A Flip Tarp, also referred to as an “Arm Tarp”, “Swing Arm Tarp”, “Roll Tarp”, “Mousetrap Tarp” or “Automatic Tarp” is unquestionably the most popular truck tarp system in use today. The Flip Tarp utilizes a series of externally mounted springs near the bottom center of the truck or trailer bed.  The spring assemblies are connected to “arms” that elevate the tarp over the load for quick and easy covering.  The design and appearance of the swing arms are similar to that of a mousetrap thereby it is often called a Mousetrap Tarp System. The tarp material can be mesh, vinyl or RFL.  The tarp is rolled up on a roller bar at the front of the truck bed, this is the reason the system is sometimes called a Roll Tarp.  The system is operated with a Manual Hand Crank an electric tarp motor or in some cases a hydraulic motor.  The Flip Tarp has endless applications including dirt, stone, rock, sand, gravel, asphalt, waste, construction and landscape.  It can be made semi-waterproof with the addition of a solid tarp (vinyl) and side flaps.  Need more feedback?  Give us a call.

A Cable Driven Tarp also referred to as a “Cable Tarp” or “Accordion Tarp” is an ingenious design that utilizes a series of Pulleys, Cables and Bows to deploy and retract the tarp system.  The entire system rests on the top rail of the dump body or dump trailer and “slides” along the top rail as the tarp is opened or closed.  The tarp system is usually operated by a ground level hand crank, but electric tarp operation is an option as well.  The cable tarp system has many trade names such as Panel Tarp (Merlot), Slide-N-Go (Cramaro), Crank-N-Go (Aero), Tarp-N-Go (Mountain Tarp), Bow Slider (Donovan), Top Slider (Pulltarps) and Super Slider (Pulltarps).  All of these systems are functionally the same, but typically offer slight variations in options, design and style.  The tarp material is usually mesh (anti-pollution) or vinyl (semi-waterproof).  Some manufacturers offer a vinyl cover that extends over the side rail (drop side) creating a nearly waterproof cover. The cable system has many, many uses such as; dirt, stone, rock, sand, gravel, asphalt, waste, construction, agriculture (grain), and landscape.  It is best suited for dump trucks or dump trailers with a flush top rail from front to rear (not well suited for dump trucks with cab shield protectors that are higher than the dump beds side rails).

As the name implies, Pull Tarp Systems are “pulled” over the load.  The operator stands behind the dump body and pulls a rope to deploy the tarp.  The tarp is retracted either manually (direct drive cab level hand crank) Semi-Automatically (spring loaded roller bar) or electrically (12VDC motor).  A direct drive cab-level hand crank is the most economical system available and is great for a wide range of applications including smaller dump bodies and small pull behind trailers that are used in the landscape and construction industries.  Semi-Automatic Systems are well suited for smaller dump bodies, but also work very well on larger dumps.  Although these systems are typically armless, swing arms can be added to elevate the tarp over the load.  Options such as the Load Climber help pull the tarp over heaped loads with out the addition of swing arms. Mesh or vinyl tarp material is most commonly used with a pull tarp.  These systems can be made semi-waterproof with the addition of side flaps on a vinyl tarp.

Waste Covering Systems are most frequently used to cover Roll-Off Cans or Transfer Trailers. Roll-Off Truck Systems are often referred to as Automatic Roll Off Tarpers, Auto Tarpers or Automatic Roll Off Systems. Auto Tarps are usually electric or hydraulic in operation and can cover 15, 20, 30 or 50 yard open top containers. Automatic Roll-Off Systems will frequently use an elevating gantry and flip arms to deploy the tarp over the load. Although depending on the manufacturer and system function the gantry may be stationary in height. The arm assemblies on and Auto Tarper are either stationary in length or the length can be adjusted via hydraulic or air actuated cylinders. This allows for easy containment on any size Roll-Off Can. The Donovan Ox or the Pioneer Rack-N-Pinion are two of the more popular versions of the Auto Tarper. A more economical version of the Auto Tarper is the Donovan Quick Flip which offers the benefits of the elevating gantry, but the swing arms are stationary in length. Other Roll-Off Covering Systems include the Donovan HY Tower and the Pulltarps Tower. These systems utilize an elevating gantry, but the tarp is manually deployed by pulling the tarp from a spring loaded roller bar…this system functions much like a pull shade in your home. Finally, waste systems for transfer trailers include; the Donovan Sidewinder, the Aero Lid and the Mountain Tarp Side Flip. These systems use a hinged lid or cover that flips from the top of the trailer in the closed position to the side of the trailer in the open position.

We currently only ship online to the Contiguous United States. If you live in Hawaii or Alaska, please call Dan at (757) 615-4379 to place your order.