Anyone have any experience with one? It's reached a point where I feel like I need a gate for liability reasons. I just know one day I'm going to come home to a delivery truck at the bottom of the hill in my lake. I don't feel safe trying to turn a normal size car around in my drive, but some how they manage a delivery truck.

I don't need something to stop a tank. Just something economical that I can install myself. Are the ones at home depot and lowes any good?

Yes…but not the best available.
I have installed 4 for clients oldest one was 1999.
Like any automation, they will require maintenance.

Just a guess but I bet they'll work good until its pouring down rain. lol Then you'll have to get out and work on it. Least ways, that would be my luck.

How about starting out with an obvious sign warning of the perils to proceed? Put a small weather-proof enclosure at the end of the drive for packages.

I dream of putting them at 4 or 5 of my most used gates. My wife and kids (the designated openers when in the truck) really dream of it. Someday.

I'd like one too...

I've had to "break in" to a couple clients yards when they forgot to leave the gate open. You can usually pull the cotter pins and disconnect from the hydraulic cylinder and open them like a regular gate, takes about 60 seconds. Just a FYI incase anyone is worried about being locked out due to malfunction

We had them at the marina where we work out of, when they work it's great, no climbing in and out of the truck to open and close the gate, but they would breakdown, and they do often., then it's a PITA.
These weren't cheap ones either, The owner finally replaced our side with a manual gate, I guess we didn't rate enough, lol. His side still has one, but that one needs constant adjustment.

i have had 5 gate openers in my life time the last one was installed 19 years ago and doesnt always work specially if the weather is bad and usually wants to drive while i get out and open the gate

I've had a GTO mighty mule opener for 13 years. it swings a heavy 16 ft. galvanized gate multiple time a day.

A new battery. limit switch and a motor is all the repairs I've done to it.

Automatic as in it has an eye and opens when you pull up to it.............or electric as in you pull up to it, and hit a remote like a garage door opener?

Security to keep people out or keep something like livestock in?

If just an unsecure gate you want left closed, but need to drive thru without getting out, what about a bump gate?