Step deck tarp transition?

This is the way I do it... When you are laying out the tarp over the front you want to position a d-ring right at the bottom corner of the "step" in the load so you can keep the tarp flat against the back of the load on the top deck. you will probably need to pull the tarp forward more and then deal with excess tarp in the front to get a d-ring in that position.

Get the d-ring in that bottom corner pulling down or slightly forward and then go to the front and tighten it down. Then go to back of the top step and start tightening down towards the front, keeping the excess tarp from the transition hanging out. How do I explain it... Try to tighten down the tarp on the top deck straight down so it is parallel with the deck until the tarp starts to make a gap above the deck as you work your way to the front. keep the excess tarp that doesn't want to be pulled straight down out so you can fold/roll it onto a "flap" and then pull the flap towards the back, over what you just did. Just far enough so the flap of extra tarp that you fold over won't leave a gap between the tarp and deck or you will end up making a big tarp balloon.

Sometimes you can put the excess tarp on the inside if there is enough room between the load and the edge of the trailer, but not likely with hot tubs. And they don't want you climbing on top of the load for sure. It's easy to put your foot through one of them if you step in the wrong place. They will probably have a tarping station to use. I would probably lay the front tarp forward a few feet more than usual because excess tarp on the front is easier to deal with than pulling the whole tarp forward after it's put down. it will be easier to pull it backwards if you wanted or needed to.

 

You wont have 8ft stacked up on the upper deck. Do you have a 48 or 53ft stepdeck?

What "I" would do is have a tarp specifically for the upper deck. Probably a 6ft drop x whatever your upper deck length is, maybe 2ft longer.

 

A 1inch strap or 2 passed from a ring on one side to the other around the transition will help with the tarp ballooning if you can trap the excess tarp between the strap and transition side

 

Pick up a 18X20 steel tarp with rings at 2ft and 4ft (and maybe at 6ft) up on all sides. You will find it the most useful tarp you own.
It gives you a 6ft drop that will cover 8 ft deck to deck and will also cover your top deck down to the deck in front with a 2ft overlap over a load on the bottom.

 

I have the same 51. I use 3 24x24, 2 of them have an 8 foot flap on the end. Covers an 8 foot tall load perfectly (8×8×8=24) and the flap on each end covers that

 

i dont understand what 18x20 and 24x24 means