I really enjoyed your video on this. The production value, topic, and the way you tested this, were all awesome. I wonder if it would hold better if the corner tabs where the stakes pass through the plate were angled at a 30° angle, so the stakes formed an inverted teepee in the soil. Then place the two stake side on the opposite side from the load. In that arrangement, the load would have to pull the two stakes on the opposite side at a higher perpendicular moment arm, while the stake closer would assist in keeping the plate held closer to the ground. I fly pipeline, so I’m on the road the majority of each week/month. I have gone through a bunch of different tie down setups. For the straps, I’m currently using Tork Straps. They still have the cam lock to easily tighten and loosen. They also have retaining S hooks. But they have a spring built into the strap to allow give instead of the line remaining completely static. They are heavy though. The three straps weigh 4.5 lbs by themselves. But they’re kind of an all in one. They work well when not having to worry about every ounce. I will be using dynamic climbing rope and fancy high tensile strength carabiners with my personal single seat experimental to save weight. Usable strength comes down to the type of knot used with that setup, as you mentioned! Again, thanks for the thoughtful content.
I did consider slotting the stake holes to allow them to be driven at more of an angle than the plans specify. Since I have the CNC plasma, cutting slots is just as easy, but I wanted to stick to the plans for the purposes of this video and show/test what the average person could build with a drill and a grinder. That might be an interesting test: at more of an angle, the stakes won't go as deep in the soil, but they may take more force to remove.
Okay, this and your "...18 months?" videos illustrate well, the essence of what I believe, Experimental should be. Finding more than adequate based on mission, alternatives- that cost less, save time, save money, all of which you've accomplished with less weight. Aviation. 👍😎👍
