Best Tarp (and material for tarp)

[NickfromWI]

At my first company (The Care of Trees, Wheeling, IL) we used tarps for cleanup. At a different company later they used giant buckets. I've learned that I far prefer the tarp. Mostly I like that it folds up to about nothing and stows nicely.

Anyway, for a little while there I was just buying the $6 cheapy plastic Home Cheapo tarps but they just don't last. After a couple months I made one out of some cotton canvas.



I liked how it turned out and I noticed quickly that of the 3 tarps we have on the truck, everyone one on the crew far prefers this one. So much so that after 8 months of wear and tear I opted to wash and patch it rather than discard it.

That said, I want to upgrade our other two tarps to be like this one, but better. What's the best material? I've heard some good things about the oiled canvas (which is dipped in paraffin wax, I guess). I'm trying to find a supplier for it. I could just buy the same stuff I used, but it was an overpriced fabric of only mediocre quality. For the price I pd (about $15/yd) I should be able to get something much more resilient.

Any thoughts? Is there a ready made tarp that you love?

love
nick

 

[sotc]

Old truckers tarps cut into the desired sizes rock. Just hard to come by

 

[SkwerI]

I bought a trucker's tarp for my dump trailer and it was about $100. Not sure of the exact size but I think it's 8'x20' or 10'x20'. If you want to buy a new one, search in your area for a truck parts store. It's like an auto parts store but they carry parts for trucks instead of cars.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I would check to see if there might be someone in your area that makes custom tarps. Choice of materials and made to your specs. Folks in that business also make awnings and such.

 

[NickfromWI]

I can MAKE the tarp myself. That's the easy part. What I'm after is what I should make it out of.

What is truckers tarp made out of? You guys talking this PVC coated stuff:

Around here, most the trucks I see with tarps on them have this funky mesh stuff that looks like what you'd build a shade-structure out of.

 

[sotc]

The latter

 

[NickfromWI]

Hmmm....I wouldn't expect that to be good at cleanup time. I'll see if I can buy some locally...

 

[woodworkingboy]

If you end up using treated canvas, here is one product that might be useful:

http://www.mytarp.com/canvak-waterproofing-compound-gallon-can.aspx

 

[top_notch]

How bout the stuff bilboards are printed on. Its like a tarp and pretty tough. Not sure if it would be flexible enough though. I think the discarded ones are pretty cheap.

 

[Adam_P]

I have a treated canvas tarp I use when I'm getting loam or stone in my trailer. I've used it underneath the loam/stone and shoveled off it lots. I use it in the winter to pull the snow off the trailer deck too.

It was expensive for a small tarp.. like 6'x12' was $120+ but it was worth every penny.

 

[flushcut]

I have never found a tarp that lasted for tree clean up. I use painters tarps for shrubs and the slightly heavier duty silver/brown tarps for tree debris clean up. It all depends on the surface on which you are dragging the full tarp across.
I get about two months out of the silver deals before they become church tarps (nice and holy) and the painters I am on the first set I have ever bought.

 

[bonner1040]

These are nice. You dont use the pick up service: http://www.thebagster.com/



A little more than a tarp but more effective. Plus you can load it up and have a crane move it.

Sold at home depot and such I believe.

 

[flushcut]

Do you use the Bagster?

 

[MasterBlaster]

And there ya go.

/thread.

 

[NickfromWI]

Bagster looks like a joke. I wouldn't actually use that at a job site.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I'm talking about the material it's made from.

 

[top_notch]

Here's a site for those billboard tarps

 

[NickfromWI]

The bagster is just a polypro tarp just like the cheap ones from home depot but it's thicker and double or maybe triple layered.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Well, there ya go!

 

[tophopper]

The bagsters are pretty damn tuff. We've had a few. We load them full of debris, 3-400 pounds at a time and the clam loader picks it and dumps it in the truck. Nice high sides, no spillage and durable as hell. They also have heavy duty stitched nylon webbing handles. Load it full, grab it with the Swinger or wheel loader drive it to the curb and load it up with the knuckleboom.
No way would I waste time and money making tarps when you can just buy one of these.

 

[NickfromWI]

We are looking for loads to be hand carried. Your clam loader ain't gonna be too helpful in the hollywood hills...

And making it isn't a waste for me. I like to sew, so that part cancels out. We've seen folks here weld and splice stuff that can often be bought cheaper...but sometimes we are hard-headed.

However, I could incorporate the concept of a walled-tarp and make a sortof mini-Bagster.

 

[sotc]

If I buy something like the bagster it will be the ones that have a purse string on the bottom so I can hoist it, pull the rip cord to dump it and get another load

 

[sotc]

If I buy something like the bagster it will be the ones that have a purse string on the bottom so I can hoist it, pull the rip cord to dump it and get another load

 

[bonner1040]

There is the Monsta bag, thats the one that dumps out the bottom. I have used the Bagster from WM although it was limited. We were using a crane and it was awesome. I like that you can use the handles to drag it and 4 guys can get 'on it' to move heavy loads.

 

[tophopper]

We are looking for loads to be hand carried. Your clam loader ain't gonna be too helpful in the hollywood hills...

And making it isn't a waste for me. I like to sew, so that part cancels out. We've seen folks here weld and splice stuff that can often be bought cheaper...but sometimes we are hard-headed.

However, I could incorporate the concept of a walled-tarp and make a sortof mini-Bagster.

I only mentioned our use of it with a clam truck to point out it's strength and durability, and that they ARE useful and not a joke. And yes, I agree, you are hard headed.