Screw in Tent Pegs

Cupie · Guru

Screw in Tent Pegs

elliemike · Guru

I made some up from 200mm coach screws and fitted plates and links for the Guy.

I will test them this week at Ledge Point.

D and D · Guru

They look interesting. They're a little more expensive than coach screws but I haven't seen coach screws as long as these. The tang makes things a little easier, I currently use over-bored gutter washers but they're fiddly and easily lost. Looking forward to Cupies test results.

Dave

Olley46 · Guru

I bought the longest ones the big B had used them last long weekend ,so much easier with the cordless drill,and also some shorter ones for my matting to pin it down,congratulations to ho ever thought of it, the long ones are 200 long the little ones 100 long.

Lance C

-- Edited by Olley46 on Sunday 15th of March 2015 10:28:00 AM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have seen people using what "big B" call, 'Wood Crews' they come in packs of 10 (I think) and are 200mm long. The same people I have seen reckon you can get 250mm ones that would be better again but I haven't been able to find those yet. I don't use then as yet but will if I can ever find the 250mm ones.

Olley46 · Guru

Douge you could get the heads cut off and weld extension,s on to what ever length.

Lance C

Long Weekend · Guru

There have been some earlier postings about these types of pegs - search for 'easy in,easy out tent pegs' (without the apostrophes and no space between the 'in' and 'easy').

I have been using 30cm coach screws for some eighteen months and have done nine trips with them. Several times the wind has been very strong - enough to shred my flag one time - but the pegs never moved. The icing on the cake as far as I am concerned is that the pegs come straight out, even after three weeks in the ground. As a matter of fact, I no longer even carry ordinary pegs and a hammer, relying exclusively on the screw pegs.

I posted a photo on 'easy in,easy out' showing the large washers I use - the bracket sold by Outback Travel Australia is a far better option as it is more versatile. I wonder if he would sell them separately for those who buy their own screws.

By the way, I have used an 18 Volt drill from Bunnings and a 24 Volt one from Masters - both about $90. Each drove the pegs in easily. But two weeks ago I bought a 240 Volt rattle gun on Flea Bay and tried that out on the front lawn. The pegs go straight in so fast it is hard to stop in time. For free-campers there are cordless rattle guns but as I haven't used them I do not know how efficient they are compared to the 240V and air driven ones.

A tip for users - I have a 60cm 1/2-inch drive extension bar - plug the female end onto the square drive and the socket onto the male end and you don't have to kneel down on the ground.

(Incidentally, I bought my 30cm pegs from America on eBay when the Aussie dollar was a lot higher and even with the excessive shipping charges a pack of 25 worked out at $2.50 each.)

Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Sunday 15th of March 2015 10:48:58 AM

Phil C · Guru

Hi all. We have been using the 200mm variety for a long time now, never a problem, we use the Milwaukee 18volt rattle gun with the extension bar (as above) to put them in and out.

This is a great idea. And perfect for us with arthritis, I hated the days when we used those pegs and a hammer took ages to get anywhere on hard ground.

Take care and be safe

Phillipn · Guru

If you need coach screws DO NOT buy them from Bunnings or any other hardware shop, they are too expensive. Go to a bolt supplier as the are half the prise.

briche · Guru

One of the best screw down tent pegs to use are one's that are called a dog tether. Can buy them in $2 shops etc. They are about 300 long screw section with a handle at the top. They are great for sand or any soil come to think of it. We have never had one come out of the ground even in 80 klm hr wind when we were in SA. You can buy them in any pet shop as well but they cost a bit more.

briche

Long Weekend · Guru

By the way, I'm not sure about MiLite's claim that the screw in pegs are a 'new invention' as the British have been using this concept for at least two years that I know of. That is where I got the idea from to use the coach screws before I found others were also using them.

(Have a look at www.peggypegs.co.uk and www.screwpegs.com.)

However, perhaps he is referring to using the metal hooked brackets which are superior to the plastic clips that the British use.

Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Sunday 15th of March 2015 01:57:31 PM

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Sunday 15th of March 2015 01:59:19 PM

moamajohn · Guru

Gday I have been using the 200ml jobs for 2yrs.I fitted washers on to them and then squashed the washers in the vice so as to jam them on to the shaft so they don,t fall off.Also since I,m bloody old I sprayed them red so I can see them easier.I also purchased a socket to suit and sprayed that too .They all live in harmony in an old footy sock so as not to rattle around .I also purchased an Aldi $ 79 drill and its torque has been more than adequate for the work.Plus its great for lowering and raising the 4 van stays. Cheers Westy

Dougwe · Chief one feather

John,

1. You could have at least cleaned them before you took the pic and posted it here mate smile This is a top rated forum you

Know.

2. Next time you paint them could you mask them so the paint is down the same length on all please smile

Look good though HOWEVER safety yellow next time as well mate biggrin biggrin

moamajohn · Guru

Yeh Sorry Doug I promise to lift me game !!

