A ratchet strap combines tie-down, polyester mesh webbing designed with industrial-grade strength with the use of trucking and towing ratcheting hardware! This high-quality combination allows you to properly and safely transport cargo without worrying if it will shift or fall during the haul! Ratchet straps are preferable by truckers hauling soft or fragile cargo, as the risk of causing any damages is a lot less than when using chains. Working without tie-downs would eat up more time – and thus, earn you less money – and make the roadways more dangerous for truckers and fellow motorists. No matter the distance you plan to transport your cargo, if you know how to use tie-downs properly then you can quickly secure any and all loads!
Tie-down straps typically come with two strength ratings: the breaking strength, which is the maximum amount of weight the strap can support before it fails, and the working load limit, which is the maximum weight a tie-down can support from regular use without damages. These two ratings are connected: a working load limit is calculated as being one-third of the tie-downs breaking strength. A working load limit can be found on the webbing of a ratchet strap and is deemed the safe working load strength when using tie-down straps. Any tie-down strap without a visible working load limit should never be used.
Ratchet straps are an incredibly important and popular tool in the trucking industry for securing cargo. However, ratchet tie-down straps have several, versatile uses you may not know about. Click here to explore the ratchet and tie-down straps inventory.
Versatile Uses of Ratchet Straps
Below are the top 12 alternatives uses of ratchet tie-down straps.
1. Cargo Securement
Source: toolvee.com
One of the more common uses for ratchet straps is for cargo securement, which is why we’re placing it at the top of our list. Regardless of the type of vehicle you’re using, ratchet straps can tie down cargo in an enclosed trailer or an open truck bed! The Department of Transportation has provided specifications for the best and safest guidelines when using tie-down straps, including how many are legally required for your cargo. Ratchet straps have been deemed time and time again as the easiest and most popular way to keep a load secured.
2. Flatbed Hauling
Source: pceltd.co.uk
When it comes to large or heavy cargo transportation, Flatbeds are the most common, professional vehicles used in the industry. And for many flatbedders, they know that time is money! Ratchet straps use very little time in being installed and securing down cargo. Being easy and fast to use make them one of the most crucial tools a flatbedder can have on hand!
3. Trailer Hauling
No matter what size trailer you plan to use for your load-hauling, knowing how to operate a ratchet strap can make the difference between an easy and frustrating delivery! There’s nothing worse for a client than a slow delivery and damaged cargo thanks to improper securement – it happens a lot more frequently than you’d think! Luckily, ratchet strap tie-downs allow for easy access and securement points on your trailer. If you find yourself finding it difficult to find a specific anchor point, investing in welded or removable anchor points like D-rings might help save you a headache on the road!
4. Moving Vans
Moving, whether from one state to another or just down the block, can be a very stressful event. The process of packing up a home has the added stress of getting all those boxes from one place to another safely and securely – the last thing you want when moving is to find one or more of your belongings broken because of insecure tie-downs. Moving vans are the biggest and cheapest option for many families. However, vans are traditionally difficult to secure cargo. Without proper anchor points on the inside, properly and securely fastening cargo can be tricky; that’s where tools like E-tracks or L-tracks can come in handy and save you the stress and hassle of moving with the use of vans or enclosed trailers!
5. Auto Hauling
Source: speedstrap.com
Transporting vehicles is one of the most common and stressful jobs in the trucking industry. A car not properly tied down using tie-down straps can be a serious problem and danger to you and fellow motorists. Ratchet straps are compatible with the use of brand-specific end-fittings, like RTJ hooks, to ensure you have the proper tools to secure all possible vehicle loads!
6. E-Tracks and Ratchet Straps
As previously mentioned above, E-Tracks are a fantastic tool to help secure your ratchet straps on or around your cargo, especially when using an enclosed van or a trailer with limited anchor points. E-track systems can be attached to the floor or walls of a trailer and are compatible with ratchet straps and most end-fittings! E-tracks help maximize your trailer floor space and keep tools organized, providing space for a larger amount of heavy-duty loads! Using E-track systems paired with using tie-down straps allows you to keep cargo secured to the walls or floors of your trailer and prevent any moving, sliding, or falling during transit!
