The journey begins - purchased a truck.

dngrous_dime · May 19, 2016

dngrous_dime said: ↑

Carbon fiber? I'm intrigued!
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Well, I was way off.... Got me all excited for nothing....

blairandgretchen · May 19, 2016

dngrous_dime said: ↑

Well, I was way off.... Got me all excited for nothing....
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That's OK - I uploaded from my phone, then sat at the laptop for the longer typing. That 6+ takes REALLY high definition photos. I looked at them again with an empty mind and saw the same thing.

And WHAT? You don't find tarps exciting and fascinating ??!!

dngrous_dime · May 19, 2016

When I do get my own truck, I'm planning a few projects involving fiberglass, "dash enhancement", and speaker pods.

Terry270 · May 19, 2016

So what kind of connection are you making since it's on the trailer? Or are you running an extension cord each night?

Skate-Board · May 19, 2016

blairandgretchen said: ↑

@Skate-Board - I inserted your name throughout this one so you'll be sure to read and absorb the entire content, and won't skip read and drift off elsewhere only to ask something I've already covered later on, and have me politely re explain through clenched teeth. I hope this helps.
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Lol

Old Man · May 19, 2016

I have no confusion over which tarp is which, of course I only carry one.
I roll my bungees up in a piece of furniture pad and tape it so it can't unroll. It has been the best way to keep them un tangled and easy to use.

blairandgretchen · May 19, 2016

Terry270 said: ↑

So what kind of connection are you making since it's on the trailer? Or are you running an extension cord each night?
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I cable tied the extension cord under the trailer - and the female end is up by the glad hands.

Then drilled a small hole under the passenger seat, ran the cord through it, put the female end on, then cable tied it under the cab to meet with the trailer cord.

sawmill · May 19, 2016

blairandgretchen said: ↑

I wasn't that impressed by the work the canvas place did on patching the tarps last time, so I've been working on them sporadically when time permitted. I'd spread them out on the trailer, half a side at a time - but the grooves in the deck - and wind , didn't make it easy.

So - I pulled them all out and spread them out one at a time in the shop to do them. Only downside is not having light from the bottom so you can see the holes easier, but with some careful inspection you can find them.

View attachment 139403

Probably could do with a decent pair of scissors - but these work well.

View attachment 139406

Round your corners. Doesn't take long. Then there's no corners to catch.

View attachment 139407

Took me back to patching bicycle tires as a kid. Clean the area to be patched with thinners on a rag. Vinyl cement on the patch first, then over the tarp. Blow on the patch to dry it off a bit, and slap it on. Shimmy it around a little then stand on it, or press the edges on till it's nice and tacky.

I know this is pretty basic stuff - but I didn't know any of this flatbed stuff when I started. So it may help somebody.

I've ordered some paint pens - 4 colors. The white will be to mark on the tarps once rolled, what size they are, and the other colors for marking hoses and wires and such before disassembly - to make sure things go back the same way. Nothing worse than rolling up tarps and thinking "Is that the 6' or the 8' ? "

I've changed the way I roll the tarps up a bit - the 2 machinery tarps that are closer to a 4 foot drop, I roll up to about 3' wide, and they go side by side on top of the headache rack. The 6' drop gets rolled into a 4'6" sausage and goes in the side box. I've decided if somebody really wants to risk climbing up on my trailer and stealing the machinery tarps - then they're either really stupid, or they really want to tarp stuff more than I do - so they can have at it. And the 8' is getting sidelined for now. Too bulky and always too much drop.

If what I have lined up becomes a regular deal, I may take the 8' drop lumber tarp and have it modified to suit the job better. Yes - what I have lined up involves tarps, so I'd better get used to it. I've gotten a lot quicker at it. I managed to untarp 2 tarps, unstrap, tidy away - and reload, strap and use 1 tarp in less than an hour the other day. Consolidating movement seems to be the key, the less trips I make around the trailer the better it goes. I guess everyone finds their own system.
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I learned if you don't take the tarps out and use them it's darn near impossible to tear a hole in them.

Skate-Board · May 19, 2016

blairandgretchen said: ↑

I cable tied the extension cord under the trailer - and the female end is up by the glad hands.

Then drilled a small hole under the passenger seat, ran the cord through it, put the female end on, then cable tied it under the cab to meet with the trailer cord.
Click to expand...

Does your Honda generator use gas or diesel?

Old Man · May 19, 2016

This is my generator, something Blair should be able to afford soon.

Cost a little more than $399, plus a SS box to put it in.

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