Carports - how to anchor/reba, and improvements

[zonka]

I consider using a Costco carport, and a dome tent under it.

How does one anchor the carport? I presume re-bars at the corner poles - but how do the poles attached to the rebars? Or should one use guy lines in addition?
Those with carport experience please chime in.

Also:
- The side tarps do not reach the ground. Would it be helpful to try and attach some narrow tarps to "close" the gap?
- I have seen somewhere on ePlaya a post showing a silver tarp added on the roof for heat reflection. Is it necessary and/or helpful?

[theCryptofishist]

How does one anchor the carport? I presume re-bars at the corner poles - but how do the poles attached to the rebars?

Wrap top foot (above the playa floor) rebar and pole with saran type wrap. Duct tape.

Or should one use guy lines in addition?

Yes, guy lines help hold it together, the rebar helps it not blow away.

The side tarps do not reach the ground. Would it be helpful to try and attach some narrow tarps to "close" the gap?

no, you want air circulation.[/quote]

[Bob]

What kind of knots do you use for your Saran Wrap?

[CornMan]

I'm the one who posted about putting a 10x20 silver tarp on before the valance tarp that come with the canopy. It helps keep it much cooler and makes it more solid with less flapping of the roof tarp. I pounded in rebar with welded on eyes at the poles on the inside and connected ratcheting tie-down straps on the inside in an X configuration. I took a 12'x24' tarp and rolled the edges up against the carport walls and held them there with ice chests, etc. That sealed it up tight for use as a kitchen. I bet it is cooler sealed up on the bottom with the silver tarp on top than it would be with no silver tarp on top and the bottom free to flap in the wind.

[theCryptofishist]

What kind of knots do you use for your Saran Wrap?

Truth be told, I'm just parroting what I remember other people saying. My wish to be helpful led me into regurgitating what I thought I knew.
Bob knows more about camping in the Black Rock Desert than I ever will, so take his word over mine.

[TomServo]

and ignore the "t posts are too heavy..yadda yadda yadda", they are heavy, and bulky, but they work.

[TomServo]

[motskyroonmatick]

and ignore the "t posts are too heavy..yadda yadda yadda", they are heavy, and bulky, but they work.

Could use some rebar tying wire at several points along the tee post and then cover that with duct tape for a great symbiotic relationship in securing things.

[CornMan]

With the eyes welded onto the rebar, all you need to remove the rebar is to stick a bar through the eye and pry it up against the ground.

[TomServo]

Using T-posts, you eliminate the need for guy lines. They are difficult to pull, without the right tools...which is a good thing...and, they last year after year after year.

[TomServo]

a puller that will fit in a glove compartment with a hi lift jack...VW bug jack will work

[zonka]

TomServo,
- Looking at your drawing, the canopy is held only by the duct tape attaching it to the T-post. Is this correct? Is the duct tape strong enough to hold it in strong wind ? ... I have no experience, did not realize duct tape adhesive would be that strong.

- Will this work with Rebar instead of T-Posts?

[TomServo]

Yes, it's that strong..if it's good duct tape... like Nashua Duct tape....and, yes, it will work with rebar, provided the rebar is pounded at least a foot into the ground, and enough of the rebar is splinted to the canopy leg.

[jojofroyo]

At the Champagne Lounge we've used those car ports for a few years.
We just put bent rebar in centered between all the legs and on the ends. Then tied ropes to all the junctions, in a v shape. Holds the car port down pretty well. It's way easier than trying to use the feet that comes with them or duct taping anything.

[Rice]

Reebar_Rice.jpg

(sorry for the mega-fuzzy pic!!)

Get 1 foot pieces of rebar and have 1 1/4 inch pieces of rebar welded to the top of the foot long piece. It makes a "T" stake that can be pounded flush with the ground. It can handle any type of rope or ratchet strap attached to it. No possibility of personal injury from the stake and it works very well in all playa conditions (aka: the 12 hour dust storm of 07)! Plus the "T" makes it easier to be pulled out at the end of the burn...

So far the weld has held for 5 burns straight.

[Bob]

I've usually suggested wrapping the uprights to short fence posts (aka t-stakes) in addition to guy lines or equivalent bracing at each post, just because the things are rather tallish and may be prone to shifting and/or toppling in a stiff wind. Lashing w/ parachute cord would work for wrapping, or many tight wraps at two or three points w/ rebar tie wire as suggested above, and you could use cloth strips (eg old towel or t-shirt material) to pad the pole before wrapping w/ wire to prevent damage to the paint. I don't have personal experience with the carports, and defer to those who've used them for multiple camping trips, but the t-stake fence posts can be pulled by wrapping with chain or 1/2" rope or somesuch, and levering out with a steel pipe or a 2x4 using 2x4 blocks as a fulcrum. Knock the sides of the fence post at the base w/ a sledge hammer to loosen it first. The cheaper post pullers that you find at places like Harbor Freight aren't worth buying in my experience, but can work if you treat them gently and set them on a flat wood block right next to the post.