[Mr.PumpkinGrin]

Last year We had a blast constructing a full front yard haunt for my partner and I. We built these two beautiful columns for the Graveyard fence:

As you can tell the one on the left went face first into the road and had to be repaired quite substantially.
Pardon the Christmas deco's, we keep it up for xmas too. But, the darned things regardless of what I do, keep falling over. I've had to repair them multiple times and I am sitting here right now with on the floor in my dining room wondering how to weight it down so the wind won't throw anymore.
I have them on a level surface, I thought about a sandbag inside, something, anyone have an easy way for holding this down without cables or any outside obstructions?
Any help is awesome help, thanks guys, I'm so excited for Halloween this year.

 

[Chewbacca]

Sandbags or bricks should work. I'm going to use some small concrete landscaping blocks that weigh around 15 pounds or so each.

 

[Scottv42]

I second the bag of sand, although you might want to attach something for the bag to sit on that also attaches to the column so there is no wobble, like a shelf of some kind at the base.

Mine are easy since they sit on the grass I pound 2 pieces of rebar into holes at the base in back, they never move.

 

[Mr.PumpkinGrin]

Here's what I have to work with. I have to remember that it needs to be accessible if I have to add more weight. Cross beams then a sand bag? Should I use a bucket and concrete? Permanently attach it? Thx guys!

 

[Deadview]

I had an issue too with mine the first year. Any strong wind would send them over. I cut a notch in back of each column. About one inch deep and six inches across. I cut two 1x6 pieces of wood about twelve inches long. I fit the wood into the notch where I could screw the wood to the frame of each column. I placed a twenty pound block on each board. They stay upright now. People will think well you can see the block, I put props in front of each block. Can't see the block. Works for me.

 

[Chewbacca]

Looking at the way the columns are built I'd put eye screws into 2 of the 2x2s about 18" or so up on opposite corners. The run a piece of light rope between them. Then whatever you use for a weight can be hooked onto the rope before you set the post up. Just make sure the weight does not touch the ground.

 

[Mr.PumpkinGrin]

beautiful! That might just be what I need! No wonder Han Solo has you as a co-pilot! Cheers! (Or however you say it in wookee, aaarrhhhwwuuggegeg)

 

[Sinister Sid]

I have very similar columns except mine are probably even lighter than yours. Each of my columns is made primarily of foam. The only wood in my columns is the inside frame which looks almost exactly like your frame. My columns probably only weight about 5 lbs each. I have had problems with mine getting blown over as well. I notice in your pics that you have them on a flat concrete area near some lawn or dirt areas. Would it be possible to make the column entrance a little wider so that the base of the columns are over hanging into the grassy/dirt areas? If so, you could use a couple of long pieces of rebar pounded into the ground to anchor them from inside your columns? You could throw down some spanish moss to hide the concrete/lawn transition area if necessary. My columns are put entirely on grassy lawn areas so that I can anchor them using rebar and zip ties. I drilled holes on the interior frame to put the zip ties thru so I can secure the rebar to my column frames. I could explain in more detail or post some pics later if this might be something your interested in doing?

 

[Hallomarine]

My columns are solid wood and weigh close to 200# each - not topheavy in any way, and yet they have managed to fall over twice in the wind. I drilled a hole in the bottom of the wood base, and mounted a 12" x 3/4" black pipe with a 4-screw base over the hole vertically. I then ran 3' x 1/2" rebar through it into the ground. The wind and the rain have been blasting away at them for 2 weeks now, and not so much as a wobble. But now I have decided to modify them so I can add a gate, so back to the garage they come (for now...)
HM

 

[wolfbain Productions]

Sand Bags should do the job.