How to Tarp My Road Train 

Hi! I am writing to you from Poland, I am also a truck driver, but I drive on a walking floor. Your videos are very interesting, I can see the hardships of working in Australia, the climate is different in Europe and work seems to be easier on a refrigerated trailer, curtainsider or flatbed. I have a little dream to visit Australia. Greetings, wide road John! ;)

I’ve always called the knots with the loops in them a Sheepshank & a 1/2 hitch on the tie rail. And how you’ve tarped that trailer is absolutely exactly the way I was taught 40 years ago & was still using them when I was last on the Darwin run in 2016

Hi from France ,i used to work for Blakiston's in Geelong,back in the 80's, i was based in Melbourne, i use to tarp two,maybe three times a day,depending on the frieght, Melbourne-Geelong isn't that far. Back then it was a matter of pride,that front and back enveloppe had to be tighter than a guitar string,when you were finished there wouldn't be a single crease, looked as though it had been ironed.There was an art to folding your tarp,an art to unrolling it as well. I've even still have some photos. Your knots are called a half hitch and a clove hitch.Some times you'd have to splice the ends,even slice two ropes to make one or simply slice the ropes back onto to your tarp. But now some 34 years later,god knows how many miles,i now drive a petrol tanker local in and around Lyon. I really like your chanel,i enjoy all of your vidéos,i honestly can't fault any of them. Have a great day.

Love watching your tarp job. Everyone does it different. In the states i pulled a single 48 foot flat trailer,i had 4 tarps. We rolled them out from back to front depending on the size of the load,sometimes I'd use all 4 sometimes not. But still like watching others tarp jobs.

We always called them sheepshanks. Tarping with wet muddy ropes in winter was always great fun, dry, cracked skin wasn't sore at all... The quality of the tarp job showed the quality of the operator.

Hi, most informative. Takes me back 40 plus years. I notice that your trailers do not have load scales, so it might help others if you can explain how you calculate where to place on your load on the trailers, for maximum loading on both the tri's, dolly and drive. Another topic that could be discussed is the operational areas for A-Doubles in Australia. This would help your overseas subscribers understand our many different regulations, both Federal and State.

What an effort! Must add a couple of hours each way loading and unloading the tarp! Another great video Johno!

It's called a Half Sheepshank....but known as a "truckies knot"

We call them a dolly knot here in the uk .nice job of that sheeting.

Johnno, double wrap the top knot of the sheep shank and it will NEVER slip when tightening ( Give it plenty of back 😂) Also unwraps easily when undoing wet ropes. Keep up the good work mate.

By the time you finished tarping that load.. I had gone out hunted, caught, killed, cleaned, cooked AND eaten a whole kangaroo by myself🦘….🤷🏽‍♂️😬

Maybe you should have used two tarps Then you would not have to strap the middle down Regards Shane from Melbourne

I really enjoy watching your videos .love Australia ! Would love too visit someday. Ron from Maine USA

Yeah that knot is a truckers knot. My whole life around trucks and my whole family drives trucks my favorite is the KW AND Pete 379 Well the one that is done on your trailer is a hitch and the one on the tarp is a truckers knot

I think in the UK the truckers would refer to them as "hitches". I.e. A truckers hitch. Enjoy the videos very informative, good drone shots.

Great job you doing. Stay safe. Love seeing your Kenworth. Beauty of a truck.👍

I recently quit a job where I was doing multi drop steel deliveries and tarping. Earlier on this year, I was standing on top of the load after completing the first drop of 5 and pulling the tarp back across (one side was still tied off) and as I was pulling it over a gust of wind ballooned the tarp, a rope wrapped around my ankle and knocked me over. Luckily I'm fit and strong and all that happened was I fell on my back on top of a pack of steel. Big tarps are bloody dangerous in windy conditions. Freaky shit like this happens. After that I was so over multi drop steel deliveries I looked for a tanker job. I like hard work but a time comes where you realize for the degree of effort and experience you have they aren't paying you enough and it starts eating at you. Tarp, untarp, retarp, repeat in the rain is hard yakka. They make you tarp when it's 40deg C or raining, it doesn't matter. I was getting reasonable not great money as a company driver say $75k a year for 40 hours with holiday and sick pay. So I looked and found a tanker job and I now get paid $9 an hour more for doing one or two pickups and one delivery (which I'm not required to unload) with overtime and penalty rates. The only hard work in this job is sometimes I have to break up the trailers to load and I always have to break them up at the end of each shift for unloading which means the set has to be assembled at the start of the shift too. I'm never in the same truck in this job though and they're all lowish power and I drive in hilly country so they're slow when loaded, like really slow - 25kmh slow many times. Crappy 425hp auto Macks... I miss my 600hp Cummins in the K104 from the steel job but that's about all I miss. When it was slow it was still doing 70kmh LOL.

