What do you think is the best protection for your tarps

Carpeting for numerous reasons.
1)It's abundant and cheap>There's a carpet store in every town that has a dumpster. You can get it at home when someone in your neighbourhood puts down laminate

2)It takes up little space compared to furniture pad/blankets

3) When it gets dirty or moldy you throw it out and replace it @ zero cost.

 

We used to move steam turbines used in the power generation.
These have blades that would cut through our tarps.
We found that cheap shade cloth that you can purchase at a nursery worked well.
We would stitch 3 layers together and place it over the turbine before the tarp.
The only problem we found was that because it had very little friction it could be slippery.
Your tarp if not balanced properly on each side could slip off before you could secure it.
Also slippery if you walked on it.

 

best way to protect the tarp?
Well leave it in the tarp box.. Haha

Like most have said, use old carpet.
I had to tarp a load this wknd. First one in a long time. No padding, So I used my old mud flap pieces that I normally use for chain protecters. Worked, easy tarp load though.

 

There is no single "Best", as there is so much variance in loads. I use any and all of the following, carpet scraps, cardboard, pieces of old 4 inch straps, those pyramid shaped corner protectors, disposible diapers, pieces of old tarps, furniture blankets, strap protectors.
As to storing furniture pads, yes they are bulky, but they do squish down. My method for storing them is to fold them into about 18X18 squares, stack them about 6 high between two 18X18 sheets of 1/2inch plywood, then place them under the landing gear of my trailer and press them as much as I can and secure the bundles with 1 inch ratchet straps from Walmart. Lay the straps under the bundles before pressing them.

 

I use a little bit of everything but old tarps and pieces of tarp work very well.

 

I use wool Army blankets, cardboard corners, rubber corner protectors, duct tape, and empty soda pop cases to protect my tarps. I haul alot of steel and aluminum roofing so protection is essential, otherwise the product will just rip your tarps to shreds.

 

I like to use carpet.

A can of 3/4" roofing nails comes in handy to. I nail the carpet to any wood sharp edges.

 

canvas scraps. They don't take up much room and are easy to wash.