Truck Tarps

Truck tarps must be used for highway safety when transporting materials. Each state has different regulations but, often, a tarp should be used on dump trucks and flatbed trucks carrying loose or harmful materials. However, how a tarp is fastened is important for keeping a tarp in good condition, without holes or tears. If a tarp is tied too loose to a truck, for example, the material can experience wind whip, in which waves will run through the tarp back and forth causing a whipping effect that will tear apart the material. But, if the material is tied too tightly, the tension can cause strain in the material.

The material for a truck cover does not matter, as long as the tarp is durable. Lightweight materials, such as polyethylene, are preferred but cotton, mesh, and vinyl-coated polyester/nylon are also used commonly as truck tarp materials. But, when the material is not waterproof, such as when rocks, gravel, or debris is being transported in a dump truck, a mesh tarp will suffice. If the material needs to be protected from water, such as with asphalt, a stronger, less permeable material like vinyl is used.

Truck tarps can be applied manually or automatically. Fabric weight is not as important for an automatic application but, if done manually, the fabric should be a lightweight material. For manual application, the workers should grip onto the tarp and not just the ropes, should use full body strength to move the tarp, and should keep feet apart for balance. To loosen the tarp, they should lift and lower the material for the air underneath. After the tarp has been removed, it should be laid on a flat surface to check for holes, rips, and tripping hazards and, when folding the tarp, the workers should move toward the middle. When putting the tarp back on, make sure that winch straps, if used, are only over the load and the tarp is on top of the straps. Sharps corners should also be padded, foam, cardboard, and carpet pads are options for protection, to prevent tears in the tarp.

A truck tarp is different from a standard tarp in that it must fit a specific truck or load. In some cases, they can be custom made for transport. As far as the fabric is concerned, certain fabrics are better for certain loads and trucks. A lumber truck indicates a large load over eight feet in dimensions, while a steel truck indicates a low load. Tarps for both, however, should have an additional row of D-rings. When choosing a tarp, such questions as, What material is being covered? and, How long should the fabric last? are important in finding the best coverage. In addition, UV exposure and weather conditions should also be considered.

To make the tarp last, maintenance is important but not difficult. The tarp should always be kept dry when stored to prevent mildew and mold from building up. It is best to store a tarp on wood pallets. Canvas should also be treated with extra care. The tarp should be cleaned every three to six months with soap and water and not with any harsh cleaning solutions.

Although a tarp should be inspected frequently for maintenance like tears, patching a hole in a tarp varies with the material. Generally, for most truck tarps, a repair kit with vinyl fabric and vinyl adhesive and cleaner is enough to repair most holes. Patching should almost always be done from the underside, unless a rip or hole is larger than 10 to 12 inches; in that case, the patching should be done on both sides. The patching fabric should match the cover, not for aesthetics but to maintain the durability. For vinyl or laminated fabrics, heat sealing can repair the hole, but rubber covers should be cemented with a rubber patch.