If you are going to build
your own driveway gate and you want to have an automatic opener,
which really you should one of the most popular options for doing so
is the Mighty Mule FM350 gate opener. Depending on the type of gate
that you are building it may or may not be the best option for your
needs.
The first thing that has
to be said if you are considering the FM350 or any other Mighty Mulegate opener is that you do tend to get what you pay for. The main
reason that they are so popular is that they are quite a bit cheaper
than most of their competitors. A top quality gate opener like one
from Viking or LiftMaster will run you well over a thousand dollars,
the Mighty Mule comes in at less than three hundred. Of course for
that price there are going to be some limitations.
The biggest limitation
when it comes to the Mighty Mule FM350 is that can only handle
lightweight gates. If you are putting in a big, heavy wrought iron
driveway gate, this is definitely not the one for you. It is alright
if you are building a wood gate or if you are putting a light metal
one but for anything more solid you will definitely need a more
powerful gate opener.
The other big issue with
the Mighty Mule gate opener is that it is not the most reliable
product on the market. There have been a lot of people who have
reported reliability issues with theirs, apparently lightening storms
are particularly problematic for the FM350. In addition it has been
mentioned that the motor frequently burns out, this is almost
certainly related to people using it on a gate that is too heavy.
One other frequent
criticism that we hear about the Mighty Mule FM350 is that it makes a
lot of noise when it is in operation. The top quality gate openers
work almost silently, this one makes an almighty racket. Whether or
not this is a problem for you is something that only you can decide.
Based on everything that
you have read above you would get the impression that we really hate
the Mighty Mule FM350, that is not actually the case. If it is used
on the right type of gate and you go in with the understanding that
you are buying a product at the low end of the market it can be a
good option. Even if it wears out after a a few years it is still
cheaper to replace it than it would have been to buy a top quality
gate opener right from the start. For people building a basic,
lightweight driveway gate on a budget it is definitely the way to go.
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