Telescopic Gate Automation Guide
What a telescopic sliding gate is, when it suits a narrow plot, how the leaves are linked, and how one sliding gate motor drives the set. Sizing notes included.
· 5 min read · Rollvento Engineering
A telescopic gate solves one problem: a wide opening on a plot with no room for a full-length sliding gate to retract.
How it works
Two or three leaves run on parallel tracks and overlap when open. A cable or chain linkage connects the leaves so that when the motor drives the first (heaviest, rearmost) leaf, the others move in proportion — the front leaf travels the full opening width while the rear leaf travels a fraction of it. The result: a 6 m opening can be closed by two 3.3 m leaves that stack into about 3.5 m of run-off.
When to choose telescopic
- Opening width is greater than the available run-off space beside it.
- The driveway slopes, ruling out swing gates.
- A cantilever gate would need too long a counterbalance tail.
Trade-offs
| Criterion | Standard sliding gate | Telescopic gate |
|---|---|---|
| Run-off space | Opening width + 0.5 m | About half or a third of the opening |
| Leaves | 1 | 2–3 |
| Weight for the same opening | Lower | Higher (extra frames, tracks, linkage) |
| Fabrication complexity | Simple | Precise track alignment and linkage needed |
| Motor sizing | Gate weight + margin | Combined leaf weight + linkage friction + margin |
| Maintenance | Track cleanliness | Tracks, carriages and linkage tension |
Motorising a telescopic gate
The operator is a standard rack-and-pinion sliding gate motor mounted at the driven leaf, with the rack fixed to that leaf only.
Sizing rules:
- Add up the weight of all leaves.
- Add 15–25% for linkage and track friction (more for three-leaf gates).
- Add the normal 20% selection margin.
- Choose the next-higher capacity in the Rollvento sliding gate range. Three-leaf gates and commercial duty generally need a class above what the leaf weights alone suggest.
Because the front leaf moves faster than the driven leaf, the photocells must cover the full opening and the run-off zone, and the board’s slow-down zone should be set generously to avoid the leaves closing hard at the end of travel.
What to send for a quotation
- Clear opening width and available run-off length
- Number of leaves and the weight of each (or construction details)
- Whether the linkage is cable or chain
- Power available at the gate and expected daily cycles
Request a quote or read the sliding gate motor buying guide for the underlying motor selection.
Frequently asked questions
What is a telescopic gate?
A sliding gate made of two or three overlapping leaves that stack into a short run-off space. Each leaf is linked to the next by cable or chain so that driving one leaf moves them all at proportional speeds, giving a full-width opening from a run-off of roughly half (two leaves) or a third (three leaves) of the opening.
Does a telescopic gate need a special motor?
No — it uses a standard rack-and-pinion sliding gate motor on the driven leaf. The motor must be rated for the combined weight of all leaves plus the extra friction of the linkage, so it is usually one or two capacity classes above what a single-leaf gate of the same opening would need.
Does Rollvento supply telescopic gate kits?
Rollvento supplies the sliding gate motor, rack and control accessories. The telescopic track, carriage and linkage hardware are part of the gate fabrication. Send the leaf count, total weight and opening width and engineering will size the motor.
How can we help you?
Tell us what you need to automate — opening size, weight and site — and an engineer will recommend the right model and send a quotation.
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