More from: poly tarps

It’s Time for Your Winter Inventory Check

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With winter just a few months away, now is the right time for the trucker’s annual winter inventory check. Look through your toolboxes to make sure you have exactly what you need for tough winter driving and cargo control. Repair what needs fixing, replace what needs to be replaced, and buy any additional trucking supplies you need to fill in gaps in your inventory.

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Mytee Products has everything you need for safe and productive winter driving. We invite you to browse our entire inventory for the following critical supplies:

Truck Tarps
Every trucker who does flatbed work needs to have a full selection of tarps on hand at all times. During the winter months, the trucker’s choice of tarps can mean the difference between adequate protection and taking risks with cargo. In terms of fabrics, there are three main choices:

  • Poly Tarps
    Made of polyethylene or polypropylene, poly tarps are considered all-purpose tarps. They are generally UV-treated and waterproof, so they’re not bad as general tools for cargo control. They may not be the best choice during harsh winter weather that can include very low temperatures.
  • Vinyl Tarps
    Also known as heavy duty tarps or machinery tarps, vinyl tarps tend to be the strongest and most durable that truckers can buy. They provide the most resistance against stress, tearing and abrasions, and they can handle cold temperatures exceptionally well. The best vinyl tarps on the market don’t even flinch at temperatures well below zero.
  • Canvas Tarps
    Canvas tarps are a good choice when breathability is an issue. They also handle cold temperatures well, but struggle with standing water. Canvas tarps are subject to mold growth and could tear as a result of ice buildup. It is advisable to use them with caution during the winter.

Tires and Chains

Every trucker knows how critical tires are in bad weather. Good tires are essential during the winter months, as are chains. Make sure all of your tires are in good condition before winter weather sets in. We also advise truckers who frequently travel through areas requiring tire chains to purchase their own rather than relying on chain banks. We carry both singles and doubles.

Straps, Binders, and Winches

Cold temperatures and high winds can make securing cargo a real challenge during the winter. Cargo control is easier when the truck driver has the right kinds of supplies in good working condition. Therefore, check your toolbox for an ample supply of mesh and bungee straps, binders, winches, and chains. If any of your straps are worn, keep in mind that cold temperatures could cause them to fail at any point. Worn straps should be replaced.

Along with straps, binders and winches, drivers should have an ample supply of corner and edge protectors. Remember that even vinyl tarps can get brittle in cold temperatures. Where corner and edge protectors may not be necessary during the warmer temperatures of summer, they could make a real difference in protecting your tarps once temperatures drop.

Get What You Need Now

Investing in the trucking supplies you need for winter earlier ensures that you will receive everything you order before the weather begins to get troublesome. Winter weather makes for more difficult driving even with the proper supplies on hand. Don’t make your job more difficult than it needs to be this winter by ignoring your inventory of trucking supplies. Order your supplies from Mytee Products; if we do not have something you need, contact us anyway. We might be able to get it for you.

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How To Identify The Perfect Poly Tarp

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Purchasing your poly truck tarps from Mytee Products ensures you will be getting a high-quality product capable of performing as you expect it to. From lumber tarps to steel to smoke tarps, we make it our mission to carry only those products that provide truck drivers with the quality they need.

Experienced drivers who have been using them for years, know exactly what type of poly tarp they require, however new drivers who might be looking to save some money might miss out on the key qualities of a good poly tarp.These are essential characteristics for poly tarps one should pay attention to when making purchase decisions as they go a long way in determining how well a tarp will perform and how long it will last:

Tarp Color

Shopping for tarps reveals you can purchase them in a variety of colors including blue, black, red, green, yellow, and silver. There are canvas tarps as well. Please be aware that manufacturers do not choose colors at random. The color of a tarp will tell you its general strength without you having to look at the specifications. This can help you weed out undesirable products so you can concentrate only on the ones capable of doing the job.

Truck drivers will typically be looking for black, blue or red tarps, depending on their needs. Stay away from anything that is green, yellow, silver, or camouflaged unless you are looking for something for light duty work.

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Tarp Construction

Tarp construction is a big one. Just like a building, a tarp manufactured according to best practices is the one that will last the longest and do the best job. To begin with, you are looking for poly tarps using a woven fabric. A woven polyethylene is a plastic fabric that is incredibly durable. Woven is better than non-woven because any tears or holes one might incur are not likely to spread.

Other factors to consider include double stitched seams, reinforced grommets and box stitched D-rings. Where the grommets and D-rings are concerned, you can never go wrong with quantity. There should be an ample supply of both, properly spaced all around the outer edge. For lumber tarps, D-rings are especially important on drop downs.

Fabric Strength (thread size)

When you are dealing with linen products or canvas, fabric strength is determined partly by thread count. In terms of poly tarps, it is thread size that matters. Take one of our heavy-duty steel tarps for example. We use a base cloth of 1,000 x 1,000 Denier in a heavy-duty, 18-ounce vinyl. This makes for an exceptionally strong fabric that holds up very well.

The absolute minimum for most flatbed trucking jobs is 700-800 Denier. The higher the thread size, the stronger the fabric. Fabric can also be made stronger by applying a laminate.

Environmental Exposure

The average poly tarp is treated to provide UV protection. It is also moisture resistant as well as resistant to both mold and rot. Such environmental exposure standards should be the bare minimum when purchasing flatbed truck tarps. In regards to lumber tarps specifically, the driver needs to go one step further to make sure tarps are heat-sealed to make them waterproof. This is non-negotiable. Lumber must be kept dry, or it could be rejected by a receiver upon delivery.

