A gate latch gave out on a windy job in Kansas City last Tuesday

The wind caught it just right and the whole strike plate ripped out of the post. I had to drill new pilot holes and use 3 inch screws with a washer head to get it to hold. Anyone have a better latch for high wind spots?

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3 Comments

hernandez.brooke7mo ago

We had the same problem on a farm gate in Oklahoma. Ended up using a heavy duty slide bolt latch from Tractor Supply. It's all steel and bolts through the post with a back plate, hasn't budged in two years of crazy wind.

8

lee6276mo ago

Ever think about how the gate itself flexing could mess with the latch? Like, if the whole frame twists in the wind, even a solid bolt might get pulled out of line.

3

the_susan7mo ago

That slide bolt works until the post itself starts to rot. Saw it on my uncle's place in Kansas. The steel held fine but the wood around the bolts got soft and wobbly after a few seasons. You need to treat the post or use a full U-shaped bracket that wraps around it, not just bolt through.

2