For truck drivers, a tarpaulin is basically your cargo’s raincoat—without it, one bad downpour and your goods might catch a cold.
Transporting cargo isn’t always sunshine and smooth roads. From scorching heat to sudden storms, the right tarp is your truck’s best defense. But choosing one? That’s a whole different ride. Too thin? Useless. Too heavy? Backbreaker. Too pricey? Not worth it. No wonder picking the right PVC truck tarpaulin gives so many drivers a headache!
That’s why, as a professional PVC truck tarp manufacturer with over 20 years of experience, we’re here to make it easier. Whether you’re hauling produce, construction materials, or everyday goods, we know what makes a tarp reliable, durable, and actually usable on the road.
So, we’ve pulled together a few practical tips to help you choose the right PVC truck tarpaulin for your truck and your cargo. Let’s dive in.
Five Things You Should Always Check Before Choosing the Right PVC Truck Tarpaulin
Choosing the right PVC truck tarpaulin isn’t just about grabbing a big sheet of plastic and calling it a day. Over the years, we’ve met too many drivers frustrated by tarps that tear too fast, leak like a sieve, or are so heavy they need two people to lift. So, if you’re wondering what actually matters when picking a tarp, here are five things worth paying attention to—based on what we’ve learned from years of working with truckers like you.
1. Water Resistance Performance
This one sounds obvious—but you’d be surprised how many tarps claim to be “waterproof” until the first heavy rain hits. For open or cage trucks, the tarp is the only thing standing between your cargo and a soaked delivery. A good PVC truck tarpaulin should keep everything bone dry, even when the weather decides to get nasty. If water finds a way in, it’s not doing its job.
2. Sunlight and Heat Protection
Ever hauled fresh produce through the summer heat? If the tarp doesn’t block sunlight properly, you’re looking at spoiled goods or sun-dried bananas before you reach your destination. A quality tarp should offer real UV resistance—not just marketing fluff. It helps preserve freshness and protects against sun damage, especially on long hauls.
3. Abrasion Resistance and Tear Strength
Life on the road is rough, and your tarp better be ready for it. It gets pulled tight, tied down hard, and faces wind, dust, and flying debris daily. That’s why abrasion resistance and tear strength aren’t just technical specs—they’re real-world essentials. We’ve seen tarps that lasted years and others that gave up after two weeks. You want the first kind.
4. Made to Fit Your Truck – Any Size, Any Shape
A tarp that doesn’t fit your truck is like a jacket two sizes too big—flappy, messy, and annoying to deal with. Since every truck’s size is different, we always recommend going for a custom fit. A snug, well-fitted tarp not only offers better protection but also makes your truck look more professional. And yes, a clean look does matter—customers notice.
5. Simple to Use, Easy to Handle
After a long day on the road, no one wants to fight with a PVC tarp that weighs a ton or gets tangled like a fishing net. The best tarps are the ones that work with you. Look for features like strong grommets, solid straps, or even roll-up options. The easier it is to handle, the faster you can load up, tie down, or get moving again.
Five Common Types of PVC Truck Tarpaulin Materials
When you’re trying to choose the right PVC truck tarpaulin, it’s not just about the size and fit—you also need to understand the different material options. Each type of tarpaulin has its own pros and cons, and knowing the difference can help you make a smarter choice. Here are five of the most common materials used for truck tarps, along with their characteristics and typical usage.
1. PVC Oilcloth: Mainstream, High Strength, Durable, and Heavyweight
Currently, the most widely used type of tarpaulin on the market is PVC oilcloth. This material is typically made by weaving high-strength polyester yarns.
Polyester offers excellent resistance to corrosion and abrasion, along with impressive tensile strength. It’s well-known for being highly durable and long-lasting.
The outer layer of PVC oilcloth is coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), forming a waterproof barrier that effectively prevents rainwater from penetrating. In fact, it’s capable of delivering nearly 100% waterproof performance. Coil Tarps helps make sure that steel coils and similar hauled items are protected while being carried on flatbed trucks
While PVC oilcloth performs very well in terms of waterproofing and abrasion resistance, it tends to be quite heavy. Even for a 4.2-meter truck with a cage-style cargo bed, it can be very difficult for one person to fully cover the load with this kind of tarp. That’s why it’s more suitable for vehicles under 9.6 meters in length.
2. PE Tarpaulin: Lightweight, Less Abrasion Resistance
If you need some basic waterproof protection and also want a lightweight material, PE tarpaulin might be a good option. PE tarps are usually made from striped fabric, which is produced using high-density polyethylene. The surface is coated on both sides with PE film.
Its biggest advantage is its extremely light weight, along with a more affordable price. It also offers basic waterproof capabilities.
However, in terms of abrasion resistance, PE tarps fall short. If you’re working under harsh and complex conditions, frequent use can easily lead to tears or damage. That said, thanks to its lightweight nature and low cost, PE tarpaulin is still widely used on large trailers. It’s easy to cover and even if it gets damaged, it’s cheap to replace—so you don’t feel the pinch.
3. PVC Coated Tarpaulin: Lightweight, Durable, and Waterproof
More and more drivers are now using PVC coated tarps. These are popular because they strike a balance between being lightweight and offering improved durability and waterproofing compared to ordinary tarps.
This kind of tarp includes a wear-resistant coating and is designed as one complete sheet, which allows it to cover the entire truck bed with ease.
However, there’s a catch: if the tarp gets torn or punctured, it can be difficult to repair. Even with high-quality glue, patches might not stay securely in place and can fall off over time.
4. PVC Knife-Coated Tarpaulin: Strong Abrasion Resistance
Knife-coated tarps are another material gaining popularity. They’re made from synthetic chemical materials and consist of three layers. The top and bottom layers are typically PVC, while the middle layer features a light-conducting fiber mesh. These three components are pressed together using a special compression process to form the knife-coated tarpaulin.
As the name implies, this material is exceptionally abrasion-resistant. It offers high tensile strength, great flexibility, and strong resistance to corrosion. It also provides reliable waterproof performance.
The surface of knife-coated tarpaulin is extremely smooth and feels great to the touch. It provides excellent protection for both transport vehicles and outdoor cargo from rain and environmental exposure.
5. Triple-Proof Fabric: Fireproof, Waterproof, and Mildew-Resistant
The final material on our list is triple-proof fabric. This material starts with a fire-resistant fiber base, which is then coated with PVC, PTFE, flame-retardant silicone, and other heat-resistant compounds. Additional additives such as anti-mildew agents, anti-aging agents, and antistatic chemicals are included as well. All of these are heat-fused together to give the material its triple-protection capabilities.
The fire-resistant fiber provides flame retardancy. The PVC, PTFE, and silicone coatings deliver excellent waterproof performance. The mildew-resistant and aging-resistant agents ensure long-lasting mold protection. Thanks to the use of multiple materials and a special coating process, this fabric achieves strong all-around performance.
Contact YTTARPS to Manufacture PVC Truck Tarps
Choosing the right PVC truck tarpaulin isn’t just about finding a cover—it’s about protecting your business. From waterproof performance to material durability and ease of use, every factor plays a role in ensuring your cargo arrives safely.
As a trusted vinyl tarps and PVC tarpaulin China manufacturer, we are here to help you choose the best truck tarp that meets your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for a heavy duty tarps or a lightweight custom truck tarps solution, we can manufacture it for you.
👉 Contact us today to customize your PVC truck tarpaulin and protect your cargo with confidence!
