Tarping VS curtain side flat.

Most of my loads are "no tarp" and quite a few are "oversized" so I'd rather just "roll'em" and "forget'em" than lose the ability to hang a load over the nose when I need to....and 108" is not very wide so that sounds like a useless option.

A curtainside is for all intents and purposes "half a flatbed" because there are just too many limitations for a true flatbedder to deal with just to avoid tarping a load from time to time.
Tarping is just not that difficult.

 

oh I understand, if it works for you and your OK with it great. But do me a huge favor. Tarp out of the way and please don't get angry when I get unloaded before you (even though you were there first) because I'm ready in 5min and your still getting your rubber straps un-hooked! (seriously all this happens at least once a week to our drivers)

I agree the 108" is useless, just not sure how it even works but apparently it's possible.

 

Roll ups and tarps both have their plus and minus depending on the particular load involved. Proper load securement is essential in either one. I've seen load shift tear up a roller and rip up a new tarp.

BTW, if you're a serious flatbedder you ain't going to have just one set of tarps.

 

Smart flatbedders get a sidekit or rollback.... Besides, I've yet to find a load of lumber worth tarping!

 

Really?? Then you best stay out of the north in winter and avoid high-dollar hardwood lumber. Get those stained with smoke or road trash and you'll be buying them at $10 plus per board foot. Hauled a load of bird's eye maple once that had an insured value of over 3/4 Mil. You best believe that was plastic wrapped and tarped to a fare thee well.

 

Yeah but did it pay the truck anything?

Lumber out of my area used to pay real good till people got introduced to the term "backhaul". Now its worthless unless its special stuff and now they want it in a rollback.

 

Tarps are one of the best securement devices a flatbed driver carries.No one ever had to tell me to tarp lumber or anything else that needs it.I see guys all the time work twice hard not to tarp than to go ahead and break em out.Hauling 55gal.drums for instance I would tarp them with a steel tarps and bungees and nothing else they would never move.

 

Load going north pays $766 for 225 mi, load of lumber back south pays $225 for 200mi. Lumber is awesome!

 

If you have them you won't lose the load that requires them.I carried two 4'drop tarps which I call steel tarps and my lumber tarps had 8'drops.