When you have a motorized gate, access is a must. Or rather, having the right access when you need it, the way you want to have it, is the crucial part that everyone needs. Installing a new slide gate motor is never something you should take lightly. 

Both the Eagle 1 Gate Motor and Liftmaster Slide Gate Motor offer excellent results and a high degree of protection. However, our team found one option that truly stood out. Our review will tell you why the Eagle 1 is the best gate motor of its type. 

If you are at a crossroads when it comes to which gate opener you want to buy, take a look at what we have to say on the matter.

 

Before we begin: what should you look for in a sliding gate motor?

In order to understand why we prefer the Eagle 1 gate motor to the Liftmaster, we have to explain our criteria. Like with all things in home improvement, there are specific traits you need to look for in a gate motor. Here is what we looked for.

 

Price

Yes, it’s true. Times are hard and everyone is out for a bargain. For many people, the gate motor’s price may be a deciding factor in whether or not they would buy it. 

While budgeting is always important, we also wanted to choose a motor that offered the best return on investment for the price tag.

 

Durability

Normally, our next criterion would be speed. However, both run at relatively similar speeds. They’re also both ½ horsepower, so it doesn’t make sense to look at that. 

Rather, we took a look at each product’s durability ratings and what it can withstand. After all, you’re going to be paying serious cash. You might as well know that the equipment you get is rugged enough to handle the job.

 

Warranty

A good warranty is a must with a machine as expensive as a gate motor. Should it break, you could be out hundreds of dollars just to repair it. The longer and more complete the warranty, the better off you’ll be. 

 

Safety

Safety is a major concern when getting a motor for a sliding gate. There are two different types of safety we are concerned about: access and emergency stops. 

First, we want to make sure that the gate is able to open and close when you need it, ideally through remote access. This is both about convenience and about making sure that you don’t have to deal with actually going outside to get the gate open.

Second, we want to see what mechanics are in place for people who are in a position where things go wrong. Maybe it’s a matter of a lack of electricity, a short circuit, or just really bad luck. We’ll look at failsafes, too. 

 

Use Specs

Every single gate motor has a maximum load it can carry as well as a maximum gate length. If you choose the wrong one, you’re going to have a bad time. We’re going to go through each motor’s specifications to ensure that you get the best deal. 

 

Introducing the Eagle 1 Gate Motor!

We’re going to introduce our pick first: the Eagle 1 Gate Motor. Most people in the industry know Eagle as one of the most respected names in the industry. The Eagle 1 is a gate motor that lives up to that standard fairly well. 

To help you learn the basics, we’re going to break it down into sections. 

 

What are the specs?

• Carries up to 300 pounds or 18 feet of standard gating.
• 12 feet per second gate opening speed
• Continuous Use-Rated.
• 24 VDC Output for MAG Lock
• 24 VAC Auxiliary Power Output

 

What  kind of access features does the Eagle 1 come with?

The Eagle 1 is a great choice for people who want to have remote control access to their gate. This kit comes with two remote controls as well as one receiver. It also comes with a camera that can movement and help determine when the gate should be opened or closed. 

 

What kind of safety features does the Eagle 1 Gate Motor come with?

Leave it to Eagle to create a product that works wonders for people who are worried about intruders, shorts, and more. Here’s the scoop for people who want to know what to expect:

• The camera offers a way to help prevent tailgate entries. This encourages safer entry that keeps unwanted people out. 
• The Eagle 1 gate motor also boasts an excellent short circuit protection grid. If you are worried about lightning or power surges, don’t be. Eagle’s 1 Gate Motor can survive it. 
• A Fail-Secure Crank offers a way to manually open the gate in the event of a power outage or other shortage. Needless to say, you will always have a way to make sure that your gate works well.
• A stop-reverse function makes sure your car doesn’t get hit if you suddenly have to reverse it. The gate also has a “partial open” function, a motor brake, and an auto close timer. This ensures that your gate doesn’t ding your car, but does offer all the amenities needed to keep your home secure. 
• Eagle 1 remains easy to install. You don’t want to have mistakes in installation. Eagle 1 does its part by being as easy as possible to install. 
• A protective cover ensures that your motor does not get exposed to any risk. That means less water damage and fewer chances of vandalism.

What’s the Eagle 1 gate motor’s warranty like?

The Eagle 1 sliding gate motor is amazingly well-equipped in terms of warranties. Residential users get a 5-year limited warranty that is considered to be the best in the industry. You also get regular phone-based customer service assistance for all things related to maintenance, repair parts, and more. 

 

How much does the Eagle 1 gate opener cost?

