7 Supplies for Securing Tarps and Equipment Covers

A surprise squall is blowing in, and that new stack of hay you just baled is sitting exposed. A cheap blue tarp is your only line of defense, but without the right tie-downs, it’s just a giant, useless kite. Securing your tarps and equipment covers properly isn’t just about neatness; it’s about protecting valuable assets from the elements.

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Why Proper Tarp and Cover Security Matters

A flapping tarp is more than just an annoyance; it’s a sign of impending failure. Wind can get underneath a loose cover, turning it into a sail that can tear grommets, shred the material, and send it flying across your property. The constant whipping action abrades the very equipment you’re trying to protect, wearing away paint and exposing metal to moisture.

Beyond wind, improper security allows water to pool. A sagging tarp collects rain, creating a heavy, stagnant puddle that can strain seams, stretch the material, and eventually collapse, dumping gallons of water exactly where you don’t want it. Effective tie-downs create tension and pitch, ensuring water sheds off immediately, keeping everything from firewood to tractor engines dry and ready for work.

Ultimately, this is about protecting your investment of time and money. A well-secured cover extends the life of your equipment, keeps your animal feed and bedding dry, and ensures your firewood is seasoned, not soaked. Spending a few extra dollars on the right securing supplies saves hundreds or even thousands in repairs, replacement, and wasted resources down the line.

Bungee Cords – Keeper Ultra Bungee Cord Pack

Bungee cords are the go-to for quick, light-duty tensioning. They are perfect for tasks where you need some give and flexibility, like securing a tarp over an irregularly shaped woodpile or holding down a cover on a utility cart. Their elasticity absorbs small shocks and movements without putting constant, rigid strain on the tarp’s grommets.

The Keeper Ultra Bungee Cord Pack is an essential kit for any small farm because it provides variety. You get an assortment of lengths, which means you always have the right tool for the job instead of dangerously overstretching a short cord or leaving a long one with too much slack. The hooks on these cords are steel but have a thick, non-marring coating, so you can hook them to painted equipment without scratching the finish.

Before you buy, understand their limits. Bungee cords are not for heavy-duty, high-wind applications, as they can fail under extreme, sustained loads. They also degrade over time with UV exposure, so inspect them for cracking or loss of elasticity before each use. This pack is ideal for the farmer who needs a versatile, everyday solution for light-to-medium jobs, not for someone trying to batten down a massive hay cover for an entire winter.

Ratchet Straps – Rhino USA Ratchet Tie Down Straps

When you need uncompromising, static security, you need ratchet straps. These are for jobs where zero movement is the goal: think tying down a small tractor on a trailer for transport or cinching an expensive equipment cover so tight that no wind can get under it. Unlike bungees, ratchet straps allow you to apply immense mechanical force, creating a rigid connection that won’t stretch or give.

The Rhino USA Ratchet Tie Down Straps are a solid choice for farm use due to their build quality and user-friendly design. The webbing is durable and weather-resistant, and the padded handles on the ratchet mechanism save your knuckles during tightening. Most importantly, they have a clearly stated working load limit, taking the guesswork out of securing heavy equipment safely.

There is a slight learning curve here. It’s easy to overtighten a ratchet strap and damage what you’re securing, so apply tension gradually until the object is snug, but not crushed. Always ensure the strap is flat and not twisted to distribute the load evenly. These straps are for anyone needing to secure valuable, heavy items for transport or long-term storage; they are overkill for simply covering a wheelbarrow.

Tarp Clips – EasyKlip Heavy-Duty Tarp Clips

Sometimes the grommets on a tarp are either ripped out or simply not in the right place. Tarp clips are the solution, allowing you to create a secure anchor point anywhere on the fabric. They are indispensable for repairing a damaged tarp in the field or for adding extra tie-down points to better manage wind load on a large cover.

EasyKlip Heavy-Duty Tarp Clips are superior because their grip gets tighter as more force is applied. This unique wedge-lock design means they won’t just pop off when a gust of wind hits. They can hold a tremendous amount of force without tearing the material, making them far more reliable than the cheap alligator-style clips that often fail under pressure.

