Hot-rodding your 2" ratchet straps (beginner weld project)

[Sodo]

Here's an easy project for a rainy shop day.

1) with an angle grinder cutoff wheel, cut the corners off the hook, so it drops thru slots easier.
2) weld up the crotch of the triangle so you can stuff the strap thru the triangle and use it as a slip-knot. Otherwise the strap gets wedged into that crotch and you can't get it out.

There's plenty of time to weld it and quench before the heat arrives at the nylon.
I welded it then sprayed with water.

 

[Big Barn]

COOL idea, Sodo! Thanks.

 

[Sodo]

And then, here's how to bundle them without adding twist.

Bundling cargo ratchet straps (method w/pics)

Keep in mind that whenever you roll then up flat, you are inputting twist. Then they come apart with twist that you gotta untwist to use them. Flat rolling is a double-waste of time but it "stores well" which is good for "seldom use". If you use the straps often, it's better to bundle them using a method that does NOT twist the strap.

I can tell you for sure that if I have straps pre-bundled, and straps just in a pile, I will always reach for the pre-bundled ones.

With friends helping, it's hopeless,..... just leave the straps in a pile.:thumbsup

Only one in 10 guys realizes the time-savings in bundling straps flat without "adding twist". Most guys are so confused by ratchet straps anyway they can't tell you what would save time anyway.

 

[FTG-05]

Here's an easy project for a rainy shop day.

1) with an angle grinder cutoff wheel, cut the corners off the hook, so it drops thru slots easier.
2) weld up the crotch of the triangle so you can stuff the strap thru the triangle and use it as a slip-knot. Otherwise the strap gets wedged into that crotch and you can't get it out.

There's plenty of time to weld it and quench before the heat arrives at the nylon.
I welded it then sprayed with water.

That's a good idea!

 

[yomax4]

Yes Sir. Great Idea. Now on the list.

 

[aczlan]

And then, here's how to bundle them without adding twist.

Bundling cargo ratchet straps (method w/pics)

Keep in mind that whenever you roll then up flat, you are inputting twist. Then they come apart with twist that you gotta untwist to use them. Flat rolling is a double-waste of time but it "stores well" which is good for "seldom use". If you use the straps often, it's better to bundle them using a method that does NOT twist the strap.

I can tell you for sure that if I have straps pre-bundled, and straps just in a pile, I will always reach for the pre-bundled ones.

With friends helping, it's hopeless,..... just leave the straps in a pile.:thumbsup

Only one in 10 guys realizes the time-savings in bundling straps flat without "adding twist". Most guys are so confused by ratchet straps anyway they can't tell you what would save time anyway.

I would have to disagree with that. I watch a lot of straps get rolled and unrolled every fall. Very few of the drivers do anything but roll them up when unstrapping and then when it's time to strap their cargo down they hold on to the tail end and throw the whole roll up over the top of the cargo. Then it unrolls straight and goes all the way up over the top and back down.
Many of them have some sort of tool that either sits in a cordless drill or attaches to the tarp rail on their flatbed to make it easier to roll up the strap.
In some cases it's as simple as a large cotter pin with surrounded and flattened out in the chuck of a drill.

Aaron Z

 

[Sodo]

AaronZ you are right about people who use straps often enough to have a need for efficient methods.

Regular guys? ...... it's just pile of 27 foot webbing to untangle each time.

If a guy had 4 straps organized, he could bundle two & roll the other two, that way you would have a roll to toss if thats whats needed. Pretty quick you could decide which fits your needs (maybe both).

 

[flyerdan]

I roll them too, easier to store the small ones in a .30 cal ammo box, and the unroll when you toss them factor.
On our work trailer with winches, I went around and painted blocks on the side across so you'd know when you hooked there and tossed over there would be a winch waiting in line.
Since we're on the subject of handy mods, here's one for a come-a-long if you don't have something for the hook to anchor to, like a wooden post, and you don't have a make up chain.

 

[yomax4]

I roll, I stash, I put in bags. All get tangled up just prior to use so lately it's a case of rolling the big ones and throwing all the 1-2" in a duffle. No real good way. The ones I use for fab work in the shop get hung so the soulutions are all over the map. ( Yes I use ratchets in fab work ) .

 

[Oldpath05]

I just bought 8, 1-1/2" ratchet straps with those stile hooks, dont like them but was $30.00 cheaper that the ones with regular hooks. I was wondering if they could be spot welded before melting the webbing, but your webbing looks more heavy duty then mine.