You’ve seen that guy—tooling down the road with straps flying in the wind when they’re supposed to be anchoring his load. Or worse, the guy air-launching kayaks at 70 mph on the Interstate. You don’t want to be that guy! You need tie-downs that work and the know-how to anchor them properly. Here are three things to look for when choosing a ratchet tie-down system for your needs.
Each ratchet-based tie-down strap should have a breaking strength rating, and the working load limit is about 1/3 of breaking strength. A strap that breaks at 1000 pounds is able to safely hold a 300 pound load. Match your load security needs with the strap rating, and use the working load limit as your guideline.
Some ratchet-style tie-downs have tough grips to use, and frustrating ratchet release mechanisms. Handles that are well-designed and comfortable have a leg up over those that don't. Choose a design that releases and grips easily.
Strap size is related to strength, but is also a factor related to the size of the load. A 12 foot strap won't secure a 14 foot load. A one-inch wide strap might offer plenty of security but could be rough on a more delicate load, wearing a groove or otherwise compressing where you regret it. Make sure the size of your strap meets your needs.
