Tips and Tricks of flatbedding

I bought one of those extendable broom poles. Works great to move a strap over on a high load. I also used it with the broom on the end to get snow off the top of a load of pipe so I could get my straps tight without snow under them. Lots of ways it can be used to keep you from climbing up on loads.

 

I keep some spring clamps in the truck for when I'm folding tarps in the wind. I add them where necessary as I make my folds, then take them off as I roll the tarp. It sure beats getting everything lined up nice and neat only to have a gust blow it open again. It doesn't work as well in really strong winds, but it has saved me a lot of aggravation over the long run. I haven't tried them on larger tarps, but they work on my steel tarps just fine.

I picked mine up cheap from Harbor Freight, but they weren't exactly what I wanted for woodworking. I was going to toss them until I had that light bulb moment.

 

That is a great idea. I'm going to throw some in my side box.

 

a small flat tarp or specialized smoke tarp is handy to have even if you have a grass burner. A couple of the foam places will want a tarp especially when it is a long haul. I have an old tarp cut down for this, and then Hunter Panels will have us put a regular tarp on the front. Usually they pay decent for these runs so I like them.

 

ive seen the pros at the pipe yards doing this same thing. I cringe every time

 

To keep from scratching your safety glasses, store them in a glasses case or pouch, even a stiff plastic bag will do. I store my hardhat with the safety vest rolled inside it behind my seat. They make a little rack for hardhats, you can adapt it to fit somewhere in your truck, on the headliner, on the seat, attached to your cabinet doors, be creative.

 

Roll your tarps the same way every time, so you can get it exactly centered on the load every time.

Get a Maverick driver to show you how to fold a tarp using bungies and your siderail.

 

Leverage works better than strength or weight. If you carry pipe stakes, the round ones, slip it over the end of you winch bar and get an additional four feet of leverage. I don't always recommend using that much leverage. You can break things and bend winch bars. Learn to belly strap and choke strap on pipe to make the load more secure.

 

I carry an 18" peice of pipe for releasing flip binders, easier than getting the bigger bar out.
Never tried to use it in addition to the long bar.

 

I also pickup and save all kinds of peices of rubber like mudflaps and floor mats for cargo and tarp protection. Never had to buy any.

Kinda amazed how many rubber mudflaps I find in the back of truckstops when walking the dog.