9 replies to this topic

[Old Crow]

Alu-Cab Khaya -- 

 

 

 

Kimbo (the shaky video's not easy to watch but it's an interesting use of straps)...

 

[roverjohn]

I've used ratchet straps for years and been happy with them. You can spread the load around and they can give a little and then snap back in rougher terrain. Also it's pretty easy to see when they start to wear and they stay pretty strong until quite worn so less suprises .

[Ghettofab75]

I've always been surprised by how the FWC community is against using ratchet straps  Seems like the little bit of give in the strap would be beneficial as the bed flexes.  Also, tucked in the bed sides under the camper they aren't exposed to direct UV light etc...

 

Also funny how folks search out the ultimate beefy tie downs then complain about their eyebolts ripping through the camper.  Hmmm....

 

Kevin

[Old Crow]

I've used ratchet straps for years and been happy with them. You can spread the load around and they can give a little and then snap back in rougher terrain. Also it's pretty easy to see when they start to wear and they stay pretty strong until quite worn so less suprises .

 

roverjohn--- I'm not sure what you mean by 'spread the load around'.  Could you explain? 

 

Any other lessons-learned from your experience?  (Preferred strap or ratchet designs, rated-strength numbers, fitting or tensioning, tips for releasing the ratchet under load, etc)

 

.

[todgru]

the Kimbo looks like a really big camper on that Tacoma. Mushroom!

 

The ratchet strap approach on that camper appears to work well. I've used them in commercial transport on many occasions. I've not had them fail when correctly used. Most failures had to do with poorly mounted hook points. And I image with any sort of tie down, that's where the failure is bound to happen.

[DanoT]

My 9 year old Phoenix camper has ratchet strap tie downs and they work great. Initially, when new they stretched a bit, but I don't take the camper off my 3/4 ton Dodge p.u. so I have not had to do any adjustments or ratcheting recently. Highway truckers wouldn't use them if they didn't work well securing loads.

Edited by DanoT, 11 May 2019 - 06:22 PM.

[roverjohn]

I use more than four straps to 'spread the load around'. On my last camper which was a fairly heavy StarCraft I used four to keep the camper down and the two more to keep it forward in the truck. May not have been necessary but I never had a problem and didn't have them banjo string tight. My straps are pretty beefy. Maybe three inches wide. I'm not near them at the moment but I think they have a 2500lb rating. My straps were all in the bed when hooked up because my tie down points were pretty far inboard.

 

I use one of these straps to hold my 1100lb mower to my utility trailer and have been using the same strap for a couple of years now.

I threw a hydro belt the other day and had to use the strap as a winch to get the mower on to the tilt bed trailer. Eight inches at a crack was no fun but I got it on and home.

 

As far as releasing them it's no issue. You put a tiny bit of tension on and then pull the release lever

[Old Crow]

I use more than four straps to 'spread the load around'. On my last camper which was a fairly heavy StarCraft I used four to keep the camper down and the two more to keep it forward in the truck. May not have been necessary but I never had a problem and didn't have them banjo string tight. My straps are pretty beefy. Maybe three inches wide. I'm not near them at the moment but I think they have a 2500lb rating. My straps were all in the bed when hooked up because my tie down points were pretty far inboard.

 

I use one of these straps to hold my 1100lb mower to my utility trailer and have been using the same strap for a couple of years now.

I threw a hydro belt the other day and had to use the strap as a winch to get the mower on to the tilt bed trailer. Eight inches at a crack was no fun but I got it on and home.

 

As far as releasing them it's no issue. You put a tiny bit of tension on and then pull the release lever

 

Thanks for the detail, roverjohn.  I was wondering exactly that-- whether you run any straps front-to-back.  The other detail is very helpful for us in thinking about how the setup would work for our individual rigs and what that would mean during loading and unloading.  Appreciate it!

 

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[roverjohn]

I doubt straps would work as well for someone with tie down points on the outer edges of the camper if only because they would flap in the breeze at hiway speeds and that might strain the tie down point eventually. You can see how on the Kimbo the designer put the tie down points pretty far inboard which I think is a very good idea.

[PaulT]

On truck loads, I’ve usually seen a half twist in the strap on each side of the load. Apparently, keeps the flapping to a minimum.

Paul