Whenever I tie down my load on my trailer I have an unused portion of the strap to contend with, I have rolled it up and secure with a bungee cord and rolled up and stuffed under the tied down portion of the strap that is taught but both of these methods have failed and I have either dragged the excess strap for miles or ran over it which has disastrous consequences.

How do you secure the unused portion of your tie down straps?

Whenever I tie down my load on my trailer I have an unused portion of the strap to contend with, I have rolled it up and secure with a bungee cord and rolled up and stuffed under the tied down portion of the strap that is taught but both of these methods have failed and I have either dragged the excess strap for miles or ran over it which has disastrous consequences.

How do you secure the unused portion of your tie down straps?
zip tie.

I just tie them off to the roll cage somewhere.

With smaller tie-downs like for bikes, I just tie them somewhere convenient. I try to do that with the bigger ones, but sometimes there is nowhere convenient and a zip tie will be needed.

i wrap them around the ratchet. then tie the knot for starting lashings, clove hitch. they have never come loose.

I roll mine up and tape it to the strap :smokin:

i wrap them around the ratchet. then tie the knot for starting lashings, clove hitch. they have never come loose.

+1 mine stay nice and tight also

I cut mine off ! then take a lighter and melt the end so it doenst come apart.

I have 2 short ones, 2 mid length and a few reg/long ones for cargo and other junk..

Velcro.

I use something like these:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=337&sku=29854

or this:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=334&sku=29851

which ones I use depends on the straps. I usually use the first one with the bigger 2" wide straps, the smaller ones (I can typically get at Home Depot if I want) for smaller 1" wide motorcycle and ratchet straps.

They keep the tails nice and secure, then you can use them to keep the straps rolled up in the tool box when your done with them (worth it right there).

I fold the excess back onto itself in a two foot long bundle, then tie a big knot around the main line with the bundled portion. Works great, quick and easy. I haul restaurant equipment for a living, so I do this allot.

All great ideas. Sometimes the simplest things are so difficult to figure out especially;y when the trial and error method can be costly and dangerous.

Any More ideas go ahead and post here.

Thanks!

Black vinyl electrical tape, rolls are small enough to keep in a door pocket to be handy, doesn't leave much residue either.

Black vinyl electrical tape, rolls are small enough to keep in a door pocket to be handy, doesn't leave much residue either.


That`s exactly what I do, never had a problem.

These just came out up here, seems like a neat idea.

http://www.ericksonmfg.com/products/strapsTieDowns/tieDownTamer.html

x3....easy, no sticky shit everywhere

I have no idea what it is actually called, and i am surprised that no one has mentioned it, but when you make a loop and pull the strap through and continue to do that so that you can easily pull the entire length out. Easiest way i have ever found to secure a strap and we use it at work extensively.

1. Open vehicle door
2. toss end of strap inside
3. close vehicle door.


I also use the method with the tongue mounted storage box on the trailer.


Quick, easy, never comes out :p

1. Open vehicle door
2. toss end of strap inside
3. close vehicle door.


I also use the method with the tongue mounted storage box on the trailer.


Quick, easy, never comes out :p


x2

Except when I don't have doors. Then I tie them up or cut them up

rubber bands. cheap, easy and quick to remove.

macscustomtiedowns.com
They have just the thing for this.
They also have kick butt tie downs for in the deck, and all sorts of custom stuff.
They even have the backing plates for the in floor tie downs, so's you can install them RIGHT!:smokin:
But then again, I just roll the un used part up, just before the strap is tight, stuff that bundle under the load strap where it comes around the load, and tighten the strap on the bundle and the load at the same time.
Hard to do if you have a nice D ring at the trailer end, and just the right place to hook on the fun rig,,,,,:)

I fold the excess back onto itself in a two foot long bundle, then tie a big knot around the main line with the bundled portion. Works great, quick and easy. I haul restaurant equipment for a living, so I do this allot.

yep.

I have 4 straps just for my truggy. They are marked front and rear. I cut them off and melted the ends.

Then i have 4 more straps for bs stuff.
It does cost alittle more but man way less of a headache.

I had to buy two for the rear. And the guy had shorter one's for straping rigs down. Found them at the local swop meet. I even bought 4 new triple-wrap axle wrap straps to 4 of them for $35. and $30 for the 2-rackets.

My straps are real long, when im towing a car i'll go behind the tire and close the door on em. When im towing a wheeling rig i'll go around the contact patch of the tire a couple times and pull it tight under the tire agains the deck. Have not had one problem with those methods.

I take and fold the loose end back into the ratchet.
Two clicks and then tie a overhand knot attaching to the main strap.
Never had one come loose like this

I have no idea what it is actually called, and i am surprised that no one has mentioned it, but when you make a loop and pull the strap through and continue to do that so that you can easily pull the entire length out. Easiest way i have ever found to secure a strap and we use it at work extensively.

Electricians wrap.

I've been using duct tape, though I do like the velcro idea that someone mentioned earlier.

1. Open vehicle door
2. toss end of strap inside
3. close vehicle door.


I also use the method with the tongue mounted storage box on the trailer.


Quick, easy, never comes out :p

That's all I do.

I route the strap over and behind the tire and right in to the door. If I'm towng my jeep alot I'll put a loose knot right at the door as added insurance it can't slip out more.

Takes all of a couple seconds, and I don't have to see any strap flopping around in the wind.

I have a recycling and hauling business and haul everything from loose junk to cars to truck boxes. I've got a store of three different size straps that can be used for anything.

