Decanewtons (daN) – previous product standards used kg or tonnes as a unit of measurement. More...
A ratchet strap is a type of tie-down strap used to secure cargo during transportation. It features a strong, adjustable strap (commonly made of 100% polyester webbing) and a powerful ratchet mechanism that applies and retains tension in the strap. These types of strap are commonly used on trucks, vans, and trailers to keep cargo in place during transport.
1. Pull the spring-loaded release lever by hand to open the ratchet. Operate the handle until the slot in the spreader bar allows the webbing to route straight through.
2. Thread the end of the strap through the open slot in the ratchet mechanism and pull through as much slack as possible. It doesn’t need to be pulled really tight, just taught so the ratchet mechanism can take up the tension.
Flip the end of the strap over and feed it back over the top of the ratchet mechanism so that it is doubled over on itself (Method 2) or leave to route straight through the buckle (Method 1). Don’t overfill the mechanism with webbing so that it jams. To avoid this, pull the webbing taught by hand to start with, then operate the handle.
3. It’s important when tensioned that the webbing wraps around the spreader bar 2.5 times to lock itself in position and apply the correct amount of tension.
4. Crank the ratchet handle back and forth to tighten the strap. Once it feels secure, stop ratcheting – too much pressure can damage your ratchet strap and the cargo you are securing. A force of 50daN (kg) on the handle should apply sufficient tension to the load. If you need more tension, consider using an alternative ratchet such as an ergo “pull down” type.
5. Secure the tension and lock the handle in position. Most ratchets are fitted with a double lock so you will need to pull the spring-loaded release trigger down to allow the handle into it’s stored position. Release to engage the double lock.
6. To release the strap, pull and hold the release trigger, rotate 180° so that it sits flat with the cogs facing upwards. The release lever will engage with two idents and the cam profile of the upper handle will release the rear pawl then pull the strap loose by hand.
At Tensys Direct, we stock a wide range of ratchet straps in a variety of different sizes and strengths to accommodate different sized loads.
Use the button below to browse our ratchet strap collection or if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us and a member of our team will be happy to help!
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The terms and ratings on ratchet strap labels can be confusing. We’ve put together this handy graphic to explain each section in easy-to-understand terms. If you're looking to better understand our ratchet strap labels, simply refer to the infographic above!
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