Crash course on tarping.. Experienced tarpers please chime in

When you get down from the top have bungees ready for the 4 corners of both tarps. It's super irritating if the wind gets up underneath one and tries to carry it off.

When you're ready to unload and pull the tarp off, do you know how to fold and roll it up? Lay the tarp outside up and bring the long edges into the middle lengthwise. Then do it again, and again (8' drop would need one more) then flop one side over on top of the other. Go down to the end and pull it up about 1/3 of the way. Now roll that puppy up using your knee to keep it tight. Have some bungees in the end rings ready to roll the roll 'o tarp into and fasten tight. Two people can actually do this three times faster than one! That's why I always helped anyone who needed it and wasn't a richard about it.

There is nothing better in the trucking world than to see a well tarped load going down the road. You can always tell who's squared away. I always complemented those that have pride. When I pulled flat, guys minds would be blown if they threw me that odd compliment on the CB and then found out I was a chick. Woo hoo!

 

Amen,Sister..

 

21 inch bungess is the standard.100 is all you need but will probably only use 70 tops. normal is 50. 8 foot drops is the standard. 27 feet long is the standard. 4 rows of d rings is the standard. lumber tarps are the lightest. and you want flaps that you'll be able to wrap around the load a little.

it depends on your operation though. now that you've got tarps you may be getting more tarped loads. that's generally where companies make there money becuase freight don't pay to haul.

about $500 - $600 for 2 tarps. that load must pay really good for the boss to spend that kind of money. look for a trailer supply store for bungees. normally you can get a better deal for a box of 50. you can probably even get them from any dealer. (kw,pete, etc).

don't buy rope if your trailer doesn't have hooks. you can buy 25 foot rolls from any truckstop and they DO come in handy from time to time.

my last company required tarps to be pulled over the rub rail. and there trailers had hooks. we just ran the rope through the d rings and pulled the rope down to the hooks.

as you learn to tarp. you'll learn other ways that will be much easier to do and work just as good without the hassle of doing a real job. if the bags are small enough. you can just lay the tarps over without completely unfolding. and strap over the tarps. lay it down just right. and the wind will go around the load keeping the tarps and folds in place without coming undone and looking like a mess.

8 foot drops are a pain in the butt when most loads are only 5 feet tall or less. if you don't haul anything over 6 feet tall. then 6 foot drops will suffice and save a few dollars.

tarp jobs don't need to look professional. they just need to keep the load protected. but not flapping to the point that highway patrol wants to pull you over. other truckers don't like your job. then they can do the job for you. i never got paid to tarp. and the time spent really cut into my paychecks. some companies do pay for tarp. but the rate you get is pathetic. and most don't pay for un tarp.

i'm no longer a company driver. therefor i no longer haul tarped loads.

 

I use mostly 21" and some which I believe are 28" long.

If I were you I would get 8' drop tarps if your load is higher then 4'. If you have to tarp anything in the future the 8's will cover just about anything.

 

Is there anyplace to buy tarps out by Denver ? It would help if you knew whether the load was 4' or 6' tall. Sometimes on pallets with bags, they should be shrinkwrapped and they usually don't care if you use 4' drops even if it's a little taller. the tarps basically to keep the shrinkwrap from blowing off and keeping everything from getting covered with road grime.

 

Looks like there is a place called Truckhugger.com in Aurora and a Pulltarps.com in Commerce City. Pulltarps might only have custom made tarps for dump trucks etc.

 

Get in your car drive east to Nebraska I'll meet you in grand island today if you'd like. Ill sell you my steel and lumber tarps both brand new for $1200 then you wont be in this again. Also sell you my tarp straps some used 2 boxes new for an extra $75 50/box in the new boxes used ones have probably 90 left.

 

I came to favor rubber rope over bungees. Easier to store and about as fast to use when you get the hang of it. It's always the right length, no matter wwhere the d-rings are. I see guys that don't pull it off the tarp, they just roll the tarp up with it still in the d-rings. If their next load has the same drop it's right there. I still use bungees on the flaps and to pull the back tarp forward, I have some long ones for that.

I will always take some extra time to tarp. A clean tight tarp job gets my respect every time. I feel like a slacker pulling a curtain van sometimes.

 

8ft drop will cover a 48ft load so the company says with the size you could probably cover a 53ft load but wouldnt have much overlap. they're 24'6"x27' 6". They're heavy duty tarps 18oz vynal black in color have flap. I always preferred to have more drop than not enough more to roll up and keep water off but that was just me. Just have the shipper lift them up there for you throwing them in my toolbox was a pita. Bout 115lbs a tarp is say. Also what they've been telling you about the V patter works great never had to strap over my tarps using that method. And I always used as many d rings as possible.