Wrangler & Ride Over

Posted by Waverley Klein Ovink on 4 August 2011 | 1 Comments

Tags: Ride Over Gate, ROG, ATV, Wrangler, Phillip MacDonald

Imagine a farm where ATV bikes can travel through gates but stock cannot.  No getting off the quad to unlatch and open gates, drive through, get off, close and relatch the gate at every paddock.  What a wonderful world that would be.  Every great New Zealand invention begins with the thought “There must be an easier way”.  When such a thought goes through serial inventor Phillip MacDonald’s head you can be assured the way will be found.

Simply called the Ride Over Gate, or more affectionately ROG, Phillip’s gate has been faithfully allowing farm quads through whilst keeping stock fenced for the last 20 years.  As with all great inventions its magic is its simplicity.  A simple nudge with the quad will push the gate allowing it to be driven over.  Once pushed down the gate is like a cattle stop allowing vehicles and people to cross over but impossible for animals to step over.  Calfeteria, irrigators, and calf trailers can also be towed across the gate speeding up essential farm travel. 

Wilco Klein Ovink from The Wrangler Ltd was most impressed with Phillip’s ROG.  He wasn’t the only one.  Judges at NZ Agricultural Fieldays this year awarded it the prestigious JAWS Innovation Award, and his hands-on demonstration attracted flocks of farmers. 

Quietly spoken Phillip has seen it all before.  He has lost count of the number of inventions that have come out of his Edgecumbe shed.  He is happiest tinkering in his workshop and is pleased to team up with another innovative company – The Wrangler , who will manufacture and market the Ride Over Gate.  That is good news too for farmers, lifestylers, and all of us who would prefer to travel the farm without leaving the Quad Bike seat.