Hey All,
I found these out on the Cabels website and thought that they would be great to use as awning pole bases. A couple of tent nails through the bottom plate and I think that they might work well..... anyone else have any experience using these (or something like these) to keep the awning poles in place? The two little ones have a tendancy to find every little thing to trip over, and those ropes with the stakes hanging out there seem to attract them like magnets.... lol
Tent Pole Base (//%22http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20075&id=0019820515853a&navCount=2&podId=0019820&parentId=cat280029&navAction=push&catalogCode=XF&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat280029&hasJS=true%22)
(http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/51/58/53/i515853vr01.jpg)
I have used cast iron teke torch bases in the past. They work well, but are heavy.
These will work assuming you have a surface you can #1 drive a nail into, and #2, the soil is firm enough that the nail will stay put. I still prefer my flowerpots with plaster of paris and PVC (you can find descriptions in various threads). I hated using the rope stays because I was always the one to trip over them! Plus, more often than not, we couldn't stake them down for one reason or another.
Quote from: Camping CoxesThese will work assuming you have a surface you can #1 drive a nail into, and #2, the soil is firm enough that the nail will stay put. I still prefer my flowerpots with plaster of paris and PVC (you can find descriptions in various threads). I hated using the rope stays because I was always the one to trip over them! Plus, more often than not, we couldn't stake them down for one reason or another.
That is why I got the cast iron teki torch bases.:)
Where can I get the cast iron teki torch bases?
Quote from: GrizzlyTacoWhere can I get the cast iron teki torch bases?
Walmart for $2 each. :D
Quote from: GrizzlyTacoWhere can I get the cast iron teki torch bases?
I purchased mine at Wal-Mart, in the garden section.:)
I guess that I am a cheap-skate at heart.
I bought a section of re-bar, cut them to 18 inch lengths, drive them in to the ground about half way, and drop the awning poles over the top of them. Works great for me. I also guy-line the two corners of the awning and tie them off to the picnic table to hold the awning down on the bars. There is no wind this set-up hasn't held up to. Should hold up to your youngin's also.
PS: I use the same method to stake my bamboo tiki torches also.
Quote from: hoppyI also guy-line the two corners of the awning and tie them off to the picnic table to hold the awning down on the bars.
If you are using the ropes, why not just set up the awning the way it is supposed to be set up?:confused:
Quote from: tlhdocI purchased mine at Wal-Mart, in the garden section.:)
I went to Wal-Mart this afternoon and picked up the only 2 they had left, i need one more, i'll probably buy 2 more, have a spare. I like them, just pound into the ground and set your pole in there and tighten the screw. My awning poles dont have ropes to tie them down, there is a little loop at the bottem of each pole and you have to use a tent pole stake to hold it in place, I dont like this method.......Ed
Quote from: tlhdocIf you are using the ropes, why not just set up the awning the way it is supposed to be set up?:confused:
I found that if when I used the pegs into the ground during heavy rains and wind, they had a tendency to pull out. I also would trip over the guy lines, since they would be located inside the site.
With guy lines attached to the table, there is no problem with them failing or tripping over, or the dog getting tangeled up in them.
Works great for us.
Ed, you can also buy them at Homedepo for $2.99. I love mine, makes set up so much easier :D .
I have searched Home Depot and Walmart websites, but cannot find what you guys/gals are talking about. Is this what you are talking about?
http://www.buytikitorches.com/tiki-torches-bases/bases-iron
Those are much more than $2, however.
I doubt I'm in the market...I made some using carwash buckets, concrete, PVC, and eyebolts. Big and heavy, but very effective!
Larry
Larry that is the type of thing we are talking about, but WAY too much money. I bought mine several years ago and I don't remember what I paid, but it wasn't very much.:)
Hoppy why not just set the legs up like normal and tie the ropes to the table, without driving the rebar into the ground?
Quote from: tlhdocHoppy why not just set the legs up like normal and tie the ropes to the table, without driving the rebar into the ground?
I've found that driving the rebar into the ground and placing the awning poles over them keeps the poles from scooting off to the sides and out from under the awning if the dogs or kids run into them. It also makes the set-up a tad more sturder in windy conditions.
The rebar trick also works great for staking into the ground to hold up my bambo based tiki torches also. Down here with the hard-red Georgia clay, driving in the rebar is a must and slipping the poles over them.
One day I'll set a webphoto account here, and post pics of the set-up.
It really is a simple set-up, very sturdy, and the guy-lines attached to the table pose no tripping possibility.
I often tie my guide lines off to the table, post or a near by tree. When we camp at the beach even 15 inch tent stakes (there are special ways to anchor in sand, but they all involve more work than I want to do) will pull out, but the heavy tables will move.:)
Quote from: hoppyI've found that driving the rebar into the ground and placing the awning poles over them keeps the poles from scooting off to the sides and out from under the awning if the dogs or kids run into them. It also makes the set-up a tad more sturder in windy conditions.
The rebar trick also works great for staking into the ground to hold up my bambo based tiki torches also. Down here with the hard-red Georgia clay, driving in the rebar is a must and slipping the poles over them.
One day I'll set a webphoto account here, and post pics of the set-up.
It really is a simple set-up, very sturdy, and the guy-lines attached to the table pose no tripping possibility.
Quote from: Camping CoxesThese will work assuming you have a surface you can #1 drive a nail into, and #2, the soil is firm enough that the nail will stay put. I still prefer my flowerpots with plaster of paris and PVC (you can find descriptions in various threads). I hated using the rope stays because I was always the one to trip over them! Plus, more often than not, we couldn't stake them down for one reason or another.
I have two of the flowerpots and love them. Want the third, but ran out of cement. Even my husband loves them because he says it is easy to know when the poles aren't straight.
Quote from: brainpauseI have searched Home Depot and Walmart websites, but cannot find what you guys/gals are talking about. Is this what you are talking about?
http://www.buytikitorches.com/tiki-torches-bases/bases-iron
Those bases would be good for solid surfaces. My tiki torch bases are actually stakes to drive into the ground. After seeing those, though, I'm wondering if I need to find a cheaper version of those for those times when we're camping on asphalt! :)
I just found some sturdy tiki bases (not stakes) at Target for $10 each. I haven't had a chance to try them yet, but I'm going to take a look at the awning this week to see if it's a viable solution. The only thing is that they're just so heavy compared to the stakes!
You could always try this... I'm planning on it this weekend...
http://gmcamping.tripod.com/id13.html
Before my extension poles to mount the poles to the trailer mod days and Campout awnings I found some bases that you could fill with sand. They were water tight so I just used water and could empty them when we broke down camp. This was helpful as I was always right on the ragged edge as far as weight was concerned, to the point we'd periodically strip the trailer to get rid of accumulation.
My main reason for the mod and the campout over the bases was the dog. Even staking the poles with rebar wouldn't help unless the rebar was 4 foot tall. My little Sheltie could as I called it "wrap and snap" an awning pole in about two seconds and ropes were out of the question. He thought the awning poles were part of an agility course...LOL
Hey all!
We did the "traditional" cement flower pots... They work great! Click here for pics:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/549777754/2971685570037083005urwLeJ (//%22http://community.webshots.com/photo/549777754/2971685570037083005urwLeJ%22)#
and:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/549777754/2647659890037083005FqhjtR (//%22http://community.webshots.com/photo/549777754/2647659890037083005FqhjtR%22)