Choosing the Right Rubber Tie Down Straps and How to Use Them
Tie down straps are critical accessories for any truck driver. Whether your cargo is industrial, commercial, or domestic (e.g. when helping someone move or when carrying items like your mountain bike, canoe, or other gear) you need quality tie down equipment to ensure the safety of your cargo and the safety of those driving around you. Every driver should not only be familiar with the different types of rubber tarp straps, but also the accessories that come with these heavy-duty strips of material. When setting up for a cargo tie down, it is important to find the right buckles, hooks, and tensioning devices that will work best with your rubber tie down straps and anchor points.
Cargo straps come in a wide variety of materials, lengths, and weight capacities. They are a more preferred tie down material than typical chains because they are lightweight and don’t cause damage to cargo in the way that solid, heavy, metal chains can. However, they are more prone to wear and tear because they tend to fray when overstretched or when coming into contact with sharp edges. Rubber tie down straps may also warp and lose elasticity due to heat.
Choosing the right tie down strap for your application requires a careful consideration of their intended use. One of the most important things you should think about when shopping for rubber tarp straps is the weight capacity or working load limit for the strap based on the types of cargo you intend to haul. It also pays investing in straps of variable lengths that will make tie down tasks a lot easier.
When on the market for tarp straps, you will likely come across different types of tensioning devices and tightening methods, ranging from ratchets and buckles to winches. Carefully consider the type of load you are securing to make sure that you are using the right accessories. Cam buckle straps, for instance, are ideal for tying down heavy machinery and equipment like ATVs, motorcycles, and similar types of cargo. Ratchet type buckles, on the other hand, are designed to provide greater tension on straps, giving you more leverage for securing greater weights. There are also retractable ratchet straps and buckles which are great solutions for protecting against loose sections of strap that often drag on the ground and slap against cargo while in transit. Winches are ideal for even heavier duty tie down tasks.