We are considering a sliding gate with cedar pickets for privacy. The contractor suggests a V track and wheel system. About half the track is fastened to drive and tail end supported by a ground level welded post system. I have concerns ground shifting out of alignment, but not my questions.

We have several pecan mature trees. We have a lot of tree debris, leaves and prcans in fall, pecan tassels in spring and limb shed year round. This was main reason we abandoned pool.

Two questions for anyone with experience with a track gate.
How well does wheel navigate tree debris?
How well does gate handle wind?l

Thanks

The only one I have experience with used an extremely heavy gate which made wind and small debris a non-issue. This gate has been up 30+ years I believe. It's got some battle scars from being hit with vehicles - and it still rolls perfectly fine. A light gate might have some issues in that set-up. Just my

We build a lot of fence and gates and if we do a sliding gate it is a heavy one with a high end gear or chain drive opener. The heavy weight alleviates many of the problems you have questioned. More support posts and deeply set negate most shifting.

Almost every apartment complex in Dallas uses this type of gate system, with hundreds of opens/closes per day. I’d imagine if the floating side if properly installed with deep enough piers, it won’t be a problem.

At our facilities I always use Cantilever gates, and there is no wheel on the ground. I have both Liftmaster and DKS brands, both have been good. That may or may not be something you want to look into.

I have a 25ft long by 10ft tall cedar planked one and it’s pretty robust.

Bottom track could be angle iron ^ with v-shaped wheel to match, debris would slide off rather than lay in track.. saw this setup at a secure USAF facility once upon a time. Wheel looked like a big V-belt pulley.

Ours is 28' long and 8' tall. Only problems with debris have been the occasional rock that gets excavated by the dog or erosion. Smaller pieces get crushed.
Only difficulty over 14 years is the v-rail is rusting out at the junction between the concrete drive and the yard where the water is channelized. Other than that, nothing but replacing batteries over the years. Ours is solar.

Sounds like my concerns may grounded. I used many automatic gates. I am familiar with installations.

The area drains slowly. In fact the whole area drains slowly. Most of drainage behind me is still served by bar ditches.

The gate including the tail will be 19 feet. So not a lot of mass. I could add weight to tail if needed. Green pecans will not disintegrate when crushed. I am thinking they will stick between frame and wheel.

We have a cantilever system now. Installed by previous owner. Pipe frame was sturdy, but not somthing attractive. Frame was damaged by wind couple Sundays ago. Functioning now, but I want to replace it before a catastrophic failure.

Almost everyone is using track system, thought maybe that would be an upgrade. I need something that will work when Mrs LJ punches go button.

Thanks

I will be changing to battery powered operator. Nothing like coming home to no power and looking for front door keys because you never use them.

I’ve dealt with 100’s of the angle iron and wheel set ups. The ONLY failure I’ve ever seen is the wheel bearing going bad, so replaced the wheel. I’ve never seen or had anything smaller than a tree falling in the way or a car that knocked them off, which in apartments-happens all the time. 100% of these were metal construction though. The cedar pickets may be the limiting factor here. Maybe a different privacy option would be better. Even so, the only time that’s a real concern is while operating. All the way open or closed, it’s at its strongest. While moving, there’s way less support if you stick with a solid, yet light material that will catch wind like that

Bullfrog.
If go to track system, I plan to stagger pickets on each side to allow wind to penetrate gate. If I keep cantalever system and build a new frame, I wiil probably have cover one side like it now. I gonna need to psych myself into the build. LOL.

Hadnt found anyone intrested in remodel work. Cant blame em.