| 1. Wind whip is one of the biggest factors for tarp | | | | down sharp corners of the load. Pieces of foam, used |
| wear and tear. A loosely tied cover can be susceptible | | | | tennis balls etc work great for this purpose. |
| to such damage. At highway speeds, the entire wind | | | | 5. Take special care while tarping or un-tarping your |
| pressure on a loosely tied tarp is exerted on just a | | | | load. Be extra careful if you are using a forklift or |
| few tie-down points. To prevent such damage, make | | | | overhead cranes with your tarps as they can easily |
| sure your tarp is firmly tied over the load under slight | | | | damage your tarps. |
| tension. Use plenty of bungee cords and tuck all | | | | 6. Always carry a patching kit or some tarp tape while |
| corners of the tarp under the load. | | | | on the road. It is best to patch small holes or tears in |
| 2. Always make sure that the metal hooks of the tarp | | | | your tarp early to prevent them from spreading. Most |
| bungee straps are turned away from the tarp to | | | | hardware stores, truck stops or tarp shops carry tarp |
| prevent them from poking through the tarp. | | | | tape, vinyl cement and vinyl fabric for small patch jobs. |
| 3. Make sure you do not apply too much tension on | | | | 7. It is best to keep truck tarp clean and dry. Vinyl |
| the tie down points while securing the tarp over the | | | | Tarps are waterproof and mildew resistant but |
| load. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that the cover | | | | keeping them dry during storage extends their life. You |
| is snugly over the load and the tie down points | | | | should clean your tarp every 4-5 months with regular |
| (D-Rings, Grommets) aren't pulled much lower than the | | | | soap and water to get rid of the grime, dirt and |
| hem of the tarp. | | | | chemicals that get stuck to them on the road. |
| 4. Use plastic tarp protectors or some padding to pad | | | | |