How to Secure a Tarp
by Jeremiah Blanchard
Tarps can be used for a wide range of purposes normally associated with cars, but they are also used as shelters for camping or covering a damaged roof. Whether securing a load for transport in the back of a truck or just covering a car to protect it from the elements, properly securing a tarp is essential for its intended purpose. Luckily, tarps are very easy to tie down and secure. All you need is a coil of rope and a tarp big enough to suit your purposes for transporting a load.
Step 1
Lay the tarp flat in the bed of the truck and drape the excess material over the cab. Pull on the tarp on the side draped over the truck until the material at the end of the truck bed overhangs about 3 or 4 feet.
Step 2
Place your items to be transported in the bed of the truck as neatly and proportionately as possible. Arrange them so that they are flat and even on the top.
Step 3
String rope through the eyelets of the tarp near the sides of the truck bed and weave it across through the eyelets on the other side of the tarp. Weave the tarp and cinch it down just over the load, leaving the top part over the cab and bottom end near the tailgate unwoven.
Step 4
Flip the tailgate portion up over the woven portion of the tarp then tie it to the woven part to keep it in place.
Step 5
Pull the top portion of the tarp, laying over the cab, down towards the tailgate then tuck it underneath the load. Tie the tarp down with rope using the tie-down loops inside the bed of the truck and cinch the rope down over the top of the tarp and load. Most trucks have two or three sets of tie-down loops set inside the bed of the truck.
References
Tips
- Use a tarp that is 12 x 12 or larger to secure a large load.
Things You'll Need
- Tarp
- Rope
Warnings
- If the tarp is not properly secured, it will come loose and flap around, possibly damaging the paint finish on your truck.
