Swingaway vs. Breakaway Boom Arms: What's the Difference?
When it comes to protecting your gate opener from vehicle impacts, the type of boom arm bracket you choose makes a real difference. Replacement barrier arms typically come with either swingaway or breakaway brackets, and each is designed to handle a hard hit in its own way. Understanding the distinction helps you pick the right part for your setup and avoid unexpected downtime.
Swingaway Boom Arm Brackets
Swingaway brackets are built to take a hit without destroying the arm or the opener. When struck hard enough, the arm swings perpendicular to the opener, absorbing the force and reducing damage to the mechanism. After the impact, the arm can usually be reset back into working position with minimal effort. This makes swingaway brackets a practical choice if you want the arm to stay intact and get back online quickly.
Breakaway Boom Arm Brackets
Breakaway brackets are designed so that, if hit hard enough, the arm breaks off. These arms protect the opener by breaking the arm instead of transferring damage into the drive mechanism. Once the arm breaks off, it must be reattached or replaced if severely damaged before the gate can resume normal operation. For some installations, that trade-off is worth the added protection for the opener.
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