Pull-Out vs Retractable vs Rollover Tarps: Which Suits Your Truck?

Fragar makes three kinds of tarp system for tippers, trailers and trucks. They all keep your load covered, but they work differently and suit different jobs. Here’s how they compare, so you can pick the right one for your truck.

The short answer

• Pull-out tarp: the simplest system. A spring-loaded roller at the front of the body, with no power needed. It’s also the only one you can order online with the price up front, from $1,199 inc GST.
• Retractable (front-to-back) tarp: the tarp runs from the front of the body to the back and is wound by hand or by an electric motor. Made to measure, in mesh or PVC and eight colours.
• Rollover (side-to-side) tarp: an electric arm system that rolls the tarp across the body from one side to the other, worked by wireless remote from the cab.

How each one works

Pull-out tarp

A heavy-duty mesh tarp sits on a spring-loaded roller inside a 200 × 200 mm aluminium housing at the front of the body. Pull it back over the load and tie it off at the rear. Let it go and the spring winds it back into the housing, out of the weather. There’s no motor, wiring or battery to look after.

Kits are cut to suit bodies from 1500 mm to 2400 mm wide, with a 5 m or 7 m tarp. See the pull-out tarp kit.

Retractable (front-to-back) tarp

The tarp runs from the front of the body to the back, with a choice of bow heights. You choose how it’s operated:

• Hand wind: simple, reliable manual operation.
• Electric: fast, push-button operation in 12 V or 24 V, with a wireless remote so the driver can cover the load from the cab.

You also choose the tarp material. Mesh is breathable and lightweight, and suits mulch, green waste, compost and landscaping loads. PVC is waterproof and UV and weather resistant, and suits sand, soil, quarry products and wet loads. Both come in eight colours. See retractable tarps.

Rollover (side-to-side) tarp

An electric rollover system uses a motor drive unit and a long mechanical arm to roll the tarp across the body from one side to the other in seconds. A balance arm keeps the tarp tension right every time, and the driver works it with a wireless remote from the cab. The kit includes the motor drive unit, battery power kit, wireless remote, wiring and hardware, and it has a manual override. Fragar rollover tarps are coming soon.

Side-by-side comparison

Which one should you choose?

Choose a pull-out tarp if…

• You run a tipper, trailer or hook bin and want a simple cover you’ll use every trip
• You don’t want a motor, wiring or battery to maintain
• Your loads suit a mesh tarp: soil, mulch, gravel, green waste and similar
• You want a fixed price and to order online today

Choose a retractable tarp if…

• You need a waterproof PVC tarp for sand, soil or wet loads
• You want the option of electric front-to-back operation from the cab
• You want the tarp in a colour to match your truck or business

Choose a rollover tarp if…

• You cover a semi-trailer or large rigid truck many times a day
• You want drivers to cover the load from the cab, with no climbing or winding
• You want the same tarp tension every time

Fragar rollover tarps are coming soon. Until then, a retractable tarp with electric operation also lets drivers cover the load from the cab.

Still deciding?

Tell us your truck, body size and what you carry, and we’ll recommend the right system. Our team is here 7am–5pm, Monday to Friday. Call 1300 850 413, message us on WhatsApp or email sales@fragargroup.com.au.