ideas for pulling tarp edge

[musselmark]

I put up a large tarp building and before I had it all fastened the wind caught it and tore one of the inner flaps which had many grommets in it. This flap is used to tension the tarp end to end. There is still approx 2 inches of flap there but I need to figure out a way to be able to pull on this. I looked at various grommet kits but I think it would be next to impossible to hammer/anvil them into place while up in a bucket 20 feet in the air. Also something that pulls on more surface area than a grommet might be better. I was thinking something along the lines of 2" pieces of wood screwed together through the tarp material then a cord could be wrapped around it through a hole in the material or perhaps bolt with large fender washers and a couple of links of small chain to tie cord to. I have seen those plastic "tarp grabs" in a catalog, are they effective ? Any other ideas?

 

[BigBoyToys]

I've had good luck with these... Tarp Ties

 

[AchingBack]

I've had these EZ Grabbit, for years. They are very strong, have never come loose. Grabbit Tarp Tie Downs: To Build Your Tarp City!

 

[mrmikey]

I'd go with a piece of strapping as wide as you can use on either side of the tarp and bolt them together with the tarp between them and drill a hole thru for a rope. Best way would be to use the same idea but wrap the tarp around one piece of strapping and then bolt them together but it sounds as if you don't have enough material....Mike

 

[dirt ditch]

This is similar to Mikes idea. At work we fix ripped out tarp grommets on the trucks by taking a couple 2" diameter flat washers (we use 1/2" hole washers), line them up together in a vice and drill 5 holes equal distance apart around both washers. We then paint them black to match the tarp. Place a washer on each side of the tarp, line up the drilled holes and pop rivet the washers together through the tarp. Aluminum rivets work best. Cut a slit or hole in the tarp through the large hole in the washer to run the rope through. There is so much surface area holding the tarp with the 2" washers they never rip out again. Some of our repairs are 8 years old and never had one fail yet. We also have a feed sack sewing machine at work to sew ripped tarps back together.

 

[musselmark]

Cool ideas guy, thanks. I got an unreal deal on this building ($2700.00 for 30 X 85) but am starting to see why, made in china, nowhere near the quality as north american. The tarp material is much thinner than domestic brands.

 

[zing]

Maybe this is too McGyver for what you are looking for, but when I have to secure a tarp for camping or to cover wood or machinery etc, I never use the grommets because they tear too easily. I wrap the tarp around a small rock and tie it off, then tie onto that to pull it. Provides a very secure grip on the tarp and tears a lot less. Here so a pic from the internet that shows what I mean.

 

[skyhook]

Now theres a cool idea, zing,,:thumbsup:

 

[OldMcDonald]

I had to read this thread when I saw the last post was by a skyhook.

 

[BukitCase]

If Skyhook runs into some of the tricky jobs I do on occasion (and from previous interaction on another thread, I'm pretty sure he DOES) I'm guessing he chose that name after copious quantities of WISHFUL THINKING ... Steve

BTW, been using that rope/rock method for years on hay covers, but only with 6 mil black poly - never thought to try it on plastic tarps :ashamed: