Straps

[Foxfire]

How do you fellow skateboarders secure the 4" straps used to tie down loads? A lot of the guys I used to work with simply rolled them up on the ratchets and then put the hook over the rub rail. Tighten them with the ratchet handle and forget about them.
To me, this was a lazy person's way of doing things. I always took them completely off the ratchets and then used a strap winder that clamped onto the rub rail to roll them up. I rolled them with the hook on the outside so when I threw them I did it from the offside of the trailer. Since I had the hook in my left hand when I threw the strap there was no danger of it hitting some unsuspecting person walking on the other side.

[joerockhead]

Fox Fire, the straps should be removed from the winches and stored in a tool box or storeage compartment. Leaving them wound around the winch will create/promote pre-mature failure/corrosion of the winch, not to mention rotting of the strap.

Another reason to seperate them on a continual basis is so that straps are used in the proper manner. Securing a load with the excess strap material wound around the winch is not the proper way to secure freight or secure the excess strap as per Kinedyne. There should never be more than 3 revolutions of strap around a winch (again as per Kinedyne) as it inhibits the driver's ability to get the strap as tight as needed.

As far as which end I throw over the load, I wind my straps up with the chain end exposed (don't use those cheap AZZ flat hooks). I can throw either end, depending upon wind direction and what else is going on around where I am securing the load. I prefer to throw the chain end first as I can generally get it where I want it, but you always have to be aware of other people/vehicles on the other side of the trailer.

[DrivingZiggy]

I used to roll 'em with the flat hook inside, but that just didn't seem right. Plus I was always worried about beaning somebody. Then, when the new rules about not having any straps outside the rub rails came out, I was having lots of trouble keeping them hooked when I went around the trailer to tighten them.

My solution was to begin winding them (with a strap winder) the other way--with the hook on the outside. Now, I attach the hook and unravel the strap enough to throw it over. Most of the time, it stays hooked and it's also easier to throw since there is less weight.

When I remove them, I wind them and store them in $1 "milk crates" that I buy from Dollar General.

I roll them up on the wench, when I'm done with them.

I throw the heavy side over, when I'm strapping..I usually just say heads up.......look under my trailer make sure there are no feet, then throw.

If I was to do one load a week, then I might take my time and roll them up, and place it in my tool box....Its got nothing to do with being lazy.

I'll be unloading tomorrow in Florida, and will be unstraping, and pulling a 3 piece lumber tarp, in probably 90 degree weather....I'm not taking all my straps off the winches...trust me.

[copperbottom]

Sorry guys but I agree w/Joe..........not only does it extend the life of your straps, but it gives you the oppurtunity to visally check out each strap for wearage & damage. We use 9 to 15 straps at a time..with a strap-roller it takes me 15 mins at most......I do it after I have qualcomed my unload message..gives me somthin to do while I await my next dispatch........copper :wacko:

[nitestar]

How you do winches and straps is pretty much a driver to driver preference.
I roll mine with the hook inside so I have some weight to get it over the load.
I unstrap and roll and store after each load because I may use chains on the next load.
And a lot easier to store, The tend to get tangled like bungies with the hook on the outside.
I have cut up a tire inner tube and use it to put around the strap to keep it neat and tidy.
On my 2 in I use large rubber bands to keep neat.

It is the drivers responsiblility to make sure no-one is over there to get hit.
some exceptions are, it another truck is loading next to you and you can't move.
building with glass or parked cars close.


If you just haul lumber and other short stuff then the hook outside is ok.
Not far to throw.

I use the weight of the hook to help get er over the load. Many of my loads are at the 13.6 mark, out in the boonies and it is always windy. Murphys law.

I try to secure the binder on the passenger side for safety , and if I need to make a emergency stop to tighten I am not dodging 70mph traffic.
Securing on the curb side is the only smart way to go.

I have heard all the excuses for doing the drivers side and they don't hold water.
Can't see the binders in the right mirror, Habit doing it this way, My boss said I have too. All BS.

If you roll your straps up and leave them on the winch , check them out as you roll them and you will see any damage that way too.

I use only the straps with the flat hook becaues the ones with the chain hook just don't work on my freight. Way too mess to store and handle.
The bent hooks that some truck stops sell are garbage and don't fit between the rail and the bed.
Like I said, it is pretty much a drivers choice.

[The_Governor]

I haul lumber locally for residential builders and I usually haul three to five loads a day.

The straps stay on the winch's as I dont have the time to remove and roll them up.

Does'nt have anything to do with being lazy.When I hit the yard empty theres usually a lift driver rolling my way with load ticket in hand.

I'm rarely in the yard more than 45 minutes at a time and I'm gone.

If I were OTR I would remove them and store them in a side box.

