Telescopic security posts
Discussion
I used to have (still do but don't use it anymore) a telescopic post that was so heavy duty it's hydraulic lift assist was needed just to pull it up out of my drive.
Serious bit of kit that I had to try and stop my Defender getting stolen off the driveway. I recon it would have stood up to my Defender trying to ram it over. I installed it myself, digging a hole about 1200mm deep and concreting it in (hence why I still have it!) Think it might have been Marshalls brand?
Serious bit of kit that I had to try and stop my Defender getting stolen off the driveway. I recon it would have stood up to my Defender trying to ram it over. I installed it myself, digging a hole about 1200mm deep and concreting it in (hence why I still have it!) Think it might have been Marshalls brand?
Jk89 said:
I didn’t think freezing would be an issue.
Might look at other options.
You need to understand your ground conditions before deciding. Might look at other options.
I’ve had bollards installed on several sites and:
1) the advice to go for hydraulic assistance is good. Never had any issues with people saying they couldn’t lift them.
2) they can and do freeze up if the ground is too wet (water gets into the chamber the bollard drops into and if it doesn’t drain out quickly enough you have a problem). Good ground prep may help, but most installers just seem to dig the hole and then concrete in rather than put extra soak away/drainage underneath.
3) gravel can cause problems, getting in the hole and causing the post to jam.
4) the locks themselves can freeze or get filled with grit (and stop working). Having a can of Wd-40 on-site to clean them out is, in my experience, essential.
5) electronic ones are much more convenient.
6) if you need 3 or 4, consider having fixed or lift out bollards to the sides (cheaper and not really that much extra effort if you rarely need to remove them).
Most recent ones we had installed were LA-SQ20’s from Security Bollards Direct. They are reassuringly solid.
LooneyTunes said:
You need to understand your ground conditions before deciding.
I’ve had bollards installed on several sites and:
1) the advice to go for hydraulic assistance is good. Never had any issues with people saying they couldn’t lift them.
2) they can and do freeze up if the ground is too wet (water gets into the chamber the bollard drops into and if it doesn’t drain out quickly enough you have a problem). Good ground prep may help, but most installers just seem to dig the hole and then concrete in rather than put extra soak away/drainage underneath.
3) gravel can cause problems, getting in the hole and causing the post to jam.
4) the locks themselves can freeze or get filled with grit (and stop working). Having a can of Wd-40 on-site to clean them out is, in my experience, essential.
5) electronic ones are much more convenient.
6) if you need 3 or 4, consider having fixed or lift out bollards to the sides (cheaper and not really that much extra effort if you rarely need to remove them).
.
That's good advice.I’ve had bollards installed on several sites and:
1) the advice to go for hydraulic assistance is good. Never had any issues with people saying they couldn’t lift them.
2) they can and do freeze up if the ground is too wet (water gets into the chamber the bollard drops into and if it doesn’t drain out quickly enough you have a problem). Good ground prep may help, but most installers just seem to dig the hole and then concrete in rather than put extra soak away/drainage underneath.
3) gravel can cause problems, getting in the hole and causing the post to jam.
4) the locks themselves can freeze or get filled with grit (and stop working). Having a can of Wd-40 on-site to clean them out is, in my experience, essential.
5) electronic ones are much more convenient.
6) if you need 3 or 4, consider having fixed or lift out bollards to the sides (cheaper and not really that much extra effort if you rarely need to remove them).
.
I hit a water table when digging out the hole and being on heavy clay meant there was always about a foot of water in the bottom, some of which would slash out when I lifted the post. I did try and dig deeper than needed to create a soaraway but the clay just went on and on, plus you can only dig so deep then the hole is only a couple of foot square.
The lock on mine would sometimes stick, I used graphite powder in a tube to squeeze into and around it to fry it up.
I too had a lift out matching post at the side of my car, otherwise a thief could just drive around the main post. I also added an additional lift out post elsewhere n my drive for when I bring my caravan home to wash etc, meant I could leave it on my drive overnight etc.
My post did once get difficult to lift but I found a company (recommended my Marshalls?) that came and replaced the gas strut. Though after about 15yrs it failed again and was beyond repair, maybe because of the water?
My parents have a powered one which I think they said is commercial grade (whatever that means). You can use a remote or phone it. Never gets stuck and is a serious bit of kit. In fact despite the sensors around it someone who shall remain nameless managed to drive over it as it was coming up and it wrote off an engine (and consequently the car- RS6…) Went straight through the sump and then the bottom of the engine…!
Not strictly aimed at posts but just a general thought on beefy security.
The cars I assumed are insured and as nice as they may be can be replaced by the respective dealers pretty quickly.
Adding post, ghost alarms,cut out switches raises the risk from a car going walkies in the deaf of night and a few days of fat with insurance and maybe a hire car to someone holding a knife to your wife while you unlock all your fancy gizmos. You'll still do the insurance faff buy 90% of people wil end up moving because of the bad experience and no way will she let you order another new M3 X drive to stick outside the new house
The cars I assumed are insured and as nice as they may be can be replaced by the respective dealers pretty quickly.
Adding post, ghost alarms,cut out switches raises the risk from a car going walkies in the deaf of night and a few days of fat with insurance and maybe a hire car to someone holding a knife to your wife while you unlock all your fancy gizmos. You'll still do the insurance faff buy 90% of people wil end up moving because of the bad experience and no way will she let you order another new M3 X drive to stick outside the new house
I have a Rhino telescopic one which went in when the driveway was being done. I was sent updates during the day it was being installed, they weren’t happy 
I don’t use it day to day, as above if someone wants the cars that bad I’d rather they left quickly, but for holidays it’s an extra line of defence and holds the gates in the closed position - I’d be very very impressed if someone got a car out whilst we’re away!
https://rhinosecurity.co.uk/product/rhino-rt-sq8-h...
I don’t use it day to day, as above if someone wants the cars that bad I’d rather they left quickly, but for holidays it’s an extra line of defence and holds the gates in the closed position - I’d be very very impressed if someone got a car out whilst we’re away!
https://rhinosecurity.co.uk/product/rhino-rt-sq8-h...
sfella said:
Not strictly aimed at posts but just a general thought on beefy security.
The cars I assumed are insured and as nice as they may be can be replaced by the respective dealers pretty quickly.
Adding post, ghost alarms,cut out switches raises the risk from a car going walkies in the deaf of night and a few days of fat with insurance and maybe a hire car to someone holding a knife to your wife while you unlock all your fancy gizmos. You'll still do the insurance faff buy 90% of people wil end up moving because of the bad experience and no way will she let you order another new M3 X drive to stick outside the new house
Persuade your neighbours to buy golf R and range rovers, then the scrotes won't be able to pass them by to get to you...The cars I assumed are insured and as nice as they may be can be replaced by the respective dealers pretty quickly.
Adding post, ghost alarms,cut out switches raises the risk from a car going walkies in the deaf of night and a few days of fat with insurance and maybe a hire car to someone holding a knife to your wife while you unlock all your fancy gizmos. You'll still do the insurance faff buy 90% of people wil end up moving because of the bad experience and no way will she let you order another new M3 X drive to stick outside the new house
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