Hiya , very green where you are filming, is that because its the 'WET' season? I thought OZ was mostly barren??...

Tarping wasn’t my favourite part. Try to tarp and untarp in Canada at - 20 C. The tarp is hard as a rock. Sometimes, sticking on the load, so you have to climb on it… Tarping keeps you fit. You’ve got another subscriber 😀

Hello, I'm watching an episode of Outback Trucker on TV. Were you there as a bumper and led a truck convoy with hay for Australian farmers?

Hey mate, thanks for all the videos. I'm doing my MC licence now hoping to get out on the road soon. How long have you been driving trucks?

Hi Johno Good meeting you at the BP at Kewdale today, having a bit of a look at your channel, some great info. Saying that I'll stick with my box, no tarping for this old boy Say hi to Ken for me and the Lindsay Mob Cheers Pete

Hi mate, I used to tie my truckie knot the same way you do but I got sick of trying to push the knob end through the twist loop. Instead of twisting the loop with your fingers, I just wrap the knob end that's in your left, with a double wrap (use right hand and the rope that you would have twisted). Make sure the second wrap sits inside the first wrap and next to the strained rope so that it doesn't try to flip off. Hope that makes some sense.

New subscriber and a old man that used to drive big trucks single trailers tankers and flatbeds I don't anything wrong with the way you tie your tarp keep on keeping on from USA

Another way of putting the 1/2 hitch is to wrap the rope behind it self before you reef down on it and it’s easier to undo when you want to undo the rope, hard to explain here , but something an old truckie showed me 40 years ago, cheers,

Everyone has their own unique way or style or Tarping Johnno.. As long as the freights cover mate.. Most of our tarps had a 3rd row of shorteners.. My tarp even had extra ones to pull the flap out at each end.. Used to take me around 3hrs each end to tarp a bdouble lol.. Two of our tarps were 6ft drop 5ft gates they took some work to get right.. Good job mate! 👌

More traditional way of doing it. I was watching a trucking show from Canada. They use rubber stretch hook straps. Not ropes on the tarps. Or at least the one I was watching did. That seemed weird to me. When I first got to Oz from UK and went to tie anything to a truck I was lost. On all the trailers I had worked with they had hook tie offs. Not rails. Did the truckie hitch pulled the loop down to hook off. No hook. Had to get someone to show me. Go behind the rail up and across. Then pull the loop up and make the hitch. I had always made the hitch first. My brain just got cross wired. Now after 25 years of rails. That seems the norm. Still annoys me a bit having to keep feeding the rope behind a rail all the time. It is easier to tie to a hook. But both systems have their benefits and faults. Very true. If they flap, they tear.

I think you are doing just fine doing what you have been doing, please keep it up if you can. Thx

No wonder you are fighting the wind. Have you noticed how fast the traffic drives past you?

Hi Johnno ..loved the video. My dad taught me to do the 2nd loop you do then the half hitch. Not sure what it’s called the 2nd loop you do, I also taught my boys. As you can imagine many not know how to tie down these days, as every one has straps.great video mate.

G'day my name's Andrew from Tasmania I've been watching your tracking you top up your trailer down you are doing an absolute one question could you please take a video of inside your truck and your tiny bit about the inside of your truck if you could please the moving your GoPro so we can see more of the road thank you very much for preso appreciate everything you are doing on your show keep it up and Andrew from Tasmania Launceston

A well tarped load always looks good. It is half a sheep shank, the other half is the rail. Clove hitch on the rail as everyone has pointed out. You only really need 2 knots to tie anything on. You are doubling the mechanical advantage and halving the effort by putting the rope through the ring or you can put another shank in and do the same thing as you know. Just like a pulley block and tackle but with more friction. Can you show us how you roll the excess strap up and loop it up? I wonder if the American bloke in the other comment with his rubber straps has ever worn a ring in the face when something broke? Jeff

Oh I forgot to say I like the commentary and the music, I’d like you to wear an external mic, cos sometimes in the cab with the engine revving it’s hard to hear you voice, but other it’s all good champ , ❤️🦘🦘🦘🇦🇺

You need to come over to the UK and give a few drivers a lesson on tarping loads. - The number of times I see tarps and ropes flapping in the breeze is scary, worst are when half the trap is dragging along the road surface, and a massive length of rope trailing behind....

