Long travel ... ratchet straps

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Lately I've been finding myself using ratchet straps almost as much as my socket qrench and pliers.

One of the biggest frustrations I keep running into, though, is that they never seem to have enough ratcheting "travel" - that is, the little internal wheel area gets full of wound strap, and you can't go any farther.

I've just been using the cheapy orange or red ones from HD.

Are there any cool straps out there that will ratchet a good long distance, like 12"+? Not giant ones for heavy loades, just regular sized 1" straps.
Part of the problem seems to be design, for every 1" tightened, they also ball up 1" of the excess strap.
 
I use these and they seem to work well

tn_td.jpg
 
burrellsjeep said:
Why not just pull the strap through the ratchet wheel so that the strap is tight then ratchet down, That way you don't over fill the wheel. You just have to tie up the extra strap.
Click to expand...

that works fine if you are just tightening something down.

But lately I find myself using them for lifting - such as removing a 4Runner top, or raising a transmission, etc. In those cases I need alot more travel once the ratcheting starts.
 
In those situations, I use two straps. I max out one, then pull the excess on the other one through and crank till the other one gets loose, then keep repeating.

Very frustrating, but I don't think you'll find anything with that much travel other than a comealong.
 
It's funny, all it needs is a larger diameter wheel. Pretty simple problem to solve, really.
Especially since as you increase the wheel spacing, the amount of total travel gained per revolution increases.

The orange ones are so cheap, I've been debating just buying a whole bunch more, and cutting the straps to lengths I use alot. If there's no excess to alos bind up in the wheel, that should distance it can go.
 
The self retracting (like a setbelt retractor) type will reel the whole strap onto the spool without binding, but they aren't very long. May find yourself having to use another strap or rope to get the overall reach you need with them.
 
RatLabGuy said:
It's funny, all it needs is a larger diameter wheel. Pretty simple problem to solve, really.
Click to expand...

And I'm sure they would have solved this problem long ago, were lifting an intended use of their product. :flipoff2:


I think most people are more interested in having a smaller wheel which produces more tension on the strap. Yes, I'm aware you could make the ratchet handle longer to make up for the loss due to going to a larger wheel, but that starts making for pretty major changes.
 
Wouldn't increasing the diameter of the wheel also make it harder to ratchet? I suppose you could counter that by making the handle longer though.

I'd go the chain hoist route or perhaps a rope version of the same thing.
 
cltdba said:
Wouldn't increasing the diameter of the wheel also make it harder to ratchet? I suppose you could counter that by making the handle longer though.

I'd go the chain hoist route or perhaps a rope version of the same thing.
Click to expand...

Let me clarify, I guess it isn't really the size of the wheel that should change - although it could, and just keep teh tooth spacing teh same - e.g. more teeth, no change in ratchet at all.
But really just if the handles were a little longer to accomodate more strap in there before getting full...
 
Just buy a rope snatchblock and it's made to lift and the more sheaves the easier.
 
RatLabGuy said:
that works fine if you are just tightening something down.
But lately I find myself using them for lifting - such as removing a 4Runner top, or raising a transmission, etc. In those cases I need alot more travel once the ratcheting starts.
Click to expand...


time to buy some tools or put more back into it.
 
The two strap solution may be your best bet, but I understand what you are saying. They need more clearance around the drum, so that you would still have the same leverage for tying stuff down, but you could still roll on alot of strap for goofy things like lifting tops.
 
I think I know what you are talking about. I have used the larger rachets, with the 1inch straps and it allows me to rachet more strap. Just my 2cents.
 
jph0913 said:
what about using a come-a-long instead?
Click to expand...

Those things are huge and clunky.
Imagine trying to use 3 of them up under a truck to lift, say, an IFS differential or transmission into place. No way they'd fit.
 
GubNi said:
I have been using these for light duty use for years. I am absolutly amazed at how well they have held up. Also they are thinner than most so you don't fill up so quick.
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-inch-x-20-ft-ratchet-tie-down-47764.html
awww.harborfreight.com_media_catalog_product_cache_1_image_37029b66bdd6cf6df0a7a817849c79433d6.jpg
Click to expand...

These seem poor in quality but I've used the heck out of mine and they do seem to ratchet a longer distance due to the thinner material. They also hook on a lot more things as opposed to traditional load straps. They go around stuff and hook back on themselves easier as well.
 
In a pinch, I've used a rope in place of the nylon strap. I just pull to snug like the nylon strap but put a half hitch in it. it doesn't bind up on the "drum" nearly as much as the strap and can ratchet much longer than the nylon
 
it's been said several ways, but the way I see it, every tool has a use and every tool can be misused. What you need is the right tool, and for doing that, a ratchet strap is not the right tool, not what it was designed for at all. In a pinch, sure, but not as the main way to lift.
What you need is a hand winch like what goes on a boat, or, as said above, a come a long. And as also mentioned, an old school block and tackle would do the job too.
 
Back
Top