[pugs]

Do they make sequence valves small enough??

Otherwise you could put pressure relief valves in the gate cylinder lines (and a check valve in each as well), but have the dump of the pressure relief valve run the crowd cylinder instead of being a tank drain. This way the Gate cylinder would open fully first, then the relief valve would allow fluid to the crowd cylinder. Need the check valve in the non pressurozed side to allow fluid from the rod end of the crowd to bypass the pressure relief valve on the rod end of the gate cyl and return to tank. Same thing in reverse.

I'll see if I can't draw up a schematic quick of what I mean.