Tips for Using RV and Trailer Covers

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Now that the autumn season is upon us, RV and travel trailer owners are putting their vehicles away for the winter. Many of them will use an RV or trailer cover to protect their units from the weather. There are pros and cons to this strategy, as evidenced by the fair amount of disagreement that exists among RV and trailer owners. We will let you decide whether it’s the right strategy for you or not.

With that said, we do have some helpful tips should you decide to cover your RV or trailer with a winter cover. The tips are designed to make sure your cover does not damage your vehicle during the winter months. We want you to be able to uncover and go next spring without any problems.

1. Properly Secure Your Cover

Make sure to properly secure your cover with bungee cords or ropes. You do not want any portion of the cover to be loose enough to flap in the wind. Any flapping can cause cosmetic damage to the outside of your vehicle by way of grommets striking the surface. Continual striking can even loosen the grommets.

2. Create a Crown

It is a good idea to create a slight crown across the top of your vehicle so that the cover is not laying flat on the roof. Modern vehicles have air-conditioning units that make this task easier. You can also use things such as foam blocks and winter swimming pool inflatables to create the crown. The point is to create a surface that will allow precipitation and leaves to run off the top rather than collecting on the roof of your vehicle.

3. Check Cover Condition

Unless you are using a brand-new cover right out-of-the-box, it is a good idea to inspect your cover before putting it on. You are looking primarily for holes that can allow moisture in. The problem with moisture is that if it becomes trapped under the cover, it could cause a number of problems. Caulking could become moldy, aluminum parts could start to rust, and so on. You want the surface underneath to remain completely free of moisture throughout the winter months.

4. Beware of Abrasion

RV and trailer covers will not usually suffer rips and tears under normal conditions. The enemy of these covers is abrasion. You can get the most life out of your cover by reducing exposure to abrasive surfaces such as mirrors (fold them in), antennas (retract them), and roof vents (close them). If there are any potentially abrasive surfaces around windows or doors, you can reduce the friction by using foam padding or electrical tape.

Ordering a new RV or trailer cover is a matter of getting the right size. Although you do not want a cover that is excessively large, having one that is slightly too big is definitely better than purchasing one that is too small. The good news is that covers come in standard sizes. You just need to measure the length, width, and height of your unit to know what to order.

For RVs, measure the length from tail to nose and the height from the roofline down to the bottom of the chassis. Do not measure down to the ground. Also, there is no need to account for air-conditioning units. Manufacturers already take them into consideration when designing their covers.

For trailers, measure the height the same way. For length, there is no need to account for the tongue. You only need to measure the actual size of the trailer shell. Width measurements are pretty straightforward regardless of the RV or trailer unit you have.

5 Reasons to Invest in Moving Blankets

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One of the most important tools of the trade for a flatbed truck driver is the flatbed tarp. In fact, most truck drivers have a collection of tarps used for different kinds of loads. If, on the other hand, you own a moving company or a local courier operation utilizing box trucks, you probably do not need tarps. You do however, need moving blankets.

The moving blanket is as important to your business as the tarp is to the flatbed hauler. Without a good collection of blanket and pads, you will not be able to provide the high quality service your clients are looking for. Here are five reasons to invest in high quality, long-lasting moving blankets such as those found on our site:

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1. Cargo Protection

Your number one priority as a mover or courier is to make sure your customer’s property makes it from one location to the next completely unscathed. New movers often fail to realize how easily things such as furniture and antiques can be damaged during the process. Moreover, that damage is not just confined to loading and unloading. Property can be damaged moving in and out of a building and in transit to the new destination. Moving blankets reduce the risk of damage.

2. Your Reputation

Equally important to the idea of cargo protection is the reputation of your company. Even if you were the most conscientious mover with a perfect track record of never damaging customer property, not using moving blankets gives customers the perception that you are not concerned about the value of their property. In the era of online reviews, the last thing you need is to develop a reputation as a careless courier or moving company.

3. Liability Concerns

Every moving company and courier in the U.S. is required to carry liability insurance. Your insurance company may refuse to satisfy certain claims if it can be demonstrated that you or your staff did not take the proper precautions to protect customer property by using moving blankets and pads. Do not take that risk. Moving blankets are a reasonable investment and part of doing business.

4. Load Security

Moving blankets provide an extra benefit when in transit by way of maintaining a more secure load. To understand this, just step back and think about how a moving truck is packed. There is no possible way to fill in all of the empty space, especially where furniture is concerned. Using moving blankets allows you to fill in some of that dead space so that cargo does not move as the vehicle travels down the road.

5. Road Vibration

Damage to customer property is not limited to hard knocks and drops. Road vibration is also a concern. The longer the trip between pickup and drop-off, the more potential damage can be done. Moving blankets act as shock absorbers to some degree, lessening the potential risk caused by road vibration. As an added benefit, these also cut down on the amount of noise caused by moving and shifting cargo. For smaller moving vans and trucks in which the cab is not separate from the cargo area, reducing noise can be a godsend.

We offer a number of different moving blanket options to fit your needs and budget. As always, we do not recommend going cheap only for the sake of saving money. Invest in moving blankets that meet your needs and that will last as long as possible. After all, this is an investment in your business. Spending the money now will pay off in the future.

