How to secure a load with straps and ratchets

When we plan for a trip, our mind begins to picture what that trip will look like. Either camping with friends, kicking back around a campfire telling tall tales and having a laugh, or sitting with the family toasting marshmallows as the sun sets over the mountains.

What we rarely consider is the nitty gritty of the components needed to get our equipment there. You could imagine a roof rack loaded with gear, but you will probably never picture a tie-down strap securing the load.

Some of us may give a cursory thought to what we need, but, beyond that, we rarely think about how to secure the load and the best way to go about it. It’s hardly glamorous or exciting.

Tie-down straps are crucial to many a trip, and it never ceases to amaze me how many people use the wrong strap, or even lose their load before they make it to the end of the street.

I followed a camper trailer being towed up the highway once with a foldout table strapped to the top. Sure enough, a gust of wind took it completely off the trailer, launched it 50 feet in the air before it came skidding down on the road in front of me. That could have killed someone or at least caused a terrible accident. So, what are your options?

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A tie-down strap is a length of webbing tensioned and used for securing cargo. They come in many shapes and sizes. An occy strap is not a tie-down and, despite your father using one to take the surfboards to the beach for 20-odd years without incident, they should not be used to secure loads, particularly when securing a load while off-road.

Occy straps have give and not even Governor Arnie, in his body-building heyday, could manage to stretch one out adequately to stop it from stretching further on a bumpy track. Once it stretches enough, your gear slides out and is all over the road. They also have no load rating.

Proper tie-downs, as described above, come in various lengths, with two ratings to indicate break strength and working strength. The break strength describes the maximum comfortable weight that can be supported before the strap fails, and working load describes the maximum weight that a tie-down can support with regular day-to-day use without becoming damaged.

They are not one and the same. The working load is generally calculated as one-third of the break strength. So, with that in mind, a strap with a 250kg break point should only be used to secure 75kg of load. Remember, that when off-road, inertia can cause a load to shift considerably and put more strain on any tie-downs, so it is best to err on the side of caution when choosing a tie-down strap for that reason.

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Keep gear down and save the headache

Generally, the wider the strap, or webbing, the stronger the strap will be.

Straps are generally good for securing all types of loads from spare tyres to tarps and swags. They can even be used to secure fridges in vehicles. The type of strap you use will be determined by where you are going and what you are carrying.

WHICH STRAP FOR ME?

Standard light-duty straps or lashing straps are typically used when you are securing a load that does not require a lot of strength to stay in place and is unlikely to slide around. They feature a gator clip which clamps down on the webbing when you pull it tight. They are your small-load straps.

For example, a set of MaxTrax or a swag secured on a roof rack driving on mainly tarred roads and or graded dirt. Neither weighs a lot, maybe, so this strap is perfect.

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Next up is the Cam Buckle strap. These are lighter-duty than ratchet straps but heavier-duty than lashing straps. They have a higher rating and are perfect for heavier items such as dirt bikes and ATVs. Again, I would not use one to secure a load when doing heavy off-roading.

For heavy loads and loads that you cannot afford to have shift around, such as spare tyres on a rack or anything when off-road, the ratchet strap is the best option. These straps come in a variety of sizes, from light- to heavy-duty. They can also be purchased in stainless steel for an additional price; anyone working in a marine environment will know what that is about.

Ratchet straps can be tightened down with a mechanical buckle that ensures the strap is at maximum tension and tight enough that your load has no chance of moving. Therefore, I would recommend them for all off-roading. The two previous straps, no matter who you are, cannot be tightened enough manually.

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A small-load strap suits gear like swags, which don’t require a lot of strength to stay in place

There are other straps, but these will be your primary go-to options. They can wear over time too, so what should you look out for?

All of these straps are made of webbing with a metal buckle. The webbing can fray if the strap gets a nick in it, so check them regularly. A frayed or half-cut strap should be thrown away. Similarly, the nylon and polyester fibres in straps will eventually break down under UV rays, so essentially the sun will wear out your straps. Check them often.

Also, do not store them wet in a box for next time, because there will not be a next time. They may go mouldy and rot. Finally, for the ratchets themselves, treat them with some lubricant like WD-40 after each use, to prolong their service life.

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All this talk of tie-downs is great, but your tie-down is only as good as its anchor point. Make sure you are securing them to something secure. I have secured a fridge in a trailer once when moving house and put the strap around a thin piece of metal. Suffice to say, the metal broke, and so did the fridge − an expensive lesson.

QUALITY PAYS

There are so many types of tie-downs that a trip to any store that sells these straps can be daunting. For a simple standard lashing strap, you want to ensure that the buckle is of good quality. It should feel solid, with a strong spring in place that brings the buckle down on the strap.

Cheap options can use inferior quality springs, so make sure you know that they will stay secure when tied around any loads. I have been using a set of Rhino-Rack standard-duty tie-downs for a few years now and found them to be a good basic option.

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A platform system can utilise numerous ways of attaching gear safely

Cam Buckle straps are similar in that you want to look for quality hardware and a secure buckle. Ratchet straps come in an amazing variety of colours and price points. Like anything, you can get away with the cheap ones, but when you tighten them, sometimes the buckle cannot cope with the load. I always recommend buying a quality strap over a Bunnings’ special. You may pay a little more, but, if looked after, it should provide plenty of service.

THE WRAP UP

While tie-downs may not be a glamorous subject, even less glamorous is standing on the side of a track or road picking up all your gear while other motorists gawk at you. Don’t be that guy, use the right strap and buy quality ones.