OldTimer Tarp Story

Ive never had a tarp completely fly away, but come close. Chain binders do a real good job of holding a tarp down lol

 

After that, I just started pulling my tarp to the ground. Much easier to just sweep them as you roll them to get them clean. Safer too.

 

I had an experience one time with the wind I will never forget. Up in Tacoma, wa a few yrs at the GP drywall plant. I was at the tarp platforms trying to hurriedly tarp as we were expecting the big wind storm of 100 mph plus winds. Wind was picking up pretty good lots of gusts, no rain yet. This other driver was in the otherside doing the same thing. I had a super B train and was on the pup side flipping the sides down. This tarp had 8ft drops and suddenly this big gust came up and my tarp filled up like a sail and before3 I knew it, I was getting drug along the top of the load from the front to the back. I just barely let go before we came to the end of the load and watched that sucker go flying to the fence approx 60 ft away. WHEW!!

Other driver was lucky he had bungees holding his down and he was on the ground..Needless to say the tarp got some new holes and a tear. I got a quick lessen in wind physics.

 

You mean you did not know that the hanglider was invented by a flatbedder


Watchman

 

You know I have heard these stories for years. I have pulled a skateboard for a lot of those years and tarpped my share of loads but the worst thing that has happened to me is the tarp gets yanked from my hands and goes sailing. Now I don't know if I'm just weaker than most. I don't think I am being 6'7" 260.

 

I was pulling the tarp off the load in real windy day.When wind gust picked my tarp,it tangled with the load.never the less 3000 lb extruded aluminum bundle start coming on to me .I tell you something,you will never see me run this fast never again. I am lucky to be here to tell you this story.

 

I was loading at GAF in Gainsville, TX last week and the wind was kicking about 35mph. They will not allow you to park next to the building, so twice I climb'd up on top of the load and rolled out my tarp only to have it blow right off. I was only going to QKC so I fianlly said screw it and left w/o tarping the load. The manager was waving at me to stop from the office window and I just waved back as if I was saying bye...... agent called me 20min later and asked what happened, I explained and he said he didn't blame me. It was sunny and not a cloud in the sky. Made it the 120 miles in good time and the customer didn't ask a single question. I won't be going back there anytime soon LOL

 

That is when you tuck and roll under the trailer

 

I was tarping a load of steel last winter in RI out on the pier. I had un rolled an unfolded the tarp an as i was getting off the trailer to start bunging it to the trailer a nice gust of wind grabbed it an sent it strait into the river. Boss was not happy with me over that lol.