Help me Build a Roll-up Tarp Door

RTR

Well-known Member
Hey guys. Here at work we have a couple sheds that we need to build a rollup Tarp door for. This is the only option as it has already been decided. Currently we have a large tarp with some aluminum strips bolted to it horizontally for support. It is held up by a rope that we pull through 2 eyebolts and secure the rope to hold it up.

THis works, but is not very easy to use. My boss has tasked me with the job of improving this design. He wants to have pulleys and some type of way (manual or electric) to raise and lower the tarp so it works easily and smoothly.

I've found a design I like from protec buildings but I don't have any information on how to build it other than the pictures you see here. The tarp with the support bracing looks just like what we already have.
44062.jpg
44063.jpg
 
I worked at a Block factory and we had roll up curtains on each kiln.Tarp had a piece of steel pipe anchored to the bottom of the curtain.Above the curtain there were 3 pullys mounted.a single,a double and a triple pulley.Ropes were ran from the top of the door frame down behind the curtain around the pipe and up through the pulleys and over to the side of the door.When you pulled the ropes the pipe would roll,rolling the curtain up as it went

jimmy
 
(quoted from post at 23:13:48 01/09/17) Are those aluminum strips in a slide, or can it be a roll up type system?

It can be whatever we want. The ones in the picture looks like strips in a side mounted slide. The tarp we have hanging currently already has the aluminum strips so that design might be easiest.

In need some guidance ......picture, video, drawings, etc on how in need to build this. He wants it done by Friday.
 
How did the ropes get the pipe to roll the curtain up? I've used something similar to this on construction jobs that we need to shelter and still have access for larger equipment. So far I've only done a draping style and haven't gotten fancy enough to roll the curtain up.
 
A roll up design will be easiest. You put a pipe in the bottom of the tarp and screw the tarp to it. Then wrap a rope around each end with enough wraps so when you pull on the rope it rolls the pipe, rolling the tarp as it goes. A simple winch setup will work with that. If it can't be rolled then a cable down the side through eyes in the tarp to the pipe at the bottom works too, but you end up with the tarp folded this way. Again a simple winch on the bottom will work. I've seen them done both ways.
Check this
 
(quoted from post at 00:03:14 01/10/17) If it can't be rolled then a cable down the side through eyes in the tarp to the pipe at the bottom works too, but you end up with the tarp folded this way. Again a simple winch on the bottom will work. I've seen them done both ways.

I think I want to go the route with the "fold up" and not the roll up. Pull the rope by hand winch and let it pull the tarp straight up. I need help on how you would put it together/ build it as far as the pulleys go. How would you run both sides up evenly with one hand winch?
 
I gather that your aluminum door/curtain struts fit into a "C" style channel at each vertical door jamb. If that is the case that it's very similar to what we build for our temporary enclosures. I put 2 pulleys at the top jamb and run the rope to the respective side. Mind you this is for temporary shelter during construction. If I had to do something more permanent I would mount 2 pulleys at the top about 2 feet in from each edge of the door. Mount a double or single pulley at the edge to direct the ropes through and down to your winch. The problem will be that you are bringing, let's say 14 feet (door height), of double rope though that pulley and you do won't want to mount your winch 14 feet below that pulley. 3 to 4 feet will be a good winch height which leaves you with 10 to 11 feet. You could run the double ropes both to the winch after it's run through the double pulley. I don't know if there is a good way to combine the ropes to a single winch line without getting my hands dirty first.

From experience I will say that watch the size of the pulley in relation to the rope. I've done this with a light 1/4" rope and it tends to bind in the pulley or jump out if any slack is encountered.
 
My sisters in Florida have roll up screen doors for their carports. They are
expensive. My BIL has boat dock for two boats. He paid around $8k to have the
dock screened on all sides, with 3 large screen door openings. Two roll up
doors for boats and one larger one for grandkids so they can fish off dock.

I'm not sure how you could enlarge roll up screen doors, they have tracks on
each side for screens to slid in, and replace them with a tarp. I think it
would be a real challenge to make something your size to stand up to the wind.
 
