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  1. #1
    Senior Member
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    Staking Tarp in Soft Soil

    Got to take my new DD Tarp out this past weekend (first time I have used a tarp). The area I was hanging in had recently receive a good deal of rainfall. Thus the soil was soft. I anchored my tarp stakes at an angle and thought all was well until a big gust (30+ mph) caught one side of the tarp and blew it over me to the other side. This happened around 4 am and was a little unnerving.

    I had the four corners of the tarp attached via Zing-It to four-sided tarp/tent stakes.

    This brings me to my question for the collective here:

    What are my options for staking in soft soil or what should I have done differently?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Caveman's Avatar
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    I try to find something heavy to lay on top of the stake and line. A rock, a log, whatever I can find.
    If you ain't havin' fun, you're doin' it wrong

  3. #3
    Senior Member SoundMan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Caveman View Post
    I try to find something heavy to lay on top of the stake and line. A rock, a log, whatever I can find.
    I agree with Caveman..in soft soil OR rocky soil- any place the stake has questionable purchase, I place a rock on top of the stake. I live in PA, so
    rocks are typically not in short supply.
    "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench,a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free,and good men die like dogs.There's also a negative side"
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by SoundMan View Post
    I agree with Caveman..in soft soil OR rocky soil- any place the stake has questionable purchase, I place a rock on top of the stake. I live in PA, so
    rocks are typically not in short supply.
    Up until recently, the soft soil wouldn't have been in an issue in my part of Texas.

    Prior to the record rains, the issue would have been how to pound the stakes into the ground!

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Caveman View Post
    I try to find something heavy to lay on top of the stake and line. A rock, a log, whatever I can find.
    Could have easily done this as I had access to logs.

  6. #6
    Senior Member millergear's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Caveman View Post
    I try to find something heavy to lay on top of the stake and line. A rock, a log, whatever I can find.
    Ditto That!

    If yoy do use Snow Srakes (I always carry) they are also great Potty trowels
    I THOUGHT GETTING OLDER WOULD TAKE MUCH LONGER.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by millergear View Post
    Ditto That!

    If yoy do use Snow Srakes (I always carry) they are also great Potty trowels
    Dual purpose gear. A definite plus!

  8. #8
    Senior Member BillyBob58's Avatar
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    Lot of good tips already mentioned, but my favorite, when possible: use no stakes. I tie to bushes, trees,roots or logs if I can reach them and if they will allow my tarp to be pitched in storm pitch when needed. I always have the stakes with me, but use as few as possible. The strength of these anchors almost always beats the pants off anything I can do with UL stakes. I often carry some extra line to enable me to reach some natural anchors.

  9. #9
    Senior Member raiffnuke's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BillyBob58 View Post
    Lot of good tips already mentioned, but my favorite, when possible: use no stakes. I tie to bushes, trees,roots or logs if I can reach them and if they will allow my tarp to be pitched in storm pitch when needed. I always have the stakes with me, but use as few as possible. The strength of these anchors almost always beats the pants off anything I can do with UL stakes. I often carry some extra line to enable me to reach some natural anchors.
    +1 to this. Or failing this method, I have been able to place my stakes in the ground tucked right up tight to a sizeable tree root. They sure don't pull out when you do that!

  10. #10
    Senior Member pgibson's Avatar
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    In truly soft soil...and I mean soft with no rocks this is the stake that will hold solid. The SMC sno-tent stake.



    MSR has a version as well that is anodized red for more visibility and they just recently introduced their Cyclone stakes that are much heavier and much more expensive but look like they would hold through just about any thing.




    But like Caveman said if possible natural anchors can be the lightest solution, use whats there.



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