Knowing what to look for will make your shopping experience easier and more productive. As always, we encourage you to purchase your truck tarps from Mytee Products. We offer competitive pricing, fast delivery, and high quality. You will find everything you need for load securement and cargo protection in our online store including tarps, straps, and edge protectors.

How To Mold Proof Your Poly Tarps

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Blue poly tarps are very popular with our clients because they are so versatile. They can be used to cover the bed of a pickup truck, build a lean-to, protect a wood pile, temporarily cover a leaky roof, and so on. With the right care, they are durable enough to last for years. So, what’s all this about mold? Why does it grow on tarps and, more importantly, what do you do about it?

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in multicellular structures, as opposed to single cell fungi classified as yeast. As a group, molds are known to exist in a dizzying number of species with all sorts of interesting characteristics. Yet all molds have a few things in common:

1.They need the right temperature and moisture level to thrive;
2.They are not fussy about their food sources; and
3.They can be very difficult to eradicate once established.

When mold appears on a blue poly tarp, it is because mold spores in the air have come to rest on the tarp and found the right mixture of moisture, food, and heat. That combination is an open invitation to multiply and spread. What many people do not know is that mold spores can be present along before being seen with the naked eye.

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Small but Powerful

Mold spores are a natural part of the environment and are all around us even though, individual spores are too small to see. Furthermore, mold growth is not a constant problem because the vast majority of spores never become airborne. However, all it takes is a windy day to change things. When a fair number of mold spores become airborne, they can easily find their way to any number of surfaces that provide the right conditions for multiplication.

Imagine a blue poly tarp covering your woodpile at home. A bit of wind could deposit mold spores over its surface without your knowledge. Some moderate light during the day, combined with overnight dew, make the top of your tarp a good breeding ground. There is also ample food for the mold by way of any dirt, debris and other organic matter that settles on the tarp. In just a few days, you could see the beginning stages of significant mold growth.

Removing Mold from Poly Tarps

Now that you know why mold grows on your tarps, you need to know how to remove it. Thankfully, it is not difficult. The process starts by spreading the tarp out on a flat surface in a sunny area. Spray the tarp down with a high-powered hose to loosen the mold and any debris surrounding it. Next, use a soft brush and a cleaning solution to scrub the tarp until the mold is gone.

You can purchase commercial mold treatments or make your own with baking soda and white vinegar. Regardless of your choice, you need to get close enough to clearly see the surface of the tarp. If you leave any mold behind, it could continue growing even after your cleaning efforts.

Lastly, hang the tarp up on a rope line – preferably on a warm day and in a sunny area. The faster and more thoroughly you dry out the tarp, the less likely it will be for mold to return. Be sure to fold the tarp and put it away, or re-apply it as it was before, as soon as it is dry. Leaving it to hang on a line for days is just another invitation for mold

Protecting the Farm with Poly Tarps

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The American farmer has a long history of having to adapt in order to protect his or her investment and produce a profitable crop. Weather the farmer raises livestock or produces fruits and vegetables, the right tools are necessary in order to make the most of equipment and land. One of the most important tools on the American farm is the poly tarp.

Poly tarps come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and for different purposes. You might even have a few tarps lying around your own house. However, what you will find on the typical farm is a collection of tarps designated for specific purposes. There are tarps for protecting crops, protecting farm equipment, hauling loads, and more. Moreover, like any tool, the farmer must be careful to choose the right tarp for the right job.

Here are some of the more common uses for tarps on the average American farm:

Crop Protection

Protecting crops is one of the primary purposes for tarps in agriculture. For example, once hay is harvested it has to be protected from direct sunlight and precipitation. Without protection, harvested hay can grow mold or mildew, ferment too quickly, or even spontaneously combust. Good quality hay tarps mitigate much of the risk.

A typical hay tarp will have a black side and a silver or white side. The dark side goes underneath as an added layer of protection against direct sunlight. The white or silver side is placed on top to reflect sunlight.

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Equipment Protection

The smaller family farm may not have the budget to construct an entire campus of buildings to protect equipment. Poly tarps provide an affordable alternative. Tarps can be used to cover seasonal equipment to protect it from sunlight, precipitation, pests and so on. The nice thing about poly tarps is that these come in a number of very large sizes that are more than adequate for protecting most farm equipment. What’s more, a company like Mytee Products can produce custom tarps according to a customer’s unique size specifications.

Along with protecting equipment comes protecting outbuildings. For example, a storage barn might develop a hole in the roof or one of the walls. The farmer might just cover the hole with a tarp until after the harvest, when he or she has more time to repair it.

Load Hauling

Farmers routinely load their products on trucks to take them to market. They also tend to carry much of the farm’s waste products to an off-site location for disposal. In either case, poly tarps are often utilized to cover those loads for transport. Loads are covered in order to prevent them from dispersing on the roadway en route to their destinations.

In some states, it is required by law to cover agricultural loads with tarps. Having access to high quality tarping solutions is an absolute necessity in the states.

Temporary irrigation

What is the farmer to do during dry spells, when certain portions of the field need more water than others? Many an enterprising farmer knows how to dig a temporary trench to divert water from where it is not needed to where it is. They will often line these trenches with tarps to facilitate the flow of water. This affords them the best use of limited water resources without needing to construct a permanent irrigation channel lined with concrete.

Without a complete selection of poly tarps to choose from, the average farmer would find his or her job a lot more difficult. Thankfully, that is not the case. The tarp industry continues to provide farmers with the tools they need to remain as productive as possible.