Has someone NOT USED rebar and had success?

Terlin · Post by **Terlin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:33 am

with their tent or shade structure not flying away? I am a female first timer going by myself and I dont feel comfortable trying to deal with rebar or even think I could bend it, pound it in or for that matter even remove it like the topic titled Rebar 101 suggests.

I have a 9 x 17 tent that has withstood 50 plus mph winds with 10 inch metal stakes. Could anyone that has not used rebar on their tent or shade structures at BM with success please comment...thank you.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:41 am

Secure it to your vehicle. Any shade for your tent...anchor it some how, using the weight of your car

Terlin · Post by **Terlin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:56 am

Thank you Tom for your suggestion.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:01 am

I learned everything I needed to know about camping, my first night on the playa. Good Luck! and Welcome home!

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:09 am

Terlin wrote:with their tent or shade structure not flying away? I am a female first timer going by myself and I dont feel comfortable trying to deal with rebar or even think I could bend it, pound it in or for that matter even remove it like the topic titled Rebar 101 suggests.

I have a 9 x 17 tent that has withstood 50 plus mph winds with 10 inch metal stakes. Could anyone that has not used rebar on their tent or shade structures at BM with success please comment...thank you.

A simple way to anchor a tent is to load the inside corners with water jugs, coolers, anvils or whatever other heavy stuff you've got. In a Big Blow it might shift a little, but it won't end up in Gerlach. Servo's right about using your vehicle- You can even park ON the edges of your tarp or tent, since the car won't be moving all week. Be careful of guy lines or tarps that contact the surface of your vehicle, as they can rub right through the paint and cut plastic or fiberglass.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:41 am

Use real stakes, like military 12" or 18" if yours aren't good enough.
They are 4 or 3 sided with a removal hook on the side.
Rebar is too soft and too heavy.
It is very useful for sliding a pole over.
I don't see any other use for it.

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:51 am

Don't have a tent that big. I alway double stake my small tent. That is I use two small stakes in each anchor grommet angled away from each other.

EB · Post by EB » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:41 am

Terlin wrote:with their tent or shade structure not flying away? I am a female first timer going by myself and I dont feel comfortable trying to deal with rebar or even think I could bend it, pound it in or for that matter even remove it like the topic titled Rebar 101 suggests.

I have a 9 x 17 tent that has withstood 50 plus mph winds with 10 inch metal stakes. Could anyone that has not used rebar on their tent or shade structures at BM with success please comment...thank you.

Rebar made easy:

Buy a three lb. sledge hammer. It looks big in the picture, but really it's no bigger than a really thick ordinary hammer.

Buy an 18" length of rebar for every corner of your tent. Available at most big box hardware stores/lumberyards.

Buy a roll of duct tape

Buy a box of saran wrap

Buy a set of vice grips. Again, available at any hardware store.

1. Set up your tent.
2. Put the rebar in the rings where the stakes would go.
3. Pound the rebar in with the 3lb sledge. The weight of the hammer will make the rebar go in fairly easily. If you're not up to it, flag down the nearest male. It's in our blood to want to help pound on things. Also: it's a nice way to meet your neighbors.
4. Leave about five or six inches exposed.
5. Wrap the saran wrap around the rebar and the tent "O" ring.
6. Wrap the duct tape around the saran wrap. Wrap the shit out of it. Wrap it like it owes you money. Make sure no duct tape touches your tent hardware. During the week, the sun will bake the tape's glue and if you don't use saran wrap, it'll be a sticky mess to take off when you go home.
7. Cover the exposed rebar with a cut tennis ball/empty liter soda bottle. No need for candy-caning or otherwise bending of the rebar. I like to buy some solar walkway lights and tape them to the rebar, but it's not mandatory.
8. When you leave, cut the tape off the rebar. The saran wrap should make this a snap.
9. Clamp your vice grip to the exposed rebar and turn it in a circle for about 30 seconds. Then go the other direction. The rebar should be loose enough to pull out easily. If it's not, turn some more or find somebody to help you. By now you've been at the event long enough to have made a friend. Exploit that friendship.

Why go through all of this? Because with rebar, there's NO WORRIES. You don't want to be out on the other side of the playa in a windstorm, worrying if the 10" camping stakes are going to hold your tent. Been there, done that. Using rebar is by FAR the best investment you can make in securing your peace of mind out there. Last year I met a guy who was searching for his wallet and keys. Where did you leave them last? "In my tent... which blew away."

As daunting as it might sound for a lone, first-time, female camper, I would not skimp on this step. Seriously, bring a six-pack of beer to bribe somebody if you have to help you. It's WELL worth it.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:59 am

I agree with EB's method wholeheartedly. I'm a 50ish female and have done that exact method many times.

