Sliding gate ground track

Which ground track matches my sliding gate wheels?

First match the shape of the wheel groove to the rail profile. A rounded/O-groove wheel is not a V-groove wheel. Next compare the actual section and dimensions in the wheel and track drawings, the intended loading and the complete gate design. A shared profile name on its own does not prove that two products from different ranges fit together.

These are identification starting points, not a cross-brand compatibility table. Use the exact product drawings and specifications before selecting a wheel and rail. The sliding gate wheels page explains the separate wheel-mounting choices.

The ROAD, TRAIL and VECTOR rails currently in this range are galvanised. Finish does not replace the need to check the installation and the full gate design.

How much track do I need for a sliding gate?

The clear entrance width is not necessarily the length of track to buy. A tracked gate needs rail along the route it travels into when it opens as well as across the entrance. Work from the actual gate width and travel, stopping positions and site layout; then compare the supplied rail lengths and any joints. If you ask for “6 metres of track”, tell us whether that means the entrance width, total running route or a particular rail length.

Some long rail listings have a minimum order quantity. Check the quantity and what one unit represents on the current product listing before ordering or comparing prices.

Do I need bolt-down or concrete-in track?

ROAD and TRAIL sit on a suitable flat finished surface and are fixed through their staggered holes using fixings appropriate to that surface. They do not need the embedded concrete channel used for VECTOR. VECTOR is sunk into a prepared concrete channel; the VECTOR PACK includes additional channel components alongside the running track. Your installer must confirm the foundation, alignment and any drainage requirements for the actual site. Do not treat these as interchangeable fixing methods for one rail.

Are joining pins, wheels or fixings included with the rail?

Do not assume so. The joining pins are named for their matching track families: ROAD PIN joins ROAD sections, while VECTOR PIN is for VECTOR. The pins differ, so do not substitute one for another. Check which pin and how many are required for your layout. A complete hardware set is a different purchase, and the exact contents of any “pack” still need checking on its own listing.

If you want a coordinated starting point for a new gate, go to tracked sliding gate hardware. This rail page remains the place to compare track profiles and replacement lengths.

What if I need to replace an existing track?

Send the full rail and wheel references if available, plus a clear photograph of the exposed rail end/profile, the wheel groove and the fixing arrangement. Tell us the length of the existing rail and whether the gate is being repaired or redesigned. A photo can help identify the family, but it cannot prove the condition of the supporting ground or that a different rail will be safe to install. Do not remove a gate's support just to take measurements.

Is ground track the same as cantilever rail or motor rack?

No. Cantilever hardware supports a gate without a ground running rail across the entrance. Toothed drive rack engages the motor pinion to move an automated sliding gate; it does not carry the gate's running wheels. Overhead track is another application and should not be substituted with a ground rail by name alone.

Need help identifying the correct rail?

Email Metalines with the rail and wheel references, profile photos and site dimensions. We can help specify equipment from the information you provide; we do not carry out site work. Confirm the final design and installation against the manufacturer's drawings and your installer's site assessment.