gate without needing to go to it. Avoid stepping out in harsh weather or worrying about leaving your gate open when you have this innovative device installed.

Here is a simple guide to the most popular gate opener brands. Learn more about their differences and benefits so you can choose the best one for you.

Liftmaster

The Liftmaster LA400PKGU is known as the most durable gate opener in the market, delivering exceptional performance.

  • It is accessible through MyQ Technology, allowing you to use your smartphone, tablet, and desktop computer to operate your gate.
  • Its battery backup system lets you get up to 400 cycles (or 97 days) of standby power.
  • It is made for heavy-duty gates, supporting up to 800 lbs. without slowing down or breaking.

Mighty Mule

The Mighty Mule MM560 is considered one of the most cost-effective automatic gate openers in the market, typically used in farms and ranches.

  • Its auto-close feature lets you program the device to close after two minutes of idleness.
  • Designed for functionality, the operating device has two power sources: an AC transformer and solar panels. It comes with an AC transformer for charging.
  • It can support an average weight of 850 lbs without affecting its performance.

Ghost Controls

The Ghost Controls TSS1XP is an affordable, heavy-duty device ideal for residential applications.

  • This opener is equipped with SafeForce Technology, programmed to exert a force that is compatible with the gate’s length and weight.
  • Its long-range remote control gives you access to the device for as far as 1,000ft. (or 100 yards) away.
  • Powered by a low-voltage DC system, it’s ideal for areas without AC power.

USAutomatic

The USAutomatic Sentry 300 Dual Gate Opener is one of the most reliable in the market.

  • The device’s Sentry Plug N Go feature makes this gate opener easy and quick to install.
  • Its actuator has a thrust of 400lbs and compression ratings of 1,000lbs.
  • It’s highly customizable, and you can easily install special features to enhance its performance.

ALEKO

The ALEKO AC1400 is the most popular electric gate opener in residential properties throughout the country.

  • It has an aluminum alloy chassis, making it corrosion-resistant and weather-proof.
  • Equipped with a high-performing motor, this operating device can lift and move gates that weigh up to 1,400lbs.
  • Its motion sensors enable the gate opener to stop instantly when an external object is in the way.

Automating your gate’s operating system is a good way to improve your property’s security. If you’re unsure what opener to choose, 4 Sure Gates will help you. With our knowledge and familiarity of popular brands, we can select and install the right automatic gate opener for your home.

Get in touch with us by calling (817) 965-7873

Our Automatic Gate Brands – Apollo, LiftMaster, Viking, Elite, & Eagle

4 Sure Gates only works with top of the line, trusted brands for our gate services, such as Apollo, LiftMaster, Vikings, Elite, and Eagle. We choose to work with quality brands because we want to bring you quality automatic gate services.

Learn more about each of the brands we specialize in working with below, or reach out to us to schedule your automatic gate repair, gate installation, or gate service today!

Viking Access Gates

Automatic Gate Brands, Viking Access Systems

Viking Access is always striving to distinguish their products and cater to the needs of their customers, and that is why 4 Sure Gates loves working with their quality products. From gate repair to full new installation, Viking Access is a solid name in the automatic gating industry and we recommend them highly for many of our clients.

Their products often include full UL325 and UL991 compliance, soft-start and soft-stop, intelligent obstruction sensors, continuous operation (100% duty cycling), and extreme power efficiency. Their gate operators also offer creative highlights, like versatile and self-learning calculations, repetition plans in equipment and programming to guarantee operational usefulness, short out and control floods, and restrictive helical adapting offering one of the highest proficiency ratings in the industry!

4 Sure Gates main Viking Access products:

  • Swing gate operators
  • Slide gate operators
  • Underground operators
  • Solar gate operators
  • Discontinued operators

Nice Apollo Gate Openers

Nice Apollo Gate Openers logo

Nice Apollo Gate Openers has been providing quality gate openers since 1984. Apollo Gate Operators have earned trust with their high security and dependability, as well as for working with top of the line professionals that proceed to advance and grow new propelled product offerings while continuing to enhance their builds and new products.

4 Sure Gates is a proud repair and installation company for Nice Apollo Gate Openers and will happily work with you and Apollo to create, install, or maintain your security automatic gate system.

4 Sure Gates main Apollo Gate products:

  • Swing gate operators
  • Slide gate operators
  • Barrier arm operators

LiftMaster

LiftMaster Professional Gates logo

LiftMaster and its associated groups, Chamberlain, Merlin, and Grifco, are known names for garage door openers, commercial door operators, and gate entry systems. They are associated with quality, trust, and security, which is why 4 Sure Gates trusts them and their extensive experience to deliver great products that we install, repair, and maintain for our clients.

4 Sure Gates main LiftMaster products:

  • Garage door openers
  • Gate Openers
  • Access control systems
  • Shop accessories
  • Commercial door operators

Elite

Elite Gates Gate openers logo

Elite Gates is the main supplier of slide gate operators, swing gate operators, telephone entry systems, remote controls, gate accessories, and parts for high-end customers and businesses. 4 Sure Gates therefore often recommends this trusted automatic gate brand to our customers.

4 Sure Gates main Elite Gates products:

  • Slide gate operators
  • Swing gate operators
  • Telephone entry systems
  • Remote controls
  • Gate accessories and parts

Eagle

Eagle Access Control Systems logo

Eagle Access Control Systems is yet another trusted and innovative source for gate operators. Eagle started as a small company but quickly became one of the main established businesses of gate operators and access control products and extras.

Eagle Gate Operators are located fully in the US in Southern California, and their items are accessible through an across-the-country system of wholesalers, merchants, and expert installers and repairers – such as 4 Sure Gates. They guarantee quality and work with quality contractors for installation, repairs, and maintenance.

4 Sure Gates is Here for Your Automatic Gate Needs & Works with Top, Trusted Gate Brands

If you need automatic gate repair on any of the above brands, then let 4 Sure Gates help. Just call and share what type of gate repair services you need, and our expert team will reach your door to repair, maintain, or even install any of the above, quality brands.

 

Contact us today at (817) 965-7873!