Tell me about awnings, hard standing gravel and pegs.

[realgandy]

Having our nice new awning towards the end of last season was interesting. We stayed at a few sites on gravel hard standing and really struggled with pegs.

The awning came with big chunky plastic pegs and it was such a hard job to get them bashed into the gravel, taking almost as much time per peg as it did to get the awning in the right position! I have a reasonably weighty hard rubber mallet for the pegs.

And as for taking it down at the end… so hard to get the pegs out, had to bash them from side to side and heave like crazy to try to pull them out. A number snapped off just below ground.

So can anyone offer advice for how to get these things properly pegged out when in a gravel hard standing site please?

Thanks in advance.

 

[David and Sally]

We use rock pegs. Come in various sizes.

Like these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Diamond-Hard-Ground-Orange/dp/B00BQZDL0Y/?tag=mhf04-21

 

[Mikeco]

I just use steel pegs and a big hammer, worked in Spain 2 days ago.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

You can get pegs that drill into hard ground but you do need a portable drill as well as the pegs.

 

[Landy Andy]

hard rubber mallet

Ahhh the tool of the uk camper.

Get yourself a proper hammer. I use a claw hammer, then use the claw to pull the pegs

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[Orion]

You can get pegs that drill into hard ground but you do need a portable drill as well as the pegs.

That’s the way I do it. Screw pegs which have an M10 head and a Milwaukee battery driver with the matching socket bit in it.

Similar to this kit but cheaper elsewhere:

Amazon.co.uk

 

[StillGoing]

A lump hammer and rock pegs (although we have had to replace some of the pegs because they were too bent).

 

[Brains]

I have a wind out awning
No walls (although it does have optional sunscreen panels on the front)

On a hardstanding pitch I always try to park so that the awning is over the hard standing, but the fiammia tie down guys are on the grass in-between.
I then only need two pegs, which are boat mooring steaks made from 30cm of rebar.
Put in with a rubber mallet.

I also have rock pegs for the sunscreen

 

[Jewellbags]

Get cast pegs and pour some water where you’re putting the peg in - it works

 

[royandsharont]

Definitely rock pegs that have a thread on them which makes it easy to unscrew out. I have Blue Diamond ones in a nice case which are relatively cheap. I use a claw hammer to prize them free before unscrewing the by hand. Did carry a crowbar too when I had a bigger van with more payload

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[busbuddy]

Or get some proper pegs

 

[Ridgeway]

Not used a hammer since investing in a Peggy Pegs set a few years ago, one of the best things we’ve bought for our van.

 

[stuartholmes]

I've never used Peggy Pegs but they are on the wish-list!

Anything that screws in and an electric drill would, I think, be the ideal civilised solution but meanwhile I advocate the lump hammer method.

I used to think they were a bit ott & mainly for macho types who already used them in the blacksmithy where they worked but passing one in B&Q I just felt the urge one day & never looked back.

Also great for whacking wooden windbreak poles into grassy fields!

 

[PsychoticBadger]

I know it may sound odd...but pouring a litre or 2 of water on where you want to pop the peg in and waiting a few minutes (say a glass of wine) might help?...has for me in the past.

 

[Reallyretired]

I just use big steel pegs and a lump hammer. I've occasionally had to lend my hammer to other campers but have always 'supervised' to make sure I get it back.

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[Minxy]

Also great for whacking wooden windbreak poles into grassy fields!

I really shouldn't read these threads when I'm tired ... I thought you'd said for whacking wardens!

 

[Shrimp]

We use steel pegs and a lump hammer, but don’t use the Porch awning much.

 

[Nirvanauk]

It’s a lump hammer and rock pegs for me.

 

[Intruder]

Not used a hammer since investing in a Peggy Pegs set a few years ago, one of the best things we’ve bought for our van.

Same here, we really love the Peggy Pegs and the ease that they bring.

 

[stuartholmes]

I just use big steel pegs and a lump hammer. I've occasionally had to lend my hammer to other campers but have always 'supervised' to make sure I get it back.

From not too close by I hope!!

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[Deep Owl]

Not used a hammer since investing in a Peggy Pegs set a few years ago, one of the best things we’ve bought for our van.

Yes, Peggy Pegs are good if you have the metal ones. I find the plastic ones are useless except in soft grass. Using a drill is also an excellent way to sprain your wrist.

 

[Jabstatt]

Use eyes secured to the skirt.

Tony

 

[Ray-Vic]

We use rock pegs and a metal hammer. We also have screw in ones but even using them with an impact driver presented differing results when the gravel was really hard, as we have found on a number of sites. We have had to replace some rock pegs as they do eventually bend.

Getting them out afterwards................Now that's a whole new story!!!

 

[MattWithMoho]

Saw the title of this post and thought, thank god its not just me... Some of the sites have thicker, more compacted gravel than the M6 motorway.
I bought rock ground pegs last year and invested in a 1kg lump hammer, problem was solved. I also have a handful of screw pegs for when the awning reaches onto grass.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

I know it may sound odd...but pouring a litre or 2 of water on where you want to pop the peg in and waiting a few minutes (say a glass of wine) might help?...has for me in the past.

Or why not drink a bottle of wine ,swing the lump hammer up ,hit yourself in the face ,drop lump hammer on foot ,hop around for a while ,then have a little lie down and groan ,get back up ,find lump hammer and pegs ,stagger around swearing and carefully drive peg through foot ,scream while awaiting ambulance

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[Orion]

The French seem to be more resourceful when confronted with pitching on hard surfaces.
Pre-Covid myself and pals often rode to the Trofeo Rosso meet for Italian motorcycle clubs at the Circuit du Val de Vienne, Le Vigeant, south of Poitiers.

Rock pegs? Screw pegs? Nah, it was apparently de rigueur to use a 48v battery hammer drill and then expansion bolts straight into the tarmac in the paddock and car park - and then pitch your tent!

 

[Bramidan]

I learnt the hard way. Years ago had a folding camper ( great bit of kit until age tells you, you can’t be ar..d to put it up and down) anyway gravel hard standing, all the nice new red plastic tent pegs with my trusty rubber mallet ( previously used for tent camping) proved to be useless.
I went and asked other campers, caravans mostly, who imparted their wisdom.
Shop on site and I purchased the rock pegs, a kindly fellow lent me the lump hammer, I had a couple of them at home, just where you need them!
Anyway thank heavens for my awning and Fiama tie downs, at least I’ve only got two to wrestle out!
See, benefit of the motorhome, no wet erections ( steady on, Matron) and no problem winding the awning in at night just leave the pegs in situ.
All came at a cost though.

 

[ChrisL]

I use these on soft ground.

Lauyeboho 15”Dual-Use Groud Anchors(4 pcs) with Power Nut Drive and T-handle Hex Wrench ，Easy to Use with Drill or by Manual for Swing Sets,Sheds https://amzn.eu/d/93qBpux

And rock pegs like these with a claw hammer on hard standing, both in conjunction with storm straps.

10 Pack Tent Pegs Metal Heavy Duty Camping Pegs Hard Ground Tent Pegs Awning Pegs Rock Pegs for Awnings Hard Ground Hard Standing https://amzn.eu/d/3yqO3U2

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

Mix of rock pegs with lump hammer and mallet with tent pegs depending on ground

 

[Ninjabob]

Titanium pegs with a lump hammer. They will drill through pretty much anything. Expensive but really good.