Posted 2007-05-01 11:39 PM (#60279 - in reply to #60276) Subject: RE: How to hang hay bags on white skin trailer without scratching too much
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
On a previous trailer, I frequently did CTR and tied my horses to the trailer for a LOT of weekends. Not only was I worried about haynets, water buckets, but also bored horses damaging my trailer. I had a local sign shop make me a vinyl sheet for the side of my trailer. In my case it was just plain white 14 mill vinyl with a scrim embedded in it., But I could of had them print something fun on the panel. They make a lot of Bill boards and side panels for the side of semi trucks out of this material.
I attached a "C" channel to the roof. Theshop welded a 3/8" rope to the edge of the vinyl sheet. I would slide the rope into the "C Channel" and slide it into place. I would then bungie the bottom edge under the trailer. The cat walks on the side of the trailer held the vinyl sheet out about 8" from the trailer. I cut a couple slits in the vinyl and would hang ropes on the"Ties" and thread them out the slits. Tie the hay bags to the ropes.
All the mess was on the vinyl sheet. None on the trailer.
This may be excessive if you only stay for an hour or two. But if you stay parked for the weekend, It was worth the effort.
Posted 2007-05-02 8:06 AM (#60293 - in reply to #60284) Subject: RE: How to hang hay bags on white skin trailer without scratching too much
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
Not ony did it keep my trailer clean. It prevented any dents or scraps from pawing hooves.
I never had any problem with the wind when the tarp was installed. But it was a challenge to install it or roll it up after wards if the wind was really blowing. The trick is to bungie it tight enough at the bottom that the it is very taught.
On bright days, I think the pure white was too bright. I had a hard time looking at it in the bright sun. If I were to do it again, I'd have the print shop print something on the vinyl. the color would help soften the brightness.
Just to educate. There are companies that print large banners, billboards, side panels for trucks on this material. It comes in a 14' width by 5000 foot long roll.. The company I got this from prints bill boards for national companies. Products like Levi, Aleve, Campbells Soups, several brands of beer. They send it through a 14' wide printer, just like a sheet of paper through a Ink Jet printer on your desk. So it would be real easy to print your ranch logo, your favorite equine event, or any other picture on the material. You can buy the banners for about $1.00 a sf and the "C" channel wil cost $25-$30. So you might have $100-$150 tied up. But when you are done using it on your trailer, use it to cover your haystack. In fact the place I got this from, often had defective product, ( where the ink got smeared or the picture wasn't centered that they would give away) I've use several of those defects to cover haystacks.