You said like a crane driver, but the word you were looking for is a double hitch, you don’t see as many fully tarped loads anymore, mostly see pantech trailers, on national highways, tarpping is very labour intensive, but good to watch an expert, cheers from Downunder ❤️🦘🦘🦘🇦🇺

man didnt know this was so much work....really gratefull we have truck drivers doing this job all year round. as for future content: basically do what you enjoy doing for content, because this joy comes across in videos. I always liked the rather short videos driving through all the beautiful landscapes you go through, with or without music. Its always so relaxing and inspiring :)

Plenty of half hitch & dbl clove hitch anchor knots there, with a few decent sheepshank truckies knots, old school, nice. i knew i was forced to go to boy scouts for a reason, just didnt realize way back then

That tarp must be heavy, Did the crane / forklift load it on top after loading the bulk bags?

G'Day Jonno. Dumb question... Why do you need this tarping at all ?

What's the best servo that you've come across so far? Also what's it like in the truckers lounge?

You have nice balance between talking, silence, music and engine noise!

Why have one 50 foot tarp? Talk about doing it the hardest way possible!

He mate i try watch all your videos i live in Tailem Bend you would of driven straight past my front door. Keep up the good work

I only know it as a "truckies knot".....comes in very handy.

There is nothing better looking than a well tarped load. Sadly not seen as much anymore due to curtain siders. It is a dying art unfortunately. The rear is probably more important than the front as it gets a lot of protection from the cab where as the rear is in the vacuum and sucks up water badly.

I have always called them a truckies knot or truckies hitch tied off with 2 half hitches. Pretty much the only 2 knots you ever need on a truck.

Hi mate i would love to see the tacho when you are going up and down through the gears without using the clutch thanksi uesed to live in the north west of WA and my mate uesed to operate a mack R600 he only uesed the clutch once to take pff and once to stop

I reckon that drone footage was done at Mount Compass???😉👌👍

Hi over here in the uk the knot with a loop is called a dolly 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

When you start your hitch if you put the rope the other way you will not have to pull the rope through behind the knot. So start the hitch with the rope going from left to right. Just a thought. But whatever works.

We used to tarp our loads like that, but not in the UK now , it's more curtainsiders, or ratchet straps now.

I've always called em a truckies knot,I use to do tarps back in the mid 90''s after 3 years I had the biggest kalis on the side of my right hand which was atleast 10mm thick of hard skin and when it cracked now and then was very annoying and painful,joys of tarping.

Curtains, general and cap, sometimes gave me nightmares.

I've always known it as a "truckie's hitch'

Back in the 70s in Yorkshire UK we used to not only tie down the tarp but secure the load using ropes. We used to call it a "twitch". It allowed you to double the leverage you could put on the rope. 😂😂😂 Brings back memories of working with my Dad. Thank you.

The gloves not helping you much on your 1/2 hitches ,

Wow, as a boilermaker on truck and trailer maintenance I love watching drivers and yardies busting their ass putting tarps on ,and wonder whether if they have heard of Tautliners. The two knots are clove hitch and sheepshank. I like your videos Johnno, regards steve

do you get extra pay for tarping? i am from norway, we get noting for it here.

ratchet on the passanger side not the driver's side.

Greetings from bernie from hamburg germany

It's like putting socks on centipedes!

Truckies Hitch those knots are called.

I’ve only known them as a truckies knot

Well known to me also as a Truckies Knot

I am from qld but drive around states tarps here r plastic and they r cunt of a things to put on. They use bungee cords here and u will see nice petes with flapping tarps. Good video mate.

Knot is called a Blackwell Hitch

Nothing wrong with ANTISHINE

I have to be completely honest here, I am so glad tautliners exist 😂Although I know some loads just have to go on flat tops like long steel and such. I love looking at peoples tarp jobs, it's so fascinating because I know how much of an art there is to is. I was watching some American truck vloggers, Big Rig Becca was one and I noticed on her tarps they only use bungee cords instead of ropes. Interesting how different places use different things. What's your thoughts on their style of tarping with bungees? Great video once again mate, love your work.

I have noticed on trucks in Melbourne, yellow plastic caps over the front wheels plastic caps, what are they for ?

Hi mate I love your channel as it is

Now you have to do a video on how to pack the tarp away

Enjoyed the video thanks

Trucker hich

Hey you tarp left handed!

Wow, I used to see heaps of trucks in the 70s and 80s with tarps on loads. Don't see a lot these days. Thank you for bringing back good memories . 👍

how long are you on the road for

How often do you get to Perth.

Love your tarp job, we had to do all our loads like that, can appreciate your effort.

I like your attitude. It doesn't matter how much you know, if you keep your eyes open (and your mind) you can ALWAYS learn new ways of doing stuff. LOVE how you show bits of our country most people never get to see. Keep doing what you are doing! Cheers and G'day from Tasmania

You're keeping it interesting and compare very well with our overseas friends digger.

