Right size tarps...

longer straps, and yes you can get a tarp made for any size.

 

I've been doin Step for 2 months now Every time i've had to tarp its required 8' drop, i also recommend getting some Felt, so far after making the switch to step I've hauled a lot more Machinery, i have 2 rolls of felt 10' wide 20' long, umm so far the couple of things i have yet to use that i kept from flat bedding are my 4' and 2' pipe stakes

 

I would think, but not based on personal experience:

Two lumber tarps with 10' drops and one 28x20 with D rings on all sides.

 

Are you guys high? 10' drops!?!?!?

99% of all my loads work well with 6' drops. I have a set of 8' drops i've used less than 10 times in a year and a half.

If your going to get 10' drops for specialty freight then that's fine, but you really should have a set of 4' or 6' drops for the smaller loads. It's an absolute nightmarish PIA to try and tarp a 2' load with even 8' tarps.

 

Are you really going to use 8' tarps to cover a load of Rebar? 2-4',2-8', 10x12 smoke, junk 8' for parts. Best bet is to get outdoor carpet strips and chunks of it. It doesn't stink and mold like other stuff does. There are a million things you need.

 

I carry two 8' and two 4' drop tarps on my upper deck behind my dunnage that I stack up front. I've considered buying a new 4' drop and cutting my old one up for doing a smoke tarp and the other half just to help buffer sharp things.

Most of my tarp loads usually require just 1 or 2 of the 4' drops. How ever,.. I have had the occasion where my entire deck is used and unfortunately 2 tarps wont cover the whole load. My 8' tarps have flaps, my 4' tarps dont. In which case I just roll the sides of the 8' tarp. Its not that big of a deal.

I use furniture blankets, rubber pads and various edge protectors to help guard against ripping my tarps on odd ball loads. Sometimes no matter what I do, I still end up with a few holes.

Here are a two typical tarp loads for me.
Odd ball uneven crates.


.

And this one is small coils and some bar stock on lower deck with a commercial saw as partial on upper deck. Both needed to be tarped.




And ditto on 30' straps for lower deck. Get some longer straps or be prepared to use extensions for tall or over size loads. This is where you make the money with step deck. That and with partials.

EDIT:

Wanted to throw this one in also.


Not exactly sure how this happened. Picked up an engine from GE in PA. Took it to the rail yard in Denver. I had stopped at a rest stop about 5 hrs before I got into Denver. Load and tarp were still in good shape. Went to sleep in their yard, when I woke I saw this. Its my 8' drop with flap. Blew a hole the size of Kansas down the whole side.

I repaired and am still using this tarp today.

Hurst

 

It kind of depends what you will be doing and areas you're gonna run. I usually only carry 4' drops, but if I go to the north west I sometimes pack the 8' drops.