How to put a tarp on a truck bed may sound nothing like a daunting task to get done.
Yet, placing the tarp the right way without it flapping the whole time along the route will require you to give certain heed.
If you are one of those who are struggling with this nuisance of putting on your tarp, then you are in the right place.
Wait no longer but scroll down and grasp some helpful tips to conquer your automobile-equipping journey!
How To Put A Tarp On A Truck Bed?
How to put a tarp on a pickup truck? What is the best way to tarp a truck bed, then?
Follow the steps below, and it will not matter what type of flapping waterproof tarp for truck bed they are. I am sure you can nail them all!
Step 1: Get the truck bed tarp unfolded and place it flat in a vacant truck bed.
Step 2: Wrap the extra material over the cab. Continue to get the tarp’s side pulled on until its part at the end of the truck bed hangs over by roughly three or four feet.
Step 3: Lay your bags and luggage in the center of the tarp. Keep them as flat and neatest as possible.
Step 4: Now, how to tarp a load like this? You must ask. First of all, cover your luggage with a tarp.
Step 5: To hold the tarp in place, prepare a bungee and thread it below the baggage that the tarp now covers. Then, get it pulled tight over the top.
Step 6: Continue to thread the bungee through the tarp’s eyelets which are near the truck bed’s side.
Step 7: Keep weaving through the eyelets on the other side of the tarp.
Step 8: Create the tarp’s weave, then lightly tighten it over the luggage. Keep the area at the bottom, next to the tailgate, and the top above the cab unwoven.
Step 9: Get the top of the tarp pulled toward the tailgate and nestle it below the luggage. Use tie-down loops within the truck bed to secure the entire tarp, then tighten the rope over the top of the tarp and cargo.
And don’t worry if you haven’t prepared enough; some cars’ truck beds can even provide you with a couple of these tie-down loop’ sets (normally would be two or three) in the interior.
What Are The Benefits Of A Tarp Cover?
The truck bed tarp cover has always been of use for a reason.
In this case, there are many of them that your may not have yet been introduced to, including:
- safely transporting commodities and machinery
- increasing fuel efficiency for your truck by using an aerodynamic cover
- keeping the tools and cargo steer clear of robbers or thieves
- organizing the loads or when you add weight in the truck’s cargo area more neatly.
Let’s take the first benefit as an example.
The list starts with one of the clearest motivations when using a tarp over truck bed camping: Safely secure your equipment and supplies while the car is on the road.
Without this handy setup in the picture, imagine how dangerous it would be when not only can your items fall off in the middle of the street, but other road users can also get injured by following behind your truck.
Do You Need A Tarp On Your Truck?
Yes.
As one of those advantages I mentioned above, you can see a truck tarp can mean a lot to road safety.
It may be just a phone charger you forget to tight well that is falling off, and because it seems nothing like a detrimental threat, you might say the consequence is not even worth considering.
I’ve been “you” in such situations until I once got my horizon broadened by a whole new piece of knowledge.
Even tiny stone and gravel fragments caused by a rusted truck bed floor or from your loose cargo can have enough power to shatter a windshield.
It is not yet mentioned the truck’s dust may severely impact the roadway (asphalt and tar can stick to the road’s surface, generating dispersed pavement) and obstruct other drivers’ vision, increasing the risk of collisions.
What Size Of A Tarp Should You Choose For Your Truck?
What size tarp for truck bed? There is no certain frame of reference regarding what size of a tarp you should get since not all trucks are the same, and it will also depend on the loads you have on the actual cargo capacity.
That is why, to begin with, you must first be aware of the truck bed’s measurements. Typically, entire truck beds range in length from five feet to eight feet.
It is okay for you to get the dimensions from the truck owner’s handbook, but bear in mind that they frequently do not take into account the truck’s actual edges.
I personally prefer to grab my tools and get these numbers myself just to be safe.
To keep out debris and rain, your tarp has to entirely encompass the area, but you also need to leave enough room to correctly attach ball bungee or balance bungee cables.
Let’s say I have a bed that is six feet long and 80 inches wide; then a tarp with 92 inches or even larger would work the best on my truck.
This will provide me room to draw down roughly 6 inches on both sides and tie the grommets with bungee cords to the wheel area’s underside.
How Long Does A Truck Tarp Last?
First of all, it is important to know whether your truck tarp is one of those heavy-duty ones which are made from polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polypropylene.
If yes, they can withstand certain harsh outdoor weather conditions and should last for two to five years due to the durable and waterproof characteristics of the excess materials.
Of course, the less tear and wear these flatbed truck tarps go through, the longer they can serve your vehicle.
Another prospect to think about is the damage the sun will do to your tarp if you let it be there in the vehicle all the time. I won’t say immediately, but gradually.
The thing is, you can always optimize your truck tarp’s lifespan by cleaning, and storing it appropriately, and, most importantly, do not expose it to strong UV rays on a regular basis.
Are Truck Tarps Fireproof?
No. Truck tarps or, specifically, homemade truck bed cover tarp may not be fireproof, but if you go for the fire retardant type in the first place, they can help to contain or at least delay the spread of a fire.
In certain cases, people can even stay safe by being covered by tarps that are fire-resistant.
Speaking of which, polyethylene is one of the best flame-resistant polymers available.
You are right to be concerned about whether a truck tarp is fireproof or not, given the extreme temperature it can get when the sun is shining down on your vehicle.
That’s where the invention of polyethylene comes in need: As long as your vehicle tarp is constructed of this material, I would say you have nothing to worry about!
Conclusion
How to put a tarp on a truck bed properly without all the flapping and windy noises that disturb you badly? Now, you’ve got your answers; the task must not appear to be any more out-of-tune.
Hopefully, my article can be of great help to you and do not hesitate to leave a comment if you have any questions not yet resolved. See then!