When pulling the rebar out, if one gets really stubborn, pour a little bit of water around it, then turn it.

The plastic wrap - duct tape trick is GREAT for anchoring the legs of a shade structure. Now I use it to secure the poles of my carport shades together for transport.

Be sure you pitch your tent with your vehicle as a windbreak.

Don't be shy about asking for help - if you don't get what you need at first, keep looking - there are lots of us that will have a better time out there if we have the pleasure of helping a newbie.

Welcome Home!

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:00 am

Having a few tools makes stake removal easy.

A t-type wrecking bar is a very efficient stake remover.

Use the side of a hammer as your fulcrum and pop them right out of the ground with a small application of leverage.

The bar also doubles as zombie repellent. You know... just in case...

Ninth Path · Post by **Ninth Path** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:37 am

EB --

Can you clarify what the purpose of the duct tape and saran wrap is in your methodology? Any tips for keeping the duct tape away from tent hardware if it's going around saran wrap that IS wrapped around tent hardware?

Great post and thank you!

Ninth Path

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:39 am

With a proper military style stake you take a loose stake and roll the flat edges of the stake under the hook.
Pull.
After a bit, they give and pull out smoothly.
No other tools needed for removal unless you drive them all in and then you have to remove one the hard way.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:42 am

Ninth Path wrote:EB --

Can you clarify what the purpose of the duct tape and saran wrap is in your methodology? Any tips for keeping the duct tape away from tent hardware if it's going around saran wrap that IS wrapped around tent hardware?

Great post and thank you!

Ninth Path

The plastic wrap under the duct tape keeps the tape from melting onto whatever it's holding. You can cut it away easily without a sticky mess.

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:16 pm

> I have a 9 x 17 tent that has withstood 50 plus mph winds with
> 10 inch metal stakes.

The issue is the playa. It's loose enough for the first 8 to 12 inches that stakes won't hold. Nothing 10 inches long will hold.

The advantage of rebar is that you can get 18-inch lengths cheaply, the rebar is ribbed instead of smooth like all tent stakes, and the ribbing gives it 'purchase' in the playa ground. I can understand not wanting to deal with rebar, but it's so often mentioned and recommended because it really really works.

If you decide to use rebar but don't want to deal with it, bring it, bring a hammer, and bring vice grips. When you start setting up your tent, look at ht people around you and ask for help for the entire process of setting up your tent, not just rebar.

Seriously, there are 14,000 people at Burning Man every year who's goal in life is to help others. There are another 10,000 who enjoy helping others, but it's not their only goal. So at any given time there are 3 or 4 people within earshot who will be happy to help you. Don't step back and let them to all the work, but join with them in assembling the tent, let them drive the rebar, and then offer everyone an orange or some other treat for their help (bring the treats with you, of course).

Same thing when it's time to remove the rebar. Give it a shot with the vice grips and if it's too much, look around and ask for help. Have some kind of treat or gift to offer that will still be worthy after your time on the playa - a hug and sincere "thank you" may be all it takes.

On asking for help: it's not a girly thing to ask for help. We're all in a harsh, hostile environment, and we all need help at one time or another. Because we all need help, we all know others will need it too, so we offer help because it's social and because we get what we give. You'll have the opportunity to help others during your week there -- take the opportunity every time it arises.

If you choose not to use rebar, get better stakes than the ones you have now. Get longer, better stakes. Don't get plain round stakes - get U-shaped or triangular metal stakes. I recommend metal instead of plastic because the playa can be harder than plastic (it can be harder than small, cheap metal stakes, too). Check your stakes every day to see which ones have loosened in the playa - they may not have pulled out, but if the stake is loose enough you can wiggle it or pull it out by hand, you need to re-drive it into another location.

I never bend rebar, but I put a solar lamp on top of every piece of rebar around my tent. You need to cover rebar in some way to prevent very bad cuts and busted toes. And I do know people who have used stakes other than rebar and not had their tent fly away, but I know what tent it was (no longer available), and it sheds wind _very_ well. I bought one myself. Conversely, I saw a tent rolling across the playa like a tumbling tumble weed. I've seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. Welcome home, Terlin. You'll love it.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:32 pm

I watched C-Beams glitter in the dark near the temple gate.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:47 pm

All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain.... Time to die.

Badger

Funky Monkey Mech · Post by **Funky Monkey Mech** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:54 pm

I did not use anything to tie down my tent last year and had no problems with it.... did not even move...

Ninth Path · Post by **Ninth Path** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:16 pm

So what does the duct tape do? Sorry for my annoying need for clarification.

