Drag tarps for walking floor

Jun 26, 2024 at 10:14 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Looking for homemade method to help clean out walking floor I remember seeing on forum someone who installed a drag tarp where he hung the tarp on the front of trailer and product covered part of tarp on floor

Replied on Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 01:55 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. we used to take old trailer tarps and cut them to fit the inside of the walking floor. measure the height of the front bulkhead then add 3 feet for it to hang over the front side. Then add 6 feet so that much sits on the floor. load the wagon. flop the three foot front overhang on to the top of the load. as you walk the load off the tarp will fall back and pick up the product that falls back. when the tarp starts to come out the back of the trailer, start rolling it up so the tarp doesn't get buried in the commodity. when the last of the tarp comes out, sweep the trailer, throw the drag tarp back in and you are off to the races

Replied on Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 01:55 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

we used to take old trailer tarps and cut them to fit the inside of the walking floor. measure the height of the front bulkhead then add 3 feet for it to hang over the front side. Then add 6 feet so that much sits on the floor. load the wagon. flop the three foot front overhang on to the top of the load. as you walk the load off the tarp will fall back and pick up the product that falls back. when the tarp starts to come out the back of the trailer, start rolling it up so the tarp doesn't get buried in the commodity. when the last of the tarp comes out, sweep the trailer, throw the drag tarp back in and you are off to the races

Replied on Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 10:30 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. We use med duty tarps from home depot or Walmart. Don't buy blue tarps. They are to lite for sweep tarp. Old tarp material is heavy and hard to deal with. You're likely to trash a couple in learning period. Should have 5 clamps on frt wall about 5' 5" from floor. I put 3 more as high as I can reach. I fold bout 3' over and put it in lower clamps. Take folded part in top clamps. If load is to high as tarp pulls down load will fall forward and over run tarp. Typically I only want 12 - 18" on floor. If tarp doesn't pull down clean about 2 ft put tarp down, Shovel some on and walk floor again. The biggest thing is learning when to pull tarp out of way as not to bury it. If you need help call me 602-679-0519. Other people probably have other ways. Depends on product and type of material. Art Pfluger

Replied on Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 10:30 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

We use med duty tarps from home depot or Walmart. Don't buy blue tarps. They are to lite for sweep tarp. Old tarp material is heavy and hard to deal with. You're likely to trash a couple in learning period. Should have 5 clamps on frt wall about 5' 5" from floor. I put 3 more as high as I can reach. I fold bout 3' over and put it in lower clamps. Take folded part in top clamps. If load is to high as tarp pulls down load will fall forward and over run tarp. Typically I only want 12 - 18" on floor. If tarp doesn't pull down clean about 2 ft put tarp down, Shovel some on and walk floor again. The biggest thing is learning when to pull tarp out of way as not to bury it. If you need help call me 602-679-0519. Other people probably have other ways. Depends on product and type of material. Art Pfluger

Replied on Thu, Jun 27, 2024 at 08:51 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I have mesh tarps made to fit with "D" rings sewn into the top. I hang it in from the catwalk tarp strapping it the grab handle across the top. (Wilkens trailer). When empty I hang it where I can reach it from the catwalk. How much you have on the floor or hanging over the top kinda depends on what you're hauling and how full the trailer is. There are automatic systems, with retractors etc. I have no experience with them, just "word of mouth". Be careful. In my opinion, extra money spent for a simple task. Number of loads a day or week could be a factor.

Replied on Thu, Jun 27, 2024 at 08:51 AM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I have mesh tarps made to fit with "D" rings sewn into the top. I hang it in from the catwalk tarp strapping it the grab handle across the top. (Wilkens trailer). When empty I hang it where I can reach it from the catwalk. How much you have on the floor or hanging over the top kinda depends on what you're hauling and how full the trailer is. There are automatic systems, with retractors etc. I have no experience with them, just "word of mouth". Be careful. In my opinion, extra money spent for a simple task. Number of loads a day or week could be a factor.

Replied on Thu, Jun 27, 2024 at 10:30 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Sell the walking floor and buy a trinity belt trailer

Replied on Thu, Jun 27, 2024 at 02:13 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Sell the walking floor and buy a trinity belt trailer " I AGREE!!!

Replied on Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 06:55 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. A growing number of shippers are not allowing belt trailers. To hard to get them clean enough. I have 2 belt trailers and 2 walking floors. The belts have better cycle time, a bit cleaner for operator, sweep tarp is a big learning curve, but for us walking floors are more universally accepted and lighter.