[LindaLou]

I also am using the strapwinder, in the box combo. What would stop someone stealing them somewhere if they are on the outside? Guess that some folks don't have to worry about such things. I did the flatbed with the soon to be ex husband who has a way of doing things (leave it on the winch, throw the hook end over the load) and no offence to any who do it that way, but I have had too many flatbedders tell me it could be bad for business if someone gets bonked with a hook (not to mention a D ring which I started out using on a different trailer). He also drove local lumber so I understand that.

As far as getting the straps over the load, I am using the sling method, a circle and a half of strap with the coil in the middle, hook in left hand and use the added velocity to loft it over. I had a bad time at first and a pal told me to think darts, point my finger where I want the strap to go. Up and over! Unless I am really tired, I have no troble at all and have lofted up over 13'6" roofing insulation.

[Foxfire]

I guess the hardest thing I ever tried to throw a strap over was 2 empty 40' containers. Ya gotta chain them on the ends and then put at least 2 straps over them. Not easy for a short person....lol

[LindaLou]

Whoa, you are the woman!!! I will keep on working on the upper body strength and technique. I am nowhere near that, but I can work at it! :D

[Truckdobe]

99% of the time our straps are in the box. I throw the hooks, but am almost always the only truck around, so don't have to worry much about people getting hit. If the cargo could be damaged, I unroll, then roll enough strap to throw it w/out the hook.

I don't like straps at all and would prefer to only chain, but ya can't have everything. :classic:

[The_Governor]

Tossed one the other day and I'll be dayumed if the flat hook did'nt hit squarely on the hub seal and shatter it.

Walked around the truck to secure the straps and there it was -----a big puddle of oil all over the wheel and ground :angry: :angry:

[Lonleyboy515]

I never throw the hook end, i find it easier to get the strap up & over the other side.You wouldn't want to throw hook first when you have a load of commercial air cinditioners, you could do some serious damage. Have any of you hauled air conditioners out of Norman OK?

[Pipeman]

How do you fellow skateboarders secure the 4" straps used to tie down loads? A lot of the guys I used to work with simply rolled them up on the ratchets and then put the hook over the rub rail. Tighten them with the ratchet handle and forget about them.
To me, this was a lazy person's way of doing things. I always took them completely off the ratchets and then used a strap winder that clamped onto the rub rail to roll them up. I rolled them with the hook on the outside so when I threw them I did it from the offside of the trailer. Since I had the hook in my left hand when I threw the strap there was no danger of it hitting some unsuspecting person walking on the other side.


Foxie, you are doping it the way it should be done. I also always used a winder, it's a time saver. You always throw the strap over the load and never the hook or d ring as you can damage the load and wack your trailer.

[Pipeman]

I guess the hardest thing I ever tried to throw a strap over was 2 empty 40' containers. Ya gotta chain them on the ends and then put at least 2 straps over them. Not easy for a short person....lol


I also carried some 40 foot straps. We sometimes hauled building that were 12 wide X 10 high and you can't use chain on them as it will damage the side of the building.

[Pipeman]

How many 1/2 " chains and binders does it take to tie down this Cat 589 Pipelayer. ????


I was 14'5" wide X 16' High X 99'9" long and grossing 188,500 lbs.




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/Pipeman/589.jpg

[joerockhead]

Pipeman, 1/2"chain has a WLL of 13,000 Lbs per.
If the Cat 589 Pipelayer has a weight of 120,000 Lbs/60 Tons (I'm guesing your tare weight was aprox 70,000 Lbs) then according to the North American Load Securement Regs you would require 5 (FIVE) 1/2" securement devices providing that BOTH the chains and the binders were of 1/2" size and 13,000 Lb WLL.

[DW]

With that sign in front looks like your in canada.
4 chains. 2 in front 2 in back gravity will keep it where it needs to be! LOL

[beastr123]

foxy and lindalou:
I have taught 2 ladies (one 5'6"&135#, the other 5' 1"&105) to throw straps over 13'6" loads and the can both throw 18 straps over a b-train load and tighten it down in 20 to 25 mins. they can unstrap, wind and store them in 15 mins using a winder.
I used to teach all my driver recruits and checkouts (I taught load security) the same method. roll the strap hook out, store rolls vertical and hook down and they don't tangle.
I agree with Pipeman on this subject.

[Foxfire]

It ain't hard to do. You just have to use your brain first. Think about what you want to accomplish and proceed from there.
I didn't have anyone to teach me anything. I chose to do the job and then figured it out on my own. I learned a lot by observation.

[semicrazy]

my advice would be wind them with a winder and hang onto the hook when throwing thats the only way ill throw a hooked strap. we have ratchets down both sides and mainly use straight straps without hooks but we doo have a few

[Bikerboy]

taking the straps off and winding them up works good if you always pull the same trailer.
doesn't work too good if you always switch trailers, and no one else winds them up and stores them.

a few times i had really high loads that were hard to throw straps over, had to move the truck to get the wind to work with me!