Tarping Systems
There is probably not a driver who enjoys tarping. After all what is there to enjoy about lifting 60-100 lbs heavy duty tarps. Compounding this difficulty is when a driver has to do it in weather that is not necessarily accommodating. Unfortunately it's a necessary part of the flatbed and other platform trailer business and driver's perform this task all the time. But, there are ways of making this process easier and today we'll discuss various tarping systems.
Side Kit
A sidekit is the most common and oldest tarping system out there. They consist of plywood or composite sides that are attached to a flatbed or stepdeck trailer with stakes about every 4 feet. Bows cross the trailer to support a specially designed tarp that covers the entire 48' trailer. The bows have about a 30" rise allowing the tarp to drape the sidekit by about 18". Sides and bows can vary in dimensions but expect the center height to be about 6'6".
Pros and Cons
On the positive, you can remove the sides and tarp for side or overhead loading.
This tarping system can add 800-900 lbs of weight and can limit you on the commodity height you can haul.
Curtain Side
Is it a van or a flatbed? Well, that's a tough question. It's a bit of both. Either way it's a specialized trailer that serves a particular niche in the hauling industry. This tarping system has sides that are rolled up or removed allowing loading from the side (sounds like a flatbed). But, it also has a stationary aluminum roof with swing doors in the rear (sounds like a van).
Pros and Cons
The advantages are side loading and can haul taller commodities than a side kit, with an easy tarping system.
They do add weight and are quite a bit more expensive over a standard flatbed. No overhead loading either.
Conestoga
There are several manufactures of this type of tarping system, but Conestoga is the name most people call it even though that is just one brand name. This is an accordion style system. The entire tarping system (sides and roof) can be pushed either to the rear or front of the trailer.
Pros and Cons
This systems allows for loading from either the side or overhead.
Again this tarping system is going to add weight and cost quite a bit more.
So there you have it. If you want to save some headaches when it comes to tarping, these 3 solutions will certainly help. They do add weight to your trailer and they can be expensive so you have to decide if the time savings not to mention reduce the risk of injury is worth it.
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My name is Travis Smith and I’ve been working in the trucking business since 1994 and with Heavy Haul Trucking since 2001. Our office knows about oversize, heavy and specialty loads and how to get your load exactly where you need it, safely and on time.
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