Depending on electricity for automating farm gates is not always a wise decision. It is due to the high cost and the uncertainty of operations in case of a power outage. Moreover, since farms and ranches are often located in remote places, the availability of electricity may also be a problem. For all practical purposes and considering the lower cost, installing a non electric gate opener like a bump gate is always a better choice. Once installed, the system will never let you down. It might appear a very simple system which it is, but there should not be any question about its effectiveness. Bump gates stay operational by withstanding the weather conditions and is a big reason for its growing popularity. No matter how remotely located any farm or ranch might be, installing bump gates will never be an issue.
Bump gates score high on all functional parameters like efficiency, convenience, safety, and reliability. Even if you do not have a bump gate, you can get one with minimal investment by installing a mechanical kit to your existing gate. That is something you cannot expect from electrical gates that you must always installnew. It means that installing bump gates comes with the dual benefits of affordability and assured convenience.
The gate openers are mechanical devices fitted to a farm gate that generally keep the gate closed with the help of a latch or lock. When any vehicle comes to the gate, it must slow down and gently touch the gate. The mechanical system activates immediately to release the latch that initiates a backward movement of the gate to allow the vehicle to pass through. Since the opening is gradual, the vehicle speed must match the speed of the gate opening to avoid any accident or damage to the gate. The gate remains open until the vehicle passes completely, and then after a brief pause starts coming back to its closing position.
Highly user-friendly gates
The lack of manual intervention in operating mechanically driven automatic bump gates highlights the user-friendliness of the device. To operate the gate, you remain seated in the vehicle that slowly approaches the gate and touches the padded arm to start the operation. It begins by unlocking the latch that holds the gate in a closed position, and then the gate gradually swings away as the vehicle keeps advancing at slow speed. The operations are so smooth that you will be curious to know how it could happen without any human support. Bump gates are wonderful examples of engineering excellence, which, despite being very simple, is highly effective.
Pocket-friendly and time-saving device
Mechanically operated bump gates are growing in popularity because it is very pocket-friendly and rugged enough to overcome the vagaries of weather to stay operational in all conditions. The construction of the mechanical system ensures that there is no need to maintain the system, which keeps working without any glitches, which also saves money. There is another cost-saving aspect that normally escapes attention. When the vehicle approaches the gate, it slows down considerably by maintaining speed as low as 2 km/ hour as it must gently roll over the gate, and at this time, the fuel consumption is at its lowest, which adds to some cost-saving. Since the gate operates on its own, it allows people to remain seated in the vehicle to ensure uninterrupted entry into the farm that provides a lot of conveniences and, most importantly, saves time.
A gate for any farm size
Bump gates are available in customized sizes, and there is always a gate that you will find suitable for your purpose. The gates are so flexible and versatile that you can install them in any property to match the size. The gates derive its flexibility from the design of the mechanical kit which, though meant for permanent installation, is also movable across locations by mounting it on portable posts. If you change the entry or exit gate of your farm, it should not be a problem to install the bump gate device on some other gate that you intend to use for entry or exit. The only thing to ensure for the smooth operation of bump gates is that it must have enough space for the gate to open and close because unlike electrical gates, bump gates cannot be of sliding type.
Suitable for all types of gates
The mechanical kit design is so much flexible that you can fit it in any farm gate to convert it into a bump gate even though pipe rail gates are most suited. Luckily, most ranch and farm gates are pipe rail gates. The location of the gate is never a problem because if you can fit the kit on the gate, it will work because it does not require electricity for its functioning. Bump gates are the most appropriate choice for farm gates because most farmlands are in remote locations that do not have electricity.
Buy the kit only
The cost of installing bump gates goes down considerably if you convert your existing farm gate into an automated bump gate. All that you must do is to buy the mechanical kit only and fit it to the gate. The gate receives the mechanical power necessary to activate the kit from the motion of the vehicle that touches the gate and transfers the power to the kit that starts working immediately. Since mechanical systems are less costly and less complicated, bump gates cost you much less than electrical gates but ensure reliable operations round the year.
The installation of the mechanical kit is not difficult. If interested, you can do it by yourself by following the instructions of the manufacturer, provided you have the basic engineering skills of using some elementary tools like screwdrivers, spanners, drills, and pliers.
By installing bump gates, you are doing a good service to the environment by reducing pollution load as the gates are completely non-polluting. This is a great benefit in the current scenario when the world is experiencing severe environmental issues.
About rj frometa
Head Honcho, Editor in Chief and writer here on VENTS. I don't like walking on the beach, but I love playing the guitar and geeking out about music. I am also a movie maniac and 6 hours sleeper.