Lightweight Cordura tarp

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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..

 

How much deck you got?

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.