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:18 pm

I used 12 inch military aluminum stakes last year. They were great! Mostly because of how light they were and how easy to remove. Oh, and they held too.

These: http://www.armynavydeals.com/asp/produc ... =2&SKU=245

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:22 pm

Ninth Path wrote:So what does the duct tape do? Sorry for my annoying need for clarification.

It's what holds the rebar to the tent.

Tent|saran wrap|rebar|Duct Tape

Read steps 5 and 6 again.

Badger

JezebelinHell · Post by **JezebelinHell** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:07 pm

I went to Home Depot a few days ago to grab some rebar and they had these thick pointed metal stakes with holes drilled in them for guy-lines. I grabbed a ten-pack. They were a bit more expensive than rebar, but I think the time-saving aspect will make up for the extra cost. They're 18" long, so I don't think I'll have any problems keeping my tent down.

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:57 pm

> they had these thick pointed metal stakes with holes drilled in
> them for guy-lines.

Yeah, I've got some of those, too. They're not 18 inches, but I use them in places where I don't use rebar.

Which reminds me: TERLIN -- if you're still reading this thread. I don't use rebar on every tent loop. I use rebar only on my fly, which holds my tent down. I use long metal stakes on my tent which sits under my fly. My fly goes all the way down to the ground, so holding the fly down securely keeps my tent in place.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:08 pm

phil wrote:Which reminds me: TERLIN -- if you're still reading this thread. I don't use rebar on every tent loop. I use rebar only on my fly, which holds my tent down. I use long metal stakes on my tent which sits under my fly. My fly goes all the way down to the ground, so holding the fly down securely keeps my tent in place.

Oh Phil, quit bragging about how long your fly is.

Badger

Rusted Iron · Post by **Rusted Iron** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:16 pm

We use giant nails, I think they're called concrete nails, but I could be wrong. They're about 12 - 14 " long and go in easily and are pulled with a nail puller. We've not had one fail to do its job, in 8 years.

A bit off topic, but I want to add that I bought a t-post puller a couple of years ago. It is the second best tool in the world.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:16 am

I use an auger bit on a drill to make a pilot hole, fill the hole with water, then push and turn those 15 inch "doggie screws" into the hole.

When the mud dries around it , it's like concrete, and the handle make for an easy removal.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:36 am

Went to T-posts 2 years ago..haven't driven a rebar stake since. But, their a little heavier and bulkier than rebar. Could walk away from my tent last year without worry. Tent..as in walled canopy..like a carport

However, In July, before last years event...drove onto the playa in the middle of a massive..massive as in anything seen @ BM 2007 doesn't compare...dust storm. Busted out our largest tarp...15x20?..drove my truck on one side of it, and built a crude wind barrier. If I didn't mind crawling into my camp, Id do it very year.

Terlin · Post by **Terlin** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:08 am

Robotland - good idea to weigh down the inside corners of the tent with water jugs and other heavy gear.

Gyre- military stakes sound a little easier than rebar. Will keep that in mind.

Marscrumbs - I might bring a smaller tent to use as my "closet" and your suggestion to double stake is a good one.

EB - thank you so much for the visuals and explanation on using rebar. It almost makes it seem easy except for that 3 lb sledge hammer :lol:

Mojo - thank you for your suggestions and for welcoming me.

Capsmashy - jajaja "zombie repellent"...I will keep that in mind.

Phil - Thank you for your comments on this thread. I know it is not a girly thing to ask for help but I want to be self sufficient plus I am a little on the shy side.

I have read you in several topics and I just wanted to tell you that I value all the advice you give out to us newbies... :)

Sputnik - you are the second person to suggest military stakes. Thanks.

Jezebelinhell - had not heard of metal stakes with holes drilled in them...something else to consider.

Rusted Iron - concrete nails...another option

Thank you all for taking the time to post your suggestions and advice on this thread. It is very much appreciated.

Terlin · Post by **Terlin** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:30 am

Oneeyeddick - I dont own or know how to use a drill but it could be an option for someone who does.

TomServo - I didn't know people could go to the playa in the off season.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:55 am

I think it's there all year.
Like when you close the fridge door.

Do they allow shy on the playa?

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:04 am

Terlin wrote:Oneeyeddick - I dont own or know how to use a drill but it could be an option for someone who does.

TomServo - I didn't know people could go to the playa in the off season.

4th of Juplaya..and the hot springs are available to us!

Has someone NOT USED rebar and had success?

Has someone NOT USED rebar and had success?

Re: Has someone NOT USED rebar and had success?

small stakes

Re: Has someone NOT USED rebar and had success?

Duct Tape and Saran Wrap

Re: Duct Tape and Saran Wrap

Duct Tape

Re: Duct Tape