How to Install a Roll Tarp Door on a Shipping Container
One of the biggest frustrations with using a shipping container for storage is that whatever you need always seems to be buried at the back.
A roll tarp door solves that problem by opening almost the entire side of the container. In this project, The Container Guy installs a roll tarp system on a 20-foot shipping container and works through several structural and installation lessons along the way. The same style of kit can also be used on 40-foot containers.
Creating Full-Side Container Access
The first step is removing the majority of the shipping container sidewall while leaving enough structure near the roof.
A custom folded header is then installed across the opening.
The header includes a Rain Drip profile that directs water away from the tarp and an interior section that catches the container corrugations.
Pre-laser-cut holes spaced around the container corrugation pitch provide locations for structural rivets.
Keeping the original wall cut straight is important because an uneven opening can make fitting the header much more difficult.
Installing the Roll Tarp
Once the structural header is secured, the tarp assembly can be mounted.
One important lesson is to let the full weight of the tarp hang before fastening the upper fiberglass bar.
This helps establish the correct alignment before everything is permanently attached.
On this 20-foot container, the team also discovered that the tarp wanted to roll unevenly because one end of the assembly was heavier.
After experimenting with different solutions, a PVC sleeve was added over part of the lower pipe to change the rolling diameter and help the tarp wind evenly.
Manual vs Electric Operation
Roll tarp systems can be operated manually or with a 12-volt electric motor.
This build uses the manual crank option.
The tarp rolls underneath the lower edge and then tensions tightly against the container.
Additional tensioning straps help keep the tarp secure, especially if the container needs to travel at highway speeds.
The manual system can also provide a significant amount of tension because the operator controls exactly how tightly the tarp is cranked.
Adding Modular Strut Framing
Instead of permanently drilling mounting hardware directly into the container end wall, the team added Container Modification World MSS 1-Way Brackets and strut channel.
Two vertical struts were installed with horizontal strut connecting them.
This creates an adjustable mounting surface for the crank hardware, electrical conduit, battery boxes or future accessories.
If the geometry needs to change, spring nuts can simply be loosened, and the components moved rather than drilling additional holes into the container.
Preparing for an Electric Roll Tarp
The same strut system can also support the electric version of the door.
Electrical wiring can be routed along the strut channel using proper clamps, while a battery box can be mounted directly to the framing.
A solar panel could then be installed on the container roof to help maintain the 12-volt battery.
This creates a modular electric roll tarp system without permanently welding or fabricating mounting points onto the container.
More Storage Space From a 20-Foot Container
Another advantage of the roll tarp system is the additional usable width.
The kit extends beyond the original container sidewall, increasing the interior loading width.
That additional space can allow two 4-foot pallets to fit side by side, improving pallet density compared with the standard interior width of a shipping container.
For warehouses, rental yards, and industrial storage facilities, that can make a 20-foot container significantly more useful.
A Better Way to Access Container Storage
A Roll Tarp Door Kit provides full-side access while keeping the original cargo doors available at the end of the container.
Combined with a reinforced header, MSS 1-Way Brackets, and modular strut framing, the system can be adapted for either manual or electric operation.
For storage applications where security is less of a concern and accessibility is the priority, a roll tarp door can completely change how efficiently a shipping container is used.