Our flatbed dispatcher can't give me any answer. The standard set for flatbedders is 2 lumpber tarps and 2 steel tarps, but I'll have a stepdeck with an 11' upper deck and 37' lower deck. The lower deck will be only 34" high, so technically I can take a 10.8' load. I don't think getting a tarp with a 10' or 10.8' drop is a good idea because they'll be too heavy and I"ll be tarping such high loads probably a few times a year. What would work best on such a low step? Maybe just 2 steel tarps (16' by 24' or 27') plus one tarp for the upper deck (16' by 20')?

 

The steel tarps should be adequate for a 34" high load. You don't need lumber tarps for that short of a load. Lumber tarps are more for an 8' tall load. There are larger tarps build specifically for step decks, but I would recommend getting light weight tarps if you plan on getting tarps for a step. I keep 4 or 5 tarps on my step deck. Two of them are lumber tarps. I try to use the steel tarps for most loads.

 

34" is the height of the DECK (from the ground), not of the load. Your step - if it has 22.5 tires - is probably 40" tall. Because mine will have 17.5" tires (plus I have a 45.5" fifth wheel on the truck), the trailer will sit LOWER than most others.

Do you use regular size lumber tarps - the same they use on flatbeds?

 

I misunderstood you. I thought that you were talking about the height of the load. I can usually make the regular lumber tarps work on most loads. There are tarps you can buy that are specifically designed to cover the entire load of a step deck. I know an owner who had a set made for his trailer. I believe it was either a 3 or 4 piece set. He had them made at Tri-State Tarp near East St. Louis, IL.

 

Look into a four piece system. I have a printout of a good design for a step like ours. The front tarp has flaps, and covers the whole upper plus a bit more. The middle two turned sideways will cover a 13'6 load, but are good to turn the other way for short loads. The rear is a monster, I rarely use it.

 

So, maybe a 3-pc system can work too? One to cover the upper deck, and two for the lower deck... I think RANK mentioned a 3 pc system in another thread.

 

Yes a 3 piece system would work, but that middle tarp would be huuuuuge. They're more for flats if anything.

 

Yep, we had a 10' high 3pc tarp made for the Wilson with the low deck.
1st piece is 8' high x ~ 13' plus a front flap. I can't remember how long the other 2 pieces are. Will check and get back to you. IIRC, they are regular weight on the top and light weight on the sides. I can shoulder them, but climbing a ladder isn't a good idea. If the shipper won't put them up there with a fork lift, then it doesn't get tarped. I had mine made on Belleville but they have disappeared. The fella at Trison tarps can help you out with weights and such.

 

10/4. I talked to a guy from TBK Tarps (Flying J in Lake Station, IN) and he also recommended to put 18 oz vinyl on top only and use 10 oz stuff on the sides.