6 Best Double Gate Latches For Wide Farm Entrances That Old Farmers Swear By
Secure your wide farm entrance with a latch that lasts. Discover 6 time-tested double gate latches that seasoned farmers trust for ultimate durability.
There’s a specific kind of dread that hits you when you see your two big pasture gates swinging freely in the wind, a clear path leading straight to the county road. A failed latch isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a liability, a potential vet bill, and a whole afternoon spent rounding up escaped animals. Choosing the right latch for a wide double gate isn’t about looks—it’s about security, function, and pure, simple reliability.
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Why a Solid Double Gate Latch Is Non-Negotiable
A gate is only as good as its latch. You can have the stoutest posts and the heaviest steel gate, but if the latch is a flimsy piece of hardware from a big-box store, you’ve created a critical weak point. Livestock, especially cattle and horses, are experts at testing boundaries. They’ll lean, push, and rattle a gate until something gives.
The challenge with a double gate is that you have two points of failure. You need to secure one gate to the ground and then secure the second gate to the first. This creates a seam right down the middle, a spot that’s inherently weaker than a single gate meeting a solid post. A proper latch system addresses both of these connection points with intention.
Think of your gate latch as a daily tool. You’ll use it in the rain, in the dark, and when your hands are full. It needs to work without a fight, every single time. A latch that constantly needs adjustment or sticks in the cold is more than an annoyance; it’s a weak link in your farm’s security.
SpeeCo Heavy-Duty Cane Bolt for Ultimate Security
The cane bolt is the unsung hero of every double gate system. It’s not the primary latch you use every day, but it’s the anchor that makes everything else possible. Its job is simple: to pin one of your two gates firmly to the ground, turning it into a temporary, immovable post.
This is your first line of defense against brute force. By driving the solid steel rod of the cane bolt into a pipe sunk in the ground, you prevent the gates from being pushed inward. Without this anchor, any pressure on the middle of the gates would cause them to bow and eventually pop open. It creates the solid foundation needed for your active latch to work properly.
There’s no magic here, and that’s the point. A heavy-duty cane bolt is just a thick, L-shaped piece of galvanized steel held by sturdy brackets. There are no springs to wear out or complex mechanisms to fail. Its simplicity is its greatest strength, and it’s the non-negotiable starting point for securing any wide entrance.
The Tarter 2-Way Latch for Easy Livestock Handling
If you’re moving animals or driving equipment, the Tarter 2-Way Latch is a game-changer. Its defining feature is the ability to swing open in either direction and latch automatically when closed. This eliminates the frustrating dance of figuring out which way the gate swings when you’re in a hurry.
Imagine you’re on your tractor with a hay spear. You can nudge the gate open, drive through, and the gate will swing shut and latch behind you. The same goes for herding cattle; you can push them through and the gate secures itself, preventing a clever one from doubling back. This latch is designed for flow and efficiency.
Built for heavy-duty tube gates, this latch is robust and forgiving. It can handle the slam of a heavy gate and the daily abuse of a working farm. While it’s more complex than a simple bolt, its practical benefits in high-traffic areas make it a favorite for anyone who values smooth, efficient movement around their property.
D&D Technologies LokkLatch for One-Handed Use
Sometimes, convenience is just as important as brute strength. The LokkLatch brings modern convenience to the farm gate, designed specifically for easy, one-handed operation. If you’ve ever tried to open a gate while carrying a feed bucket or leading a stubborn horse, you understand the value of this immediately.
The LokkLatch operates with a simple push-button or lever, and many models are lockable with a key, adding an extra layer of security against human intruders, not just animal ones. It’s a self-latching mechanism, so a simple push is all it takes to secure the gate behind you. This is ideal for the main entrance to your property or the gate leading into the barn.
The tradeoff is in the materials. Many LokkLatches are made from high-strength polymers and stainless steel components. While they are incredibly durable and will never rust, they may not withstand the direct, repeated impact of a 1,500-pound bull the way a solid steel slide bolt can. It’s the perfect choice for gates that need to be secure but also frequently and easily accessed by people.
