No Trees? No problem - Ground Anchors

[warbonnetguy]

anybody tried these in poor soil (loose, rocky, etc)?

[SGT Rock]

I'm thinking of going to Target and getting some to play with: http://www.target.com/6-pc-Ground-An..._gwvub_2_title

I'm wondering if one could make a driver out of a carbon rod and also use it for the support on a one tree rig...

[Pitch]

anybody tried these in poor soil (loose, rocky, etc)?

Loose: Not yet I want to try them on the beach soon though . I imagine you just need to drive it deeper in this case.

Rocky - YES. Can be a really big problem if you have high density of rocks or roots. If you manage to get it past all the rocks you can easily get it stuck behind them and need to dig it out. If you know you're going into rough soil like this, don't put it in so deep... and just give it a really good pull to see if it is gonna come out under your load. Also, don't hang so high (help prevent injury if you do go down).

[Pitch]

I'm thinking of going to Target and getting some to play with: http://www.target.com/6-pc-Ground-An..._gwvub_2_title

I'm wondering if one could make a driver out of a carbon rod and also use it for the support on a one tree rig...

This is a reallly expensive set of kit - i think I paid a lot less for a dozzen of the ones I used - and that was shipped!

Also (IMPORTANT!!) I don't think the ones from target have the removal "boss" which is NEEDED to pull these out. Once they are in you can't get them out otherwise (without digging) or a serious lever to apply the ~1000LB of force needed.

Re: Carbon rod
I really dunno if this will work - it would have to be a seriously thick carbon fiber rod due to the compressive nature of the loading. Fiber does great in tension and so-so in compression along the axis in my experience. Who knows though - you may be onto something awesome!! Please let us know if you try it (and be careful - CF splinters hurt!)

[Pitch]

I noticed your removable ones have that extra line, is it on the nose or the back of the anchors?

Its on the back of the anchor (would get wrecked during insertion if on the head end). Mine came with the hole for it but not the line - I used Dyneema which is JUST strong enough in the diameter I used... Also - I did NOT tie any knots in it cause that would make it WAYYY too weak - I spliced them on and "armored" the loop with paracord sheething (removed core from paracord, melted ends a bit, fed it over end and made loop)

[SGT Rock]

Lucky for me our Target didn't have them. What size Duckbill anchors are you using? Small?

[SGT Rock]

I'm also thinking that one could possibly use dynaglide whoopie slings between the vertical supports and the anchor lines. A couple of 4.5' WS would only be about 14 grams.

[Pitch]

Lucky for me our Target didn't have them. What size Duckbill anchors are you using? Small?

These are actually "Finned Superstakes" - not the duck-bills.

Do duck bills come with a removal boss? If so they could work. If not you would need to figure out how to get them out of the ground.

-Xex

[SGT Rock]

I found the Fox Hollow Super Stakes with fins and bosses. I see what you are talking about.

Is the boss a must? Could you just drill a hole through the back of a regular hollow stake and attach a line to that? Or is there some sort of mechanical advantage to the boss?

[Pitch]

I'm also thinking that one could possibly use dynaglide whoopie slings between the vertical supports and the anchor lines. A couple of 4.5' WS would only be about 14 grams.

Dynaglide does work - you just gotta make sure you armor it with a sheath of nylon or similar material in order to protect it from the abrasion it WILL suffer during insertion, removal and use. I used paracord sheeting on the dyneema removal cord. DO NOT use knots - they weaken the stuff WAYYY too much - you really MUST splice a loop into the ends