Tarps

[scott#2]

I posted a while back on this subject and got feedback on those 14 and 18 ounce, vinyl coated trucking tarps as being the best. I was at a farm show last week and was looking at those white and silver, uv resistant, hay tarps and it looks like pretty good stuff too.

How many seasons are you guys getting out of one of these light tarps?

Thank You,

scott#2

 

[hayray]

Three seasons. Tie em' down good so they don't tear and when you are done with them fold em' up and get them out of the weather until the next season. Ends up costing about a $.75/bale to tarp after a 3 year depreciation.

 

[SheldonS]

$0.75 would really depend on the how many you are covering. I go through the cheap thin blue tarps every year and it drives me nuts, but of course I only need to cover 2 nine-highs so I'll be breaking down and building a proper wood-built cover (12X24).

 

[Larry NE IL]

Yep, I get about 3 seasons on a wagon load. I stacked about 600 bales on gravel outside last fall and covered them good...tied all tight and had lumber piled on top to keep the wind damage down.
Rats chewed a ton of holes in the top and ruined about 300+ of them.

 

[hayray]

I use the double thickness gray or white tarps. The blue tarps rarely even last a season around here, they tear real easy. There are also single thickness gray tarps that won't make it through the season. The single layer tarps start separating and start tearing real easy. I usually buy 20 x 60 tarps and stack 4 x4 s 3, 2, 1 pyramid or buy the 30 x 70 tarps and go 4,3,2,1. I am now moving away from tarps and using the silage plastic, you just run it over the pile to the ground and throw some dirt on it.

 

[RickL]

I tried the tarping idea too. 6 donahue trailer loaded tarped for two days outside. the other 5 were not tarped. to this day I WILL not tarp loads only in emergencey rain otherwise it makes for a disaster. I had those 6 loads at 250 per load totaly ruined when unloade by critters. the untarped loads wree fine as usual. Don't know how you guys tarp thos large stacke and get away with it. large rounds you might be alright but I would nevr tarp small squares now. Even large rounds net wrap them and forget the tarps is what I do. You need some used tarps.

 

[Clefus]

What mil is the silage plastic?? and what is a rough cost??

If I could have a decent stack where I feed it would cut down on fuel hauling from a buddys barn where I store a lot...

I can get all the pallets I want....thought about the bale tarps Northern sells...not sure yet....

 

[hayray]

I think the last role that is 30' by 150 for maybe around $150 or so. I don't know what the mil is but it is tough. I don't use pallets anymore, just takes too much time, I am always in a hurry when stacking.