Free standing poles to prop tarp over...lamp post..?

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:18 pm

I'm wondering if this exists: poles which will stand as tall or taller than my 6 foot tent, are tough enough, stakable at base and... can be taken apart to transport in a suitcase. Connectable poles. Too much to hope for? I haven't even found normal tall poles, aren't they sold seperately from a carport? I'm thinking of 1-2 poles by themselves next to my tent & a tarp over it.

What would be perfect is a design like a street lamp, it's wide, unassembled the poles are short enough for transport, screw them in place, and holes for staking all around the base. Like these, what do you think? I have one already:

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Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:39 pm

PS This probably seems inconvenient, but my main concern's it fitting in my luggage & withstanding the wind. I'm completely new to this, so I don't know what people use in this situation. Thanks!

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:30 pm

> can be taken apart to transport in a suitcase.

How long? Two feet? Four feet?

Things to consider: if the poles are hollow, drive rebar into the playa and put the poles over rebar. If you are putting a shade over your tent, use the shade fabric and guying to keep the poles upright. There are lots of collapsible poles that extend beyond six feet, but you haven't said what you want the poles for: hold up a pennant? hold up a tarp? do they have to bear weight? how much? wind load?

More info, please.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:31 pm

Could use a sectional tent pole slipped over one long stake, and tie off to another stake or two driven at opposing angles.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:49 pm

I'll be making a tarp or bed sheet with reflectix on it. I was gonna just throw it over my tent but read about using two poles, one on each side of the tent, tying a rope between them & throwing the tarp over that.

The lamp post is hollow, but pretty wide around too. It does have four holes around the base, should be big enough for rebar, gotta make sure, I'll drill if not.

I really did search, and I can't find anything, if you guys know anywhere to buy or get info on these collapsible poles, please let me know! Google gives me hiking poles.

Bob... what's a sectional pole, is it collapsible and where do I get it..?

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:26 pm

check these out.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:46 pm

Military sectional tent poles, aluminum or fiberglass type, about 3 ft long, sometimes as a kit with camo netting & spreaders. Check army surplus stores.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:56 pm

Wow, thank you! I still gotta ask, is this something likely not to bend out there? If it is, it's just perfect.

I can't spot the difference between the 1st & last. The first connects with a shock cord (which I would expect from a tent pole, but it's a "tarp pole") and the last has no cord but push button lock (which I would expect from a tarp pole but it's a "replacement tent pole") and costs 1/2 the price for twice as many... they both weigh the same. Unless the last's 1 pound for both. Oh, and one last question, this is the type of pole I'd have to sit on top of a piece of rebar, right?

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:58 pm

Bob wrote:Military sectional tent poles, aluminum or fiberglass type, about 3 ft long, sometimes as a kit with camo netting & spreaders. Check army surplus stores.

ooooooh I'll search, gotta see if they're connectable. Thanks.

munney · Post by **munney** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:34 pm

Hey check the 9 - $15 dollar answer:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... &noImage=0

or Check your local Military surplus store and look for the heavy duty folding Pole holders, and stacking poles.

I looked online but couldnt locate them exactly, but they exist....

Or you could get creative in a hardware store and see what pops out at you.

Radical Self Reliance

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:34 pm

Thank you! I don't have those stores around me for some reason.. So, the $9-15 poles are of "lightweight steel" & the all 3 above are alluminum. I probably should know this, but I don't. Which one's if any are more likely to hold up? My only option for securing them up would be sticking them on a really long rebar, right?

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:40 pm

You can pound the rebar in and then duct tape the pole to the rebar. That is if the bottom of the pole has no opening.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:46 am

I have seen joints for making your own poles somewhere.
Tripod legs are very compact.
You could thread your own.
shelter Systems has splice joints for pipe.
Shelsys.com

There is something magical about the right lamppost.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:46 am

1 2x4 for each pole
4 plywood triangles for bottom of each pole

burn that shit at the end of the week

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:53 am

I'll try & figure out that mental image, but first, what's a 2x4? My cowerks suggest it's the pole measurements, but I'm still confused.

chiefdanfox · Post by **chiefdanfox** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:12 am

2X4 is a board 1.5" X 3.5" X n' long
you make four right triangles out of plywood, and screw/nail the 90 degree angle sides to each side of the 2X4 forming something that looks like a windmill, or pinwheel when viewed from above or below.

The triangles act as legs; they are really kind of a gusset. You could then drive concrete stakes next to the gussets, and fasten the gussets to the stakes, and the flag pole is complete. Just remember to affix your flag prior to erecting, unless you have a ladder tall enough...

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:54 am

http://images.burningman.com/index.cgi?image=15254

Maybe you meant 4x4.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:56 am

BTW, they should fire that guy on the left.

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:07 pm

He's the supervisor. WHo is going to stand and watch for safety?

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:14 pm

I see they had a ladder tall enough. Now I get it, thank you!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:30 pm

Each 3/4 ply fin at the base is secured w/ a 3' concrete form stake screwed into the fin. Guess that's Lefty's job.

chiefdanfox · Post by **chiefdanfox** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:40 pm

well, that does look like the battery end of a driver hangin' out of Lefty's belt...or do his close friends know him as "Hammerhead"?

Shoeshine · Post by **Shoeshine** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:14 pm

I prefer Ukrainians, as they too are free standing (at least as of '91) but they aren't quite as tall.