Use and care of your flags and whips

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Just how long will my flag last?
 
The lifespan of a flag depends on how it is made, where it is flown, how it is cared for and in what weather conditions... and is completely impossible to judge.

By their very nature flags are perishable items. Colorfast flags WILL eventually fade. Durable outdoor flags WILL eventually be ripped to shreds. Even the strongest flag cannot survive long being flown during high winds. All flags, even when properly used, will end up tattered and unusable. Just as the soles of your shoes or the tires on your vehicle will wear out faster the more they are used, a flag flying at the top of a flagpole in all weathers 24 hours a day 7 days a week will wear out quickly too.

Wear and tear does not constitute a fault in or failure of the flag. We simply can not guarantee the lifespan of any flag.
 
To get the most use out of your off road flag it needs to be rolled or folded up and stored in a dry dark place when not in use, allow your flag to dry after flying in the rain and don't leave it on your off road vehicle when transported in an open trailer or fly at highway speeds. Watch the corners on the 'fly' end of your flag. This is normally the first area to show signs of wear and tear. Trim off the worn hem and re-hem the end. Taken care of according to these instructions even the light polyester flags can last for years.
 
When used as a vehicle flag at highway speeds most flags made for that purpose should hold up reasonably for about 1 month. High speed wind whip will eventually unravel even the best constructed flag. The higher the speed... the shorter the flags life span.
 
***Flags with added graphics,lightweight polyester and cut edge flags are not intended for highway use. It is recommended when transporting in an open trailer or truck to remove the flag from your off road vehicle or to roll it up and tuck it away from the high winds.
 
Larger flags, 2ft X 3ft and 3ft X 5ft flags are often flown on larger vehicles, these flags make a big statement and are very visible but most are not originally intended for vehicle use and will not last very long under these extreme conditions. The edges of most larger are reinforced with double or triple seams and brass grommets are added for attaching to your whip. I am not trying to discourage their use but just want to be honest with my customers about what to expect as far as flag life. The extreme wind whip created by the larger flag and larger, faster vehicle will fray the edges of your flag faster, grommets can pull out and whips do occasionally break.
 
When flown outdoors on a stationary pole or at low speeds on an off road vehicle most flags could last up to a year under normal weather conditions, high winds and harsh sun will shorten their life drastically. UV protecting sprays are available and do extend the life of a flag. The government guidelines on how long they expect their flags to last is 180 days on a stationary pole when flown only during daylight hours.
 
Displayed indoors under perfect conditions flags of any kind will last for years. The life of any flag can not be guaranteed at a set time, there are just to many variables to consider. AditudeGear flags are guaranteed for replacement because of defect in construction or materials for 60 days after purchase.
 
What about my whip?
 
ahh... the unending quandary of the broken whip... Fiberglass whips do break, split and snap off. It's best to honestly evaluate your riding style and vehicle to choose the right whip. 1/4" whips are the lightest and break or split easily but will last for years under easy riding conditions. 5/16" whips are stronger but will still break under aggressive riding, impact or rollovers. 3/8" whips are even stronger, bend less and hold up better on higher speed vehicles or with larger flags. Steel whips are the toughest and most resilient but can still break under extreme riding conditions or rollovers. Steel whips are more flexible and will bend considerably with larger flags.

8ft whips are shipped as a two piece pole to greatly reduce shipping cost. Pole can be reconnected easily with a drop of super glue. Lay pole flat and place a drop of super glue into the inside edge of the metal ferrule, slide and twist the upper piece into the ferrule. Let dry at least 30 minutes. The pole can also be used as a break down two piece pole. Normally the pieces will stay connected by gravity and wind tension but sometimes vibrations or rough terrain will cause the flag to slip out of the ferrule. A couple of wraps of electrical tape should hold the pole secure.
 
A good mount will also increase the life of your whip. Make sure your whip is mounted tight and correctly, a spring mount will help if you break you whip continually. Using a hand tightening quick disconnect can help out on the dunes when you break your whip, allowing you to simply take out the broken end and re-insert whip and keep on riding. The fiberglass on the whips tends to split next to the bolt or mount due to stress, just keep an eye on it and trim with a hack saw when the splitting starts. Trimming just a little when the splitting starts instead of waiting until it breaks on it's own will lead to the least length loss on your whip.
 
Whips are not guaranteed against breakage, only against defect. Please contact immediately if a defect is suspected. Aditude Gear fiberglass rods are made by the largest supplier of fiberglass to CB Antenna manufacturers in the world, Max-Gains Systems, they know fiberglass whips.

How do I mount a replacement flag on my whip?
 
All flags can be mounted in several ways.

Casing flags:
Glue is my preferred method for mounting to fiberglass whips, it keeps the flag tight and smooth, not bunched up. Silicone based glues such as Goop brand glues are my favorite. They come under a number of names but all are basically the same, UV resistance is added to the ones made for outdoors so look for Automotive goop, RV goop, Marine goop, Garden goop, ect... Just a tic-tac sized dot on the inside of each end of the casing will hold the flag securely but also allow it to be removed by peeling the glue from the fiberglass if you need to change your flag or whip. Super glue is not a good choice it dries to brittle and will crack and break because of the constant flexing of the fabric and fiberglass. Most waterproof silicone type glues that dry slightly flexible will do the job.
Some other options: Rubber grommets available on our gear page and at most automotive and hardware stores, look for an inside diameter slightly smaller than your whip for a tight fit and be sure to add a dot of silicone type glue above the grommet on the pole to keep the grommet from sliding off of your pole under stress. Hog rings are sometimes used too and work best on rubberized or plastic coated flags that won't slip on your whip.

Metal grommet flags
Mounting brass grommet flags to small fiberglass whips and keeping them secure poses a bit of a challenge. The two methods I suggest are flag clips held in place by rubber grommets, don't forget the glue to keep the grommets from sliding. A clip kit is available on the gear page or zip ties can be used. When mounting with zip ties use a strong tie and apply a little silicone type glue to the whip and to the end of the tie. The extra glue will help keep your flag from sliding and the zip tie closed. There are other flag clips available mostly through marine sites that can also be used but most are for larger poles.