Lightweight ratchet tiedowns

[johnyd]

Trying to think of a Christmas present for my old man and came up with the idea of getting him some lighter tiedown straps as he is always either complaining about how much space the 2.5T truck ones he uses at the moment take up, or that he hasn't got anything to tie down small loads when he's gotten sick of carrying around the big ones and has stored them in the shed.

He is a farmer, and usually remembers the big straps for the big things, but holding a 44 or picking up something small in town is where the smaller straps would come in handy and they could live comfortably behind the seat unlike the monsters.

Knowing nothing about the brands on these things I thought I'd come to the experts, or at least hope to find someone with experience with them.

Has to be the ratchet type, he hates the other pull through ones, around 500kg would more than manage the jobs it's for and the budget is ~$50 (stretch is $70) and I want to get at least 2.

I'm in Dubbo so have just about every common camping, auto, hardware and 4x4 stores nearby.

[Tractor88]

I bought some small ratchet straps thru Supercheap which have been good. Also try the brand Rola, as they have a few to choose from.

[muzza01]

Or try the big green shed.

[Mik01]

Heaps at Bunnies. Good for wat you want to them for.

Edit - beaten to it!

[ivan]

Just straps quality products

[Bird]

Motorcycle shops.

[Tractor88]

Straps-R-Us.     

[austastar]

Hi,
   avoid the really lightweight ones, the light strap gets tangled around everything except what you are trying to fasten down.
cheers

[ATC]

Pay attention to the ratchet handles, & the release mechanisms.

If it has a rubber boot on it - put it back & find one that doesn't have rubber or bits that will fall off.

First lot of straps we're the right price / wrong quality.

Next lot I brought had the right quality, and work every time I want them.

[gruesome]

Have a look for some about the 25mm size straps good for about 750kg and I think you can pick them up for about $35 a set, should do the job,
cheers Andy

[D4D]

Any industrial place will sell proper Beaver straps for about $40
http://www.beaver.com.au/?stm_a=77|&stm_h=m;484|ma;4337|r;b46e08dd4fb02c73&m=484|&ma=viewproduct|&r=f68b43871ac9823ff2d796e95b70ec92|&stm_s=|&stm_o=|&0&cat=51f2d553af90d1aa&topcat=3155&tpi=

[Beatle]

Have you seen those metal things you use with rope?  They basically replace a truckies hitch.  The best bit is you don't have to remember how to tie a hitch, and if the rope frays or breaks, just add more rope.   I have a heap of ratchet straps but they seem to fray easily and that renders them useless/dangerous/risky

This is not the one I was thinking of, but along the same lines:  http://www.smartaussieideas.com.au/HITCHMASTER.ews

[Beatle]

Found it:  http://www.tite-tie.com.au/wheretobuy/wheretobuy.html

But like most of these gizmos, and rope/truckies hitch, you need something to loop the rope around like a rail or through a hole on the load and the bed/trailer/vehicle.

I have to say, I often grab the old bike tiedowns if I need hooks.   They are much faster than ratchet tiedowns, though of limited length (once again, add length of rope to make them as long as you need).

[Brij]

Have bought a couple of sets of these http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Gripwell-Ratchet-Tiedown-4-6m-454kg-4-Pack.aspx?pid=19262&menuFrom=90201#Cross

Free running loop for the hook to hook into means you can loop them around a lot of things unlike the more "professional" looking types that have the loop sewn into the webbing with the hook. (but the loop can fall off the strap and be lost  ).

Just bought a few heavier straps from a local industrial supplier thinking they would be better than the Supercrap ones. They were a bit more expensive per unit. They are rated a bit heavier for the same width strap (but strap is thicker and not as pliable). The ratchets are a bit more fiddly. The loop is sewn in with the hook and doesn't fit around a lot of the tie down points I usually use  .

Next time I'll go back to Supercrap (straps and car radio are the only things I've ever bought there). Highly recommend them. Apart from some of them going walkabout the only issue I have had with them is one ratchet dropping a spring and subsequently bending part of the ratchet locking mechanism.

And I have given them a fair caning over the years 

Peter

[Topender]

http://www.bunnings.com.au/grunt-25mm-x-6m-ratchet-tie-down-450kg-lc-j-gr0346_p4310410 I bought some of these to use on the camper to hold the kayak......so far very impressed.

Dave