Looking for feedback and opinions on potentially buying a 3-piece 8 foot drop set of lightweight tarps the Cordura stuff
Lightweight Cordura tarp
Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Qbf594, May 12, 2021.
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Never had a 3pc myself. However, everybody that I've known who has, they have all went back to 2 pc....and i mean all. In fact, I was going to try a 3pc and two of my buddies talked me out of it. They all said it was the biggest PITA ever.
singlescrewshaker and Qbf594 Thank this. -
What ive found with shorter tarps is that they just wont fold up as well.
Granted this is more on 4' drops, not 8' but thats my 2 cents, i still wouldnt be caught dead without at least one short one for the occasional tiny load or padding or exposed 2 feet that i dont want to grab a full 24 footer on, but im not sure id bother with a 3pc setup.singlescrewshaker and Qbf594 Thank this. -
No comment on the cordura?
singlescrewshaker Thanks this. -
Of all the people i know that have purchased the cordura/parachute type materials tarps, have all said it was the first and last time. The primary reason given had been cuts/tears and holes are almost impossible to repair. While tarps are not totally water proof, they have even less resistance. As weight goes, they are one handers, like 50 lbs for a lumber tarp.
shooter19802003, D.Tibbitt, Ruthless and 3 others Thank this. -
I've got 8 foot cordura with end flap.
You can have mine for all I care!!
Imo, cordura is harder to get not to flap in the breeze than 14oz or 18oz vinyl, & really not all that much lighter. ~70lbs a piece..
Also you can't just repair one with an ordinary patch & cement kit. Have to be sent off to have a patch sewn on, unless you have a heavy duty sewing machine handy..
After a few years, their water "resistance" coating begins to wear off from the UV rays I believe.? Mine are 6 yrs old if that matters..
Guess what I'm saying is I don't care for mine. If I buy "lightweight" tarps again, I'll get vinyl 14oz centers & 10oz sides. Probably just sticking with 18oz machine tarps & a smoke tarp here on out..shooter19802003, cke, Ruthless and 3 others Thank this. -
It appears that the 14/10 is the right answer... Now I guess I have to decide if I'm willing to try the 3pc vs the 2pc. I suspect when I hear it's a PITA that might not apply to me since I'm happily slow as molasses anyway LOL and seems like I often have little lumpy things on the deck covered with WAAAYYYY too much tarp....
beastr123, cke and singlescrewshaker Thank this. -
And are 8 foot drops actually neccessary?
I made the decision when i left tmc that i would not carry tarps over 4 foot drop, i still carried enough tarps to fully cover a 4 or 5 foot tall 120 foot long beam, (and if push came to shove i COULD tarp an 8 foot load) but thats never hurt me all that bad.
I now carry for preference
1x coil bag
1x 27 x16 foot with flap
1x 24 x16 foot with flap
1x 12 x16 foot universal (old 24' cut in half and extra rings added)
Some padding.
IF I NEED IT, i can grab a 10 foot long flap section of an 8 foot tarp but mostly it sits in my garage (Mostly a smoke tarp)
This covers everything i need,
30 foot load? The 27 and the shorty.
48 foot? Pull the 27 and 24
Just a few pallets out of the load need tarped? I can grab the short tarp
Best versatility without carrying around dead weight that doesnt make me money -
No 8’ tarps for me but I haul 2 16 x 24 machine tarps and a 16 x 16 machine tarp. Never even had a desire to pick up a load that required 8’ tarps.
Ain’t no money in it that I can see, otherwise I’d have some. -
Well as the non OO I am and intend to stay. .. I go along with 95% of my adventure coordinators ideas. So far with them since Sept last year I've done 3 days of flatbed and the rest reefer. The reefer is new for them since covid apparently messed up the flatbed work they were doing beyond the crane mats that I tried and won't do. (I don't rush and I won't be pushed so it's not a good fit) So reefer made excellent $ for being horrible but I'd rather do deck work and make less $. The less $ wasn't an option for the company at first but now we're giving it a try while the reefer spends time in the shop.
All that said because we don't really know what I'll be hauling because I'm willing to stay out many weeks and the other flatbed guy goes home most weekends and works 14hr days so his adventures aren't going to be my adventures. I'm totally ok with tarping lumber or sheetrock to stay moving so I think 8' is the way to go. Someday I'd love to have room for a variety but I'm patient...singlescrewshaker Thanks this.
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