These clips are a force multiplier for your existing tie-downs. Pair them with rope or bungee cords to create custom-fit covers for oddly shaped equipment or material stacks. Remember that while the clip is strong, the tarp material is still the weak point, so use them to distribute strain rather than concentrating all the force in one spot. They are a must-have for anyone who relies on tarps regularly and wants to extend their useful life.

All-Purpose Rope – Titan WarriorCord Survival Cord

Every farm needs a good, all-purpose rope. It’s the most versatile tool for securing anything, limited only by your ability to tie a decent knot. From lashing down a greenhouse cover to creating a custom ridgeline for a tarp shelter, rope provides a level of customization that straps and bungees can’t match.

Titan WarriorCord is an excellent choice because it’s more than just paracord. It has a high tensile strength (rated at 620 lbs) and is built with UV and abrasion resistance in mind, meaning it won’t degrade quickly when left out in the sun and rain. This makes it a reliable option for semi-permanent installations, like securing shade cloth over a chicken run for the season.

The main consideration with rope is that its effectiveness depends entirely on your knot-tying skills. A poor knot will slip, and a knot that’s too tight might be impossible to undo. This cord is for the person willing to learn a few basic, reliable hitches to gain ultimate flexibility in their tie-down strategy. It’s not for someone who just wants a quick, foolproof solution.

Pro Tip: Choosing the Right Tie-Down Method

The biggest mistake is treating all tie-downs as interchangeable. The key is to match the tool to the load type. You have two kinds of loads to manage: static and dynamic. A static load is something that shouldn’t move at all, like a mower on a trailer. A dynamic load is something that might shift or be subject to gusting wind, like a tarp over a woodpile.

For static loads, use tools that provide rigid, non-stretching security. This is where ratchet straps excel. They allow you to remove all slack and lock the item in place. Using a bungee cord on a piece of heavy equipment is a recipe for disaster, as it will allow the item to shift and lurch during transport.

For dynamic loads, you need something that can absorb energy. Bungee cords and shock cord are perfect here. Their elasticity allows a tarp to flex under a wind gust without tearing the grommets out. A rigidly secured tarp with no give is more likely to shred itself in a storm. Rope can be used for either, depending on the knots you use; a Taut-Line Hitch, for example, provides adjustable tension ideal for dynamic loads.

Ground Anchors – Liberty Outdoor Spiral Stakes

Securing a tarp or cover often means anchoring it to the ground, especially for things like temporary animal shelters, frost covers on garden beds, or low-profile equipment. Regular tent pegs often pull out of soft soil under the slightest strain. You need something that will bite into the earth and hold fast.

Liberty Outdoor Spiral Stakes are the answer. Their corkscrew design provides immense holding power, screwing into the ground rather than just being pushed in. This makes them far more resistant to being pulled out by wind or tension. They are made of solid steel with a durable coating, so they won’t bend when you hit a small rock or rust after one season.

These are best used in soil, from soft dirt to hard-packed clay. They are not designed for rocky or frozen ground. Each stake has a folding top ring, which gives you a secure, low-profile loop for attaching ropes or bungee hooks. These anchors are for anyone needing to secure covers directly to the earth and who is tired of flimsy stakes that fail when the wind picks up.

Reusable Weights – Rhino USA Heavy Duty Sandbags

Sometimes, you can’t drive an anchor into the ground, or there’s nothing to tie off to. This is common when covering items on concrete, asphalt, or very rocky ground. In these situations, reusable weights are the best solution for holding down the edges of a cover and preventing wind from getting underneath.

The Rhino USA Heavy Duty Sandbags are built for this exact purpose. Made from extremely tough 1680D ballistic nylon with triple-stitched seams, they are designed to be filled, emptied, and reused for years. They feature a durable zipper closure and a strong handle, making them easy to position. You can fill them with sand, gravel, or even just dirt from your property.

The key to using weights effectively is placement. Don’t just put one in the middle; place them along the perimeter of the cover, especially on the windward side, to keep the edges sealed to the ground. These sandbags are perfect for securing row covers in a no-till garden, weighting down a pool cover on a concrete patio, or holding a tarp in place on a driveway. They offer a non-permanent, non-damaging anchoring solution.