Sheba · Guru

briche wrote:
One of the best screw down tent pegs to use are one's that are called a dog tether. Can buy them in $2 shops etc. They are about 300 long screw section with a handle at the top. They are great for sand or any soil come to think of it. We have never had one come out of the ground even in 80 klm hr wind when we were in SA. You can buy them in any pet shop as well but they cost a bit more.

briche

Gotta agree with you briche.
Cheers,
Sheba.

JackieP · Senior Member

wow after watching hubby struggle today to pull 3 tent pegs out as we were packing up I am going to be the good considerate wifey and will purchase some coach bolts as described and try them out ( I may even get extremely helpful and put them in the ground myself if there is no worrying about my digits and hammers being in close proximity )

Long Weekend · Guru

JackieP you will have no trouble putting them in. And they come out of the ground even easier - my granddaughters often get that job when mum and dad borrows our van!

Murray

JackieP · Senior Member

thanks Murray. So far we have converted the wind down legs and jockey wheel to drill operated so it stands to reason that the pegs should be next.

Olley46 · Guru

JackieP wrote:
wow after watching hubby struggle today to pull 3 tent pegs out as we were packing up I am going to be the good considerate wifey and will purchase some coach bolts as described and try them out ( I may even get extremely helpful and put them in the ground myself if there is no worrying about my digits and hammers being in close proximity )

I am not being a smart a$$ but when you go to bye them ask for coach SCREWS not coach bolts you will end up with round headed threaded bolts wich are called coach bolts.

Lance C

JackieP · Senior Member

thanks Lance I will remember that ..... have a nephew who works at a bolt shop but he probably wouldn't have realised I wanted the flat once ( hopefully he would have swapped them for me once I realised I had the wrong thing but now I can ask him for coach screws and I might even sound knowledgeable )

Cupie · Guru

Olley46 wrote:
JackieP wrote:
wow after watching hubby struggle today to pull 3 tent pegs out as we were packing up I am going to be the good considerate wifey and will purchase some coach bolts as described and try them out ( I may even get extremely helpful and put them in the ground myself if there is no worrying about my digits and hammers being in close proximity )
I am not being a smart a$$ but when you go to bye them ask for coach SCREWS not coach bolts you will end up with round headed threaded bolts wich are called coach bolts.
Lance C

I stand corrected ...

Joe50 · Guru

I use the 200mm 14G timber screws from Bunnings to anchor our satellite dish tripods to Mother Earth - both tripods barely moved as TC Marcia roared through although the dishes rotated slightly on their centre posts.

Joe

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Grind the face off an old 3/4 " wood auger does the job..
Become one big calk screw ..

03_Troopy · Guru

Bought these at Aldi a while back for around $10.00. There are 20 in a pack. Only 185mm long, but look OK for firm ground. Note the peg puller is useless and unnecessary for them though.

elliemike · Guru

You can see how I put this together. Mudguard Washer with a hole drilled at the edge for a split link of chain to pass through. Blob of weld on the screw shank to retain the washer in place. The washer is free on the shank not welded. This is a 150mm Coach Screw.

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-- Edited by elliemike on Monday 16th of March 2015 12:48:47 PM

-- Edited by elliemike on Monday 16th of March 2015 05:32:42 PM

Long Weekend · Guru

Hi Ellie & Mike/Mike & Ellie,

I also use mudguard washers but have them loose with a loop of the trace spring threaded through the holes. (See the photo in 'easy in,easy out'). So far I haven't seen any reason to have the washers welded on as the screws go into the ground through the hole without any problems.

How do you keep the chain links from spinning when you are driving the screws into the ground with the washer welded on? Or connect up the trace spring?

I first used these screw pegs on a trip to Ulladulla in March 2012 and at that time I thought I was the only one to ever use them. Since then I have done twelve more trips but never saw anybody else using them. However, from the postings on this Forum it is obvious that many others are using them also. Great minds think alike.

Murray

Kev Pearce · Senior Member

I bought awning tie-down screen in pegs under the name of Happy Hook. Have used them for two years with no problem, except they are screwed in to the ground by hand and sometimes the group is so hard you have a battle to anchor them.

elliemike · Guru

Long Weekend wrote:
Hi Ellie & Mike/Mike & Ellie,

I also use mudguard washers but have them loose with a loop of the trace spring threaded through the holes. (See the photo in 'easy in,easy out'). So far I haven't seen any reason to have the washers welded on as the screws go into the ground through the hole without any problems.

How do you keep the chain links from spinning when you are driving the screws into the ground with the washer welded on? Or connect up the trace spring?

I first used these screw pegs on a trip to Ulladulla in March 2012 and at that time I thought I was the only one to ever use them. Since then I have done twelve more trips but never saw anybody else using them. However, from the postings on this Forum it is obvious that many others are using them also. Great minds think alike.

Murray

The washer is free on the shank. The button/dab of weld stops it falling off the screw and being lost.

Long Weekend · Guru

Got it. My washers are on the springs on the end of the rope so they never get lost.

Murray

hako · Guru

Re the screw in Aldi tent pegs - they are advertised in the latest Aldi catalogue for $9.99. This is in Toowoomba but I think it applies to all SE Qld.