Installing a Ghost Controls Automatic Gate Opener: Our Experience & Security Benefits

You ever have one of those projects on your list that keeps finding its way back to the bottom? In the moment when you are dealing with it, it’s the most important thing to fix. You keep telling yourself “some day I’ll get to it” but you know deep down that you won’t do it unless the stars align? We are busy people! Farm life is always throwing something new our way. For us at Pivot Farm, the front gate was one of those projects. We have a beautiful entry to our property with 2 8ft gates that swing open.

Most of the time, the wind will push one side of them closed or slam it up against the inner fence. When we wanted to hold it open, I had an old piece of concrete and a random stick. When we wanted it locked we bought a bike lock or a random chain and chained it together (see pic above). We just got use to the inconvenience and went on with life. Every time we left or came back to the property Brandelyn would say “We need a gate opener!” 20 years of reminding me about something is a long time! I’ve held out long enough haha!

I had never heard of Ghost Controls up until a few months ago. We were visiting a friend on his ranch in a very remote location in central Montana. When we pulled up to the property, I saw a solar panel attached to a fence post connected to a control panel connected to an actuator. It looked super simple and clean. Of course Brandelyn gave me “the look” so I got out and inspected the system. It was made by a company called “Ghost Controls.” You know when you see something for the first time and all of a sudden you start to see it everywhere? That’s what happened. He of course loved the system because it was easy to use and most importantly it worked! While driving along the remote stretch of road MT Highway 81 I began to see many more cattle ranches with the same system.

In my limited experience, cattle ranchers in Montana are no nonsense people with a lot of work to do. If they are using a gate opening system for their applications, it’s for a reason. We took a trip to the local farm store Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply and found a prominent display highlighting “Ghost Controls” automatic gate openers and all of the features.

Intrigued, we did a little detective work and traced it to the Ghost Controls system. Soon after, we couldn’t help but notice it popping up at other farms, ranches, and rural properties. That was our cue to dive deeper into our own research — and we’re glad we did.

We discovered that Ghost Controls is known for its DIY-friendly installation, quiet, fast operation, and solar-optimized, battery-powered systems — features that are essential for a remote farm gate. Their gear motors are designed for smooth operation, even after many cycles, and are backed by a limited lifetime warranty, offering real peace of mind Redditghostcontrolsshop.com+2ghostcontrolsshop.com+2ButterflyMX+2.

From user reviews and deep dives into online forums, the advantages became clear:

• The system is built to be quiet, reliable, and easy to install, with well‑engineered hardware and clear instructions — even for those of us with only basic handyman experience eBay.
• Most components are solar-compatible or battery‑powered, ideal for locations without reliable AC power — just like our property ButterflyMX.
• And there are smart security features such as Ghost Code®, which ensures only your remotes, keypads, and vehicle sensors can activate your gate—protecting against digital intruders with over 4 million code combinations –Tractor Supply.

In reading user experiences, we came across mixed feedback — some praised the system’s longevity and support, while others reported issues after the warranty period ended. One reviewer noted:

“I have had their system for years now and the … small issues I had were quickly resolved by their customer service team.” trustpilot.com

But a few users cautioned:

“It works one day and not the next… Wash their hands of you—it’s awful support.” Reddit

Though there are occasional complaints, the majority of feedback points to reliable performance and solid support — especially if you’re within the warranty window.

Putting it all together, we came away confident that Ghost Controls offered the right balance of functionality, customization, and backup support for our situation. The combination of solar‑ready design, durable motors, secure keypad and remote access, and flexible features like PartyMode and VacationMode sealed the deal. So I did what every good husband to an influencer does… I reached out using my wife’s account!

I was greeted by an agent of the company who was polite, friendly and extremely helpful! Shout out to Allison L. over at Ghost Controls! She put together an order for us and sent it no problem! 1 week later a few huge boxes showed up and I was ready to DIY!

I’m a pretty handy guy. I would say probably more handy than most people so tackling this project didn’t scare me at all. If you aren’t a super handy person, there are some very good videos out there produced by Ghost Controls and the community to help you along your way. Visit Youtube and just do a simple search. The hardest part of this project was having to drill through metal and concrete to install the brackets for the actuators and digging the ditch to bury the conduit for the AC power. The rest was super simple! Now, I say that but I did almost ruin the entire system!!

In the end (after following the instructions), Everything was wired up correctly and it works beautifully! After using the system for 2 weeks now, I don’t know how we lasted 20 years without it!!

My Review of the Ghost Controls Automatic Gate Opener

As someone who has lived on a rural property for many years, I can honestly say the Ghost Controls Automatic Gate Opener has been a complete game changer for us. After more than 20 years without an automatic system, I finally decided to make the investment—and I’m so glad I did.

From the start, I was impressed with the quality of the components. The actuators are heavy-duty and built to last, the control box is weather-resistant, and the keypad and remotes feel solid and responsive. Installation was straightforward with clear instructions, and everything worked seamlessly right out of the box.

Functionally, it’s everything I hoped for. The gate opens and closes smoothly and quietly, even in bad weather. The remotes have great range, the keypad adds an extra layer of convenience for visitors, and the battery backup ensures it operates even during power outages.

Living in a remote area, security is a top priority, and this system gives me real peace of mind. The gate stays closed unless I open it, and I love knowing that our animals can’t wander out onto the main road. On top of that, it’s just incredibly convenient not having to get out of the truck every time we come and go—especially during those cold, rainy days. The keypad helps with guests and the vehicle sensor is a huge bonus. If I ever forget my remote or get a ride from someone else, I can easily pull out my phone app and use it to gain access or even just check the health of the system!

After doing my research and seeing this system in action on other rural properties, I feel confident that Ghost Controls offers one of the best automatic gate opener solutions out there. It’s reliable, durable, and makes life on the farm that much easier.

— Joe Tafoya