We're going over to the dark side and getting a flag and pole for our camping trip this year. Looking at a 6m pole but how does everyone secure their poles in place. I've seen the ground spikes but these are only 1m and made of GRP - are they strong enough to hammer into hard ground? Also once you've got enough in the ground to be secure does that leave enough sticking out to secure the pole?
Assumimg that you're talking about the telescopic fibreglass style poles, then I use a metal rod about 5ft or so in length. I bought it from a well-known national diy store that sports an orange logo! Forget what it's correct name is, but it is about 20mm in diameter with a pointed end (with the width reducing down to a point about 8" from the end) and a flat, round end.
Paid about £5 for it. Much more resilient than grp (but also less flexible). Usually hammer this in about 18" and slip the pole over the spike that is still visible above ground.
Have happily used different length poles up to 8m and flew up to 4 flags/windsocks at any one time. (get yourself a 'sleeve' for the pole - and some strong tape for when the friction of the pole sections fail to keep them upright!)
I have a 4m telescopic pole, and use one 1m GRP ground spike with it.
I drive the ground spike about 30cm into the ground and there is still sufficient length above the ground for the pole to anchor and swivel freely against the wind.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
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* Ex-tenter
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I've been looking at getting a telescopic flag pole as well. And I'm a bit confused about the groundspike bit. One site/shop says one groundspike and another says two. That was for a 4m flagpole.
I only use 1 ground spike for my 4m pole, and so far so good with no issues.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We have a 7 metre Flag pole and use 3 ground spikes, never had any problems.
If you intend using a sleeve (to fly more than 1 flag or windsock) get a longer pole because the first section is not to be extended making it 1 metre shorter, ie. 7mtr becomes 6mtr.
------------- Pitdiver
Welsue's other half and also a ,Camper, Sailor and a nearly Outdoor Person.
Quote: Originally posted by Highlander09 on 31/3/2013
WHY?
Why what?
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
If the "WHY" is about not extending the first section of the pole, it is because using the sleeve puts a lot of pressure on the top of the pole and as the first section is quite thin it is likely to break
------------- Pitdiver
Welsue's other half and also a ,Camper, Sailor and a nearly Outdoor Person.
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Topic: Flags and groundspikes
