Tarps ???

[GPW]

Found out that I need to keep my trailer covered Looking around for a good tarp... Figured you guys (and Ladies) would have some experience with this... So any ideas or opinions would be surely appreciated !!!!

[zapj]

I use tarps listed as farm/commercial from Harbor Freight. As with all Harbor Freight items you can find sales on a regular basis. I have three sizes in use when camping as needed. There is also a green duct type tape available to reinforce the grommets.

Jim

[TheBizMan]

I use the Harbor Freight silver ones. The blue ones leak.

[alffink]

#1 stay away from the good ol' blue tarps and all similar plastic cloths.

They do not breath, and will trap moisture between the tarp and the surface of your tear, not a good idea, I'm thinking.

And even a good soft, breathable cover has a tendancy to abraid surfaces, if alowed to move around in the wind, in other words will rub the finish on paint and or varnish and can polish unevenly on aluminum.

So choose any cover carefully, they can do as much harm as good.

I believe it's Little Guy that has a line of Teardrop covers for their trailers and I've heard of good results from using some car covers, I have not tried either.

Best of luck, I live in a wind prone area and haven't found anything I want try yet, I learned first hand about the polishing of the aluminum and the use of tarps....I call it ageing with character, not really a look I was looking for though.

[bobhenry]

My tear has a lexan top and the scratches really aggravate me



I took to putting down an old quilted bed comforter then a good new tarp. (Silver blue whatever) I pull it tight with ratchet straps under the belly of the trailer to keep the wind from whipping it. The quilt will breath and is soft enough not to scratch and the padding keeps the nylon reinforcing strands of the tarp from cutting the hell out of the top.

[alffink]

Bob

I for got about YOUR quilt idea, in conjuction with the classic tarp, sounds like a good compromise and should give plenty of protection. Without the detrements of the tarp alone. How has it worked with your plexi-roof??

[48Rob]

Found out that I need to keep my trailer covered Looking around for a good tarp...

Hmmm, how novel...

Guess they figure the roof they put on at the factory is just for looks?

Rob

[GPW]

Rob , actually the roof is paper thin vinyl over 3/32" plywood (Jayco) ... Must have been somebody's idea of a bad joke ... anything touches it goes right through ... Gotta' make it last though ... cover it up ... still paying on it ...

[GuitarPhotog]

My tear has a lexan top and the scratches really aggravate me
-snip-.

Polycarbonate (Lexan) is very tough from an impact resistance point of view, but it scratches very easily. Plain acrylic is more scratch resistant, but has low impact resistance.

I understand there is now a layered product with a polycarbonate core and acrylic exterior. Expensive I imagine.

<Chas>

[doitright]

Found out that I need to keep my trailer covered Looking around for a good tarp... Figured you guys (and Ladies) would have some experience with this... So any ideas or opinions would be surely appreciated !!!!

With all the rain you have been having do you also need pontoons? Hope you all dry out soon. I also need some good tarps that will last more than a year so I will be watching this post.
doitright

[GPW]

Doit, it has been pretty WET lately huh ??? ... Pontoons aren't really a bad idea !!!
I saw those HF Farm tarps ... if i could get six months out of it , I'd be happy ... And I am planning on using styrofoam spacers too .... left over from the Foamie TD build ...

[Larwyn]

I use ropes and trees and or tent poles, even my shop building, and stakes to stretch the tarp above the trailer (no contact/no damage). Doesn't last all that long but is a good test of knot tying ability and the stakes as well....The last tarp stayed up for two years but was ripped in half when I hooked up to the flatbed trailer to move it and forgot that the tarp over the TD had been "temporarily" anchored to it. At first I could not understand why my little John Deere seemed to be under such a load.......

[GPW]

Been reading ,still confused .... Polypropylene Vs Nylon tarps ??? ... both seem about the same price ... Seems the easiset thing I can get around here is the silver HD HF tarp ... which is nylon ... or their Farm tarp (poly)...
As pointed out ^ , we do have Lots of Rain and intense Sun , especially during the summers... Anybody know which one would last better ???

[Larwyn]

Been reading ,still confused .... Polypropylene Vs Nylon tarps ??? ... both seem about the same price ... Seems the easiset thing I can get around here is the silver HD HF tarp ... which is nylon ... or their Farm tarp (poly)...
As pointed out ^ , we do have Lots of Rain and intense Sun , especially during the summers... Anybody know which one would last better ???

The "Heavy Duty" tarps that are brown on one side and silver on the other from Tractor Supply seem to hold up to just about anything. Short of flying embers and John Deere Tractors........

[GPW]

Larwyn ... good thing I don't have a tractor !!! Thanks !!!