Vehicle Flags

Hi peeps!

Looking through the photos of past rallies, and some of the movies that have been posted, I see a number of you have had flags attached to you vehicle as you've been driving along. I'd like to do something similar - plus it'd look good for catching people's eyes at fundraising events.

So, a couple of questions really:

1. What type of flags have/are being used (i.e. size and fabric)?
2. How have you attached them to the vehicle?
3. Linked to No. 2, but what sort of flag poles have you used?

I've found some Military poles on fleabay, but not sure if these are suitable. I know H4H provide a 5ft x 3ft flag which is produced by Greens of Gloucestershire. Greens also have loads of other flags available in varying sizes and fabrics.

Any pointers would be gratefully received.

Craig

We have the standard 3x2 flags - Help for Heroes and a Union Flag.
Normal fish/festival flag pole used - just don't fully extend.

Only comment about flying flags from cars while driving - make sure it doesn't obscure rear lights/number plate etc... whne it's flapping about - we followed a few last year whose rear lights were getting obscured by the flag - so indicators etc... not seen!!!

Hi Craig,
Same advice as Nick. We had a fishing pole attached to the back of the Landy and it worked a treat.
Looked really good when we were all going up the mountain road to Eagles Nest.
Enjoy the Rally - it's a fabulous event.

Words of caution - two crews to date have had to report they have 'lost' flags ie blown off during transits on autoroutes/autobahns. To avoid such flags being a hazard to other traffic/road-users, if you intend to fit one, please make sure it is very secure.

Thanks for the info. Didn't think of using a fishing pole to attach the flag - I was thinking more along the lines of a flexible flag pole, but I reckon the fishing pole would be cheaper at least.

Ensuring the flag(s) are secure was one of the first things to cross my mind, and making sure they don't obstruct anything too - sounds obvious, but always need to bear in mind.

Have you gone for the eyelets or rope and wooden toggles?

Tywraps / cable zipties - whatever you want to call them.

As above and they work well - tried and tested.

We had a standard flag from H4H, attached to a broom handle. On the rear steps of our D3 we had some steel piping attached with jubilee clips so that we could remove the flag as and when we were onto fast roads.

I use 2 lengths of 10mm DIY pipe from Homebase bolted to the roof bars with wing nuts, provides secure fitting and quick removal if needed. Tend only to put flags up at events/fundraising. On the rally tend to only be on the drive down to the museum at Oosterbeek and on the road up to the Eagles nest, saves risk of losing them and keeps them relatively clean ( weather not been the best last couple of years  )

Don't choose the fittings used by Unit 31 in 2010 - they disappeared on a French autoroute together with the flag and the pole.  

The incident was properly reported on the end of day Damage/Incident Declaration  

If your still looking I have one on my l200 and its a quad flag 5ft its a finer pole with a small flag on it which you can change, the pole and fitting is easy and about £20 I got mine from OHG quads,they are designed for the dune racers in the states mine on the truck has done a few hundred miles and is fine

So far, I've got a 2.5m, 25mm dowel from B&Q which works pretty good for the 5ft H4H flag when attached to a couple of eyes using split rings - works and looks great at Car Boots   

The fishing pole option sounds good - I'm assuming people are just using straight poles/extension poles for the job? Though, there are some "cheap" extendable flag poles of Ebay that also seem suitable.