It is my understanding that brown tarps are better than green, which are better than blue.
had reason to cover a PU load with a blue tarp all bungee corded down, I thought well.
drove the load for an hour and a half at highway speeds. when I arrived tarp still there, but grommets were starting to tear, and there were several holes in the tarp, one about 2″x6″ shredded. there was billowing, flapping.
i suspect the tarp was not up to the task.
are there tarp specs to look for?
bobl Volo, non valeo
“But when you’re a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn’t matter.” SHG
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I've done a web search, and my head is spinning.
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter WFR
"But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG
You may want a canvas duck tarp. I suspect the run of the mill tarps are not rated.
Tarps used by truckers are the best. They are held down so that they will not flap. If you will taker a look at some trucks they are held using bungee cords that are quite tight.
the flapping is the key
just tying down with the grommets will not usually do the job
throwing some restraints crisscrossed over the tarp will stop the flapping ... secure all loose folds... don't let the wind get under it
There are some cargo net type hold downs that might be used as well as several accessory tarp attachment devices that allow one to add as many hold down points as you wish to. But yes in general you have the order correct as to the general grade of quality. But true enough the type used be most truckers are superior in every sense.
they was a guy that made a model of new orlean after the hurricane, and he had all these blue tarps on the roofs of the building, boy did the city get mad
I've got a brown tarp that I used to cover my swamp buggy for years. It's worn, has a few holes but I still use it. I'll bet it's 10 years old now. FEMA used blue tarps on roofs around here after hurricane Charlie. As long as they were fastened down with furring strips every few feet they seemed to last about year.
Blue tarps are typically 5 or 6 mil thickness and have an 8x8 fabric weave.
Brown and green are 8 mil and have a 10x10 weave.
Silver is 11 mil and has a 14x14 weave.
There are exceptions to this and other grades, but these are pretty typical values.
http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
I have a 12x20' silver "trucker" tarp for the top of my boat lift on PVC bows that has survived 2 hurricanes (Charlie and Wilma) and several near misses.
It has rubber reinforcing in the corners and heavy duty fabric.
I think the sun may finally be calling it home but I did get 5 good years out of it.
When I have to protect stuff in the back of the truck, 1st I cover with poly or whatever color cheap tarp I got, then strap the cargo mesch net that I use on my dump trailer over that. The mesch is like bullet proof and it holds the tarp underneath perfectly in place.
Blue should be banned, only because of color. Just UGLY to look at in the neighbors back yard. Green, Brown, black even silver would be preferred.
Just UGLY to look at in the neighbors back yard.
I used one of those camoflage tarps once, but then I couldn't find the house the next day.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
You use the camo tarp to hide your new shed from the tax assessor satellite pictures.
I strive to not get too anal with life, but blue tarps in neighborhoods brings me to the brink. Camo would be an excellent alternative.
Silver tarps or dont bother. I can get 4-5 years on my lumber piles with them. Had a blue trap turn into confetti with Hurr. Hugo.
Farm tek or Harbor frieght.
I used to have these bright orange tarps. Made a house look like a Howard Johnson's motel.
The blues are an improvement over them. <G>
Have a trucker's tarp covering a 5ft stack of half inch celotex fiberboard sheets out back.
Those trucker's type put tarps in a whole different vein from blue and silver.
I can only say that aside from my gunite pool (gray in color) and the sky (recently just gray) but supposed to be blue, EVERYTHING, is green, brown. Earth tones. Blue tarps suck, only because of the COLOR. Should be banned, like golf ball and large mouth bass mail boxes.
What's wrong with large mouth bass mail boxes? I've those and manatee and alligator mail boxes in my neighborhood too. It's pretty clear we don't have HOA in my 'hood of vinyl palaces.
Every thing is personal taste, but I have this very strong opinion problem. I'm not opinionated, I'm just always right. My wife's quote.
yes - genrally denotes heavier weave weight and thickness.
top of the line is the silver one side and black on the other that lasts several years if you don't tear it with scrap metal and nails.
I'm working hard to recall where I bought mine...
Here you go..
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1;ft1_hay_storage_tarps;ft1_hay_tarps.html
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