I've tried Walmart, Harbor frieght retractables, none of which seems to not come loose and I'm finding I have to tighten them every 50 miles. I have a 1200lb car in back of a 48' toy hauler thats the biggest issue, and a motor bike up front that is hard to anchor in back.
You must use ratchet-type straps for them to be worth anything. I hold my cruiser down using the 4-pack orange ratchet straps (I think they are 12') from Walmart with no issues, the pack cost about $40.
2005 2500 Cummins/48RE/3.73, QCLB, 4wd, BigHorn, Edge Juice w/ CTS + Turbo Timer, ISSPro Oil and LP pressure gauges in cubby hole, GDP 20/2 filters on frame rail, Custom Diesel Steering Box Brace
'10 Forest River Shockwave Toy Hauler 21'
Honda EU3000I Genny
there is a trick i learned very quickly, tighten everything up solid. accelerate decently for 20 feet, then brake decently and stop. the straps will be slightly loose. tighten them up again and you should be all set, do not release the slack in the straps to tighten the second time.
i use harbor walmart, whatever they all work. try loading 4 quads 1 inch from each other and not rub. it takes a while for the tricks to be learned
With ratchet straps you won't need any tricks (such as the accelerating & braking mentioned above). We tow a 1600 lb sand rail in our cargo trailer, and the ratchet straps keep it nice and tight.
2003 Country Coach Intrigue, Cummins ISL 400
Toad: 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (LJ) toad, with just a few mods...
Other rig: 2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Duramax Dually / Next Level 38CK Fifth-wheel Toy Hauler w/ quads, sand rail, etc...
MPond wrote: With ratchet straps you won't need any tricks (such as the accelerating & braking mentioned above). We tow a 1600 lb sand rail in our cargo trailer, and the ratchet straps keep it nice and tight.
i am using ratchet straps.. when u can't put on parking brakes, the trick is needed, every time it isn't it doesn't work and straps get loose. I'm not new at this
MPond wrote: With ratchet straps you won't need any tricks (such as the accelerating & braking mentioned above). We tow a 1600 lb sand rail in our cargo trailer, and the ratchet straps keep it nice and tight.
i am using ratchet straps.. when u can't put on parking brakes, the trick is needed, every time it isn't it doesn't work and straps get loose. I'm not new at this
I meant no offense...
That's just very different than my experience with the ratchet straps. Our sand cars don't have parking brakes, so I don't think that's a factor. Just park the sand car, straight staps on the front, and ratchet straps at the rear. Ratchet each side (alternating back and forth) until it's tight. It's never come loose.
I'm not new at this either. Been towing the sand cars (we have 2 of them) this way for over 10 years, and not once have they come loose.
I wonder if there's something else we're doing differently...
This is what I'm tying down, but I don't have any pics handy of the straps:
MPond wrote: With ratchet straps you won't need any tricks (such as the accelerating & braking mentioned above). We tow a 1600 lb sand rail in our cargo trailer, and the ratchet straps keep it nice and tight.
i am using ratchet straps.. when u can't put on parking brakes, the trick is needed, every time it isn't it doesn't work and straps get loose. I'm not new at this
I meant no offense...
That's just very different than my experience with the ratchet straps. Our sand cars don't have parking brakes, so I don't think that's a factor. Just park the sand car, straight staps on the front, and ratchet straps at the rear. Ratchet each side (alternating back and forth) until it's tight. It's never come loose.
I'm not new at this either. Been towing the sand cars (we have 2 of them) this way for over 10 years, and not once have they come loose.
I wonder if there's something else we're doing differently...
This is what I'm tying down, but I don't have any pics handy of the straps:
sorry im touchy from another website.
i think it really depends on the trailer used, some trailers i have not needed this trick, others i have needed it. others i have used 12 straps and they still blow clean off.
Yeah I think the trailer length, where you put the weight, and how bumpy the roads are has a lot to do with it. When I put my 600LB bike way in back of a 48’ fifth wheel enclosed on a bumpy road like I-5 So CA, 6 ratchet straps won’t stay tight and if I use less it has tipped over. When I put it up front closer to the king pin I can get by with two. I have a 1200 lb UTV Polaris 900XP I put up front no issues, but in back 1” ratchets come loose in around 50 miles.
Maybe this weight way in back is seeing more vertical load than I think and I need to go to 1.5” straps.
I seen some at last year So Cal's Sand Sport Show they said never come loose I lost the info.
When I haul cars on my trailer, I use chains, hooks and binders. Very secure.
When I haul other types of large loads on the trailer, I use the heavy duty commercial carrier 2" webbing ratchet straps.
For motorcycles and atv's, I use the 1" ratchet or buckle straps. Get the heavier duty ones with thicker web strap, not the super cheap ones with paper thin straps. They work fine.
AWDirect.com sells all types of chains, hooks, binders, commercial ratchet straps and lighter duty ratchet and buckle straps, all at very good prices.
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