Well, it's looking like I've got to put up pens around my feeders and I'd like to be able to back my truck up to the feeders for filling. What's the best reasonably priced gate design? Feeder pens are new for me, so some good advice is welcome here.

Hog panel or wire?

Use hog panels for your pens, overlap them by 3 squares, put a tpost at the overlaps and one in the middle of each panel. Leave the middle post out or move it closer to one side on the panel that will be your gate.

Cut one of the panels at 8' or 10' and bend several of the rods/wire around a steel post to form a hinge.

I don't have them but I saw where they have a spiral that screws in like a stay but much better to connect the panels. I'll look for them when I get time....looks like the cats meow. It can connect panels and act as a hinge. You don't have to overlap panels with this device.

^^^^^This is what I have done and it works very well. First picture is the first post to build the pen and it ends up being the hinge post for the gate panel

This photo shows how I tie the panels together for a fast install and I overlap every panel one square. I tie the first to the t-post then keep adding panels in a round pattern. I come back later after driving in all the T-post at each overlap and tie the over-lapping panels to each T-post in 3 places with 12 or 14 gauge galvanized tie wire.

This what each panel overlap looks like as I build a round pen.

This is the last T-post with the gate panel attached. You can hinge on the T-post or on a panel stay wire like I did on this one. Overlapping at least 2 or 3 spaces makes a more secure gate section.

Once you have all the panels tied together and have a round pen, you can adjust it to make fit the opening or as round as you like. Then drive in at least one T-post at each overlap. Then if needed one more in-between each T-post. If you use 10 panels then you will need 10 or 20 T-post.

They are called hog panes hinges ...cost $4.00 ea.. You can put together panels without wire or over lapping. I think they would be fast also for putting a pen together or taking them apart.

Hog panel hinges.

Don't put the gate between the pen and the blind.

Curious to know you thoughts on why not to?

That’s my best option as far as accessibility with mesquites and mud. I only need the gate shut until the cows are moved out of my pasture

built tons of pens - what he says above - don't overthink it - just overlap a panel and wire it off - simple

The gate typically has the most mass of the materials you use for your pen. Putting that between the pen and the blind takes away from "sight" lines. In the photo below, the solar panel points to the blind placement.

when I have the need to build pens, I merely use hog panels, 6-10 to make a circle, T-posts at each end and one in the middle of each panel. As for a gate, I just loosely wire one of the panels where it can swing open, I also offset the center T-post slightly off center to allow more room on one side for backing a truck in. When done, swing panel back in place and wire closed 2-3 places. pretty simple.

using this method, it doesn't really matter which direction the gate faces as all sides are the same. We actually usually put the gate opening towards the stand, so when we leave the gate open to allow hogs to come in and clean up the weeds, gives a clear shot into the pen.

This is exactly how I make my gates.....easy and effective. I wrap the tag ends from cutting the panel around a t-post for a hinge and use a carabiner or some type of chain clasp to latch the gate closed

Pro tip — these will fit two of the grate wires from a hog panel in its mouth. That way you don’t have to rewire every time. Hang a piece of wire from the swivel and tie it on the fence. Two of them do the trick

We just replace one of the panels wires with
Carabiners so that it acts like a swing gate. Easy enough