Conestoga trailer equipment for rolling tarp flatbeds and step decks. The rolling tarp keeps freight covered, but it does not hold it down. This page lists the securement gear a Conestoga still needs: 4″ winch straps, sliding winches, ratchet straps, Grade 70 chain and binders, corner protectors and coil gear, without the flatbed tarps a Conestoga does not use.
How a Conestoga Trailer Works
A Conestoga is a flatbed or step deck fitted with a rolling tarp system. The tarp hangs on aluminum frame bows that slide front to back on rails. Opened, the deck loads from the side or the top like any flatbed. Closed, the freight is covered without the driver tarping it, which saves time at the shipper and keeps freight clean and dry. The frame takes some interior height and width, and freight wider than the frame cannot be hauled with the tarp closed.
Conestoga Securement Gear
Ratings are the working load limits of the products on this site.
Securing a Load Under a Rolling Tarp
Secure the load with the tarp open, then close it. Straps run under the tarp from the winch track over the freight. Use corner protectors wherever a strap crosses an edge, so the strap is not cut and the freight is not marked. Check tension again after the first miles, because loads settle. Conestogas haul a lot of steel coil; the steel coil securement guide covers the coil rules, and the FMCSA cargo securement guide covers everything else.
Conestoga Trailer Equipment FAQ
What is a Conestoga trailer?
A flatbed or step deck with a rolling tarp system. The tarp rides on aluminum frame bows and slides front to back like an accordion, so the trailer opens for side or top loading by forklift or crane, then closes to keep freight dry without the driver tarping.
Do Conestoga loads still need straps or chains?
Yes. The rolling tarp keeps weather off the freight, but it is not a tie-down. Every load must meet the same FMCSA rules as an open flatbed: combined WLL of at least half the cargo weight (49 CFR 393.106) and the tie-down count for the load length (49 CFR 393.110).
Can I use flatbed straps and winches on a Conestoga?
Yes. Standard 4″ winch straps, sliding winches, ratchet straps, Grade 70 chain and binders all work on a Conestoga, as long as the trailer has a winch track or anchor points.
Why are there no tarps on this page?
The rolling tarp system replaces flatbed tarps, so we leave them off this page. If the Conestoga curtain tears, HH-66 vinyl cement is a common patch for vinyl tarp material.
What freight is hauled on a Conestoga?
Freight that has to stay clean and dry and is loaded from the side or top: steel coils, machinery parts, building materials, packaged goods and anything a shipper does not want exposed. The frame takes some height and width, so measure the freight against the trailer before you book.
