Choosing Sliding Gate Systems – Track or Cantilever?

Sliding gates are available as a track system where the wheels of the sliding gate run on a metal track which is either bolted down to a concrete footing or where the track is actually concreted into a concrete footing

Also available is a cantilever sliding gate system, this is where there is no track and the gate is actually supported by rollers from off the driveway and the gates slides across the driveway, ‘midair’ with no track !

So which is better? Lets look at the advantages of both systems:

Track sliding gates

Advantages

• Generally the gate frames do not have to be as rigid or strong, so the gates work out much cheaper due to the smaller size frame material used.
• The gates will normally roll more easily, due to no cantilever loading effect, so therefore the gate operators driving the gates do not have to be as big.
• Being smaller frames the sliding gates are also easier to install, most cantilever sliding gates need a crane truck for installation.

Cantilever sliding gates

Advantages

• If the driveway has either a hump or dip in the driveway, it does not matter as far as cantilever sliding gates are concerned, whereas this may be a big problem for track sliding gates.
• The installation of cantilever sliding gate footings can be done without disruption to the driveway, whereas this is not the case if concrete footings have to be done for track gates.
• The cantilever gates cannot be lifted, whereas track gates can be subject to being lifted off the track, causing possible security breaches and problems with the gate operator drive system

Conclusion

Track gates are normally always cheaper (half cost) they are therefore normally used, however if the driveway is not flat and level or where security is an important consideration, then cantilever sliding gates would be the better way to go.