Ratchet straps are obviously very good for hoisting heavy loads. They’re strong and durable, and often far less expensive than a specially-built hoist rig. Many people use them to lift a camper top off a vehicle or suspend a load temporarily. Or to tighten goods on the back of a van! They’re so useful and it’s fair to say that many tradespeople would be lost without them!
It’s common for people to purchase ratchet straps, only to use them once for a specific project and then let them sit and collect dust in the garage. Ratchet straps might be some of the most commonly used for one-time purposes and nothing more. In many cases, this is a real waste of a resource. Ratchet straps are more versatile than you might think, and they have several secondary uses – both within the steel workplace and outside it. Here are a few of their hidden benefits.
Even if you do occasionally use ratchet straps for a specific purpose, there’s no doubt that the majority of the time they’re simply sitting in your garage, ready to be uncoiled and used when necessary. If this is the case, it might be helpful to know how else you can put them to use around the garage or garden! One such way is by securing stepladders and trolleys in place. Even without metal fittings on one end, ratchet straps can work miracles at keeping these items in place. Simply attach each strap around the ladder rungs or load-bearing surface of a trolley and securely fasten with a buckle. Obviously, make sure the ratchet strap is pulled tight before you do this to avoid slippage. It’s worth investing in a second pair of hands to help with these tasks if possible, just to keep everything straight.
If you’re hoping to use your straps for more specific projects around the home, it’s always good practice to find out which type of load each strap can handle. The general rule is that the higher the load-bearing capacity, the thicker and heavier-duty the ratchet strap. If you want something like garden furniture secured to your garage wall, make sure you use straps with a high load rating (easily found by checking online). Not only will this ensure they last longer but it makes them safer too – there’s no point strapping heavy items to something that isn’t up to the job.
When deciding what straps you need, one of the most important factors is usually the length. If they’re too short for your needs it’s not worth getting them in the first place, but if they’re too long they’ll only be a waste of money and require constant rethreading when in use. Most ratchet straps will list their maximum load capacity alongside their dimensions so it’s easy to find matching lengths. You can also ask lifting specialists a few questions as they will tell you which lengths to get depending on how much weight is involved (the strap size doubles with each additional kilo). Always make sure that whatever item your straps are holding is secure before tightening them – you don’t want it sliding out of the straps!
How to tighten ratchet straps?
Tightening ratchet straps is actually very simple. The principle is to slowly pull on one end of the strap while keeping a firm hold of the other end. This will make the strap gradually tighten around whatever item your securing by compressing it between one part of the strap and another, in much the same way as a Chinese finger trap works. To achieve this effect you simply need to wind both ends clockwise when they’re loose.