Columbus, Montana · Licensed & Insured

Custom Gates & Archways

Ranch gates that swing true for decades and entrance archways that tell people they've arrived, built and installed by the same crew that builds your fence.

Call (406) 425-0332 Get a Free Quote Gates & Archways

Licensed & Insured

Serving the Beartooth Region

Free On-Site Estimates

Gates & Entrances

The Part of the Fence People Actually Touch

A fence line gets looked at. A gate gets used, every day, by people, trucks, trailers, and livestock. It's the hardest-working part of any fence, and it's usually the first thing to sag, drag, or stop latching.

Beartooth Fencing LLC builds custom gates and entrance archways for ranches, horse properties, and acreage owners across the Beartooth region. We set the posts, build the bracing, hang the gate, and wire the opener when you want one, so you have one crew answerable for the whole entrance.

An archway works the same way at a bigger scale. It's a structure carrying a heavy beam and a sign over a driveway in Montana wind, and it has to be engineered like one.

Licensed & insured contractors based in Columbus, MT
Free on-site estimates and written quotes. No pressure
Custom gate design sized for your equipment and stock
Gate automation: openers, keypads, remotes, and solar power
Timber, steel, and combination entrance archways
Custom signs and brands mounted on the crossbeam
Posts and bracing built to carry the gate, not just hold it up
Utility locates called in on every project

Get a Free Quote

Tell us about your entrance and we'll come look at it with you. Written quote, no obligation.

Call (406) 425-0332

Call or Text

(406) 425-0332

Based In

Columbus, MT 59019

Hours

Mon-Sat, by appointment

Credentials

Licensed & insured general contractor

Gates & Archways

Two Ways to Make an Entrance

Gates control access. Archways announce it. Most of our entrance projects include both.

Custom ranch gate with automatic opener installed near Columbus, MT

Service

Custom Gates & Automation

A good gate opens with one hand, closes without a shove, and latches every time. That comes down to the posts and hinges more than the gate itself. We set gate posts deeper than line posts, brace them against the swing load, and hang the gate level so it doesn't drag after the first winter.

We build gates for every job on the property: wide drive gates for haying equipment and stock trailers, man-pass gates for daily chores, and decorative entry gates for the front of the place. Add an automatic opener and you stop climbing out of the truck at the end of the driveway.

Drive gates sized for trucks, trailers, and farm equipment
Pipe, tube, wood, and custom-fabricated steel gates
Single-swing, double-swing, and slide gate configurations
Automatic openers with keypads, remotes, and phone access
Solar-powered operators for gates far from service
Man-pass gates, bow gates, and slam latches for corrals

Call for a Free Estimate

Custom timber ranch entrance archway in the Beartooth region of Montana

Service

Entrance Archways

An entrance archway is the front door of a ranch. It's the first thing visitors see and the photo people take when they arrive. It should look like it belongs to the land and stand straight for as long as the place does.

We build archways in heavy timber, steel pipe, or a mix of both, with crossbeams sized to the span and posts set deep enough to resist wind load and frost heave. We'll make sure there's clearance for the tallest thing that will ever drive under it, whether that's a cattle pot, a hay truck, or a fire engine.

Log, timber, steel, and pipe archway construction
Custom brand, name, or sign mounted on the crossbeam
Clearance planned for semis, stock trailers, and emergency vehicles
Posts set and braced for wind and snow load
Matching gates and wing fence on either side
Optional lighting and gate automation integration

Call for a Free Estimate

How It Works

Our Gate & Archway Process

Six steps from your first call to a working entrance.

Free On-Site Visit

We look at the entrance with you: road approach, width, slope, drainage, power access, and what needs to pass through.

Design & Written Quote

You get a design with gate size, archway dimensions, materials, and any automation spelled out, along with a written quote. Free, and no obligation.

Materials & Fabrication

Timber gets sourced, steel gets cut and welded, and signs or brands get made before we ever break ground.

Locates & Post Setting

Utility locates get called in, then gate and archway posts go in deep and get set in concrete.

Hanging & Assembly

Crossbeams go up, gates get hung level and swung true, and wing fence ties the entrance into your fence line.

Automation & Walk-Through

Openers get wired and programmed, the site gets cleaned up, and we test everything with you before we leave.

Choosing Materials

Timber, Steel, or Both?

There isn't one right material. It depends on the look you want, the span, and how much maintenance you're willing to do.

Gate Options

What we weigh when we spec a gate for you:

Width: 12 to 16 ft for equipment, wider for big haying gear
Swing vs. slide, based on slope and snow drift
Pipe for strength, wood for looks, steel fabrication for both
Hinge and latch hardware rated for the gate's weight
Opener sized for gate length, weight, and wind
Solar panel and battery capacity for Montana winters

Archway Options

What we weigh when we design an archway:

Heavy timber or log for a traditional ranch look
Steel pipe for long spans and low upkeep
Clearance height for the tallest vehicle that will pass
Post depth and footing size for the span and wind
Sign style: cut steel, routed wood, or branded beam
Finish: stain, sealer, or powder coat

Talk it through: (406) 425-0332

Cost & Planning

What Drives Gate & Archway Cost

Every entrance is different, so we don't publish flat prices. Here's what actually moves the number.

What Changes Your Quote

These are the variables we look at on site:

Gate width, weight, and material
Archway span, height, and material
Custom fabrication, signs, and brands
Automation, power source, and access controls
Post depth, footings, and ground conditions
Wing fence and tie-ins to existing fence

Entrance Planning Checklist

Have these answers ready and your quote gets faster:

What's the widest and tallest vehicle that needs through?
Should the gate stay open, closed, or automated?
Is there power at the entrance, or do we need solar?
Do you want a name, brand, or logo on the archway?
Are there covenants or county setbacks at the road?
What's your target window?

Gate Maintenance

Cheap habits that keep a gate swinging:

Check hinges and latches each spring
Grease hinge pins and opener arms
Watch for post lean after the thaw
Keep snow and gravel clear of the swing path
Test opener batteries before winter
Re-seal timber archways on a regular cycle

Questions

Gates & Archways FAQs

The questions we get asked most often, answered straight.

How much does a custom gate or archway cost?

Cost depends on size, material, fabrication, and whether you add automation. A standard pipe drive gate is a modest job. A custom steel entry gate with an opener and a timber archway is a much larger one.

We give you a written quote for free after looking at your entrance.

Can you add an automatic opener to my existing gate?

Often, yes. As long as the gate is sound and the posts can carry the load, we can add an opener, keypad, and remotes. If the gate sags or drags, we'll fix that first so the opener doesn't fail early.

Do gate openers work without power at the gate?

Yes. Solar-powered operators with battery backup work well at remote entrances. We size the panel and battery for short Montana winter days so the gate keeps working in January.

How tall should a ranch entrance archway be?

Tall enough for the biggest vehicle that will ever use the drive. That usually means semis, stock trailers, hay trucks, and emergency vehicles. We plan clearance with you before we build so nobody has to turn around at the gate.

Why do gates sag, and can you prevent it?

Most sagging comes from undersized or unbraced gate posts that lean under the gate's weight. We set gate posts deeper than line posts, brace them, and use hardware rated for the gate so it stays level.

Can you put our ranch brand or name on the archway?

Yes. We can mount a cut-steel sign, a routed wood sign, or a brand on the crossbeam. Bring us your design or we'll help you work one out.

Do you build gates and archways in winter?

Fabrication and some installs can happen in winter. Frozen ground slows post setting and concrete work, so we'll tell you honestly whether your project should wait for spring.

Ready to Build Your Entrance?

Call us and we'll come look at it with you. Free on-site estimate, written quote, no pressure.