max length rebar to hold up tarp?

[miss naomix]

A few burns ago, some kind campmates surprised me one morning by erecting a shade tarp above my oven, er, tent... I seem to recall them up on a ladder to pound in the long (at least 6 feet?) rebar stakes which held a tarp above my tent.

But maybe I'm remembering wrong... Would rebar that long be stable?

This year i'm sharing a big tent (10 x 17 base, 6 ft high) and need to devise a cheap shade over it. I was thinking 2 long rebar stakes (9 or 10 ft, strong grade - 50 or 60 maybe?) pounded in at least a foot, with large tarps sloping down either side to 4-5 ft. rebar stakes. (or to the car on one side) I was also thinking of adding another set of shorter rebar stakes angled to lash or guywire to the longer ones for added stability.

A friend with a smaller tent was hoping to do the same, only with just one sloping tarp.

Feedback most appreciated...

nx

[Bob]

Rebar is designed to bend easily, so it isn't so great for poles. For the arrangement you describe, you could use 4' concrete form stakes (solid steel 3/4" dia) from the lumber yard for tying off the lower tarp edges, and slip 1" steel EMT conduit 7' or 8' long over 4' stakes to support the peak. Or use two pairs of poles lashed together to form A-frames to support the peak. Using additional shorter stakes to help secure the edges, as you describe, is a great idea. Bring a few extra short stakes & plenty of cord just in case.

[trilobyte]

What Bob said. While rebar is an often-used solution to staking things down, I hate the stuff. The rough edges may hold well in the ground, but rebar probably leads to more cuts, scrapes, and injuries on the playa than anything else. If you can avoid using the stuff, woohoo!

I use EMT conduit in my structures, and it works out really well. The poles hold up well on the playa, and can be used year after year.

Good luck with your shade!

~Trilo~

[honeyfire]

trilobyte said:
"rebar probably leads to more cuts, scrapes, and injuries on the playa than anything else."

Can you elaborate on this a bit, please? Are we talking tripping over, colliding with, other issues, or all of the above?
And would it help any if one were to slip some pvc pipe over the exposed length of rebar?
It seems like it would stablise it a bit, make it lighter in color (more visible, less hot), and offer a smooth surface to collide with.
Thoughts?

[unjonharley]

i m bringing a large bag of tennis balls.. i will hand them out when i see rebar steaks sticking up.. or if you see me riding around with the balls just ask.. these are also good to top center poles and avoid tarp damage..

[Toolmaker]

Pieces of those pool noodles work good too for covering rebar. Also try to mark your guy lines so people don't trip.