Wind advisory Saturday: do they stake the porta potty or is that on us?

You need to ask for staking when you order. Most rental companies do not stake a standard unit for a one-day rental unless you request it. Drivers carry stakes and straps for windy sites, but they follow the order details. An unstaked unit on packed gravel can tip in a wind advisory.

Call the rental company now and add staking to your delivery instructions. Specify the ground is packed gravel. The driver will likely use two or three steel stakes driven into the grass edge next to the driveway, not the gravel. This avoids holes in your driveway. The driver attaches straps from the stakes to the anchor points on the unit's base.

Your placement by the side gate is good for truck access. For 40 people at an afternoon cookout, one standard unit is adequate based on the event planning guideline. Staking is a minor addition to the rental cost, driven by the labor and materials. Confirm the service includes staking when you get your final confirmation.

Ask for staking when you confirm the order, then check with the driver on Friday before they leave the driveway. Most one-day drops skip staking unless it is already on the ticket, so calling ahead is the move.

On packed gravel next to grass, drivers usually set the standard unit where the truck can reach it, then drive a couple of stakes into the grass edge and strap the base. That keeps holes out of the driveway itself. If the grass strip is too thin or rocky, ask them to note that on the ticket so they bring straps that can anchor to a fence post or similar hard point instead of forcing stakes into gravel.

A full tank adds some weight, but that alone will not hold a light plastic unit in a wind advisory. Do not DIY with rope through the vent or door latch. That just cracks plastic and does nothing useful in a real gust.

When you confirm delivery, say the wind advisory out loud and ask them to put staking on the order notes. Friday evening drop gives you time to call back if they show up without gear.