What size tarps should I carry with me?

Flat or step. 8ft is lumber. I can get by with 6....steel.. what u haul careful don't buy chinese crap. Granite city Illinois

 

16 by 30 - (4 ft drop but longer) can be turned sideways for taller loads.

53' flat I ran with (2) of the above, and a 20 square for in between if needed.

D-rings in several rows, all sides.

Steve at Tri-City, granite City,IL - good guys.

Plan what you need, call in , discuss, and have your wallet ready.

Don't forget adequate protection - they sell felt rolls tat are cheap and protect porcupines.

 

Oh how happy I was when I bought my 4ft set of steel tarps. And oh sick to my stomach I felt when one of them tore almost all the way down near the middle when I used it on some coils with nothing under the tarp. $750 went to the garbage just like that.

 

I love these open ended questions.
The question you ask, will be answered when you know what you want to do.
If you are only doing steel, steel tarps.
If you are doing machinery, machine tarps.
If you will haul lumber at any time, you need lumber tarps.
See how that works?
If you intend to do, or will do, any or all of those, then you might be able to combine or eliminate one set of tarps, but it will depend primarily on what you intend to do.

 

As far as weight, depends on your age, shape and strength. The heavier are more durable and will last longer than the lighter ones which are just lighter to handle but thinner and more easilydamaged.
As for running boards, then you're looking to at least have a 2 or 3 piece Lumber tarp set with 8 foot drops. The good thing about the 3 piece is that the middle tarp can double as at least one part of a steel tarp. The 8 foot drop part of that tarp will give you a length (when used as steel tarp) 24 feet. Not sure what the side drop on that would be, depending on how wide it is as the third piece of the lumber size. You'll definitely need steel tarps, so depending on the configuration, you may have at least one using that middle of the 3 piece, but if you only go for the 2 piece lumber tarp, then you'll need a set of steel tarps with a minimum of 4 foot drops, but if you prefer to use the 6 foot it helps when needing to use it tarp a coil, if you don't opt for the coil tarp.
This again depends on what you're doing and your trailer size. For instance, each lumber or steel tarp could be 2 piece of 24 or 27 foot. The 24 will be useable on a 48 foot flat, but the 27 foot would be needed for a 53 foot flat...things change a little if you're hauling a step deck, which includes drop heights, if you want to cover the entire load down to the step deck's lower level.
Machine tarps are more square and come in a variety of sizes, again, depending on what you intend to tarp. Running boards, it might be good to have a set of each, but then that becomes a cost conscious decision.

Hope this is helpful.

 

Get 2 steel tarps (4 ft) and 2 lumber tarps (8ft). That will cover everything you need for a skateboard on the loadboard. Idk how strong of a guy you are but if you get a heavy set of lumber tarps be mindful of lifting them or you'll throw your back out eventually.