When it comes time to move a fragile, heavy or awkward item, we can often find ourselves looking around for something to secure it with – a rope, a belt, or a strap – but often even our most ingenious ad-hoc lashings aren’t enough to guarantee a safe, stress-free journey. Thankfully, whether you are in the haulage industry or you’re just looking for something to help with a furniture move, Ropes Direct has the answer: our high-quality, high-performance ratchet straps.
What is a Ratchet Strap?
A ratchet strap is a strong, durable, high-tensile-strength strap with a strong metal ratcheting lock to connect one strap to another. You will definitely have seen them on haulage trucks or ships, preventing goods from sliding around – and in this function, there is no better product on the market.
The ratchet straps from Ropes Direct provide unparalleled strength and versatility, and are adjustable to fit a variety of sizes of consignment, making sure that nothing moves when it isn’t supposed to, no matter how rough the roads or the seas!
What is a Ratchet Strap Used For?
A ratchet strap is used as a load-securing strap in shipping and haulage, and to protect stored items from severe weather and other disturbances. Ubiquitous across any business which must transport goods, and for good reason, a ratchet strap can adjust to fit any size of item and provides superior strength and security.
Why Would You Need a Ratchet Strap?
If you are moving goods, and you don’t want them to shift freely around the vehicle as it moves (which you would probably rather avoid) then ratchet straps are a must. Commonly used to secure pallets in the backs of haulage lorries or on cargo ships, ratchet straps are also crucial in securely mounting goods to the ceilings of cars, or securing furniture in the back of a van when moving it – so they aren’t just useful to big shipping companies!
Do Ratchet Straps Have Any Advantages Over Other Load-Securing Devices?
Ratchet straps are more complex to thread than other fasteners, but provide several advantages. For starters, the ratchet strap is extremely strong, able to resist large amounts of force and secure even large and heavy items. The “ratcheting” component of ratchet straps also allows any slack in the tie down webbing to be eliminated, and tensions the strap, avoiding any freedom of movement and completely securing the goods to be transported.
Finally, the ability of ratchet straps to adjust their tightness allows for a large amount of variability and adaptability, enabling you to carry a variety of items using the same hardware each time. The long-lasting, durable and strong webbing and hardware used in the Ropes Direct ratchet load straps also ensure a long working life and consistently excellent quality.
How Do You Use a Ratchet Strap?
It’s clear why you would want to use ratchet straps when you’re moving items – but how do you use one? When used properly, ratchet straps provide unbeatable strength and security, so make sure to follow the steps below!
1. Release the Ratchet
The first step to using a ratchet load strap is to release and open the ratchet. You can do this by pressing down on the release catch and lifting the ratchet all the way up. A slot on the front of the ratchet should now be open, making it possible to feed the webbing strap into the mechanism.
2. Feed Webbing Through the Bottom of the Ratchet
The webbing that makes up the other side of the ratchet strap should now be fed through the slot on the bottom of the ratchet. Once the webbing has been fed through into the ratchet mechanism, you should be able to hold the end and pull it the rest of the way through, making this step considerably easier.
3. Hook Ends On to be Tied Down
The hooks on the other ends of the ratchet load straps should be securely connected to their anchor points, providing the grip needed to keep the ratchet straps tightly secured during transit.
4. Crack the Ratchet & Lock Safely
Once the hooks are secure, you can begin to remove the slack from the load strap line – crank the ratchet by opening and closing it repeatedly, and the mechanism will take up the slack, tensioning the line and making sure there is no capacity for movement in the cargo.
Once the line is tight enough, close the ratchet and leave it closed and locked. Check that the cargo is secure and that the lines are taut and fully secured to their moorings before setting off!
5. Release the Ratchet & Remove Webbing
At your destination, you can release the ratchet load strap by pressing down on the release catch and opening the ratchet. Make sure to press down on the release catch, or the ratchet won’t release the webbing! This is just another failsafe to ensure the best possible security in transit, making sure that even if the ratchet somehow comes open, it won’t release the cargo unless an operator presses the release catch.
Contact Ropes Direct for Ratchet Straps Today!
If you would like to know more about the ratchet straps or ratchet load straps from Ropes Direct, you can get in touch with us at any time using our contact number, 01692 671721, or by sending us a message on our contact form, located on our Contact Us page!
The experts at the Ropes Direct head office will be happy to answer any questions which you may have, or provide any advice which you may need to help you find the ideal ropes solution for your needs.
You can also use the number above to contact us for a free, no-obligation quote on tie down straps, to place an order or to discuss delivery options for your ratchet straps. Ropes Direct are the UK’s premier supplier of ropes and ratchet straps, so contact us today to see what we can do for you!
We look forward to helping you.