Types of Ratchet Straps and their Various Uses

Are you moving loads of different shapes and sizes? Do you need to secure them in transit to make sure they are safe and will not fall? You will most likely need to use ratchet straps, tie downs which are designed specifically for this purpose. They will hold almost any load in place, as long as they are the right specification and have enough strength to do so. They have everything you need to secure loads safely and effectively, so that they can be transported as needed without the worry of causing damage to them or harm to people. In short, ratchet straps are one of those absolute necessities when moving loads of all shapes and sizes, getting them from place to place as needed without any of the concerns you might otherwise face.

There are many different types of ratchet straps, so how do you approach the task of selecting the ideal one for the task in hand? In actual fact, most ratchet straps are much the same as each other, but they may be manufactured by different brands or they may have some kind of special usage that is needed from them. However, the main defining factor is the capacity of the loads that they can secure. This is the single most important specification to take note of when ordering a ratchet strap for a particular purpose, because it needs to be able to take the weight of the load safely. Using the wrong ratchet strap can be detrimental to the safety of the load and can be very dangerous indeed; it is essential that the straps used are the correct specification for the load in question. Check this very carefully before choosing to use the specific ratchet straps so that safety can be ensured throughout the moving process.

Firstly, the right size strap needs to be used for securing your load. Some of the most common webbing widths are 25mm, 50mm and 75mm. The straps then also come in different lengths, often from around 4m up to about 10m or 15m (you may be able to request ratchet straps of different lengths if needed, and these may be custom made). However, the lashing capacity still needs to be checked and taken into consideration before using the ratchet straps in any way, as the length and width will not necessarily determine a specific capacity. Check the lashing capacity in kg and daN and ensure you understand it fully before determining whether a particular strap is going to be the right one for your purpose. If you know that there is a specific load you need to transport, it is easier to pick out the right ratchet strap with the ideal lashing capacity, length and webbing width for your purpose. However, if you move objects on a regular basis and need to have some ratchet straps easily to hand, they will often come in packs of up to 200 pieces so there is the option to bulk buy. Ratchet straps and strong and durable and can last for a long time but it is always a good idea to have spares in case one is seen to be fraying or has experienced some other kind of damage. By checking the strap visually ahead of using it, this will ensure maximum safety and is a good habit to get into when working with lifting and moving equipment. A quick glance at the straps to make sure there are no obvious visual issues is always good practice.

Some of the other specifications you may come across with a ratchet strap include hooks (claw hooks usually come as standard) and various ratings, such as ES12195-2. Ratchet straps meet various standards and there are different ones depending on the country, the product and various other factors, so take this into consideration. In fact, ratchet straps should come with declarations of conformity so make sure this is the case before buying. When buying online, you should be able to see full product specifications and all of the details that you need about the ratchet straps on the product page itself so it should be a simple enough task to find out if the strap is right for your needs. You should also check if the ratchet strap has its own individual serial number. It is very important to check quality of products and reliability of manufacturers and suppliers before choosing to buy essential equipment like ratchet straps; cheap products that do not meet necessary conformities should be avoided at all costs.