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Topic: Flags and groundspikes

JimM169

30/3/2013 at 4:18pm
Location: Chessington Surrey
Outfit: Outwell Montana Lake

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We're going over to the dark side and getting a flag and pole for our camping trip this year. Looking at a 6m pole but how does everyone secure their poles in place. I've seen the ground spikes but these are only 1m and made of GRP - are they strong enough to hammer into hard ground? Also once you've got enough in the ground to be secure does that leave enough sticking out to secure the pole?

Cheers

Jim

Defender

30/3/2013 at 7:18pm
Location: Kent
Outfit: Bailey Senator 5 Carolina

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Jim,

Assumimg that you're talking about the telescopic fibreglass style poles, then I use a metal rod about 5ft or so in length. I bought it from a well-known national diy store that sports an orange logo! Forget what it's correct name is, but it is about 20mm in diameter with a pointed end (with the width reducing down to a point about 8" from the end) and a flat, round end.

Paid about £5 for it. Much more resilient than grp (but also less flexible). Usually hammer this in about 18" and slip the pole over the spike that is still visible above ground.

Have happily used different length poles up to 8m and flew up to 4 flags/windsocks at any one time. (get yourself a 'sleeve' for the pole - and some strong tape for when the friction of the pole sections fail to keep them upright!)

Defender

dk168

30/3/2013 at 8:29pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC

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I have a 4m telescopic pole, and use one 1m GRP ground spike with it.

I drive the ground spike about 30cm into the ground and there is still sufficient length above the ground for the pole to anchor and swivel freely against the wind.

DK

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andy151

31/3/2013 at 9:03am
Location: West Yorks
Outfit: Maritsa 700 2011 model

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I've been looking at getting a telescopic flag pole as well. And I'm a bit confused about the groundspike bit. One site/shop says one groundspike and another says two. That was for a 4m flagpole.

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dk168

31/3/2013 at 10:31am
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC

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I only use 1 ground spike for my 4m pole, and so far so good with no issues.

DK

pitdiver

31/3/2013 at 11:07am
Location: Darkest Bedfordshire
Outfit: Icarus 500+ Beta 450

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We have a 7 metre Flag pole and use 3 ground spikes, never had any problems.
If you intend using a sleeve (to fly more than 1 flag or windsock) get a longer pole because the first section is not to be extended making it 1 metre shorter, ie. 7mtr becomes 6mtr.

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Highlander09

31/3/2013 at 12:38pm
Location: Wigtownshire
Outfit: None Entered

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WHY?

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David

scb2

31/3/2013 at 12:51pm
Location: west yorkshire
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We tape ours to one of our tent poles, we don't have a problem but not sure whether its recommended or not?

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dk168

31/3/2013 at 6:36pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC

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Quote: Originally posted by Highlander09 on 31/3/2013
WHY?

Why what?

DK

pitdiver

31/3/2013 at 9:36pm
Location: Darkest Bedfordshire
Outfit: Icarus 500+ Beta 450

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If the "WHY" is about not extending the first section of the pole, it is because using the sleeve puts a lot of pressure on the top of the pole and as the first section is quite thin it is likely to break

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Pitdiver

Welsue's other half and also a ,Camper, Sailor and a nearly Outdoor Person.

HEJC72

06/4/2013 at 12:07pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Outfit: Holi * Perran 4 * Airedale 5

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I have a 5m flag pole and use 2 ground spikes.

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generalhawk

07/4/2013 at 2:21pm
Location: eaton bray beds
Outfit: Discovery and Gobur 12 2T

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I have 5mtr pole and two groundspikes. I also secure the pole to the awning pole with a cable tie

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hawk

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