This can change from retailer to retailer, but it’s possible to get the Eagle 1 gate motor for $1,349 on Amazon. It also happens to be one of the highest-rated gate openers on Amazon, which shows that you get a lot of bang for your proverbial buck.

 

Introducing the Liftmaster Sliding Gate Motor!

Liftmaster might be the only sliding gate motor company to compare to Eagle. If you are looking for a larger-scale project, Liftmaster might be a good choice. To start, we’re going to give you the details.

 

What are the specs?

Most parts of the Liftmaster’s main specifications are nearly identical to the Eagle 1. It makes sense, considering that this is the Eagle 1’s main competitor. 

• Carries up to 1,000 pounds or 37 feet of standard gating.
• 12 feet per second gate opening speed
• Continuous Use-Rated.
• 24 VDC 500mA Output. 
• 110 V Power

What  kind of access features does the Liftmaster come with?

When it comes to access features, the Liftmaster tends to trail slightly behind on access. The Liftmaster’s setup has the same type of remote control and remote “eye” that Eagle 1 offers. It also comes with an inherent reversing sensor that has been standard as part of motorized gates since 2016.

 

What kind of safety features does the Liftmaster come with?

When it comes to safety features, there are a lot of extras that can be added to your bundle to increase security. However, that ups the price tag and this is a review that is solely based on what you get with the basic package. Here’s what a standard Liftmaster comes with:

• The camera has tailgate-proofing technology as well as an inherent reversing system. This helps ensure that people who should stay out of your place can’t go in, and that cars that are in reverse won’t get the door closed on them. This is standard in the Eagle 1 as well. 
• Like the Eagle, the Liftmaster also comes with a protective cover that prevents water damage and vandalism. It’s a good start. 
• MyQ allows you to watch your gate via a designated app. For residential purposes, this is probably a bit much. Most homes with a moving gate already have security systems for that reason. 
• The remotes have a tri-band wavelength that prevents low-level remote spoofing. This is, once again, not a very necessary safety measure for residential neighborhoods. It makes more sense for a commercial gate. 
• A Fail-Secure Crank allows you to manually open the gate in the event of a power outage. So, you still have access to the home or building of your choice. 

 

What’s the Liftmaster gate opener’s warranty like? 

The Liftmaster has a 5-year limited residential warranty. If your Liftmaster is being used for a commercial property, then the warranty extends to 7 years. 

 

How much does the Liftmaster gate motor cost?

Here’s the kicker: the Liftmaster gate opener costs over $1,800 for the basic model. This does not include installation or any extras. Unfortunately, that means that this gate opener costs approximately $500 more than the Eagle 1. 

 

Why do we think the Eagle 1 Gate Motor is better than the Liftmaster?

There are several reasons why the Eagle 1 takes our number one spot. Let’s look at the main arguments for the Eagle 1. 

 

The Eagle 1 offers a more realistic design. 

The Eagle 1 is a gate that is made to be versatile enough for both residential and commercial use, but doesn’t go “over the top” when it comes to commercial features like a 37-foot gate size. 

Most gates are only going to be 15 feet in width or less, and that’s true for both commercial and residential gates. There’s no need for a 37-foot gate unless you’re looking at a massive warehouse or a farm. 

 

Eagle 1 gate openers also have better access and installation technology. 

Both gates have very similar stats, but the Eagle 1 has the advantage of having better access technology and being easier to install. There are different opening modes, more closing measures, and easier usage. 

For homeowners who want to have it all, it’s hard to deny it’s a good choice—especially when it’s $500 cheaper than the competition!

 

Finally, there is the issue of add-ons that needs to be discussed. 

The Eagle 1 has all the goods you need to keep your home secure and to install the motor easily. It’s why it’s so popular and why it’s a steal at the price point it’s offered. With the Liftmaster, you may have to pay extra in order to get the full package that you want to have. 

Admittedly, they have a lot of add-ons that may be attractive to a corporate customer. However, a lot of them simply do the same things that the Eagle 1 already does. For example, you have to buy the remote controls separately in many cases. 

When it comes to functionality, a lot of the features of the Liftmaster can’t be fully enjoyed using its standard issue model. That isn’t fair to buyers, especially when you take a look at how much money you’re spending. 

 

The bottom line is simple: Eagle 1 is the winner!

For most people in need of a new gate opener, the Eagle 1 is the best choice for them. It offers a perfect blend of residential and commercial safety features along with top tier workmanship. More importantly, it gives you all the features you love and none of the features that you don’t. 

Between the excellent price point, the world class warranties, and the high customer ratings, it’s clear that the Eagle 1 is the best gate opener on the market. So if you’re seeking out a new gate, don’t hesitate. It’s all about the Eagle 1.