National Hardware Slide Bolt: Simple & Bulletproof
When you need a latch that is simple, strong, and utterly dependable, you reach for a heavy-duty slide bolt. This is the classic solution for connecting the "active" gate to the one anchored by the cane bolt. There are no frills, and that’s exactly why it works so well.
A good slide bolt is just a thick steel bar that slides into a heavy-duty catch. It’s a purely mechanical connection that is incredibly strong and resistant to being jiggled or pushed open. You can see from fifty feet away whether it’s engaged or not, leaving no ambiguity about your gate’s security.
Its best feature is its versatility and brute-force reliability. It can be mounted in various orientations and almost always includes a loop for a padlock. For a back pasture gate that you don’t use daily but needs to remain absolutely secure, a slide bolt combined with a cane bolt is a nearly foolproof system that will likely outlast the gate itself.
Behlen Country Lever Latch for Tube Gate Systems
The Behlen Lever Latch is an integrated system often found on high-quality tube gates, and for good reason. It uses the principle of leverage to create an incredibly tight, secure closure that standard latches can’t match. This latch is designed to pull the gate firmly against the post, eliminating rattling and sag.
Operation is straightforward: you lift a lever, which retracts a pin or bolt, allowing the gate to swing. When you close it, the angled strike plate guides the pin, and pushing the lever down cams the gate into a snug, immovable position. This tight fit is especially valuable for horse enclosures, as it leaves no tempting gaps for an animal to test.
This isn’t a bolt-on solution you can add to any gate; it’s part of a gate system. But if you’re installing new tube gates in a high-pressure area like a corral or holding pen, specifying a lever latch is a smart move. It provides a level of security and rigidity that gives you real peace of mind.
The Co-Line Sure-Latch for a Secure Chain System
For those who prefer the classic chain-and-post method, the Co-Line Sure-Latch is a brilliant upgrade. It takes the simple concept of wrapping a chain around a post and makes it faster, more secure, and operable from horseback or a tractor seat. It’s a simple piece of steel that solves a lot of common gate frustrations.
The mechanism is pure gravity. It’s a plate with a specially shaped slot that you mount to your gate post. You just lift the chain, drop a link into the slot, and it’s locked. To open, you just lift the chain out. No wrapping, no fumbling with snaps, no fighting with a tight chain.
One of its most significant, and often overlooked, benefits is that it automatically compensates for gate sag. As your posts shift and your gate droops over time, you just drop a different chain link into the latch. This makes it an incredibly resilient, long-term solution for wide, heavy gates that are prone to settling.
Installation Tips and Latch Material Considerations
The world’s best latch will fail on a poorly set post. Before you even think about the latch, ensure your gate posts are deep, wide, and set in concrete. A wobbly post means a misaligned latch, and a misaligned latch is a broken latch waiting to happen. Brace your posts properly, especially on wide spans.
When choosing a latch, consider the material.
- Galvanized Steel: The workhorse. It’s strong and has good rust resistance. It’s the standard for most heavy-duty farm applications.
- Powder-Coated Steel: Offers great strength with an extra layer of protection against the elements. The coating can chip over time, however, exposing the steel underneath to rust.
- Polymers/Stainless Steel: Found on latches like the LokkLatch. These are rust-proof and operate smoothly, but may lack the sheer brute strength of solid steel for high-pressure livestock situations.
Ultimately, your choice depends on the gate’s job. For a main entrance used daily, a convenient one-handed latch like the Tarter or LokkLatch is a worthy investment. For a remote pasture gate holding back cattle, the bulletproof combination of a SpeeCo cane bolt and a heavy National Hardware slide bolt is the safest bet. Don’t choose one; choose the right one for the specific task at hand.
Your gate latch isn’t a minor detail you pick up at the end of a project; it’s a critical piece of your farm’s infrastructure. It affects your daily efficiency, the security of your animals, and your overall peace of mind. By matching the right latch to the gate’s specific purpose, you’re not just buying hardware—you’re investing in a system that works for you, day in and day out.
