Tarp Cover System

A cover drive system comprises a flexible cover or tarp, a front cover arm, a rear cover arm, and a towel bar. The front cover arm includes first and second sections connected together by a flex member. A drive system is attached to the front cover arm and is configured to deploy and retract a tarp cover. The drive system includes a transmission with a disconnect that permits manual operation of the tarp covering system without removing the drive motor. The rear cover arm includes a rear flex member that permits normal operation of a rear trailer end panel when configured as a hinged tailgate or door. The tarp is supported by a plurality of bows that can accommodate relative movement of trailer side walls during operation. In certain embodiments, the rear cover arm may be substituted with a tarp tensioner. The tarp tensioner includes a tensioning assist spring and block-and-tackle to assist in retracting the tarp from a deployed state.