Does anyone use parachute tarps?

Parachute + Tarp = Western Express?
Now that’s funny right there!!

 

I ran them when still doing open deck work and liked them a lot. The only problems I had were as others mentioned, you have to pad the load well as they tear much easier. The also seemed harder to get taut. It always looked like they were flapping a lot going down the road. Mine were two piece 6 ft drop with the heavier tarp material on top. They were 26’ long. I could pick them up and move them easily, as easy as a three piece setup of normal material

 

Thank you for the info. Do you remember where you bought the tarps?

 

Boss man purchased them. Not sure of price

 

I bought 2 of the MyTee tarp vinyl & cordura tarps. Been a couple years but IIRC they were about 300$ ea, 8' lumber, a 18' and 23' or somesuch
I used a black rubber stuff in a 1qt can and scraps of silk shirts for patches
I'm just too old and too weak and spent too many hours of listening to a rotator injury ghost- any cost or inconvenience others might not deal with was worth it to me. The heavier one was around 80 or 90 lb and the smaller one was 'easy' to pick up (for a 50 yo woman desk jockey, not farm girl)

 

they are awesome for onions which was one of my favorite loads
but a load of concrete formwork even with a HUGE amount of thick felt at all the corners made for a very sad trip... ;-(
still worth it

 

Thank you for the reply. I’m surprised you like the onion loads. I did one from the border going to Georgia two weeks ago and it was a pain. I had to open and close the flaps three times. Delivered in,sand and spend my 34 hour reset cleaning and mopping the tarps afterwards lol on the other hand pay was decent considering the area it came out of

 

I always figured it pays well because guys are less inclined toward the constant babysitting they need. I didn't mind it a bit. I used to pocket I think like 1500 or 2000 just running from Hatch NM or the one over the state line in Cal up to NY. If I put the 4x4 under the front and back like lumber it's easy peasy. and the people on both ends were the nicest places. Doesn't get much better than that except for a big fat coil that doesn't need tarping LOL

 

it does pay decent if you get it through a half way decent broker. First broker agreed to do $3500 than disappeared and stopped answering calls. Second one let the load go for $3100. Driver next to me going to same place got the load for $2700. And Hindu brokers kept calling trying to offer the load for 2100 while trying to convince us that it’s going to a hot area lol coils back to Texas was actually next load after the onions.

I used to love long shots as company driver. Load and don’t have to worry about tarping or strapping for next few days.