Tarping before or after securing?

The easiest way I've kept track of my flaps is to roll the tarp up to the flap, then roll the flap back to the tarp, then bungee it up.

Plus, that way when you get it on top of the load, you just put it apt 2' back from the front or rear edge, pull the bungee off, and the flap falls right to the deck, and you can roll the tarp over the top without having to unroll, and then reposition the tarp to get the flap in the right place.

 

Well Bignature I hope you get good service out of those 14oz tarps. We bought some in the past and they tore pretty easily. Of course they were used on some machinery loads and that didn't help. If you use them on bagged products or lumber you probably will not get as many holes. Regarding light weight tarps, we've had good success with Cordura tarps from Peaks Tarps. They worked well for oblong shapes and such. They stretch a little as compared to vinyl and when they get a hole it doesn't continue to tear. However one downfall to Cordura is the repair process. I found a product by the name of "Seam Grip" which was the only economical solution to gluing fabric over the holes. The drying process would take 24 hours. The repair advantage goes to vinyl. You can either use vinyl cement or heat weld patches. Both are servicable within less than 15 minutes.
Regarding pricing, as long as your happy with what you got, don't worry about price. Try to look for not only assembled in USA but assembled with USA fabric. We buy from two places in Atlanta, the main being Harp's Tarps. They make them there and usually have the best prices. Sometimes they have sales and right now checking online their 8' black drops are $325 each w/ 3 rows of D rings. I think their 3 peice set is $819.
Also make sure you buy the made in USA bungees. The foreign brands break more often and don't stretch as much. I found Harp's usually has the best prices on those as well in this area.
We've bought some tarps from Sigman in Marietta. They don't make their own tarps but they offer USA fabric. We typically buy 6' drops from them as Harp's never seems to stock those. Harp's will make them but you have to order in advance.

Hope some of this helps

 

Don't feel bad bigNature. You've done the right things so far. You didn't know, so you asked questions and got info to evaluate what would work for you. You made a plan based on the info you had that was workable and not extravigant from a business sense. You had to modify the plan based on the actual conditions you found. And you observed the results and made plans to improve the process where you could.

And THAT boys and girls is how ANY new venture becomes an overnight success (usually after a bunch of years of process). <chuckle>

 

Flap on the front tarp goes over the sides to prevent air from getting between the tarp and load. Back tarp is the opposite, flap under the sides.

 

If you can't slide a tarp over a load to get it even, it's because you didn't use enough padding. The tarp got caught on something after you rolled it out, and that's why it wouldn't budge. There are a lot of options for padding, and sometimes you'll never have enough.

14oz really is on the thin side. 18oz is a more standard weight, but if they ever come loose, they're done for. When I get my new tarps made, I'm going to see if anything in the 22-28oz range is available, since I think it's a bit silly that I have to pad finished lumber before I can tarp it if I don't want it to get cut.

 

I agree with kylefitzy on the flaps and padding is key! I think those big tarps would be heavy to try to adjust with padding or not.
Speaking of, I bought a dozen of those blue padded moving blankets from Tarpstop- they are better than nothing but very thin compared to my old ones. I was at the flying J in New Caney TX last year and there was a heaping pickup load of like-new felt moving blankets that were dumped in the back row on the grass. I find they are thin too but the price was right.

 

The blue moving pads at Menards are a bit higher in quality, but only come in 36"x72". At $6 each I grab whatever they have in stock any time I'm there. I don't think I've ever had a problem with them when doubled over and strapped down.

 

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