SHOP ALL THE ROUND RAIL CATTLE GUARDS
Overview
A very long (18' distance across the road) cattle guard is still a one-piece crossing that may be ordered in a six or eight-foot depth (direction of vehicular travel). It's available in the HS-20 highway rating for the 8'er or as the more economical private use guard in both sizes. To connect your fence line, including the optional cattle guard wings below, to create a complete barrier for your livestock. Please note that the HS-20 rating is only available for the 8' x 18' - not the 6' deep cattle guard.
Cattle Guard Options
A variety of cattle crossing options are available, and we've detailed them below so you can choose the best setup for your location. The boxed grid is a steel skirt welded around the perimeter to keep dirt from getting in underneath. This design may be used directly on the ground. The box is also available as a detached feature, so you can remove the grate itself for cleaning without disturbing the surrounding area. Cattle guard wings provide a solid and seamless connection to the fence line to prevent livestock from stepping around the ends. A simple dirt ramp on either side creates a vehicle crossing while providing an effective livestock deterrent.
Take a look at the features and options below, and please let us know if we can help with anything at all when planning your project.
If you need a different rating or style, see all of our Cattle Guard choices to select the best design for your project.
Cattle Guard Specifications
- This is a large one-piece grate, 18' long, and is available in 6' or 8' depths
- Load Beams: Channel, 8" X 11.5 lbs.
- Comes standard with a grey enamel finish, but Safety Yellow is available upon request
- Rail ends are covered with welded 12-gauge steel to keep water out
- All of the round top rail cattle guards are fully welded
- Top rails made with 3.5" OD pipe.
- Approximate gap between rail walls is 3.11"
Boxed Cattle Guards - no foundation required!
By laying directly on the ground or securing buried railroad ties, a quick and effective livestock barrier can be in place in a very short time. To ease vehicle crossing, a dirt ramp is typically pushed up against the side to help get over the 11.5" or 12.5" tall grate.
A couple of quick warnings on placing unsecured guards on the ground: They will tend to move or 'walk' as accelerating and decelerating traffic causes it to seek the lowest point at your site. The other cautionary recommendation is to make sure your site has proper drainage. A bed of crushed gravel under the crossing will help alleviate pooling or horizontally draining water that can erode the surrounding dirt.
Construction Sites Uses
Construction areas benefit from the 'portability' of this boxed style. It can be moved to where it's needed, and without the foundations to pour or remove, it may also be taken from job to job. Operators find it useful as a wash rack for large equipment and as a 'rumble strip' to knock loose debris before entering a public roadway. They can also protect the entrances and exits from heavy machinery abuse by preventing the ground from getting torn up.
The ease of setting the grid directly on the ground without pouring foundations and simply picking it up and moving to a new site saves a lot of time and labor.
Cattle Guards for remote and low-traffic areas
The steel skirt welded to the perimeter of the grate also allows it to be used in remote and low-traffic applications. It can be especially convenient for private driveways, pasture entrances, cell phone towers, and oil rig entrances that don't see a lot of traffic and don't warrant bringing in cement for a traditional foundation.
Removable Box Cattle Guard
The removable boxed cattle guard feature allows you to remove the center grate without disturbing the surrounding installation. Here is a picture of the steel skirt it fits into. Please note that the horizontal bars are included for the stability of the skirt only. The cattle guards do not rest on the skirt or supporting members, and all of the weight is transferred directly from the top rails to the beams and then to the ground.
Cattle Guard with Wings Attached
Cattle guard wings carry the physical barrier of the fence line down to the ground and tie into the base of the crossing itself. Without the seamless transition to the ground, your livestock would simply step around the end post and avoid the grate altogether. Below is a picture of the attached wings and the vertical post for connecting to the fence line.
Cattle Guard Footings
Setting a proper foundation is of top priority when installing your livestock barrier. These grids transfer a lot of weight to the ground, and heavy vehicle braking and acceleration can put a lot of stress on your footings.
Below is a generic cattle guard foundation diagram for reference. A qualified contractor should be consulted for a proper installation.