7. Rescue Missions
Going hand-in-hand with towing, mud is an antagonist many truckers and tow haulers have become familiar with. Mud can dirty up the underside and tires of a vehicle and sink one if the ground is muddy enough. Mud isn’t the only factor, either – this same situation happens during winter months when snowfall buries or traps cars in driveways or road-sides. Regardless of the weather conditions you may find vehicles stuck in, ratchet straps can be a lifesaver in these situations! The tie-down nylon webbing material is the best for towing and pulling situations since it has some leeway in stretching before breaking or tearing and you can avoid any strong jolts that come with chains, thus avoiding damaging the vehicle during the rescue!
8. ATV’s Tie-Down
ATV’s are a very popular vehicle for those who enjoy making their own trials and going off-roading! Whether you plan to ride off-road or even race your ATV, it’s important you’re able to transport the vehicle to and from your destination safely as well as being prepared for any emergency situations, should the weather become wet and muddy. If you know how to use tie-downs, then you know how to keep your ATV safe and operational! Ratchet straps are strong and durable enough to secure ATV’s during transportation as well as pulling ATV’s out of mud or sticky situations while on the road!
9. Motorcycles Tie-Down
Source: autowise.com
Motorcycles are a popular way people get around these days – as a stylish, speedy, and smaller alternatives to cars, motorcycles and bikes aren’t planning on going anywhere soon! This means that car haulers may occasionally have to haul motorcycles from one destination to another, and securing a motorcycle is very different from securing a car. You need to be able to secure around or through the bike’s wheels or around the bike itself without risk of scratching or denting the bike during transportation – while chains increase that risk, ratchet straps are soft and do not have the risk of scratching or damaging a motorcycle even when secured around the body!
10. Lifting Slings
Heavy objects that aren’t designed for lifting, such as refrigerators and bathtubs, moving these objects from point A to point B can be a stressful nightmare. Luckily, lifting slings are designed with the same ratchet straps used in cargo securement and hauling. Knowing how to operate a ratchet strap means you can learn how to use their webbing to help distribute the weight of the item and secure it no matter how many odd edges or angles the object may have. Ratchet straps help make lifting easier, safer, and fast!
11. Kayak Securement
Source: kayakroofracks.net
Kayak’s make for a fun day out on the lake, but their unique design and shape make transporting it to and from the water can be tricky. For most Kayak enthusiasts, the standard way to transport a Kayak is by placing it on top of a vehicle and tying it down; using tie-down straps can end up being a big stress-reliever for these situations! You can keep a Kayak secured to the roof of your vehicle with high-quality ratchet straps; no matter how fast you may be going down a highway or how hard the wind may be shifting the boat, ratchet straps and their unique material allow the Kayak to remain firmly in place without risk of denting or damaging it!
12. Christmas Tree Transporting
Source: facebook.com
An unlikely consideration, ratchet straps can be used a lot during these upcoming winter months for Christmas trees! Christmas trees are extremely difficult to transport – there are several Christmas movies and show episodes that showcase just how difficult it can be to get your tree from the nursery to your living room. Because of their shape, size, and very few places to set anchor points, Christmas pine trees are one of the most difficult cargo to transport. However, with the use of ratchet tie-down straps, it can be a quick and easy trip! Similar to how one transports Kayaks, you can secure a tree to the top of your vehicle using ratchet straps. Ratchet straps are strong and durable, meaning they will not break or tear easily from the many, many tree branches and they won’t crack or break the bark of the tree. Keep your Christmas tree safe during transit with the use of ratchet straps!
Ratchet straps are most commonly used in the trucking industry as popular and safe tie-down options, especially when hauling fragile cargo or cargo you can’t risk potentially scratching or denting with chains. However, they can be used for a variety of situations; ratchet straps use goes beyond simple towing and hauling. Hope this list helped you realize not only how versatile ratchet straps can be, but that you’ve found a solution to a problem you didn’t know you had!
