How wide should an RV gate be?
Wide enough for the vehicle plus room to turn in from the driveway. Many side-yard gates are 10 to 14 feet across, but the right width comes from measuring your rig and the approach, including mirrors, the turn from the street and any slope. We measure both before we design the gate.
Swing or rolling?
- Double swing gates are simplest and work where the side yard is flat and clear for the leaves to open.
- Single swing gates suit narrower openings but need heavier posts and hinges.
- Rolling (sliding) gates work when there is no room to swing, as long as there is wall space for the gate to slide along.
Openers can be added to any of these. Wiring should be planned before the posts go in.
What keeps a wide gate from sagging?
Post size and footing depth matter most. A wide steel leaf puts a lot of leverage on its hinge post, and monsoon wind adds more. We size the posts for the span, set them in concrete, add a cane bolt or drop rod for the inactive leaf, and use adjustable hinges so the gate can be tuned later.
Pool enclosures, HOAs and screening
If the gate opens into a pool area, Chandler's guidance says gates on openings wider than 4 feet need a locking device and must be kept locked. Many HOAs also have rules on RV parking and on whether a gate must be solid to screen the vehicle from the street. Check your CC&Rs, or send them to us with your request.
Which gate should you choose?
Choose double swing for a flat, clear side yard. Choose rolling if leaves would hit a slope, a tree or the house. Choose solid steel infill if your HOA wants the RV screened; choose picket infill if it does not.