That’s what she said!😂

Truckies hitch

Nice job bloke👌

Sheepshank

Just like clutches and stick shift, tarping loads is a dying trade. Great video mate.

In answer to your question about what content you should post? Just keep doing what you’re doing mate, I’m 55 & was medically retired in 2016 when I broke my back, I now live vicariously through yours & other Aussie road train especially videos

Good job on the tarp l liked how you tied your tarp down, nice and neat.

I started tarping in London '75 for Lucas Industries, (The Man Who Invented Darkness), and did heaps more for Layton-Kirkman doing steel and soda ash, ( middle of summer, long sleeve overalls ). I always called those rope hitches 'dollies'. The earlier commenter was right. All the London loads were held down with ropes, usually old weather beaten ropes that you could snap with a double dolly. All the trailers had open hooks along the side. Made it easy to loop the load and tarp ropes; you didn't have to feed through a combing rail. Power steering was only for new trucks, the rest had 'Armstrong' steering. Tautliners were only just coming in. When I got back to Oz in 78 there wasn't a tautliner to be seen. We was men then indeed! Nearly a half century since then of the road. Sunrises, diesel, dust and dead roos. Going back to flatbed and tarping this year. 70? Too old? I'll soon find out :)

Way back when, in the UK, I used to drive much smaller trucks than you do, but I really enjoyed roping and tarping. The systems were different, no bars to rope to, but numerous welded hooks under the flat. Anyway, then straps took over and the art seemed to go out of it! I still love rope though - maybe that's why I now live on a boat 🙂.

I vividly remember my first ever tarping on my own. Loaded at the old Clyde Oil Refinery in Sydney. Forkie put top tarp on top for me. Put the gates on. Got the curtains on. Spread out the top tarp, then ... a bloody gale whipped up! Lost the tarp twice before I finally got the job done. Gave the forkies some entertainment

Music vs. engine noise vs. talk? Do what you want, in the end it's your channel not anyone else's. Content - more important. Not having followed you for very long (time) it's just fascinating to see where you go and how long it takes (fuel burn would be interesting every now and then). I do like the little maps you chuck in as they put your journey into context, and as for you food breaks - it's entertaining and fascinating to see the variety and price differences.

Good day Johno, The art of tarping it is certainly a lost art these days of tautliners etc. Like you I occasionally have to tarp up my load of timber for local work here in Melbourne, our company doesn’t own a tautliner trailer everything flat bed trailers all 45 ft long. Dangerous walking on a tarp whilst it is windy on your own. Back in the 90’s whilst working at NTFS in Adelaide everyday tarp at least 5 trailers to go piggy back on the Alice train on the way to Darwin. If you didn’t know how to tarp no start & being the new fella always up the top at 4.6 metres rolling out the tarp so many times I came very close to falling over the side & the wind used to pick up the tarp used to scare the shit out of you. Count it as rest time or work time on the book. Could be worse doing it in the rain. Great video you do admire looking at a tarp load these days when ever you come across one on the road. Safe driving. Cheers Louis Kats 👍 😊 🇦🇺

I am on flatbed here in Canada and our trailers are 53’ but I often do super B’s too. I always have to use at least 2 tarps to cover the load, sometimes even 4🙄. Tarping is hard work. In the summer you are sweating like ….. and in proper Canadian winter the tarps don’t fold too much😁. I use bungees not ropes to tie the tarps down. I’m planning to move to Australia next year and drive there so I’m glad I found your channel. You got so many interesting and valuable things here. You just got another subscriber mate!

David Hunn Ah, fond memories of ropes, especially when new, ripping my lower fingers to shreds on a wet day when I started my driving life. 🙂

Makes me appreciate the fridge trailers! Nice job by the way mate. Can tell you’ve done that once or twice before 👍🏻

I wonder if you put gates on it would look mint 👌

What a great job tarping. In my country flatbeds are common used by truckers and they tarp with ropes too, the method is the same but they ties the ropes all around over the tarp from side to side to secure it, as well with some loads too. I hope to buy my truck to start in the industry😄 Cheers from Venezuela👋

Hey Johnno, finally got through the video (wow what a marathon) - how about a video on your drone ie how you go about it etc, I’m sure most of us average joes would be interested to see how it’s all done without you giving too many secrets away.👍

If its not too personnal do you get paid by km driven or an hourly rate? An hourly rate would see a good tarping job, where as km rate there appears to be a conflict. (I'm not a truck driver)

Bakers Hitch or Truckies knots . Just keep doing what you are doing Johnno. Hey Mate do you get any rubbing on the tarp from the front and rear gate