Three Weeks in a Kodiak Flexbow

[PJC001]

I just completed three weeks in my new Kodiak Flex Bow with side windows. I experienced freezing temps and very hot temps. The freezing temps were bearable with Mr. Heater Buddy and great sleeping bags but the hot temps drove me out of the tent. The biggest problem I encountered was rocky soil that made it almost impossible to drive stakes. I had not contemplated this issue when I bought the tent but I ran into rocky soil over and over and it was a challenge that frustrated me immensely. I love the tent but became keenly aware of the limitations of tent camping with this three week experience. FYI, the freezing temps were in the mountains of NM and the hot temps were in Mesa/Phoenix. The rocky soil at Kartchner Caverns made pitching the tent almost impossible (as were the hundreds and hundreds of ground squirrels which drove my dog crazy). And the heat there was no fun. They don't have shelters! I escaped to Fool Hollow Lake RA in Show Low, AZ where the temps were perfect but the rock solid uneven ground was close to impossible to pitch the tent and get comfortable. I had to weigh each corner of the tent down with boulders I lugged. I am a 70 year old female and don't need this aggravation. I went to REI and got their "comfort cots" which allow each leg to be adjusted to ground pitch. They are wonderful cots. But call me frustrated. Thinking about a travel trailer after all of this.

[tplife]

Re: Three Weeks in a Kodiak Flexbow

I feel your pain - plenty of our camping areas offer decomposed granite as a surface, and nothing less than those big 12-inch stakes and the "roofer's hammer" will do to get staked down! I recall another poster used rebar with a 45-degree bend in the top, another good approach to this problem. Sounds like you're building a lot of "memories"!

[GlitterHiker]

Re: Three Weeks in a Kodiak Flexbow

Hopefully you'll get some advice here ... I just want to say kudos to you for taking the trip!! Though it had its bad moments, it must've been a wonderful experience!

[Monk Industries, Inc.]

Re: Three Weeks in a Kodiak Flexbow

These stakes should solve your problem.... http://www.monkindustries.com/produc...03v77b2tvbuq97

We manufacture these stakes for the U.S. military. They are "Class A for Artic Soil". Unlike any other tent stake, these are made of alloy steel and are heat treated (hardened) to make them almost indestructible. They are round smooth shank with a point on the end so they drive well. This is what we recommend to anyone with hard, rocky or frozen soil.

You can order them directly from our website for 3.26 each and if you are a first time customer, you can use this coupon code 55641 for 10% off.

Kermit

[PJC001]

Re: Three Weeks in a Kodiak Flexbow

Wow, I was just about to go on your site to order the stakes but looked here first. Thanks, I will order them right now. I don't want to give up on tent camping and these stakes may help enormously.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: Three Weeks in a Kodiak Flexbow

Wow, I was just about to go on your site to order the stakes but looked here first. Thanks, I will order them right now. I don't want to give up on tent camping and these stakes may help enormously.

I hope you didn't order them from his website. If you go to ebay, you can find them on there (from him) and you can get a better deal on shipping. Or you can try this military surplus store and get them for $1 less.
http://www.military-tent.com/test12st.html

[SmokyFire]

Re: Three Weeks in a Kodiak Flexbow

putting stick sideways underground is called a deadman anchor or deadman stake