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Have you ever been driving down the highway or road and a rock flew from a back of a dump truck into your windshield causing a nick in your window?  This experience is not uncommon and it happens quite frequently.  There are truck tarps that are available for these dump trucks to put on the back so they are not losing debris as they drive.  There are several different types of tarps that are available made of different materials and operate either manually or electronically that can be purchased. 

A few different fabric types of tarps that are available to purchase are mesh and vinyl .  There are three different grades of mesh. LS Mesh which is the Industry Standard Mesh that are made for general use and for replacement tarps.  It is made of 1000 x 1000 denier polyester and is PVC coated. It has 11 x 11 standard weave and is double layered self-edged with a 2″ double wide locking stitch.  Premium Mesh is for General Applications and is the strongest fabric you can get for general tarping.  It is Premium 7.7 ounces of woven fabric made of two denier polyester twisted strands and is coated with UV resistant PVC.  It contains fine particles but it is able to breathe to prevent minimal flapping.  This PVC is not broken down by sunlight like common PVC coated materials and the edges bound to add strength to provide a nice finished appearance.  There is also Super Tough Mesh, which is used for more demanding debris applications.  It is a heavier and tougher mesh, they generally last 3 to 5 times longer than other truck tarps.  These tarps are made of 13 ounce woven fabric and are made of 7500 denier strands of UV resistant polypropylene.  They are made with 7×7 weave stitch which is able to breathe and cause minimal flapping and are finished with a special binding material that provides strength and a finished appearance. 

There are two different types of Vinyl tarps including a heavy duty asphalt tarp which are used for asphalt loads.  This are made of premium material, 18 ounce vinyl and offer extra wind prtection.  These tarps should be tied down using grommets as it will prevent wind damage that is caused by flopping tarps.  These tarps are generally waterproof to protect the nature of that they are covering.  There are also 22 ounce vinyl truck tarps that are made for all sealed applications, they are extra heavy and are also waterproof.

When choosing which tarp is best for the particular truck it is important to consider what the truck is going to be hauling and how much is in the budget for the tarps.  The lifetime of the truck tarp is also a factor that is important, spending a little more for one that will last 3 to 5 times longer could be a better investment.  The strength of the tarp should also be considered when purchasing if this truck is going to be driving where there is a lot of precipitation a stronger tarp may be better suited.