Sliding gate wheels

How do I choose a wheel for a sliding gate?

Work through the checks in this order:

1. Confirm the application. These are running wheels for a gate supported on ground track, not top guide rollers, cantilever carriages or sprung wheels for a swinging gate.
2. Match the wheel groove to the rail. Distinguish a V-groove from a rounded or O-profile. Round running profiles are sold in different sizes, commonly 16mm and 20mm, so measure the raised running profile on an existing rail rather than its overall height. A V-track is usually easy to recognise by its angled shape, but still check the exact wheel and track drawings.
3. Choose the mounting arrangement. For an existing gate, seek an exact replacement from the same brand where possible. For a new gate, consider an internal bracket if the bottom member has enough space and a smaller gap below the gate matters; an external bracket is generally easier to fit beneath a suitable flat gate base.
4. Compare the complete dimensions. For a replacement, measure the wheel, groove, axle or bracket and fixing-hole positions. Check the full reference and suffix, the resulting running height and the exact product drawing before assuming a match.
5. Check the documented rating and the complete gate design. Find out whether a stated capacity applies to one wheel, a pair or a gate arrangement. Do not assume an extra wheel increases capacity: three wheels are unlikely to share the load equally.

Which wheel mounting should I choose?

Before ordering an internal-bracket wheel: measure the space inside the gate's bottom member, not only its outside width. For steel box section, subtracting twice the wall thickness gives a starting internal-width check. Then allow for the internal corner shape, the complete wheel and bracket, fixing access and the material that will remain around the slot. Timber and other constructions also need a suitable design; the fact that a wheel can be recessed does not establish that a particular gate member can be cut safely.

The finished gap below the gate depends on the wheel, rail and gate construction. Check the exact assembly drawing and have the gate construction assessed before cutting its bottom member. A smaller gap alone does not establish that the finished gate is safe.

Do I need a V-groove or rounded-groove wheel?

The groove must correspond to the running profile of the ground track. A V-groove wheel is not interchangeable with a rounded or O-groove wheel simply because both have the same outside diameter. Use the exact wheel and rail references and compare their current drawings before ordering.

Need to match or replace the rail as well? Use the ground-track guide to compare rail profiles, fixing methods and the length of track required.

How much gate weight can a wheel carry?

Check whether the published capacity is for one wheel, a pair of wheels or a complete gate arrangement, and confirm the gate's total weight is within the applicable rating for its wheel bearings and support design. Adding a third wheel is not a reliable way to raise the permitted gate weight: the track and gate may not load all three wheels at once. Wheel spacing, track, brackets, fixings, gate construction, alignment and operating conditions also matter.

If the rating basis or application is unclear, ask Metalines to check the current product information before ordering. Compare the exact wheel reference and its stated conditions rather than a generic “heavy-duty” label.

What should I check when replacing an existing wheel?

Use the full product reference if it is available; keep suffixes such as B2 because they may distinguish a variant. Send clear photographs of the safely visible wheel, the rail end or profile and the mounting arrangement, together with the known dimensions. State whether you need a bare wheel, a bracketed assembly or a complete running-gear set.

If the gate binds, drops, runs unevenly or has damaged support components, replacing a wheel alone may not correct the cause. Do not remove a wheel or disturb the gate's support simply to take measurements. The gate, rail, alignment and supporting structure should be assessed as a complete arrangement.

Is this the same as a guide roller or cantilever wheel?

No. The wheels on this page support a tracked sliding gate on its ground rail. Top guides and guide rollers and channels provide lateral guidance rather than acting as the ground-running wheel. Cantilever gate hardware uses a different carriage-and-rail arrangement without ground track across the entrance.

Need help identifying a sliding gate wheel?

Email Metalines with the wheel and rail references, profile photographs, mounting photographs and known dimensions. We can help specify equipment from the information you provide; we do not carry out site work. Final design and installation must follow the applicable product information and the installer's assessment of the gate and site.