Hi,
I'm back again! I learnt to set up a tarp for a camping holiday last year. Here is the thread.
Here is our set up last year.
That worked great and I am going to do the same thing this year. However, I can't borrow the caravan awning poles that I used last year. So I need to buy some poles soon.
I am looking for 2 ridge line poles - sturdy, strong, tall, adjustable steel poles. Need to be minimum height of 6'4" (193cm) (preferably taller) when assembled and strong enough to take the weight and potential blowing in light wind of a 4x3m tarp.
I will also need 3 other poles which needn't be quite as heavy duty. Still metal, one minimum 6'4" (193cm) the other two could be slightly shorter. Adjustable preferred.
I have been to Go Outdoors. Their Hi Gear poles were black, not silver like the website and not as sturdy as I would expect (bent slightly with one hand's pressure) from the reviews. The Vango sectional poles were even more bendy.
I have been to a local camping shop and their own brand adjustable two piece poles were suitably sturdy but too short (6ft) for the ridge line.
If anyone has any suggestion for other poles to consider, experience of using those I have linked or any second hand caravan awning or king poles in Gloucestershire then please let me know!
Can't comment on those in your links, as I've only ever used those black telescopic ones from GO, that you weren't impressed with. They are the ones I recommended in that earlier thread you linked to.
Yes, I've managed to put a "bend" in mind, as I have a habit of maybe over tightening my guys, but not a permanent bend, I hasten to add... always springs back straight when I slacken off/take down. More of a "temporary arc"!
I can't see them bending or buckling in the true sense, but I guess we'll never know until it happens (to someone!).
Personally, my guess is that they are probably made in the same factory, and those in your links are more expensive due to having a brand name on them, rather than being of superior quality... but that is just a guess, of course!
Having said that, the Blue Diamond ones with a ground spike at the bottom may prove to be a good choice?
Hopefully, someone else will come along who has experience of those in your links, but in the meantime, until they let me down, I'll keep on recommending those at GO. I reckon I've already had my monies worth out of them, and I reckon they still have plenty of life left in them!
I was planning to get the GO ones before as you had recommended them. It was just when I was in the shop yesterday I was surprised how non-sturdy they felt compared to the poles I used last year. However those were caravan awning poles so had to be sturdy (they were probably 2-2.5cm thick). It is good to know that even though they bend, they haven't bend permanently for you.
I have just found this so have sent them an email to ask a couple of questions.
I don't care about anything being branded and used is fine. I just want something reliable.
Can't help with ridge poles as we don't use them. We do use the vango king poles and they don't bend. The strongest we have are a set of two piece telescopic poles which we got in sports direct ( no longer available). These are similar
Quote: Originally posted by Randommoose on 23/8/2015
I was planning to get the GO ones before as you had recommended them. It was just when I was in the shop yesterday I was surprised how non-sturdy they felt compared to the poles I used last year...
That's my problem, in all honesty, Moose... I'm happy to recommend when I'm happy with something, but in this case, I have nothing to compare them with... until recently, that is!*
All I had to go on is that they haven't let me down, and I have used them a fair bit, particularly last year.
* I now have two poles supplied with my rain awning for my Karsten. These poles maybe look a little thicker, maybe a little sturdier... but I've still managed to get a slight bend in them on occasion, when guyed tight... and Karsten aren't exactly famed for poor quality!
I'd be interested to see something like you used last year of course, just so I had something else to compare!
Hope you find something, and it turns out to be a good buy. Keep us informed when you get something, and how it fares, of course.
I don't understand how you are managing to bend your poles. I have the Go ones, 19mm extendible, and they work fine for me. They are under no pressure that would make them bend.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
Don't get me wrong, Ollie, I'm talking a (very) slight curve, and it's obvious that it's down to me being over-zealous with the guys. Release the sliders and inch, and the pole returns to being as straight as a dye. I just hate flapping material, be that a tarp or my Rain awning!
I've never been concerned about this slight distortion, and it's not every time either. As far as I'm concerned, these GO poles are more than good enough, and I've never considered taking my tarp down either, even with gusts c. 40 mph.
I think I do the guy lines quite tight too. I was probably spoilt last year as I was using caravan awning poles. They were really solid, tall and sturdy with only one joint. I could have probably hung from them myself without them bending!
Maybe the GO pole I tried was faulty. It was visibly wonky at the joint once extended. The joint did not fit snugly but was wobbly so that put me off. I found some other sturdy poles elsewhere but they are too short *sigh*. Just emailing somewhere online as they have some used 22mm poles.
Pity I can't borrow the awning poles again this year!
Moose
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Tarp poles suggestions
