Tire ratchet straps?

HK45 · Feb 17, 2015

I have to haul my buddy truck on like a 2 hour ride. Can anybody tell me if the tire ratchet straps are any good vs chaining and binder off the frame? thanks

George2615 · Feb 17, 2015

Are you going to haul on a full size trailer or one of those 2 wheel tow dollies. The tire ratchet straps I have seen are basically designed to use on tow dollies. I've never seen them used on a trailer but that doesn't mean they haven't been used that way before.
IMO If I were towing a truck on a trailer I would put the truck in park (or in low gear if manual trans), set the parking brake and use chains and binders from the trucks frame or axles to the trailer. 2 in front, 2 in back. I've towed many vehicles on trailers and always used chains and binders or heavy duty ratchet straps. When I used ratchet straps years ago they eventually wore out (mostly from frays or cuts) I replaced them with chains.

RedNeckRacin · Feb 17, 2015

If you get the good over the tire straps, I think it would work well. I have seen alot of hotshot auto haulers on ththe interstate hauling vehicles with them.

timswi · Feb 17, 2015

RedNeckRacin said:
If you get the good over the tire straps, I think it would work well. I have seen alot of hotshot auto haulers on ththe interstate hauling vehicles with them.

Used them on a U-Haul car trailer, came with the trailer..I liked them..

JJZ 109 · Feb 18, 2015

You can also buy the R-hook or J-hooks and the other types that are used to tie vehicles down to transport trailers when they're being delivered to dealers. I bought some from ebay. 4 HD RTJ Cluster Hooks Tow Truck Car Trailer Car Hauler | eBay
I keep them in my truck along with a big clevis to attach to a tow strap. I figure it might be easier to find an attachment point on a stuck vehicle with these type hooks. In 3 years I have yet to use them.

Diamondpilot · Feb 18, 2015

I prefer this method. It allows the vehicle suspension to work. Makes for a much better ride.

Chris

HK45 · Feb 18, 2015

Its going on my deck over gooseneck.

puckgrinder85 · Feb 18, 2015

On our rollback most of what we use are straps. We use lasso straps through the wheels most of the time if possible. The only thing we chain/binder are forklifts and the really heavy stuff, and that's mainly due length and abrasion issues.
.

QRTRHRS · Feb 18, 2015

No need to buy tire straps unless you do not already have reagular straps or chains. I secure cars or trucks the same way as a tractor, etc. Two front and back. Hook to opposite sides (X fashion) and away from the vehicle.

ultrarunner · Feb 18, 2015

We tried them with antique cars with wooden spoke wheels and it did not work... the old wheels were not strong enough... I imagine with steel wheels and modern tires it should work great.

RedNeckRacin · Feb 19, 2015

ultrarunner said:
We tried them with antique cars with wooden spoke wheels and it did not work... the old wheels were not strong enough... I imagine with steel wheels and modern tires it should work great.

ever try the over the tire straps? I have seen some really nice ones on truckntow.com . They have a basket that goes over the tire and two ratchet straps to suck it down tight.

ultrarunner · Feb 19, 2015

I've got over the tire and the ones that have a single point attach to the trailer...

Most of the cars I trailer have wooden wheels... 1920 and older. The tires are narrow and tall... is in 3" wide and 30" tall...

I do think they would work very well on modern tires and rims...

timswi · Feb 19, 2015

ultrarunner said:
I've got over the tire and the ones that have a single point attach to the trailer...

Most of the cars I trailer have wooden wheels... 1920 and older. The tires are narrow and tall... is in 3" wide and 30" tall...

I do think they would work very well on modern tires and rims...

I can definitely see why tire straps wouldn't work for your application. You're right, they are great on modern wheels.

94BULLITT · Feb 19, 2015

I use ratchet straps with axle straps. I don't like the idea of using the frame to secure the vehicle to the trailer. The vehicle can bounce and move around when you tie it down using the frame.

HK45 · Feb 20, 2015

Im going to get axle straps. Whats a good size for full size pickups? 24 or 36 thanks

HK45 · Feb 20, 2015

I changed my mine. Im just going to use chains and binders. If I chain the rear axle where do you guys chain the front down? Its a chevy with IFS

Mace Canute · Feb 21, 2015

We used the basket style tire straps on our Stock Car for over 10 years without a problem, even the one time my racing buddy towed to a race day in Regina and forgot to move the car ahead enough to compensate for the additional weight of fuel he dumped into the fuel cell to empty out a couple of gas cans (probably was too far back even without the weight of the gas). Going down the Lumsden Valley on the ride home the trailer started to sway because of inadequate tongue weight and then violently whip side to side. He said he could see the car's door number in his rear view mirrors. All that held the car onto the trailer were the two wheel straps on the rear tires and the winch at the front. I didn't go that time for which I am and will ever be eternally thankful. Here's the view of where it happened (far side of the valley, not the near side and right in the middle of the big curve). He said it sure woke his pit crew member up...

Poopdeck Pappy · Feb 24, 2015

I had that same thing happen to me when I was a teenager pulling a load of cattle in a cattle trailer. We couldn't get the center gate of the trailer closed to ensure that the cattle didn't shift to the back of the trailer. So, like the dumba$$ I was, I took off anyway. Same thing happened with the violent swaying going down a hill.

Terrifying. Was time for new underwear when I got home. Learned a VERY valuable lesson.

Mace Canute said:
We used the basket style tire straps on our Stock Car for over 10 years without a problem, even the one time my racing buddy towed to a race day in Regina and forgot to move the car ahead enough to compensate for the additional weight of fuel he dumped into the fuel cell to empty out a couple of gas cans (probably was too far back even without the weight of the gas). Going down the Lumsden Valley on the ride home the trailer started to sway because of inadequate tongue weight and then violently whip side to side. He said he could see the car's door number in his rear view mirrors. All that held the car onto the trailer were the two wheel straps on the rear tires and the winch at the front. I didn't go that time for which I am and will ever be eternally thankful. Here's the view of where it happened (far side of the valley, not the near side and right in the middle of the big curve). He said it sure woke his pit crew member up...

Bird · Feb 25, 2015

I had a trailer fishtail pretty violently when I was 16 years old. I did get it safely stopped, but it was both terrifying and a lesson I never forgot. I was towing a cheap utility trailer to the city dump behind my 1946 Chevrolet 2-dr. sedan with a clamp on bumper hitch.:laughing:

ultrarunner · Feb 25, 2015

Bird said:
I had a trailer fishtail pretty violently when I was 16 years old. I did get it safely stopped, but it was both terrifying and a lesson I never forgot. I was towing a cheap utility trailer to the city dump behind my 1946 Chevrolet 2-dr. sedan with a clamp on bumper hitch.:laughing:

I still have a clamp on bumper hitch... thing is the last cars with bumpers it would fit were over 30 years ago... :-(