Crash course on tarping.. Experienced tarpers please chime in

8 foot drops does NOT mean it will cover a 48 foot flatbed. it just means it will cover 8 feet on the sides of the load. 8 feet on one side. 8 feet on the other side and 8 feet across the top. means 24 feet wide. how long the tarp is determines how much of the load gets covered lengthwise.

some trucks have 8 foot drops and 2 tarps to cover the load. others have 8 foot drops and 3 tarps. a few even have 8 foot drops and 4 tarps.

 

As promised, here's a quick picture of my load. I finally got the new quad-copter out for some aerial photos but the computer on it is giving me fits. I was able to get a few before it went haywire.

Anyway, the box is 65' long, 16' wide and 4' tall. Normally I don't like to strap over my tarps but when you have a 16' span across the top no amount of bungees will keep it from ballooning. And yes, that is the front flap facing backwards on the front tarp. When the load gets this wide the flap is useless so I wrap it like a Christmas present, fold the corners in on each end then pull the tarp down over the folds and bungees pulling down under the load keeping the ends tight. It's rode 850 miles already without a single blow-out on 115 bungees. Only 300 miles to go on Tuesday. The rear tarp has been ballooning up a little between the last visible strap and the end but not more than 2 to 3 feet so I haven't worried about it. The other two are stuck very tight with the negative air pressure off the cab vacuuming the air out of them.

 

nice tarp job

 

Did you read the dimentions or just read 8ft drops will cover a 48ft load? Dimentions 24'6"x27'6" and they're a set. 27x2=54 if my may serves me right...tack on anther foot...6"x2 gives a total length of 55ft. So for a 53ft load you would have 2ft of overlap given that it all fit on the trailer perfectly for a 48ft load you would have 7ft of overlap if it was at the edges of the trailer anything shorter and you'd have more overlap unless you only needed one tarp. Your talking to a previous flatbedder who still has a set of lumber tarps, set of steel tarps, coil racks dunnage and everything sitting in his toolboxes.

To go more in depth I bought 8ft tarps why because I prefer to roll the tarp under to keep rain off as opposed to 6ft drops where it could've got under on some lumber loads also had the versatility if I ever did need 8ft of drop. Further more I used my steel tarps which were 4ft drops still rolled them under even when I had loads almost 4ft tall. Proper way to begin tarping start from the back unroll or unfold depending on weather you rolled or folded your tarps forward. I learned to secure the back tarp half way just in case of wind and secure where the front tarp will overlap that tarp so you aren't working underneath the tarp. Then unroll your front tarp tie it down half way so it won't blow off secure the front, back, and then go down the sides making a V out of your tarp straps and keep them as tight as possible. Depending on the load roll your tarp underneath before strapping helps shed water and keep road spray off the ld. And always use plastic over steel and put carpet over corners to protect the tarp.

I hated tarping but I took a lot of pride in my tarped loads. Never had a tarp balloon, and never put a hole in one. Might have taken me a little longer than some people but I wasn't out there tucking my tarp back under 10 miles down the road or having it puff going down the road. I know what my tarps will cover footage wise for a load: the steel tarps on my trailer will cover a 48ft load no problem 53 no. But I only carry 2 tarps having a 3rd tarp is more weight that I couldn't afford to have on there.

I carried both 4ft and 8ft so I was prepared and didn't end up in a situation like the op is in. No offense to him don't blame him for not carrying tarps as they're a pita. However I didn't want to be someplace and not get a load out because I didn't have tarps. Its a lot cheaper to drop $1200 on tarps than deadhead 500 miles to pickup a no tarp load. Been there done that.

Before you go explaining things read the ENTIRE post. I don't like explaining things like this in detail when its something all flatbedders should know...hell its actually more common sense than anything else.

 

Thanks, not my best work but it was 90 degrees and 90% humidity in Savannah on Thursday so I did what I could. The part that sucks worse than anything, I can't walk on the top of the box, it's 1/8" Luan plywood and won't support my weight so everything had to be done from the edge.

 

The front tarp should lay over the rear tarp by at least a foot. Put a 2" strap over the rear edge of the front tarp to keep it from flapping in the wind or it will eventually fray and tear.

 

I never had to strap the tarp to keep it from flapping. If you do, you don't have it tight enough.

 

That had to pay at least 300.00 to tarp looks like fun. I tell them if it needs covering you should put it in a box. I only do it when all else fails and I can't get out of it.

 

I just was wondering what you all are hauling that you need 150+ tarp straps. My company issues 30 and I told them I wanted 20 more so I have 50. I never need more than 30 so far. I mostly haul steel coils, bars and pipe. I have gotten all kinds of different loads and carry 2 28' 8' drop tarps that cover nearly everything. I do have a set of lumber tarps, but hate dealing with them case they are so ###### heavy.