Dump Truck Tarps a Good Idea Even When Not Required

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Nothing is worse for a car driver then to be following behind a dump truck only to become a victim of a piece of gravel or stone flying off the top. Even such small projectiles can shatter windshields at high speeds. As a dump truck operator, the best way to prevent your load from damaging other vehicles is to cover it with a tarp.

Why would a driver not cover a dump truck load with a tarp? Some may choose not to tarp because they do not want to put the extra money into it. Others don’t want to take the time to secure the tarp before hitting the road. However, not tarping a dump truck load puts other drivers at risk. Moreover, in so doing, the driver is putting him or herself and/or their company at risk of liability. The risk is not worth taking. Dump truck tarps offer a lot of protection compared to the investment of money and time they require.

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Different State Laws

A big question with dump truck tarps relates to individual state laws. Some states require all dump truck loads to be tarped prior to transport. Others, such as Wisconsin for example, do not. Nevertheless, even states that don’t require tarping do require loads to be secure throughout transport. Wisconsin Statute 348.10 (2) specifically says:

“No person shall operate a vehicle on a highway unless such vehicle is so constructed and loaded as to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom.”

A Wisconsin law enforcement officer witnessing a violation can issue a ticket that could result in several hundred dollars in penalties. The vehicle could also be taken out of service until the load is properly secured. Even just one hour lost could mean a substantial financial loss in addition to any fines that have to be paid.

Liability Questions

The other obvious issue with dump trucks and tarps is one of liability. Although such accidents are rare, it is entirely possible for debris coming loose from a dump truck load to cause an accident resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Does the trucking company really want to face the liability of such accidents in exchange for not spending a little bit of money on dump truck tarps? Probably not. Tarps and tarping systems are fairly inexpensive when compared to the types of damages normally awarded in liability cases.

Easy to Use

From a driver’s perspective, there really is no viable reason not to use dump truck tarps. They are incredibly easy to apply as compared to their flatbed counterparts. The advantage here is that dump trucks are basically large containers on wheels used to carry loose materials. All that is needed is a single tarp to cover the top of the container.

To make tarping as easy as possible, the modern dump truck is fitted with a steel or aluminum frame and roll system that makes tarping almost completely effortless. Sometimes the system is operated manually, other times it can be connected to an electric motor. The driver simply moves the tarp frame back on its pivot point while the tarp unrolls automatically across the top of the load. Lock the frame in place and the job is done. Retracting the tarp is equally easy. Move the frame forward and tarp will roll up on its own.

If you operate a dump truck, remember that dump truck tarps are a good idea even if the law does not require them. Protect yourself and other drivers on the road by investing in a high-quality tarping system.

Investing in Smoke Tarps

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Purchasing tarps can be a fairly substantial expense for the independent trucker. As with any other business owner, a responsible trucker wants to spend an appropriate amount on the tools of his or her trade without spending frivolously. In light of that, you might be wondering whether or not you should invest in smoke tarps. The answer to it depends on the types of loads you haul.

The typical smoke tarp is a smaller tarp measuring either 10′ x 12′ or 12′ x 12′. It generally is not intended to cover large loads entirely. So what’s the point in purchasing smoke tarps? A smoke tarp is specifically designed for the front and top of your load. It is put in place to protect your load from smoke, soot, and dirt. Right off the bat, it makes sense to consider smoke tarps if you haul loads that do not have to be covered fully yet might be sensitive to the smoke and soot coming off your exhaust stack. PVC pipe would be a good example.

A load of PVC is durable enough that it does not necessarily need to be covered entirely. However, your client does not want to have to clean soot from the product after you deliver the load. Attaching a smoke tarp at the top of the load will protect it during transportation.

Additional Uses of Smoke Tarp

The smaller size of the smoke tarp means it can be used for other purposes as well. The additional uses might make it worthwhile to invest in one or two, especially given that they are less expensive than larger tarps. These uses include:

  • Noise Reduction – Sometimes you haul loads that make unnecessary noise. For example, PVC and steel pipe can whistle in the wind. You can put an end to that whistling by securing a smoke tarp over the front of the load.
  • Flaps – Smoke tarps can be combined with larger tarps to act as flaps. For example, you may have a lumber tarp without enough drop to fully cover certain portions of the load. The smoke tarp becomes an easy to apply, ‘extra’ flap.
  • Small Loads – Every trucker knows that applying tarps is time-consuming and money-losing. So for small loads, it might be faster and more worth your while to use one or two smoke tarps rather than trying to grapple with a larger steel or lumber tarp. The faster you can get your load tarped, the more quickly you can get on the road.
  • Tarping Emergencies – Lastly, it is always good to have at least one smoke tarp on hand for emergencies. For example, you may have a steel tarp that develops a pretty significant hole or tear while in transit to your destination. Applying the smoke tarp allows you to complete your trip without having to stop and deal with tarp repair.

As always, do your homework before you invest in smoke tarps. There are some manufacturers whose products are not as good as others are. Also, keep in mind that spending the least amount of money possible is not always the wisest decision. You might be better is off spending a little extra up front for a tarp that will last longer and perform better.

At Mytee Products, we carry a 10′ x 12′ smoke tarp made of heavy-duty 18-ounce vinyl. The hems are double stitched and reinforced with webbing; brass grommets are installed every 24 inches along the perimeter and there is a row of D-rings, complete with protection flaps, positioned 2.5′ from the lower hem. This is an affordable smoke tarp that is also tough and durable.