For those who've never been to Quartzsite

[MrNoodly]

If you've never been to the desert around Quartzsite, specifically to where RTR will be held this year, here's what it's like.

<img src="https://image.ibb.co/dctJJA/nq2w.jpg" alt="nq2w" border="0" />
<img src="https://image.ibb.co/mQ1oJA/download.jpg" alt="download" border="0" />

It's flat and mostly covered in tightly packed dirt, gravel and rocks, called "desert pavement." It's like nature's parking lot. This is one reason it's an RV mecca. 

There are washes (dry creek beds) of loose gravel and sand running the area. It's best to avoid those except where you see existing vehicle tracks crossing them.

There are various types of thorny, spiney, jabby things, some of them very tiny but still able to penetrate thick skin and paws. So watch where you step and wear closed shoes. Consider booties for your animals.

Since it'll be winter, you don't need to worry about scorpions, tarantulas or snakes.

 

[QinReno]

And if going to pitch a tent, then good idea to have a couple of heavy tarps underneath to protect the tent floor from the stones. Also, aother possibility for tent campers would be to stay over in the La Posa LTVAs, where they have toilets.

 

[MrNoodly]

And if going to pitch a tent, then good idea to...

...stop by K&B Tools on Kuehn Street and get some serious stakes made from rebar and a sledgehammer to drive them through the desert pavement. Ordinary tent stakes are useless.

<img src="https://image.ibb.co/ieR0gV/grip-4-pc-rebar-metal-stake-with-loop-285462.jpg" alt="grip-4-pc-rebar-metal-stake-with-loop-285462" border="0" />

 

[LivGolden]

Thank you Q and Mr. Noodly!

 

[QinReno]

Yeah, I forgot about the metal tent pegs and sledgehammer. Liv, if you don't want to hammer the pegs, just weight down the corners of the tent with your bags of nickels.

 

[Cammalu]

Or bring a drill with a long drill bit to start the hole for the pegs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LivGolden]

 

[MrNoodly]

Or bring a drill with a long drill bit to start the hole for the pegs

I have an 18" mansonry bit with a diameter a little narrower than the rebar stakes. I learned that trick from another nomad.

 

[highdesertranger]

you want a tent stake check these out,

https://americanearthanchors.com/files/2515/2580/1985/PE18_Quick_Reference_2018web.pdf

the rebar stakes must be 1/2" minimum the 3/8" are not thick enough. highdesertranger

 

[bpdchief]

Those are serious anchors HDR ! Might be enough to keep my van from blowing away in those sudden desert wind storm.

 

[Jill]

Last RTR the tent I brought needed 16 stakes to stand. After pounding in four, I decided to find some pillowcases from a thrift store. Those I filled with rocks and put them inside the tent around the edges. The tent stood the entire time, even when it stormed.

 

[RowanFae]

(takes notes: bring lots of pillowcases)

 

[QinReno]

or maybe large heavy duty plastic garbage bags.

 

[rosiemartinez1211]

"sudden desert wind storm"

Well hell, I just pictured my little pop up blowing away like the house in "The Wizard of Oz"

In this flying pop up camper there will be shrills of two women heard as it floats on by.
Once safely landed on the wicked witch of a snake, they will look out and say
"We're not in Arizona anymore."

Anything I can do to anchor down? It's light, like 1200 lbs light.......

 

[Matildas mate]

freecampsites.net has a pretty comprehensive source of informationa about camping and services in the quartzsite area  - all on a single page.

https://freecampsites.net/#!829&query=sitedetails

 

[travelaround]

flying pop up camper . . . Anything I can do to anchor down? It's light, like 1200 lbs

Rosie, I'm planning to have a tent with me as well. I hear it is hard to get the stakes into the ground though a sledge hammer with 18" desert tent stakes would help - and some people use 18" drill bits to make a pathway for tent stakes. Sounds ominous. Others recommend using full water jugs inside the tents to hold them down. I say, tie your tent to your vehicle in case all else fails!