Tarp enclosure system

A retractable tarpaulin cover system includes a tarp cover, plural spaced substantially U-shaped bows supporting and connected to the tarp cover, movable carriages operably connected to lower ends of each bow, a tensioning mechanism which moves an end one of said bows toward an endmost position thereof to tension the tarp cover in an expanded position of the cover, and a tension distributing mechanism which distributes the tension of the tarp cover between the end bow and another of said bows adjacent to said end bow. The tension distributing mechanism includes a collapsible brace interconnected between vertically extending legs of the end and adjacent bows, and does not project laterally of the vertically extending legs of the end and adjacent bows.