Monday, October 3, 2011
Cheap Trick
The other day I saw a blog photo of someone who was loading up for a show with concrete blocks in her car. I'm not going to mention who this was but you all saw the same picture. Oh, they make secure tent weights but they also scuff up your hands and the carpet in your car. The visual appeal leaves a bit to be desired too. We all know we can spend $$$$$ for "happy feet" weights for our tents or $$$ for EZ Up sandbags. We can get 4" PVC, eye bolts and concrete mix and make up nice weights that roll around the truck for $$. I am offering an alternative so cheap that I am even using a recycled picture of my studio plumbing system to illustrate the new "handy weight". They may not be the prettiest weight in the world but it beats a concrete block. Just recycle your (or another cat lover's) kitty litter jugs. Fill them with sand or gravel and you have a great weight that is easy to carry, has a handle for hooking a cinch strap to, and does not scuff up your vehicle.They also can be positioned in 3 different ways to tighten up your load when you are ready to go home with all that empty space in the car. If you get stuck on the ice in the winter, you can even tap your grit supply and get back on the road!
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Well. aren't you just brilliant! Why didn't you send me this before I tore up my hands, hurt my back, and yes I did scuff my car! and yes they were ugly, so I covered them up! BUT, they worked because the wind was fierce yesterday and I saw more than one tent come off the ground. Mine stayed put, but I LOVE your idea and that will be my new method of holding down my tent the next two weekends for my last two outdoor sales of the year! Thanks Mr. helpful hint man!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have twenty five pound dumb bells, guess says that a lot. I thought about jugs of water but imagined the water spilling all over my car. But the kitty litter can definitely be useful in a snow storm.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input.I made my weights in a hurry one day when I needed them fast and liked them so well I have used them ever since.
ReplyDeleteOr- if you want them even more portable, fill them with water when you get there.
ReplyDeletewhy didn't I think of this! I go through a LOT of kitty litter at my house.
ReplyDeleteI am with Linda, I have thirty pound dumbells, but they are "prettied-up" in EZ-Up weight bags, for those formal shows.
ReplyDeleteFour of them will fit in the footwell of my car, and they are impervious to any kind of damage.
They don't roll around, have built-in carrying handles,and can even be sold to a used sporting goods store should you not need them any longer. And you can use them to work out at a show in a pinch!
I thought of using water in jugs as well, but the jugs are spacehogs, they require a source of fast running water (not always easy to find at every show) and because water only weighs about eight pounds/gallon, don't provide that much weight for the size and effort
Thanks folks. I don't recommend water, too light, too sloppy. Dumb bells are great if you have them.A friend uses tractor weights. They work great but are pricey if you have to buy them.
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