Trailer tarps: available options
Equipping your truck with a high-quality trailer tarp is essential for protecting your cargo and ensuring that it arrives at its destination safely. Far from being a simple decorative element, a trailer tarp prevents your load from escaping during transport. Made from durable waterproof material, this canvas cover shields your merchandise from the elements, including wind, rain and snow. It also protects your cargo from such things as gravel, mud, dust and even ultraviolet rays that could lead to damage.
How to choose the right trailer tarp
On the market, you’ll find as many different types of tarps as there are types of trailers. Therefore, a tarp that’s a good choice for protecting one particular kind of cargo may not necessarily be the best option for protecting another kind. To make the right choice of tarps for your truck or trailer, you must consider certain factors.
Flatbed or high model?
A flatbed tarp attaches to the trailer by means of elastic edges, while the high model is equipped with fasteners. Please note that the high model covers a greater surface area, up to and including the entire trailer.
Material and weight of the tarp
In general, the most popular materials are polyethylene for its flexibility and impermeability, polyester for its ability to withstand the winter cold and PVC for its strength. With regard to the density and durability of the tarp, heavyweight material will ensure that your tarp is resistant to strong air currents and tearing.
Trailer dimensions
Obviously, before deciding on a particular tarp, it’s imperative to know the exact dimensions of the trailer. It’s recommendable to opt for a tarp that’s larger than the bed of your trailer. This will give you sufficient leeway to attach it securely. For example, if your trailer is 200 x 120 cm, you could purchase high tarps with edges measuring 200 x 120 x 30 cm.
Different available models of trailer tarps
As mentioned above, specialized manufacturers produce trailer tarps of all types. So no matter what type of truck, trailer or container you have, you’ll find a tarp that’s perfectly suited to your needs. Below are a few examples.
Dump truck tarps
Available in solid color or multicolor PVC mesh, dump truck and roll-off truck tarps are designed to be sturdy and dependable, with material reinforced in accordance with the intended use. Designed for transporting loose items, this tarp can protect any type of cargo and is equally suitable for a 10-wheel, 12-wheel or any other type of dump truck or container truck.
Flatbed trailer tarps
This type of tarp is ideal for loads of lumber or steel. Carefully designed and rugged, it is reinforced in strategic places. Because it’s available in a variety of different dimensions, you can also use it for transporting drywall and glass.
Bitumen tarps and asphalt covers
These tarps are designed to shelter warm materials, enabling them to maintain their temperature. Impermeable, durable and rugged, this type of superior-quality tarp meets the high standards of the Quebec Ministry of Transport. Our asphalt covers, which we developed in partnership with some of our most experienced trucking clients, are made of 300-denier brown nylon or 18-ounce vinyl.
Tarps for salt and fertilizer spreaders
Made from Canadian vinyl, our tarps for spreaders are available in a vast selection of colors. Certain rectangular models are also equipped with eyelets and chutes for the back end of the spreader.
Trailer smoke tarps
The objective of a smoke tarp is to reduce contamination caused by soot and smoke coming from the truck’s exhaust system. Made from coated PVC, smoke tarps provide supplemental protection.
Other types of tarps currently available on the market include the following:
- Lumber and steel tarps
- Mesh or vinyl (Cramaro-style) tarps
- Side-roll tarp systems
- Roll-off tarp systems
- Rack and tarp systems
- Custom trailer tarps
- Tarps for containers
- Retractable tarps
Choosing your trailer tarp according to the season
While a high-quality waterproof tarp to protect your cargo from the elements may be an ideal choice, you should also know that there are truck tarps specially designed for warm weather and cold weather.
The most important thing to look for when selecting a tarp that can withstand harsh winter conditions is flexibility. And when it comes to flexibility, not all tarps are created equal. In fact, the primary material used in trailer tarps, i.e. coated fabric, doesn’t always exhibit the same physical characteristics. In cold weather, coated fabric tends to rigidify. Consequently, the more rigid the tarp becomes, the more it will be at risk of cracking when covering the load or during transport.
During the summer season, on the other hand, it’s better to choose a tarp that’s resistant to UV rays in order to protect heat-sensitive merchandise.
Trailer tarps for all your needs
At Toiles GR, we offer you a vast selection of top-of-the-line trailer tarps and covers, most of which come from Canadian manufacturers. What’s more, our years of experience have enabled us to create tarps that are among the most durable and effective on the market.
Why choose our truck tarps?
- Manufactured predominantly in Canada
- Superior-quality materials
- Solid vinyl, braided polyethylene
- Nylon, Sunbrella acrylic, canvas
- Heavy-duty PVC mesh
- Reinforced with a safety belt
- Wide variety of sizes
- Improved design
- Custom covers
- Steel cables with studs or lugs
- Tie-down hardware and other complementary products available
Would you like to get a superior-quality trailer tarp? To request additional information or an estimate, contact us today!
