When it comes to making Ratchet Straps last longer there is nothing that helps more than performing routine preventative maintenance and using safety measures to prevent the ratchet straps from becoming damaged. Ratchet Straps that have not been taken care of or been used properly can often find damage to the straps causing replacement straps to be purchased and costing you money.
In this blog post, we will be going over some of the best ways to ensure you are making your ratchet straps last longer to improve longevity and improve safety. Let’s begin with some of our favorite ways to perform routine maintenance.
How to Perform Maintenance to Ratchet Hardware
While Ratchet Hardware is extremely durable and heavy-duty it’s important from time to time to spray some silicone spray such as WD-40 along the moving parts of the ratchet hardware. Alternatively, any type of oil of choice would do just as good of a job and keep the hardware lubricated over time.
WD-40 tends to be more of a temporary fix as oil tends to last much longer. By keeping the ratchet hardware well lubricated you can make tightening and releasing the ratchet hardware much easier compared to someone who doesn’t perform any maintenance. You will want to lubricate any moving pieces of the ratchet hardware such as the ratchet that flows in one direction, the release handle, and all other moving components.
Another extremely useful tip is when it comes to storing ratchet straps after a long drive. You may be tempted to wind the straps up and throw them in a storage compartment. It’s important that if your straps have come in contact with any form of water, snow, or ice you take a few minutes to dry them by using a towel or other means without the use of heat.
This will help remove any excess moisture that is stuck inside the polyester webbing. Tie Down Straps that are put away wet are at extreme risk of forming mold or mildew spores which can weaken the tie-down webbing over time causing them to be replaced sooner and potentially causing a dangerous situation to occur.
When it comes to storing the straps one of the main things you should do after every use is neatly wind up the tie-down webbing around the ratchet hardware. This helps keep the straps from rubbing against each other or sharp edges during transit to prevent potential tears, burns, or damage to the webbing. It also helps keep the straps neatly organized for the next use, all while saving space in the process.
How to Inspect Your Ratchet Straps for Potential Damage
Over time tie-down straps tend to become damaged throughout repetitive use and finding out that the straps have become damaged before they are at risk of breaking is extremely important. When tie-down straps become damaged 9 times out of 10 it’s from the polyester tie-down webbing becoming damaged. The metal components on tie-down straps tend to be extremely heavy-duty and durable and are very rare to become damaged before the webbing.
Some of the important things to look for when inspecting ratchet straps include any discoloration in the webbing color over time such as lighter spots in the webbing, burn marks, mold, mildew, tears, or the webbing has become frayed. If you spot any of these issues on your tie-down straps the straps are unsafe to be used and should be repaired or replaced immediately.
At Lodi Metals we manufacture a majority of our custom straps in-house and if only one side of the strap has become damaged you can purchase the damaged side of the tie-down strap and re-use the not damaged side to save money. Made from the same color of polyester tie-down webbing and the same end fittings and ratchet hardware as the original strap at a fraction of the cost.
If you spot any of this damage on your tie-down straps and continue to use them there is an extreme risk of the load becoming unsecured, cargo becoming damaged, and the risk of potentially hurting other motorists while going down the road can quickly occur. If you have to second question if a tie-down strap is safe to use or not you should replace the strap with a new condition strap immediately.
How to Keep Your Ratchet Straps Lasting Longer
• Inspect the ratchet straps for damage often – spend the extra several minutes before and after each time you secure a load for any visible defects. This can save you time in resecuring the load or save you money in potential damage claims if the cargo becomes unsecured while going down the road.
• Use corner protectors when possible – corner protectors are made from heavy-duty materials that provide a barrier between your tie-down webbing and sharp edges along the cargo. By using corner protectors you can expect your straps to last longer and greatly reduce the number of straps you go through within a year limiting the webbing from becoming cut, burn marks from friction, or fraying.
• Storing Ratchet Straps correctly – Although it’s extremely easy to throw the ratchet straps in the bed of your truck after every use consider spending the extra time and neatly winding the tie down webbing up around the outside of the ratchet handle. This helps save space and allows you to put them in a dry, out of sunlight, and in an area free of moisture to help keep them safe long term from improper storage damage.
• Dry the straps before storage – Use a towel or microfiber towel to dry the straps as much as possible before storage. Storing straps that are still wet for long periods after absorbing moisture can cause the straps to form mold or mildew spores that can weaken the straps working load limit (WLL) over time and make the straps unsafe to use.
Shop our Popular Moving Supplies
4 Axle, 4 Ratchet Straps
Assembly 3,335 lbs WLL
Webbing 3,000 lbs BS
Assembly 833 lbs WLL
Ratchet 1,500 lbs BS
Assembly 500 lbs WLL
SET of Motorcycle Straps
Assembly 833 lbs WLL
Webbing 6,000 lbs BS
Assembly 915 lbs WLL
Frequently Asked Ratchet Strap Questions
What is the average product lifespan of Ratchet Straps? – This ultimately depends on how often you are using them and how the straps are stored. Ultimately you can expect someone who is using them consistently for several weeks or months and someone who doesn’t use them more than several times a year more than several years.
Are Corner Protectors a Must? – We strongly believe that you should always use corner protectors when possible to avoid the straps becoming damaged. Corner protectors are a limited-time buy as they tend to last a very long time and it is a great way at protecting your initial investment of ratchet straps at a fraction of the price.
Are Ratchet Straps Water Proof? – No, ratchet straps are not water proof. The polyester tie-down webbing is water resistant but if they are not properly stored or dried in between uses it may lead to mold or mildew spores from forming and causing your straps to weaken or damage over time.
Can you use Ratchet Straps in Salt Water or Marine applications? – Yes, you can use these ratchet straps in saltwater or marine applications. We suggest using stainless steel hardware when possible to keep the ratchet straps lasting longer but all of our traditional ratchet hardware comes with a zinc coating designed for protecting the metal hardware from potential rust or corrosion. Salt water tends to eat through the zinc coating rather quickly, so it’s used best when paired with stainless steel hardware.
Can Direct Sunlight Damage Ratchet Straps? – Yes, ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause the ratchet straps webbing to fade in color over time from sitting outside in the sun for long periods. The sign of discoloration or the strap changing colors is a sign that damage has occurred and the strap needs replacement. This is why it is important to always store ratchet straps in a location that is out of direct sunlight.
