How to preserve tarp cover

[ichudov]

I have a homemade trailer that I made from a M105A2 bed:

Homemade Trailer With M105A2 Bed

The nice thing about it was a 12v brake and a much lower setting of the bed.

It was good, but I always wanted to have it covered. As luck had it, I recently bought a M105A2 and got myself stake sides, top bows and a like new canvas tarp cover.

It all fits together very nicely and I am delighted to have a functional cover.

I am concerned, however, that as years go by, the hot Illinois sun and its deadly UV rays would ruin this cover.

So, I wanted to know if anyone knows how to preserve this tarp.

I am thinking, perhaps, to find some sort of a UV protectant spray that I could apply once in a while?

Or should I just throw a cheap tarp over it, and change said tarp every year?

 

[cbvet]

If it is in fact canvas, not vinyl, "Canvak" from Cabella's works well as a water-repellant/preservative. But canvas left out in the sun is still going to deteriorate in a very few years. I'd cover it with a silver tarp if I were you.
If it's actually vinyl, there are a lot of vinyl preservatives out there. I don't know if they are really any good.
I used to get low-luster Armor All, but haven't seen it lately. I'm just guessing it probably helped some.

 

[ichudov]

If it is in fact canvas, not vinyl, "Canvak" from Cabella's works well as a water-repellant/preservative. But canvas left out in the sun is still going to deteriorate in a very few years. I'd cover it with a silver tarp if I were you.
If it's actually vinyl, there are a lot of vinyl preservatives out there. I don't know if they are really any good.
I used to get low-luster Armor All, but haven't seen it lately. I'm just guessing it probably helped some.

I am sorry, I was sloppy with words. The cover is VINYL, at least it seems to be such, like a vinyl impregnated fabric.

Any suggestions for that?

 

[cbvet]

Repeat -- If it's actually vinyl, there are a lot of vinyl preservatives out there. I don't know if they are really any good.
I used to get low-luster Armor All, but haven't seen it lately. I'm just guessing it probably helped some.

 

[m16ty]

The main thing I've noticed that gives up on these covers is the stitching. The stitching will rot and although the vinyl is still good, the cover will fall apart at the seams. What I do is keep the covers folded up and in the dry and only use them when I'm accually covering up some cargo in the trailer or truck.

 

[rlwm211]

Silicone spray can keep the water from getting into the seams. It is a fair preservative for Vinyl as well, but will make the cover shiny, and that is not a normal condition for a military tactical cover. Another option you mentioned was to cover the top and that might be the best idea, or pull the m105 cover and use a differnt tarp for the winter and put the original on for the season you will use the trailer with the cover. I plan on doing the same with my 105.

RL

 

[ichudov]

Silicone spray can keep the water from getting into the seams. It is a fair preservative for Vinyl as well, but will make the cover shiny, and that is not a normal condition for a military tactical cover. Another option you mentioned was to cover the top and that might be the best idea, or pull the m105 cover and use a differnt tarp for the winter and put the original on for the season you will use the trailer with the cover. I plan on doing the same with my 105.

RL

I mostly care about usability and longevity, not so much about authentic looks. I use this trailer to make money. So, if silicone spray can preserve vinyl, I would love to use it. What sort of spray do you have in mind, specifically?

My attitude is:

 

[m16ty]

If you're not concerned about looks I'd look into covering the bows with some sheetmetal. That would make a more permanent roof.

 

[rlwm211]

You want to use pure 100% silicone. Any pertroleum disillates would be counter productive and also possibly harm the vinyl. I know that I have used Silicone instead of armor all and could not tell the differnce. Typically, food grade silicone has no foreign materials in it.

RL

 

[mistaken1]

Wal-Mart has a silicone based water proofing spray in the sporting goods section (designed to water proof fabrics). That may work for your application.

 

[Scarecrow1]

I dont see the harm in throwing a cheap cover over it . That is just what I'm going to do . I know from the past that
Mother Nature can be a bit hard on anything left to her care . Most Farm suppy places have some really good covers at a cheap price . They are far easier to replace than a 105 cover . Good luck.....

 

[ichudov]

I will use a belt AND suspenders approach. I bought a gallon of "303 protectant", which is VERY well regarded for similar uses (boats). In addition, I will throw a cheap tarp over it.

I put a sheet of plywood between the top bows and the vinyl to straighten it out, to avoid any formation of puddles.

i

 

[Akicita]

I dont see the harm in throwing a cheap cover over it . That is just what I'm going to do .

I bought the tarp you see in the picture from a Tractor Supply store. It was inexpensive and juuuust large enough to cover the bed with the troop seats installed. However, this tarp already shows wear after just two applications. It is good enough for my purposes but I would not recommend it if you need a tarp frequently.

 

[tx399999]

Winsol makes several products for vinyl awnings. I ordered a gallon of Awning Armor to use on my cover. After the first application it was much softer and water stopped weeping through the top.

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