What is the Difference Between Curtain Side and Tautliner?

Difference between curtain side and tautliner truck image

If you operate trucks and commercial vehicles in Australia, then you understand the importance of quality covering. Whatever you’re carrying, it’s vital to protect your load over long distances. Curtain sides and Tautliners are two covering types used to protect goods during transportation. These terms describe the same basic configuration, with the latter describing a company-patented design by Boalloy since 1969.

In this article, we’ll look at the differences between a curtain side truck and a Tautliner. We’ll review key differences between these terms and help you to choose the perfect covering for your needs.

What is a ‘curtain side’?

The term ‘curtain side’ is used in two different but related ways. First and foremost, it refers to a specific material type used to protect goods during transport. Secondly, it refers to the actual trucks or trailer bodies that have these materials installed. Curtainside trailers are used to protect goods during transport. A curtain side truck can also be called a Tautliner or Euroliner, with these terms describing specific types of curtainsiders.

A curtain side or curtain sider is a type of vehicle that uses a flexible curtain as its sidewalls. These curtains are typically made from heavy-duty, weather-resistant fabric, often PVC or canvas curtains. A curtain pole helps maintain the tension of the curtains. Curtain side coverings offer protection, flexibility, and accessibility on the open road. A curtainside truck offers protection, flexibility, and accessibility on the open road.

What is Tautliner?

This term is also used to describe materials and vehicles. Unlike ‘curtain side’, however, ‘Tautliner’ originally described a particular brand of vehicle that used this covering. Over time, ‘Tautliner’ has become a generic name used globally to refer to a type of curtainside truck. Just like curtain siders, Tautliners are a type of truck or trailer that uses reinforced and high-tensile fabric. However, while a standard curtainsider has fixing points where the curtains are fastened, a Boalloy Tautliner uses roof rails.

When closed, the covering material is pulled tight and tensioned on the roof rails. This prevents the curtains from moving in the wind, and it also helps to retain the load inside the trailer by providing basic load restraint through its rated curtains. If you want a quality covering that supports efficient loading and unloading practices, Tautliners and similar products are the perfect solution. Additionally, Tautliners offer crucial weather protection for sensitive cargo.

Tautliners vs Euroliners

The first Tautliner was produced in 1969 by Boalloy cab designer Gerald Broadbent. The first model was sold to Louis Reece, and it’s now a part of the Science Museum’s Road Transport Collection. A Euroliner is an updated version of this original design, with Boalloy releasing it in 1987 for P&O Ferrymasters. As an adapted version of the Tautliner, it had optimised tensioners and bulkheads to improve loading capacity.

A Euroliner features a retractable top with roof rails, which makes it possible to access goods inside the truck using a crane or lifting equipment. This allows loading and unloading from above, which made this design increasingly popular over the years. The Euroliner design allows for easy forklift access to the deck and a mezzanine floor, facilitating more efficient loading operations. The new Euroliner design was originally aimed at drivers on unaccompanied ferry routes between the UK and Europe, but it can now be found all over the world.

Why choose Bee Jays Canvas?

At Bee Jays Canvas, we offer quality vehicle coverings to protect your load in any conditions. We specialise in PVC, canvas, and polyethylene tarps, including various curtain side products. We supply custom-made tarps to businesses in Perth, and we deliver Australia-wide to the East Coast and beyond. We support various industries across Australia, including transport, agriculture, mining, industrial, and oil and gas.

If you’re looking for large-scale or complex tarp solutions produced with maximum quality, Bee Jays Canvas has got you covered. No job is too big, with our large Perth warehouse able to design and manufacture bespoke heavy-duty tarps to suit any project. We’ve been making quality products for almost 40 years, using state-of-the-art manufacturing and advanced fabrics to keep you and your goods safe on the road.

Please browse our services or contact our team to learn more about our custom truck side curtains.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does curtain side mean in trucking?

A curtainsider trailer has sides covered by a fabric curtain. Flexible material is typically used, which offers many benefits over solid rigid walls. The curtain can be rolled up or moved aside to provide easy access to the trailer’s interior. This makes it easier to load and unload cargo from the sides. The trailer’s ends usually have solid walls and doors for additional security, which is ideal when you’re on the road.

As mentioned above, modern curtain siders are available in many sizes and configurations. The Tautliner brand was created by Boalloy with an adjustable rail system, and the Euroliner model was adapted to allow for vertical loading and unloading. Modern products can be created to meet the demands of specific vehicles and applications.

What is the difference between a flatbed and a curtain side?

A flatbed trailer has no sides or roof, providing a completely open and flat surface. This makes it ideal for transporting large, heavy, or oversized items that wouldn’t fit into a traditional enclosed trailer. There are some disadvantages to this configuration, however, with flatbeds exposed to the elements and requiring secure strapping.

In contrast, a curtainsider trailer combines the benefits of flatbeds and enclosed trailers. It allows side access similar to a flatbed, but it provides protection from weather and theft due to its curtains. This type of trailer is often used in situations where cargo needs protection but benefits from efficient side-loading and unloading.

What is a curtain-sided trailer?

A curtain-sided trailer refers to a specific type of trailer with curtain sides. This design allows for quick access to the cargo area from both sides, which can speed up the loading and unloading process. This is much faster and easier to use than traditional enclosed trailers, where access is usually limited to the rear doors. A curtain-sided trailer is a versatile option that provides some of the convenience of a flatbed with the protection and accessibility of an enclosed trailer.

What our customers say

I have been using Bee Jays Canvas for over 10 years to make my Tipper Trailer Tarps. During this period, Bee Jays Canvas, have proved to be fast, efficient and on time for my requirements as well as providing me with expert knowledge and advice when required on custom, out of the ordinary jobs.

Darren Hardman

Wetside Body Builders

Bee Jays Canvas Pty Ltd. have worked alongside Pacific National for over 10 years and counting.

Providing us with the very best support possible and industry leading repair work to all our curtain siders.

Their reliability is one and their friendly operational staff are pleasure to work with and we have enjoyed working with them and will continued to do so for many years to come.

Nathan Madaffari

Pacific National

At CTI Logistics we have been using Bee Jays Canvas for the last 10 years or so for all our Tautliner and Tarp repairs.

Bee Jays have provided CTI with excellent service and no problem has been too big for them to handle.

The crew at Bee Jays are always professional and prompt and get us back on the road as quick as possible, and a job well done every time.