Grab the ratchet end of the strap and draw the strap through your hand until you have the end. You just folded your excess strap in half. Holding both of those ends, draw the excess through until you reach the end. Now the excess strap in 1/4 it's original length. I keep doing this until I get 1.5' to 2" of strap (depending on the width and thickness of the strap) and then I tie the bundle of strap onto itself with a half-hitch knot.

This method works for all the sizes of straps and I've haven't had a strap torn up or cut off since I started doing it this way.

If I only hauled the same thing over and over though, I think I would cut my straps to length. But I'm not rich enough to ever worry about that :)

On the big straps (and most little ones) if your tail end is less than 8' long or so you can just fold it 3-4 times, then open the ratchet handle, slide it back through the slot and close the handle on it. If you look at the ratchet mechanism on the handle you'll notice that the plate has a rectangular cut out in it just for this. If I have more strap than that I'll just run it to the other side of the trailer and tie it to one of the rails.

Bungee balls..

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_1204_1204

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/152488_lg.gif

Stuff the extra lenght under the hood or in the doors as previously mentioned.

Zip ties work great and I keep a large bag in the trailer toolbox.

I've also taken the extra length and tied it to the clevis's on the bumpers to keep the body from swaying as bad.

Or just cut them to length, melt the ends, and label.

What method I use depends on what I'm hauling and how far I'm going. Try a few ways and you'll come up with a favorite method that works for you.

bought my straps the length i needed for my heep... then cut the chain to the proper length.. works great..

then i have two other straps full length in case i need to tie something else down with...

cut and melt the ends and use the excess for tree savers... that away when you forget in the woods you arent out anything...

Fawk. I avoided this stupid ass thread like the plague, and I still have not read it. Yesterday I was towing a buddies broke down car for him and this thread was mentioned as we secured the straps ends. I said" how fucking hard is it to figure out how to do this", speaking of how we were securing them.

So today, with some remorse, I will share my easy, free, and always available way to secure the ends.

When done tightening the ratchet come back and stick the end through the hook end and then wrap excess around strap itself. When 6-10 inches are left go back through hook end and tug. I have driven thousands of miles like this and it has never come loose. Its clean, its simple, and its secure. Also, you can leave some slack before you come through the first time so you have some leeway to tighten the straps down more if needed.

I know that is hard to envision so I will be right back with a picture.

I So today, with some remorse, I will share my easy, free, and always available way to secure the ends.

When done tightening the ratchet come back and stick the end through the hook end and then wrap excess around strap itself. When 6-10 inches are left go back through hook end and tug. I have driven thousands of miles like this and it has never come loose. Its clean, its simple, and its secure. Also, you can leave some slack before you come through the first time so you have some leeway to tighten the straps down more if needed.

I know that is hard to envision so I will be right back with a picture.

I think I understand... Kind of like this fishing knot I use:

http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/rapids/8155/Rigs/knotx.jpg

Waiting for pics to show up in my inbox from my phone, then it should be clear, and everyone will slap themselves.:flipoff2:

I just tie them off to the roll cage somewhere.

x2

I roll mine up and tape it to the strap :smokin:


This. I've been flatbedding for most of my life, and I do this with electrical tape.

As an alternative, I'll roll up the unused strap in a 2' roll, thread it through a stake pocket, then thread a bungee cord through the two eyes of the roll, and hook it on to the rub rail.


Cutting a perfectly good strap is stoopid. Eventually, you'll need it to be just a couple feet longer for something, and you'll be skrood.

Fawk. I avoided this stupid ass thread like the plague, and I still have not read it. Yesterday I was towing a buddies broke down car for him and this thread was mentioned as we secured the straps ends. I said" how fucking hard is it to figure out how to do this", speaking of how we were securing them.

So today, with some remorse, I will share my easy, free, and always available way to secure the ends.

When done tightening the ratchet come back and stick the end through the hook end and then wrap excess around strap itself. When 6-10 inches are left go back through hook end and tug. I have driven thousands of miles like this and it has never come loose. Its clean, its simple, and its secure. Also, you can leave some slack before you come through the first time so you have some leeway to tighten the straps down more if needed.

I know that is hard to envision so I will be right back with a picture.


http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i49/KrisKelso/Trailer%20Pics/IMG00050-20090618-1315.jpg

Go through that slot once, come out and wrap around strap, when you have 6 or so inches of strap end left go back through slot and tug. It is snug enough that it does not come out from the wind. I have never had one unwind before.


And below is a pic with some slack left in it in case the load shifts and you want to tighten it up:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i49/KrisKelso/Trailer%20Pics/IMG00051-20090618-1316.jpg

I use certain straps for my rig, so I just leave them secured like this and I can strap it down every time without even having to unwind it. Also a good reason to leave some slack.

You can see the rear straps secured with slack in the above manner here:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i49/KrisKelso/DSC02430.jpg

I haul too many diferent things on my trailer (one of 3 tractors, ATV's, several rigs, etc.) so I don't have the luxury of keeping pre-set straps around... My "extra strap" is more like 10-15' of strap, not 24" :p

I haul too many diferent things on my trailer (one of 3 tractors, ATV's, several rigs, etc.) so I don't have the luxury of keeping pre-set straps around... My "extra strap" is more like 10-15' of strap, not 24" :p

The car we hauled yesterday was so close to the d-ring that we had almost the whole strap as excess. It works the same with 15 feet of excess strap as it does with 2 feet of excess. Your pile of looped strap around the tensioned strap will just be thicker.

Doing it this way is easy to secure and to unsecure it all you do is the reverse. Never any knots, tape, or bungees to deal with.

It works for me 100% of the time.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=chain+sinnet

Electricians wrap.

Don't know what electrician's wrap is, but what he's describing sure sounds like a daisy chain to me.

Fool injected, I like your method and will use it from now on I think.