Santa Clarita Vinyl Fence: Vinyl Double Drive Gate Installation in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita Vinyl Fence covers double drive gate installation for Santa Clarita RV pads, boat storage and side-yard vehicle access — 10 to 16 ft openings in privacy, picket or ranch rail style — where the installer sets steel-cored posts in 36 inch footings, hangs aluminum-framed leaves that stay square, and adds drop rods, wheels or operator brackets as the driveway demands.
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Sizing a double drive gate for RVs, boats and trailers
A standard car fits through 10 ft; a boat trailer or a Class C motorhome wants 12 ft; a fifth-wheel or a horse trailer turning off a narrow street needs 14–16 ft. The leaves are equal halves unless one side is blocked by the house, in which case a 4 ft walk leaf and a 10 ft drive leaf split the opening. Height matches the fence (usually 6 ft); the leaves clear the driveway by 2–4 inches at the highest point of the swing.
| Clear opening | What it fits | Typical leaf split |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | Cars and small utility trailers | Two 5 ft leaves |
| 12 ft | Boat trailers, Class C motorhomes | Two 6 ft leaves |
| 14 ft | Fifth-wheels, tractors | Two 7 ft leaves, caster wheels advised |
| 16 ft | Horse trailers turning off a narrow street | Two 8 ft leaves on steel posts, wheels required |
| 14 ft next to a house wall | Any of the above | One 4 ft walk leaf and one 10 ft drive leaf |
What the callout markers point to
- The gate posts carry a metal insert and sit in deeper, wider concrete footings than line posts.
- The drop rod seats into a sleeve set in a small concrete pad so the fixed leaf cannot be pushed open.
- A welded frame inside each leaf keeps it square over years of swinging.
Steel-reinforced posts and 36 inch footings
Post core
Each hinge post is a 5x5 or 6x6 vinyl sleeve over a 3–4 inch galvanized steel post, or a vinyl post with a full-length steel insert and concrete fill. The steel, not the vinyl, carries the gate.
Footing
12–14 inch diameter, 36 inches deep, four to five 60 lb bags per post, poured and cured at least 24 hours before the leaves hang. On the sandstone pads of Canyon Country the hole is drilled with a rock auger to depth rather than stopped short.
Spacing allowance
The opening is set 1–1.5 inches wider than the gate so hinges, the center gap and summer expansion all fit.
Keeping 12 ft leaves from sagging
A 6 ft tall, 6 ft wide vinyl leaf weighs 60–90 lbs and will sag without a frame. Each leaf gets a welded aluminum perimeter frame with a diagonal brace running from the top hinge corner to the bottom latch corner, or a stainless cable with a turnbuckle doing the same job. Hinges are heavy-duty bolt-through units, three per leaf, and the leaves are hung with the hinge post plumb and a 1/8 inch rise toward the latch side so they settle level.
The steel inside the post carries the gate; the vinyl outside it only makes it match the fence.
Driveway grade, wheels and automation
On a sloped driveway the leaves swing toward the uphill side with rising hinges, or the gate is split so each leaf clears its own side. A caster wheel on the latch corner of each leaf takes the load on long leaves and on gates that stay open for hours. A cane bolt or drop rod on one leaf drops into a sleeve in the concrete; the other leaf latches to it with a slide latch or a lockable hasp. Owners who want an automatic opener get the posts, frame and conduit built for a swing-arm operator from the start, so the electrician and the operator installer have a solid gate to work with.
Vinyl Double Drive Gates — common questions
What does a double drive gate cost in Santa Clarita?
About $1,100–$2,200 installed for a 10–12 ft vinyl double gate in 2026, posts and hardware included; 14–16 ft openings, 6x6 posts and operator preparation push it higher.
Can a double gate be added to an existing vinyl fence?
Yes. The crew removes one or two panels, sets two new steel-cored posts with proper footings and ties the fence back in with trimmed panels on each side.
Vinyl Double Drive Gates: check availability and price range
Bookings aren't open yet — describe the fence line and you get a Santa Clarita price range right here. Per-foot ranges are typical Santa Clarita Valley installed prices for white vinyl, materials and labor. This is a market estimate, not a quote; footage is measured on site and the installer prices the actual job. City permit fees and HOA fees, where they apply, are not included.