If you're in the hauling business, your livelihood
can depend on the condition of your truck tarp. Truck tarps from D.S. Sewing -- made of the
highest quality vinyl-coated polyester -- can last up to three years with
proper care. Fortunately, proper care doesn't involve anything
complicated. There are just a few simple steps you must take to protect
your investment from the worst enemy of tarp fabric: abrasion. "Since the
tarp is a tool that you have to use everyday, it's best to take care of
it," says D.S. Sewing
President Dave
Steinhardt.
To illustrate how destructive abrasion can be to a
truck tarp, Steinhardt likens highway driving to a hurricane. Winds in a
hurricane can reach 60 mph and higher – just like your flatbed truck
on an Interstate.Even when there is no
wind, your entire truck is shaking and rattling all day long as it barrels down
the freeway. Under those conditions, objects as small as splinters or burrs can
rub against your truck tarp and wear through even the best fabric.
If a hole develops, you've got a problem. How are you going to keep
rain and salt off a load of lumber? Or paper bags filled with concrete mix? Or
skids of nails in cardboard boxes? Here's one suggestion for keeping your tarp
in tip-top shape: after your flatbed is loaded with cargo, take a walk around
the truck. Look for points sticking out – even small ones -- that might rub
against the tarp. It is often easy to smooth over these areas if they are
noticed in time. For example, metal crimps on bundles of lumber could wreak
havoc on a tarp. Use duct tape to cover the crimps, or pound them down with a
hammer.
Harmful abrasion can even result from improper
installation of the "s"
hooks
securing a tarp to your truck. Steinhardt once sold a tarp to a truck driver who
fastened the hooks with the bottoms facing inward. When Steinhardt noticed the
mistake, he had to remove and re-attach every hook – with the bottoms facing
outward. If the hooks had remained the way the driver installed them, the sharp
edges could have cut right through the tarp in dozens of places.
Finally, remember that abrasion can work
against your tarp even when you're not carrying any cargo. A folded-up
tarp sitting directly on your empty flatbed will rub against rocks and
other tiny particles at 60 mph until they become lodged in the fabric. To
avoid having your tarp resemble a giant piece of sandpaper, place a carpet
or piece of cardboard underneath before strapping it to your empty
flatbed. Drivers have also been known to place their idle tarps on the deck plates
behind their truck cabs. But these areas have rough surfaces to
avoid slippage, so use carpet or cardboard there as well. These simple steps
will ensure you get the longest possible life out of your D.S. Sewing tarp.
"We're saying, 'Take care of your tarp,'" Steinhard says. "Remember, you're in a
hurricane all day long."
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For more information on the DS-Sewing truck tarp product line, visit DS-SEWING.com
