How to Tarp a Flatbed

A flatbed truck is often necessary for transporting large quantities of bulky materials. Lumber, steel and electrical equipment are among the many materials transported by flatbed trucks. At times, even heavy-duty work vehicles such as tractors are carried by flatbeds.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Prepare the flatbed so that you can tarp your goods as level as possible. This will help with wind resistance and drag on the flatbed. The less wind resistance you have on your tarps, the less chance of damage and the longer your tarps will last.

2. Use commercial grade tarps. They are made out of thick canvas, covered in a rubber coating. They have metal grommets around the edges of the tarp to lace your tie-downs for secure transportation.

3. Apply the tarp over your material on the flatbed with equal space on each side. Use heavy rubber bungee cords to secure the tarp to the flatbed. Tarp a flatbed in much the same way as you would wrap a package. Fold each end down, wrap the sides around and secure with the bungee cords.

4. Secure both the tarp and the load to the flatbed. Most flatbeds have 3-inch nylon straps connected to one side of the flatbed. They are on a roller system with notches cut in the roller system that act as a ratchet. The other end of the nylon strap has a metal hook on it.

5. Attach the metal hook over the tarp to the flatbed. Take a steel rod where the ratchet system is located on the other side of the flatbed. The ratchet system will have a hole that runs all the way through. Take the metal bar and pull it down to secure the straps. Use the flip-lock to secure the ratchet in the notch so it can't unwind.