Very similar to the door on our Coverall building.
Basic set-up is the same as an overhead garage door.
Pipes go through tarp and have a roller on each end that rides in the track the same way a garage door does except it only has the vertical portion of the track.
Pipe mounted across the top pulls up both sides of door at the same time, continuous chain is used to turn pipe to raise and lower tarp then a bracket with a slot in it holds the chain to keep the door at the desired height.
 
Go look at how a roll up bamboo window shade is made, upsize it to your needs.

A hand winch is going to be really slow. If it's not too heavy, a pull rope and a cleat will speed everything up.
 
Probably not sturdy enough for what you need, but called to mind a project I needed for a Christmas play in 2003. The setting for the play was in an over full garage used as storage for Christmas decorations. Early in the play the garage door had to open (but did not have to close as part of the play). So, I took a carpet or linoleum tube which was about 4" or 5" in diameter which still had the end cores with about a 1" hole. Then I found a wire spool that was about 10" or 12" in diameter, somehow affixed it to one end of the tube, and put 3/4" pipe through each end to serve as the axle. Upright 2x4" were firmly fastened to the meeting room floor for the axle pipes to fit through them. Baler wire was wound around the wire spool in such a manner that when pulled, it wound up the black plastic which served as the garage door. Of course that only had to work two times - for the dress rehearsal and the play presentation - so, like I said not substantial enough for your needs, but maybe some ideas for a stronger construction.
 
I like the idea of the track and roller. Makes sense. typically we do these in haste to try to keep construction heat in the building for a short term until the floor and finish door can be installed. Some pipes with rollers in a track would streamline the assembly. The battle we fight is trying to keep heat in the building while fighting the wind so it doesn't turn into a sail. We usually build a "C" out of 3 2x6's to get a deep track for the 2x4's in the curtain to slide in.
I do agree with Steve that it will be slow. The first set of pictures showed some winches outside of the curtain building. Are you able to find out anything on that door system.
One thought I had would be an electric boat lift winch, but they are not known for their speed.
 
(quoted from post at 02:40:44 01/10/17) I like the idea of the track and roller. Makes sense. typically we do these in haste to try to keep construction heat in the building for a short term until the floor and finish door can be installed. Some pipes with rollers in a track would streamline the assembly. The battle we fight is trying to keep heat in the building while fighting the wind so it doesn't turn into a sail. We usually build a "C" out of 3 2x6's to get a deep track for the 2x4's in the curtain to slide in.
I do agree with Steve that it will be slow. The first set of pictures showed some winches outside of the curtain building. Are you able to find out anything on that door system.
One thought I had would be an electric boat lift winch, but they are not known for their speed.


I am waiting on the rep to call me back about trying to order a kit for their system. We aren't worried too much about the speed since it'll only be used about 10 times a year.
 
I simply hung a heavy tarp securely
screwed to the top, screwed the bottom
to a pipe a little longer than width of
the tarp, then at one end attached a
crank with a handle tube maybe 4 ft long
and an old truck pto u joint to connect
them, to open door turn crank and it
winds up around the pipe till the pipe
is at the top, then lock the u joint in
by folding it 90degrees. To close door
let it roll down then hook the pipe
under each end and and wind up to be
tight, then lock u joint same way and
set handle in hook on wall
 
The door like the one in the picture is similar to what they used to put on broiler houses. I believe that you can still get the tarp material with the pockets from Farmtec. I used conduit in the pockets with rebar slid inside of the conduit for weight. the ends are in a channel that keeps the door straight and rope or cable is attached to the bottom ends and up through pulleys and then to a winch. The winch can either be manual or electric. The door does'nt roll it basically folds. It's not a bad system but by no means a good door for a windy day.
 
Contact Rite Hite in Dubuque Ia. 563 556 2020. They have doors like you need in their shipping dept. operates on an electric eye. Pretty Nifty.
 
Run 3 or 4 ropes down the back under the bottom of the tarp and up the front with pulleys then run the ropes to one side with pulleys and put a piece of pipe across the bottom
it'll roll up real nice.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top