A new farm gate that opens itself without any electronics or hydraulics drew a lot of attention at the recent 4-State Farm Show near Pittsburg, Kan.

The gate is equipped with a system of weight transfer tanks that mount on a triangular steel base which serves as a pivot point. A system of enclosed rotating shafts extend out to either side of the gate to steel "lift pads". Once you drive a vehicle onto a lift pad, it takes about 5 seconds for the gate to lift up. Fluid flows from a storage tank to a holding tank that holds the gate in the open position. Once you pass through, fluid flows to an auxiliary tank which allows the gate to slowly drop back down. Fluid from the auxiliary tank then flows back into the storage tank, the weight of which drops the gate back into a catch bracket.

"It costs less than more complicated powered gates and works fast," says Dave Renner. "From the time you drive onto the lift pad it takes only about 15 seconds for the gate to open and about 25 to 30 seconds for it to close. However, you can adjust a flow control valve to keep the gate open longer to accommodate semi trucks, tractors and wagons, vehicles pulling trailers, etc. And you can lock the gate in the open position when you need to. The lift pads can be set far enough back that you can haul round bales on a front-end loader without having to get off the tractor. It mounts on a poured concrete base for permanent installations, or you can set it up temporarily on treated lumber boards that keep the driveline joints out of the dirt.

"The gate comes down so lightly you can hold it up with your little finger, so if your vehicle stalls and the gate comes down on it, it won't cause damage. The tanks are filled with a water and anti-freeze solution.

"You can ride horseback through the gate in only about 4 seconds without using the lift pad. Simply grab the gate with one hand and pull it up into the air so you can ride under it, then grab the gate again and bring it back down."

Available to fit 12 or 14-ft. openings.