Bulk Shock Cord – Paracord Planet Elastic Bungee Cord

While pre-made bungee cords are convenient, buying shock cord in bulk gives you ultimate customization. It allows you to create custom-length bungees for specific, recurring tasks, like securing the cover on your tiller or creating a spiderweb network to hold down a tarp in a utility trailer. It’s often more economical and results in a cleaner, more effective setup than daisy-chaining multiple standard bungees.

Paracord Planet’s Elastic Bungee Cord is a reliable bulk option. It comes in various diameters (1/4-inch is a good all-around choice) and has a durable, UV-resistant nylon sheath that protects the inner rubber strands. This ensures a longer life when exposed to the elements. You can buy it by the foot, allowing you to get exactly what you need for your projects.

To use bulk cord, you’ll also need a supply of bungee hooks or clips, which are sold separately. Making your own is simple: just cut the cord to length and secure the hook, often with a simple hog ring or a tight knot. This approach is for the farmer who has specific needs that off-the-shelf bungees don’t meet and who prefers to build a tailored solution rather than making do with a generic one.

Tying Knots That Hold: Three Essential Hitches

Rope is only as good as the knots you tie with it. You don’t need to be a sailor, but mastering three basic hitches will handle 99% of farm tasks. Practice them until they become second nature.

The Taut-Line Hitch is for creating an adjustable loop. This is your go-to knot for any line that needs to be tightened, like a ridgeline for a tarp or a guy line for a temporary fence post. It slides to tighten but holds firm under load, allowing you to easily remove all the slack from a line without having to re-tie the whole thing.

The Two Half Hitches is the simplest way to securely tie a rope to an object like a post, a ring, or a grommet. It’s easy to tie, easy to untie, and remarkably secure for most general-purpose jobs. Use it to tie off the corner of a tarp or secure a gate.

The Bowline creates a fixed loop at the end of a rope that will not slip or tighten. This is crucial for situations where you need a loop to remain a specific size, such as placing it over a trailer hitch ball or creating a handle. Its primary virtue is that even after being placed under extreme tension, a bowline is always easy to untie.

How to Properly Fold and Store Your Covers

How you store your tarps is just as important as how you use them. A wadded-up, damp tarp will quickly grow mildew, which weakens the fabric and makes it miserable to handle. Improper storage also creates permanent creases that become the first points of failure when the tarp is put under stress.

First, always store your tarps clean and dry. Lay the tarp out flat and sweep off any dirt, leaves, or debris. If it’s muddy, hose it down and let it dry completely in the sun. Folding a wet tarp is a guarantee you’ll have a moldy, smelly mess the next time you need it.

For folding, the goal is to minimize sharp creases. The best method is to fold it loosely in half repeatedly until you have a manageable rectangle, then roll it up from one end. This creates a compact bundle with soft folds instead of sharp, fabric-damaging creases. Store the rolled tarp in a dry place off the ground, like on a shelf in a shed or barn, away from rodents that might chew through it for nesting material.

Final Tarp Security and Inspection Checklist

A "set it and forget it" mentality doesn’t work with tarps and covers. Weather conditions change, and materials stretch. A quick inspection can prevent a catastrophic failure.

Before a storm, do a quick walk-around. Check for any loose corners or flapping edges where wind could gain purchase. Add an extra tie-down or a clip to any problem areas. Ensure that water has a clear path to run off and isn’t pooling anywhere. A small adjustment can make all the difference.

After a major wind or rain event, inspect your covers for damage. Look for strained or torn grommets, chafing where the cover rubs against a sharp edge, or new holes. Check your tie-downs as well; inspect bungees for loss of elasticity and ropes for any signs of fraying. Catching small problems early prevents them from becoming big, expensive ones.

Taking the time to secure your covers with the right equipment isn’t just a chore; it’s a fundamental part of maintaining a functional and resilient small farm. By matching the right tool to the task, you protect your gear, save your resources, and stay ready for whatever the next season throws at you. A well-secured tarp is peace of mind when the wind starts to howl.