Hauler Tie Down Equipment Options

rockcity

rockcity

everyday is a chance to get better
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Location
Greenville, NC
As the buggy is getting rebuilt, its time to start making sure it has the right gear to secure it to the trailer.

I'm curious what everyone is using to secure your rig/car to the trailer. I've been using a good sized chain and binder on the back of my buggy with a nylon ratchet on the front. I've experienced with going straight to the axle as well as to the frame. I had been going to the frame more to help keep the body roll to a minimum. But, I plan to move to the axle now that I've upgraded the buggy to ORIs.

I saw @shawn 's link to Mack's Pro Packs, which look nice. Anyone have experience with those or anything similar?

I'd love to have a nice set of axle tie downs but before I spend the $250, I'd like some experiences and thoughts on what everyone else uses.
 
This is another one of those things were people have all sorts of ideas - some valid, some not-so-valid - and their belief in those ideas range from mere suggestions to "you're irresponsible and going to kill nuns", etc.

I'll say this much: I own a full set of Mac's ratchets and axle straps. I like them so much I forgot how much they cost.

The rule-minded folks will point out that, by law, you need x numbers of straps and they need to be rated to Y, etc. I'll just say that the best way to strap down a vehicle varies from car to car, but generally speaking, you should have four straps/chains/wtfever, and they should radiate out from center of mass. The most critical connection is the one keeping the load from going FORWARD on the trailer. Lots of folks get preoccupied with strapping down the front of the vehicle with no regard for the fact that the brakes generate an order of magnitude more force than your hopped up diesel ever will.

I prefer to attach the straps directly to the axles or to the tires. There's no good reason to attach to the frame, and plenty of good reasons not to do it.

I prefer not to cross the straps. It breaks rule #1 above about radiating from the centroid, but it may be unavoidable in certain circumstances. If it's your trailer, I'd add tie-down points or change the attachment method so that you don't have to cross the straps.

Straps shouldn't run across trailer edges or anything where they might chafe (this is also a reason not to cross straps).

Hooks should be loaded in the correct direction and not twisted to reach around corners.
 
And make shure to get good straps and or chains the mud destroys straps thus one of the reasons i go through straps every year and over use

For equipment i use chains and for cars trucks and anything that has pnumatic tires straps are good but chains are the most reliable with les wear and les chance of them being cut by edges
 
I wont even get into the chain vs strap debate with you. We've been through it too often. We can both make the argument for each.

As far as "brand" of straps...The Mac's are nice. But I suspct they come off the same asembly line as stuff half as expensive.

I would not strap to the frame, alone.
 
I cant remember where I got mine, but IIRC, they are made in NC. Got a kit with 4 straps and 4 axle straps for less than $100.

I hook to the axles and use a 5th strap across the center. I run it over the sliders and back under the belly to control body roll.
 
Jegs has pretty good quality 5k straps 8' with the axle loop D-ring and anti chaff covers on one end for $25 each I have used four of them for the last two years with no issues.
 
I've heard good stuff about the Macs equipment but as @Ron said, they likely come off of the same assembly line as many other, more affordable options.

I like my chain in the back as it will always hold strong and won't stretch and sag and come loose. But, I'm looking for something a little easier to hook up and lighter/quieter.

The method of strapping down, well, we can save that for a completely other thread as I'm mostly just interested in opinions on equipment for strapping down.
 
I prefer chain and binder for durabilit . I'll never worry about leaving them in the sun and mu . I tie down to the rest shackles and the front bumper, going out from the corners. I used to tie to the axle, but I didn't like the body rol .
 
On my yj, I use a chain and binder on each corner. It's not as fast, but I keep extra chain to minumum to make it faster. Spray paint which link you want on the binder to make it simple.

On my rzr I used 2" ratchet straps on each corner. It is noticeably faster than my yj.

I'm worried about using straps on the yj about cutting one, as well as I have had one come loose when hauling over a bridge with terrible bumps.

On my dads k30/s10, we put d rings on axle and trailer that allow us to use 4 ratchet binders and no chain. It is extremely easy and fast to secure.
 
