Ground Anchors..

[outback]

I put it here a its not really a safety thing nor seems to fit anywhere else…

I have been doing a bit of searching for a suitable ground anchor for use in places like the Flinders Rangers, (rocky hard ground), as well as being functional in sand or mud.

All I seem to be around are items such as the "Portable Rescue Tree" as sold by ARB or its equivalent on ebay:
ARB : Other Recovery Essentials | ARB 4x4 Accessories (http://www.arb.com.au/products/arb-recovery-equipment/other/)
Ebay: Ground Anchor Land Winch recovery 4x4 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ground-Anchor-Land-Winch-recovery-4x4-hilux-landcruiser-holden-ford-dmax-D22-D40-/140981103949?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20d320ed4d&_uhb=1)

These are basically a plough, almost a boat anchor, and though suitable for soft stuff some what useless in hard ground.

The other option is the "Terra Firma" also sold by ARB
ARB : Other Recovery Essentials | ARB 4x4 Accessories (http://www.arb.com.au/products/arb-recovery-equipment/other/)

This though uses start pickets and from my experience with these they don’t last long before becoming bent and or twisted.
Also ARB don’t indicate how you extract the start pickets after use. Only say the thing is easy to pull apart for storage. Sounds like, use the pickets and leave them in the ground for someone's tires to find at a later date?


Any other ground anchors I have seem all have a spade with or without some spiral drill. Again somewhat useless in hard rocky/stony ground.

I am beginning to suspect the best solution is to use a few 30mm steel rods 900 mm long with a point one end and some form of collar for lashings at the top to link then sounds the simplest.


So beside my apparent final option any one got some useful suggestions.

[NP99]

The star pickets would be a pita......
I'm pretty sure the ground anchor can dig in all but rock.....

[Cuppa]

I'm pretty sure the ground anchor can dig in all but rock.....

And therein lies the problem. Finding a piece of ground without rock would be a major challenge in places like the Flinders wouldn't it? Maybe carry one of those pneumatic drills & & a huge compressor. :animierte-smilies-t

Cuppa

[BigRAWesty]

I have been drawing a few different designs myself, but yet to put a grinder to steel.

And from what I've stewed over I can't put it into a one piece unit.. best I can do is 2.
A hook style unit to drive between rocks with a blade attachment for your softer soils.

Pm me if you want to discuss further..

Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories (http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?15134-Westy-s-Accessories.-A-small-back-yard-builder.)

[NP99]

And therein lies the problem. Finding a piece of ground without rock would be a major challenge in places like the Flinders wouldn't it? Maybe carry one of those pneumatic drills & & a huge compressor. :animierte-smilies-t

Cuppa

I'd have a greater chance getting stuck in the soft stuff rather than the rock......therefore finding ground with rock is better:groupwave:

[threedogs]

I think the Army and maybe a few here could comfirm it. use solid HEX bar about 25mm diam. Whack these into the ground as per star pickets
To remove you just twist using 12" shifter, stronger than star pickets.

[outback]

I'd have a greater chance getting stuck in the soft stuff rather than the rock......therefore finding ground with rock is better:groupwave:

Its the soft stuff that gets you stuck and the rocks sneak in because that is where you need your anchor. Mother Earth at her sweet best.

[mudnut]

I used a chain and a couple of the right sized D shackles with the hi lift jack to remove the star pickets on a fence line. I also lifted the pine poles out as well.

[happygu]

You don't think normally get stuck too much in rocky country....just bounce over the rocks, and there are normally trees or larger rocks to anchor off anyway.

It is the really soft stuff to worry about

Mic

[macca]

Years ago there was a comparison of ground anchors, in sand they all just disappeared into the ground. So were rated useless.
As for Flinders territory trees and large rocks are probably the go as said before.

[Tank]

My anchor is home made and really simple. I find it works well in most places except sand where digging a hole and buring the spare tyre works well.
The anchor is a length of 120x12 flat bar 1m long with 8x 22mm holes drilled in it that are off set a 30mm hole in the middle at one end for a shackle and 8x 1mx20mm steel rods (Made from round bar) with a welded on eye on one end. Then to get them back out I just use a short piece of chain with a lug loop that fits over the foot the jack and a grap hook on the other end.
Its basically the same set up that the Army used to use when I was younger and wearing green

[Matt195583]

Cheers tank, you just saved my typing out pretty much the same thing ;)