How many different types of tarps do you guys carry?

16x24 and 16x28 steel tarps with extra rows of D rings width wise.

Going to get a 24x27 machine tarp soon I think. And a coil bag

 

I carry 2 20x24 tarps, a 12x16 and a 20x30 machinery tarp. Probably gonna get me a couple of 16x25 tarps for the shorter stuff.

 

with a 48' flat I'd start with 2 - 16x16's and 3 - 16x24's. that way you can cover an 8' tall load front to back if necessary using them all. Unless you know you are going to be hauling a lot of stuff requiring 8' drops or a nose tarp, coil bag, etc..., I don't see any reason to plop down that kind of money and find a place for all that jive unless you know you'll be wanting it when you can get by with just 5. I carry 12 furniture pads to cover sharp edges and about 250 - 21" bungee's.

 

2- 24'x 26' lumber tarps with one end flap each. 5 rows of D rings. These cover everything I need to cover.
The time it takes to fold an extra 4 or 5 feet of material vs. using a smaller tarp is inconsequential and the ability to cover a big load vs. a 3 or 4 tarp system is unmatched.

BUT if I did more LTL I might change my mind.

I try to keep my equipment to as little as possible yet enough to do everything that comes up.

I've been contemplating a flat tarp as well, 16x20 or so, but I've been thinking about it for over a year so I guess I don't need one.

For padding under sharp edges, I use old tarp cut into 2'x8' strips. These work the best because they are free, don't absorb water and can be folded into as many layers as you need.

 

exact opposite of what I said, but also a good system. depends on what you run into. I don't run into much of anything requiring 8 ft drops, if I did happen too I'd have to spend an additional hour or so fixing up 5 tarps. I do run into a lot of small crates and pallets where I'm always glad I have my 16x16's, and occasional steel loads and things for my 4' drops.

I was thinking today I have a good space between the framerails towards the front of my step that I can get too. if I made a steel box in there it would be an okay spot to keep more tarps, then maybe I'd get some. right now I'm moving things around on the deck all the time. sure don't need a couple 8' drops to move around in addition to the stuff I already have !

 

Trial and error. Everybody has their own way and level of pickiness. Here's the key things to keep in mind.

Pad all sharp edges all the time.
Keep them tight.
Only strap over top when there is a chance that wind will get under them and pull them off. Like on high loads or when the overlap is short or when there is a lot of extra material due to an odd shape.

If you use bungies with hooks, crimp the part of the S that goes into the rubber so it won't wear on the tarp.

 

When I first started tarping I would use every bungee I had and wished for more. Now I use about half as many and my tarp looks way better.

It just takes practice.

 

Safety glasses. Wear your safety glasses.

 

I have switched over to using rubber rope. Still carry bungies but hardly ever use them.
Less hooks to cut into the tarps.
Also rubber rope, you cut to your own desired lenghts. I have a some cut in 12' lenghts and I can easly go over the the tarp and back.
Once I got the nack of rubber rope, can't figure why I didn't use it years ago.

 

Don't forget tarp back to front. Also tie down the corners before doing your bungees. If your load is irregular try to do the square areas first. If you have lots of extra tarp hanging flip up one side and put a bungee about a foot from the end, then go to the other end flip it up and put another bungee, that way you're not fighting the tarp with every bungee. I've also found after flipping up the tarp, just hang the bungees but don't loop them around the rail, just hang them. After hanging them come back the other way quickly looping them around the rail. More walking but its way faster. Make sure you hang them so you're doing the vees through the rail away from you, so you're not wasting extra movement covering excess ground. Also give any corners a nice love tap with your hammer to round it off. Corner protectors can fall off.