Gates
When there's no room to swing, slide it.
Short driveway? Steep pitch off the street? Cars parked bumper to bumper? A slide gate solves what a swing gate can't. We install both V-track roller gates and cantilever gates that hang off the post with no track on the ground to fill up with leaves and grit.
Cantilever is usually the better call in North Texas. No ground track means nothing to clog with mud after a storm and nothing to seize when the clay heaves.
Cantilever needs backrun space beside the opening but stays clean and quiet for years. V-track is cheaper up front and fine on flat concrete you keep swept. We'll walk the site and tell you which one your property actually supports.
On a cantilever gate, the posts carry everything. We set oversized steel posts in deep concrete footings — the single biggest reason slide gates outlive their warranty or don't.
A gate cycling forty times a day needs a different operator, different rollers, and different maintenance than a home gate. We spec for the traffic you actually have.
We run this service in every one of these cities and the towns between them.
Home › Sliding & Cantilever Gates
Sliding gates move sideways along a fence line instead of swinging into a driveway. Rolling gates travel on wheels along a ground track; cantilever gates use support rollers beside the opening, without a track across the driveway. The right choice depends on available side space, driveway conditions, gate weight and how often the entrance is used.
Morrison Gate & Fence serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. When planning a sliding gate, start with the opening and supporting structure—not just the appearance of the gate panel.
Both designs need an unobstructed area beside the entrance where the gate can retract. Their main difference is how they carry the gate’s weight.
| Support method | Wheels carry the gate along a ground track | Rollers or carriage assemblies support the gate beside the opening |Driveway crossing | Track crosses the vehicle opening | No ground track crosses the opening |Side clearance | Needs room for the gate to retract, plus required hardware clearances | Needs room for the opening section and an additional counterbalance section |Dirt, gravel or debris | Track needs attention to keep wheels moving freely | Avoids a driveway track, but rollers and other hardware still need maintenance
A rolling design can suit a stable, reasonably level driveway where a track can remain clear. A cantilever design is worth considering when a driveway track would be impractical. Neither option removes the need for sound foundations, drainage and regular inspection.
Measure both the clear vehicle opening and the usable fence line beside it. These are different measurements: a wide entrance does not guarantee enough room for the gate to slide open.
A cantilever gate includes a counterbalance section beyond the portion that closes the opening. Its required length depends on the selected hardware and gate design; there is no single clearance measurement that fits every system.
Check for:
Measure the full travel path, not just the driveway width. A sidewalk, parked vehicle or landscaping bed can interfere with an otherwise workable layout.
The gate frame, support hardware and foundations work as one system. Strong-looking posts cannot compensate for an undersized footing or hardware that does not match the load.
Steel and aluminum are common gate-frame materials. Infill may include metal pickets, mesh or wood, depending on the design. Solid infill changes wind loading, while wood adds weight that must be included when selecting rollers, wheels and an operator.
For cantilever gates, support-post spacing and foundation design must match the hardware arrangement and gate loads. Rolling gates need a stable track base, properly aligned wheels and guides that keep the panel upright.
Post size, footing dimensions and reinforcement should be determined for the actual installation. Gate weight, opening width, soil conditions and manufacturer requirements all matter; copying dimensions from another entrance is not a reliable design method.
Yes, but the operator must suit the gate’s weight, length and expected traffic. A gate that opens a few times each day has different operating demands from an entrance serving repeated vehicle movements.
Operator duty cycle describes the amount of operation the equipment is designed to handle. Selection should also account for travel speed, power availability and the manufacturer’s operating limits.
An automated layout needs more than a motor:
Vehicle loops detect vehicles; they do not replace pedestrian entrapment protection. Pedestrian access should be planned separately from the moving vehicle gate.
Start by identifying the cause of the failure. Replacing an operator will not correct a binding track, leaning support post or twisted frame.
| Worn wheels or rollers with a sound frame and supports | Component repair or replacement |Debris or localized track damage | Cleaning, alignment or track repair |A sound gate that needs powered operation | Automation assessment, including safety and power requirements |Severe frame corrosion, distortion or repeated structural movement | Gate or support replacement
These are assessment starting points, not remote diagnoses. If a gate is leaning, leaving its track or moving unpredictably, stop operating it and keep people clear until it is inspected.
Opening width, overall gate length, material and support requirements establish much of the scope. Track work, foundations, electrical supply, automation and access controls can add separate work items.
An estimate should make clear whether it covers removal of an existing gate, new posts, concrete work, operator installation and finish work. Any required electrical work or site preparation should also be identified rather than assumed.
For an initial discussion, gather photos of the opening and both sides of the fence line, approximate measurements, the intended infill and expected traffic. If the site may suit a different configuration, compare the options through our gate installation service before committing to a sliding layout.
It can, but the direction and amount of slope matter. A rolling gate needs a properly designed track path, while a cantilever gate needs clearance throughout its travel. The site should be measured before choosing a design; neither system should be assumed to follow an uneven driveway automatically.
Yes. Removing the ground track does not eliminate maintenance. Rollers or carriage assemblies, guide hardware, fasteners, stops and support posts need inspection. Automated systems also need safety-device testing and operator maintenance according to manufacturer instructions. Lubrication requirements vary by component, so follow the hardware maker’s guidance rather than greasing everything.
Often, but the gate must move freely and remain structurally sound before an operator is added. The assessment should cover weight, travel resistance, guides, stops, electrical supply and entrapment hazards. Some existing gates need structural or hardware changes first; an operator should not be used to force a binding gate.
The cost depends on the opening, gate construction, support system and site work, plus any operator and access controls. A rolling gate and a cantilever gate can require different foundations and hardware. Request a site-specific estimate that separates the gate, structural work, automation and any exclusions so you can compare scope.
To discuss a sliding or cantilever gate for your DFW property, call Morrison Gate & Fence at [(469) 654-7729](tel:+14696547729) and request an estimate.
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