Heavy Duty Driveway Gate Hinges
Maintenance-Free, Sealed Bearing Hinges
Hinges are by far the most critical component of a functional driveway gate. Our high-quality hinges are adjustable, maintenance-free and heavy duty.
Three Varieties of Hinges To Meet Different Needs
1. “Weld-On” Hinges
For Installation of Our Custom Gates To Your Existing Metal Posts
Shown above is an example of a weld-on type of driveway gate hinge I make for customers who already have their existing gate posts installed on-site. The rectangular tabs weld to the existing steel posts. The threaded rods go through a 1/2″ thick plate welded to the hinge rail of the gate (see below).
The brackets are degreased and ready to weld, clean up with a wire brush or wire wheel and then paint with primer and the matching Rustoleum paint.
Weld-on hinges can be made to weld to either steel or aluminum posts depending on which metal your existing posts are made from.
2. Prefabricated Driveway Gate Hinge Posts
Our most typical scenario is that the posts are supplied with the gates.
Depending on the situation, the adjustable threaded rod can pass through either the posts (pictured at top of this page) or through brackets welded to the back of the gates (see below).
Everything simply bolts together on site with four supplied 5/8″ bolts Grade 8 bolts and hardware.
Below are 1/2″ thick brackets which receive the threaded rods.
3. Bolt On Hinges
These plates are made to bolt to wood posts or masonry columns.
Gate Hinges: Things to Consider
There are several key questions to think about when selecting heavy duty driveway gate hinges.
- Are the hinges adjustable? If they are adjustable is it a mere half inch of adjustment or several inches of adjustment?
- Do they require regular maintenance such as greasing to keep operable?
- Are they a long term solution? Are they durable enough to last decades without binding up, bending or snapping off?
- Are they affordable?
Adjustability
In my experience of dealing with gate installers from all across the country, most if not all prefer to have several inches of hinge adjustment to work with. Sometimes the gate posts aren’t set 100 percent perfectly and without at least an inch or two of adjustment it can be a nightmare to have gates properly line up.
Many of the very expensive hinges being I’ve bought and used in the past have a mere 1/2″ of adjustment to work with. A gate post can read within the lines on a level and still be a half inch or more off from top to bottom if the post is sticking 5′ out of the ground.
Maintenance
Maintaining the gate hinges on a semi-annual basis is a must for many types of gate hinges.
The most commonly used hinge in the gate industry, is the j-bolt which is a pin and socket style mechanism, often with a grease fitting. These hinges have a great deal of adjustment. They also have a very high amount of internal surface area rubbing together. In order to avoid binding up and breaking the hinge requires constant saturation with grease to reduce friction. If the J bolt hinge is not maintained with grease it will gain resistance until the breaking point is reached…
The J bolt hinges must be lined up very perfectly at the time of installation to avoid uneven wear within the hinge. The uneven wear can be held off for a while if the hinges are greased regularly. Achieving this perfect alignment for long lasting use can be nearly impossible considering that these premade hinges are built using outsourced labor with very sloppy tolerances.
Often times the hinges arrive with the hinge socket being several degrees out of square, thereby guaranteeing a near-term failure straight out of the box. J bolt hinges are also a problem because they bolt part usually protrudes through holes drilled in the hinge rail of the gate. These holes are a place where water gains entry and accumulates inside the gate and causes it to rust from the inside out.
The driveway gate should open and close with just the push of a finger or by the slightest breeze. The first indication of improper installation or neglect will be a screeching sound coming from the hinge or difficulty opening and closing the gate. By this time there is usually already a well-worn groove that will develop further until eventual failure of the hinge. Adding more grease at this point is just delaying the inevitable and creating a safety issue.
The hinges I build do not have to be greased regularly. They utilize a sealed roller bearing that keeps moisture and dirt out while keeping the grease inside.
Cost
Premade driveway gate hinges are not cheap. The cheapest hinges that should be used for a driveway gate are the 3/4″ J-bolt, which run around $50 a pair. The next most affordable type of hinge I’ve found is around $60 a pair for a roller bearing style hinge. Other manufacturers are charging $100 or more for per pair for these same hinges. As far as I know, they are all using outsourced labor to build them.
These costs all add up quickly, especially considering there is probably only a couple of dollars worth of material in each set of hinges and probably a dollar or less in foreign labor.
Conclusion
A quality gate requires a quality hinge.
We Want Your Business!
Dear Customer,
Are you interested in having the best metal driveway gates built for your home, farm, ranch or estate? We’d love to hear about your upcoming driveway gate project! We build custom driveway gates for people just like you from all over the United States. We are able to make any metal driveway gate design that you can imagine! And we have some of the most competitive pricing nationwide! Thank you for considering JDR Metal Art for your customized metal driveway gate needs. We are excited to offer you a unique and personalized metal driveway gate design that will add both aesthetic and functional value to your property.
Our team of experienced expert designers and craftsmen specialize in creating custom metal driveway gates that reflect your unique style and preferences. We use high-quality materials, such as durable metals and powder coat finishes, to ensure that your gate is built to last beautifully for many years to come. We work closely with you to understand your specific needs and preferences, and we will provide you with a comprehensive design proposal that meets your requirements and budget.
We are confident that our custom metal driveway gates will exceed your expectations and provide a lasting value to your property. We look forward to working with you to create a beautiful and functional gate that reflects your unique style and enhances the security and privacy of your property.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation.
Best regards!
The Team At JDR Metal Art.
