Tent Pegs in rocky ground

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

I did a search for this, but nothing...

We camped a couple of nights in the Flinders recently, and apart from Wilpena campground, we found a lot of rock with the pegs. Bent a few (they're just the standard bent rod items from Black Wolf). At one place, I was thinking it'd be a whole lot easier with a hammer drill but that's not really the spirit, but I could be tempted. :mrgreen:

Is there a better way, or better pegs?

Michael

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

Hi Michael

The ground is either too hard and the pegs bend or it is too soft and they pull out. You can buy canvas bags that you fill with sand (if you can find it). I have also seen water bottles used (if water is handy). I have used weight disks that you buy by the kilo at sports stores but they would get heavy to carry if you needed too many. I have used about 20kg worth which is acceptable. Everything is a compromise

Cheers - John

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

bent many a peg but found that solid peg (about 8mm) with a sharpened point has a chance. The biggest problem is the bend at the end means when you wack it the force is not aimed directly down the peg. Recently on a camping forum (I think) I saw some that had a bit welded across the end of a straight peg so when you wack it the force goes straight down the peg. Can't remember if it was a commercial item or home made. I intended to make some along those lines.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

I've done a bit of hunting around.

The hiking fraternity seems to favour titanium 'stakes' for rocky ground. The Shepherds hook style. Available in bright colours so you can find them when you drop them. Apparently very resistant to bending and you can pound them without fear of breakage:


Lazr Hi-Vis Titanium Tent Stakes. 6 grams each $US 15.00/6

I like the look of these next ones, they are a lot heavier and don't have that hook shape to deflect the insertion forces:


Vargo Titanium Nail Tent Stake. 14 grams each. $US 11.99/3

Other notable mentions are the MSR Groundhog (it's Aluminium, gets good reviews though):


MSR Groundhog Tent Stake. 20 grams each. $US 19.95/8

Prices are as found on the web, no idea if they are available locally.

I found a few mentions of using a battery hammer drill to predrill the holes, so I'm not the only one with a sense of humor about it all. Maybe just forget the pegs altogether and insert a bunch of ground anchors anywhere we camp to spread the lurve.

Tempted to try a couple of these, it's not a whole lot of money if they solve the problem, and I could use them on my hike tent too...

Michael

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

I have mentioned elsewhere before that (not that I have had to do it) I have seen it.
If anyone goes to Denham caravan park down by the water (Shark Bay WA) you will probably see it.
The owner lends you his drill to pre drill the holes. I thought it was funny, but I might take a cordless just in case from now on. Its one of those tools that has 2 uses. Can get you out of a hard spot, and get you into one

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

I think it was in Ray's Outdoors I saw these pegs made out of approx 25mm angle. This would give you a good chance of shattering or deflecting off some rocks as well as being able to give them a good whack with out deflecting off the top of the peg.

[Jacto Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jacto]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

I think it was in Ray's Outdoors I saw these pegs made out of approx 25mm angle. This would give you a good chance of shattering or deflecting off some rocks as well as being able to give them a good whack with out deflecting off the top of the peg.

We have been in a situation where we needed to drill the ground first to get pegs in and the problem with this is that if the hole is small then the pegs can be difficult to get out of the ground.
We have also used angle iron and mini star picket style pegs and both of these, although better to knock in and ground holding than round pegs, they can be near impossible to remove from the ground, particularly in rocky areas.

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

I definitely think that decent chunky tent pegs and a nice heavy hammer is the only way to go. Then you can really get stuck into em and you'd be surprised what you can hammer through, with a little persistence and precision hitting. I got some heavy duty, normal "shepherds hook style" pegs with my Blackwolf tent and they've taken a fair punishing I can tell you. Still haven't bent one yet so they must be decent grade steel. They do have a pointed end though which I'm sure helps a lot.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

I made a heap of these up yonks ago when we were camping on harder stuff. Mostly beach camp now so I gave most of them away over the last few years. If I find any I will post a picture, the peg bag now only has loooooooooong sand pegs (made from Y12 reo) in it.

Essentially some 9mm bar about 250mm long. Ground to a point at one end with a bent piece welded along the sides at the other. Allows you to drive the peg with a mallet into pretty much anything. Mine were made from left over 0.5 Cr- 0.3 Mo steel but mild steel in 10 or 12mm diameter would work as well. A bit of work to make but the pegs were the best hard ground pegs I had ever used; could be hard to get out so I only drove them in as far as necessary to get a grip on the ground.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

Ok, they're here. Now I just have to get back up there to test them out and do a report:

[attachment=0:22b8nvz1]Stakes.jpg[/attachment:22b8nvz1]

They're definitely smaller pegs designed for smaller tents than our Black Wolf turbo, but on the other hand, if they get purchase in rock they will be strong enough to hold fast. So we will use the standard pegs and pull these out when it gets rocky.

Total cost: $US22.92 plus freight for 14 pegs.

Michael

[Mrs Two+Four Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Two+Four]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

I made a heap of these up yonks ago when we were camping on harder stuff. Mostly beach camp now so I gave most of them away over the last few years. If I find any I will post a picture, the peg bag now only has loooooooooong sand pegs (made from Y12 reo) in it.

Essentially some 9mm bar about 250mm long. Ground to a point at one end with a bent piece welded along the sides at the other. Allows you to drive the peg with a mallet into pretty much anything. Mine were made from left over 0.5 Cr- 0.3 Mo steel but mild steel in 10 or 12mm diameter would work as well. A bit of work to make but the pegs were the best hard ground pegs I had ever used; could be hard to get out so I only drove them in as far as necessary to get a grip on the ground.

We found this at a scout camp a couple of weeks ago. Does it look familiar mjrandom? They're brilliant, hubby was asying he wouldn't mind a few more.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

So is the foot getting better?

Those pegs sure look solid...

Michael

[Mrs Two+Four Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Two+Four]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

So is the foot getting better?

Those pegs sure look solid...

Michael

ops: Ok, my cropping skills are crap ops:

Yes it's on the mend thanks :lol: it's going to take a couple of days. Just hope I can get a boot on for ANZAC day. Got to say the little op was worse than childbirth and I've delivered an 11 pounder.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

Been meaning to post this for a while;

Bought these up the coast many years ago.
They are about 400 long.
Have never failed me.
Anyone with access to a welder could knock them up faily simply.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Tent Pegs in rocky ground

I forgot all about this post until I went to get some pegs to nail the pavilion thing down this afternoon. So I took a picture. Mrs 'six' very similar to the one you found at the Scout camp (you guys going to the Jamboree next year?). I cannot take credit for the design I copied them off another person! I have put a close-up of the top so you can see how easy they are to make, cut off saw is handy, vice and bench grinder though an angle grinder can be used and a welder. They just take a bit of time and it is easier to make batches than just a few, I think we made about 60 but this is the only one left in my possession.



Michael