I like two 1/2 inch 18" long rebar stakes...But as Boone Liane pointed out that can sometimes be overkill.

That's 36" of stake in the ground, but actually much more than that because of the leverage multipliers the cross staked geometry provides.

All of my 18" rebar stakes were 3/8" with welded washer tops. The Dog knot stakes were smooth 5/16" most of them in 24" and some 30". The longer stakes were not often used. If so, they would be used alone.

In my era of using the cross-stake system I used an end looped cable ferruled piece of 3/32 cable. Then used some of the Berkshire cross staked swivels with a J hook in the middle. Back in the pre coyote era locally, fox was our main predator. Once the coyote moved in and I began traveling to other states I still used the rebar staking system for several years. I then evolved to primarily cable staking.

It took two able bodied men to carry my stake case when full. It was made from 3/4 treated plywood with heavy rope handles. It is still parked where I left it years ago. I look over at it once in a while. I don't miss having to carry it though.

Shortest i use is 12" for cross staking.
Very rocky areas, if ends up being a good spot I just leave them.
And use year after year.

Bet switching increased your gas mileage too, lol.

You are right Wanna Be. I never weighed that "stake coffin" I made but I bet it was near 200-230 #. I bet it feels like 300 # now.

The suggestion of using a log drag has a big fan (me) here. I use 6" dia. X 6-8' long wooden fence posts with your choice coil spring (#2 or larger) slip attached in the middle. Not a production line set but have gotten used to setting 5-8 per day until I have about 20-25 set in areas of tough staking (concrete type frozen ground, pond edge, super sandy spot etc.). I use one of those large split rings on the end of the chain and make the chain end into loop to slip over the post end up to about the middle of the post. Old nails keep the tight loop from slipping off the end Lots of times, when moving or pulling for the year, I will slip trap chain off the post end, then lean it up against a fence, tree or something to keep it high and dry ready for a nearby set next year. Common to have a fence posts here on the edge of any field, terrace, gate opening or tree grove. The added chain length of 6-7' should be fastened to the trap ahead of time for just these sets. The rest of the sets are disposable anchored. Kind of interesting to see a coyote, hunkered down behind that 6" post drag, about 100 yds from any cover in a 150 ac. harvested soybean field trying to hide. Even I can find that one LOL. ...................the mike

Make lots of stakes and leave them till spring when the ground thaws. If my rebar is froze in, which happens most years I just unhook the trap and flag the stakes. First nice day in March/April when the frost is out I go pull. Can pull 80-100 stakes easily in a couple hours. I learned a long time ago not to bust my butt trying to pull rebar out of frozen ground, especially when you have 2 feet of frost. This winter gas been unusual. Just pulled about 25 sets today before the incoming snow system because we hardly have any frost in the ground yet!