According to Mac's website:
American Made - American Strong. That's right, Mac's products are manufactured here, in America--Sandpoint Idaho to be specific. We sew each tie down strap and fabricate each e track system in-house, to retain a level of quality that can be lost by outsourcing. Plus, we feel good about creating American jobs.
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Yeah, 99% of the $20 straps come from overseas.
 
Does that make them inherently weaker?

Also "I know a guy" that Rockcity should know, that can get a good deal on USA Made ratchet straps...
 
Yeah, I've been meaning to call Jim...


Overseas doesn't make them weaker but generally you can expect the level of quality to be less than idea even if advertised as comparable equal to USA made. I just received some ASTM A106 Grade B pipe that was from, I think, China or somewhere like that. While it is advertised as saying it meets the ASTM spec, the quality is just not there when compared to the domestic product. The pipe is rusty, out of round, excessive "seams", and welds like crap to the point that we just had to toss it and buy new from somewhere.

Domestic may be more expensive, but the quality control, IMO, is much more consistent
 
thestrapman.com is where I get my straps. The website sucks but you call him and he can make anything in any combo you need or want. I have 4 ratchets with 18" chain leader that allow me to hook to any trailer and then its a 10k lb 8' strap with a large single hook. The large hook can hook into many factory tie down points as well as d rings and into the eyes of the axle straps that I use which also come from tgw same place. His webbing is thicker than most any other 10k lb web and has a UV and water resistant coating on them to protect from the elements. I met the guy at the Charlotte auto fair he travels in an old mci bus and makes them on site at car shows as well as at his home shop. I think the price was $160.
 
Not gonna get into the way I tie my truck down but I got a toyota front axle real cheap because the guy got pretty carried away with a 3/8 chain and binder and bent the housing.
 
I welded 12" of high grade chain with clevis to my regular ratchet straps on the ratchet end. Use axle straps on my trusses and grab all four corners. Cheap enough.

uploadfromtaptalk1413258103795.jpg
 
I have 2 set of the Macs with the built in axle straps. I loop the diff tubes front and rear with the front straight out and cross in the rear. May not be text book but has worked so far.
 
OK, so looks like the Macs are likely the ticket...

What length strap is everyone getting? 6', 8', etc.? I think I can get away with 6' but wonder how non-versatile the strap would be...

The Pro Packs have the fleece liner for the axles, but to me I would think that would wear out and/or get built up with mud and dirt too easy. I'm looking at the Ultra Packs at the moment but am open to suggestions. I do not have a rub rail on my trailer, so I'm already expecting to add a few more D rings once I figure out the exact location of the buggy on the trailer. I'm leaning away from the chain extensions but they do look nice for trailers with rub rails.
 
rockcity said:
I think I can get away with 6' but wonder how non-versatile the strap would be...
Click to expand...

I wouldnt use the straps for ANYTHING else but tying a vehicle down. Start using them to tie down other loads and you will wear them out faster. I have a couple 30' x 3" straps for everything else.
 
sgtbriangreen said:
I wouldnt use the straps for ANYTHING else but tying a vehicle down. Start using them to tie down other loads and you will wear them out faster. I have a couple 30' x 3" straps for everything else.
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I'm the same. Only use the Macs for the vehicle. I have some "seems like" 100 ft long general Allied that I got from Sams or Northern Tool for general loads. Check Amazon for Macs that's where I got the best price.
 
Get 8' straps, i didn't mean that you would use them for other types of loads but what if you haul a different vehicle? Or if you have to borrow someones trailer for whatever reason and the d rings are further away? I have other 30ft straps for any other kind of load but I have been able to use my 8ft straps on my gooseneck and my tag along trailer hauling the buggy, trucks, cars, tractors, whatever and I haven't wished they were shorter or longer, so far theyve been just right.
 
Yes, I meant "more versatile" as being able to adjust the straps based on the vehicle I haul or the location on the trailer. I plan to bring my ATV along with me on some trips and have plans to add a UTV to the fleet in the near future and will need to adjust the location of the buggy on the trailer. 8' should be good.

For any other loads, I have a slew of misc ratchet straps and chains to use.
 
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