Guide To Steel Tarps

Guide To Steel Tarps

Steel Tarps are designed to keep high density low area freight secure and protected on a flatbed truck. These type of tarps got their name from their wide spread use in hauling flat steel plates, steel rods, coils, cables etc. Steel Tarps are typically made with 18 Oz Vinyl (PVC Coated Polyester) to ensure it can take the heavy wear and tear that comes with hauling steel and weigh anywhere from 40 – 70 Lbs depending on their size.

Steel Tarps usually have a 4 feet Drop which is ample to secure shorter items such as steel sheets and rods. They are constructed with grommets along the edges and 2 or 3 rows of “D” Rings along the sides and ends of the tarp to make it easy to tie down the tarp securely over a load. Tarp Straps / Bungee Straps need to be purchased separately to tie down the tarp.

Covering with a tarp is one of the most effective and economical ways of protecting your cargo from the elements (wind, rain, snow or sunlight) and keeping it tied down securely on the road. Visit Mytee Products Inc. for more information on Lumber Tarps, Steel Tarps, Machinery Tarps, Mesh Tarps, Tarp Straps and more.

Guide To Buying Lightweight Lumber Tarps

Guide to Buying Lightweight Lumber Tarps

Lumber and Steel tarps are an essential and expensive piece of equipment for flatbed truckers. These tarps need to be extremely rugged and heavy duty to withstand the wear and tear of over the road use. The most common fabric used to make these flatbed tarps is 18 Oz Vinyl (PVC Coated Polyester). 18Oz Vinyl is ideally suited for lumber and steel tarps as it is 100% waterproof, extremely abrasion and tear resistant and easily repairable. However a typical 18Oz Vinyl Lumber Tarp can weigh as much as 110 Lbs. Since these tarps have to be applied manually, a heavy tarp usually means that tarping the load is more difficult and time consuming. Usually there is a trade off between the weight of the tarps and its longevity. Tarps made out of heavier vinyl are always going to be able to take more wear and tear and lost longer.

One way to make lumber tarps lighter is by using 18Oz vinyl for the top of the tarp and lighter weight fabric (14Oz or 12Oz Vinyl) on the sides of the tarp. Most of the wear and tear is usually on the top portion of the tarp. By using heavy duty 18Oz fabric on the top, you can ensure that the tarp is long lasting and by using lighter fabric on the sides the total weight of the tarp can be reduced by 10 to 20 lbs

In the past decade there have been numerous innovations in the fabric coating industry and now there are light weight fabrics available that can offer the same performance of 18oz Vinyl at 25-30% lesser weight. These fabrics usually have a higher thread count and a higher performance PVC coating formula that allows them to weigh less and yet take the same wear and tear as the traditional 18 Oz Vinyl. Tarps made from these fabrics are much lighter and last just as long as the 18 Oz vinyl tarps.

Some fabricators also make their tarps with coated nylon or airbag fabric. Lumber Tarps made from this type of fabric is lightweight however they are not 100% waterproof and cannot be easily repaired.

Choosing the right fabric for your tarps is very important as it determines the life of your tarp and how much it is going to weigh. Visit Mytee Products Inc. for more information on Lumber Tarps, Steel Tarps, Machinery Tarps, Mesh Tarps, Tarp Straps and more.

How To Maintaining Your Truck Tarps

Guide To Maintaining Your Flatbed Tarps

Truck tarps are a necessary and expensive piece of equipment for a flatbed truck driver. The fabric used to make flatbed truck tarps is designed to resist tear and abrasion, and to withstand nature’s elements. However taking good care of your tarps and following some preventative measures can ensure an even longer life for your tarps and save you money.

When the truck is on the highway, the wind runs through the flatbed tarp from front to end at high speeds. If any end of the tarp is loosely tied, the high speed of the wind will make it flap back and forth (Also known as Wind Whip). This can damage even the sturdiest of flatbed tarps. To avoid damage from Wind Whip, tarps should always be tied down securely from all sides with bungee straps to the flatbed trailer and no end of the tarp should be left loose. The tarps should be tied down firmly without applying too much tension as that could strain the tarp fabric.

Make sure sharp corners and edges on the load are well padded as they can tear your tarp over time. Even though flatbed tarps are designed to be tear and abrasion resistant, padding the sharp edges of your load can significantly reduce the chances of a rip.

Inspect your tarp regularly for pea sized holes or small rips. To prevent the holes or rips from spreading, such damage should be repaired immediately using a tarp repair kit.

Flatbed tarps should be cleaned every 3-6 months to avoid buildup of caked on dirt, mould or mildew. The dirt on the tarps adds to the overall weight of the tarp and can trap certain chemicals that degrade the coating of the tarps. Cleaning your flatbed tarps with simple soap, water and a long push broom works great and stronger cleaning solutions should be avoided.

Visit Mytee Products Inc. for more information on Lumber Tarps, Steel Tarps, Machinery Tarps, Mesh Tarps, Tarp Straps and more.

Guide To All Type Of Truck Tarps

Guide To Flatbed Truck Tarps

(Lumber Tarps, Steel Tarps)

Tarps or tarpaulins are an important part of the trucking industry and are used to secure and protect a flatbed truck’s cargo while it is being transported. Covering with tarp is one of the most economical and best way to provide shelter from the elements (wind, rain, snow or sunlight) and to keep the cargo tied down securely. Depending on their dimensions and construction, flatbed truck tarps are usually known as Lumber Tarps or Steel Tarps.

Steel or Lumber Tarps are made out of Vinyl (PVC coated Polyester). Vinyl fabric is 100% waterproof, has great tear strength and is abrasion resistant which makes it ideal for making long lasting tarps. Steel and lumber tarps are constructed with grommets along the edges and D-Rings (“D” Shaped Steel Rings) on the sides to make it easy to tie down the tarp securely over a load. Tarp Straps / Bungee Straps need to be purchased separately to tie down the tarp.

A set of Lumber Tarps usually consists of two or three pieces and can accommodate trailers up to 48’ in length. Lumber tarps are rectangular in shape with a flap on one end. They typically have 2-4 rows of D-Rings on the sides and flap. The tarps are designed to cover loads that are up to 8’ from the truck bed and can weigh up to 110 Lbs.

Steel tarps are designed to keep small loads of steel rods, steel cables, sheets etc secure on truck beds. They are rectangular in shape with 2-3 rows of D-Rings on the sides. They are available in many different sizes.

For optimal tarp performance basic care and maintenance guidelines should be followed. Tarps should be tied down securely from all sides to prevent Wind Whip (At highway speeds the wind can tear apart the back end of a loosely tied tarp). Although flatbed tarps can take a lot of tear and rubbing, the sharp edges of the load should be padded to get maximum life out of your tarps.

Visit Mytee Products Inc. for more information on Lumber Tarps, Steel Tarps, Machinery Tarps, Mesh Tarps, Tarp Straps and more.