A:  Be aware of possible injury. Tarp handling injuries are common for flatbed drivers, so be sure to not over exert yourself while folding and putting away your tarp.

B:  Ask for help. Consider getting a buddy to help you fold to help avoid injury. Tarps are heavier than they look and sharing the work will make the job easier.

C:  Remove all straps and bungees from the tarp. Put these in a specified place in the cab so you know where they are when you need them again.

D:  Lay the flatbed tarp out on a flat area. This will make holes and tripping hazards more easily noticeable. If you notice any holes rips or tears, get some tarp tape and fix the damage now before it gets any worse.

E:  Fold your flatbed tarp toward the center. Have your buddy take the opposite end of the side you are working on and pull together to make the fold. This will make the unfolding easier when you need to use it again.

F:  Consider getting a tarp system for your flatbed. This might work if you are on a dedicated run and you are carrying the same thing to it’s destination every week. These include rolling types and accordion-type folding systems.

You can purchase a grommet kit at your local hardware store or online at tarpman.com.  These kits  usually come with different sized grommets, plus includes the grommet installation anvil and hole cutter.

Determine where you are going to install the grommets on your tarp.  Make sure you pick an area long the edge of the tarp that has a hem and stitching for extra strength.  Once you have decided where you will be placing these grommets, mark the area with your permanent marker.

Now, lay the section of the tarp where you are going to install the grommet over the scrap wood and center the location of the grommet on the wood.  Then, put the hole-cutter tool from the grommet kit over the market spot.  Be sure the sharp, beveled edge is next to the tarp.  Then, hit the tool once with your hammer to cut out the hole.

Push the grommet up through the hole in the tarp.  Now you need to set these two items over the hole you made on the anvil that came with the grommet set.  Make sure the grommet is set around the whole you just cut.  Place a washer face down over the top of the anvil.  At this point you are ready to put the two pieces together.

Put the grommet punch inside the grommet tube that came with the kit.  Center this over the grommet pieces and tarp that are in position over the anvil.  Strike the tube with the hammer, then turn the tube a quarter turn and hit it again.  Repeat this step 3 or 4 more times.

That’s it!  Just make sure the grommet and washer are connected firmly with each other.  Then, just continue on installing the rest of the grommets using these same steps.

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Before putting your tarp away, look for any dirt and take the time to clean it.  Use a biodegradable tarp soap so you won’t damage the water resistant material.  You may want to spray the cleaner on ahead of time and let is sit for a few minutes before you clean it off.  Also, make sure to scrub your tarp lightly as to not damage it. 

If you choose to put your tarp away dirty, you will reduce it’s life and overall performance because of possible corrosion.  Plus, when you need to use it again, you will be pulling out a dirty tarp.

It makes sense to check your flatbed tarp for any tears, missing grommets or rips.  That way you can make any repairs while it is out and clean so the next time you go to use it, there will be less hassles. 

Finally, make sure to keep the tarp away from direct sunlight.  You may want to think about getting a tarp enclosure for flatbed trucks – they are designed to roll your tarp away when it is not in use.

By taking the extra time to make sure your tarp is clean, repaired and dry before you put it away until the next haul, you will make your next haul start off on the right foot.

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What is the difference between Lumber tarp and Steel tarp? Lumber tarps – as the name implies are typically used for long haul truckers to protect their loads of lumber, hay, or other bulky products.  Steel tarps are generally smaller in size and are used to cover loads of steel products shipped nationwide.

Austin Canvas & Cargo Controls will provide you lumber or steel tarp in the color and size within days of your order. Or you can place your order online or over the phone for quick shipping of your stock tarp.

Lumber and steel truck tarps are made with 14, 18, or 22oz vinyl fabric built to handle high and low temperature swings. Hay hauling tarps are typically 28′ wide so the tarp touches the deck on both sides. D-rings are sewn into the seatbelt webbing at the heights and spacing you request. Back and side flaps can be made to fit your needs.  You can see schematics of all of our tarps at www.tarpman.com.

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With a little elbow grease you can get your tarp looking great before you put it away for the next load. Follow these easy steps:

Step 1:
You will need to spread your tarp out either on a clean flat surface like a driveway, or you can lay out your tarp over your flatbed.

Step 2:
It’s best to use a biodegradable spray tarp cleaner. You can also use just plain dishwashing soap and water if you want. If you choose to use a tarp cleaner, make sure you get one that is designed for flatbed tarps so it will maintain the water resistance of the tarp fabric.

Step 3:
The best way to get a good clean is to spray the tarp and let it sit for a bit, giving the cleaner some time to do its job and loosen up the caked on dirt and grime.

Step 4:
Now you will unfortunately need to scrub your tarp. The best thing to use is a long push broom or something like that so help you take off any of the grime that doesn’t want to come off. Be patient on stubburn areas, a little elbow grease will do the trick.

Step 5:
Take the time to rinse your tarp throughly. You don’t want to leave any cleaning residue on it. Also, this will help you see areas that you may have missed and will let you go back and take care of them.

Step 6:
It is important to let your truck tarp dry completely before putting it away. You might want to consider cleaning your tarp on a nice sunny day to let nature do the work of making sure your tarp is dried completely.

Cleaning your tarp isn’t fun, but taking the time to care for your investment will give you years of continued use and save you money in the long run.

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Choose the right tarp cover:
Make sure you choose the right cover for the job. You can get a custom designed tarp cover that is created especially for your load, but it doesn’t make sense to use a square cornered tarp like a wallboard tarp if you have a rounded flatbed load. You will make it difficult to get good tie down and will prevent billowing when the cover doesn’t fit.

Secure your load:
Securing your load with the right tie down is imperative to maintain its best performance.  Wind whip is one of the most damaging factors to a tarp.  A loosely tied down tarp can get torn apart very easily, especially at high speeds, waves of air run throught the cover from front to back, and if the back end of the cover is loose, the waves will snap it back and forth like a whip.  Wind also damages any fabric by making a vacuum under a loose cover, which draws in moisture and dirt.  So making sure you have the right tie down is important.

Padding:
It is important to pad sharp edges and corners of your load.  Even though the new fabrics on the market are great at resisting wear and tear, by using the right kind of padding, you give your tarp the chance to do its best.  No matter how good your tarp is though, sharp edges and corners will tear your fabric – so think when you are readying your load.

How to Handle your Tarp:
Take your time installing and removing your cover.  Overhead cranes and truck covers don’t mix well.

Keep your tarps dry after use:
It’s important to keep truck covers reasonably dry after use.  Yes, they are designed to get wet and most fabrics are water-repellent and mildew resistant, but you don’t want to create an environment for mildew to fester.  Also, it’s best to keep your tarps off the floor when not in use, like on a wood pallet.

By following the few basic tips above, you can ensure the longevity of your tarp for many uses.

POSI-LOCK

This is the “Quickest Manual Side Roll” there is. To open all you have to do is unhook a crank from retaining hooks, Unfold the handle if “flex style”, relieve the pressure off crank, change the angle at universal from 90 degree to 45 degree, roll over across the top till the tarp rests in the caddies, hook the crank to side till you are ready to close. To re-tarp roll in the opposite direction, continue to roll until the tarp is tight under latch plate, Bend the crank at a 90 degree angle, push the crank to the locked position, fold the handle and re-pin to the retaining hooks. There should be 45lbs. of pressure when crank handle meets the side of your trailer.

There are a few LIMITATIONS to consider before purchasing a Posi-Lok.

1- You cannot load above bow height

2- If your tailgate swings to the side make sure the crank handle will not interfere with your tailgate operation. The crank handle stays connected to roll pipe.

If either of these limitations present a problem you should strongly consider a Ratchet Style Side Roll.

RATCHET STYLE

The Ratchet Style really has NO LIMITATIONS, other than taking a little more time to secure the straps to the ratchet. This was the original style and still works very well, and is quite a bit less expensive. You can load above the bow height and still secure your straps to the ratchets. The tailgate is able to swing open, since the crank handle comes out of the pipe and is stored on the side of the trailer. You can run a one-piece tarp which eliminates front or rear caps that can sometimes be in the way.

No matter where you buy your system make sure you are getting enough bows to support your tarp. A lot of our competitors have a great price, until you see what is included.

Hopefully this information will be some help when choosing the correct system for your needs!

Any questions please call and talk to a professional at 1-(800)-532-8277

Since 1946 Austin Tarp and Cargo Controls has built a reputation for providing it’s customers with tarps and cargo controls of the highest quality and value available anywhere.  From flatbed truck tarps, bed liners and dump trailer systems, we have the experience to help you choose the right fit for you to keep your load secure and dry.

Our blog is designed to show you the right type of flatbed tarp you will need for whatever the load you are hauling.  The right tarp will make all the difference to make sure your cargo arrives safe to its final destination.  Tarps come in many different sizes, weights and thinkness for a variety of uses.  Choosing the right tarp, combined with the right cargo controls, makes a difference.  Sometimes, cheaper isn’t always better.  What good is buying a tarp that will only last you one or two loads?

In the coming weeks we will discuss the various different types of tarps and cargo controls available.  So check back often to see how we can help you make the right decisions before you buy.

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