When packing up your vehicle and getting ready to go on a camping adventure, your load restraint may not always be at the forefront of your mind however it is a very important part of getting everything right before you hit the road. It is important for yourself and the other road users that you use the correct types of load restraint to hold your cargo in place when on and off the road no matter where you are travelling or how far you are going from home. If you have any items which can become loose and potentially fly out or off of your vehicle, then you certainly need to use load restraints to hold them in place and to keep things legal. Legislations and guidelines may vary for different applications and areas, so it pays to be in the know so that you don’t get stung when pulled over for a random check, so be sure to stay up to date with all load restraint guidelines and keep your equipment in working condition to stay safe and out of trouble.

Ratchet straps are a great way to keep things contained and doing so in such an easy manner will save you time money and effort and of course keep things altogether safe and legal. There are many different sizes and types of ratchets straps from flimsy straps with subpar buckles, to heavy duty types which can be used on large transport vehicles to tie down heavy loads up to and above 5 tonnes per strap, but you can guarantee that whatever you want to use it for and whatever you would like to keep tied down safely a ratchet strap is there for you to use. Ranging from quick straps at less than a metre long to ultra-long 15-meter straps you can be sure that no matter the size of freight or vehicle you have, there is a tie down strap available for you. Whether you have a 4×4, Ute or rigid truck, it pays to keep everything contained which will get it there in once piece, with more than just a ‘it’ll be right mate’. Vehicle Ratchet straps are a much better option than the old flimsy rope option and can be tensioned to create large amounts of force holding down your items and keeping them in place. Whether you want to tie something to your sports bar or hold something against the tray of your vehicle a roof strap is a great option and can provide quick and efficient answers to your cargo problems.

For truckies quick straps can be super important for holding down loads of freight inside taught liners and open tray vehicles and help to keep things legal as per Australian heavy vehicle guidelines. When used on Utes and Fourbies they also come into play in terms of legalities and help to ensure your load is safe and complies with national laws, keeping everyone safe. With a simple flick of the wrist while throwing a off-road ratchet strap over the top of your cargo it can take just minutes to tiedown a load sufficiently and provide enough downforce to ensure everything stays where it belongs throughout your trip whether you’re on the tarmac or tackling hills on the back roads. Simply hook your binder to a solid point on your vehicle and pull the strap through the tensioner using the ratchet type tiedown system but be careful because if you get your fingers in the way they definitely bite.

Of course, there are other types of load restraints out there for more specific loads i.e. chains and dogs which can be used for heavy equipment or larger items that surpass the weight limits of ratchet straps which sometimes hold anywhere from 100 kg to 5 tons of weight safely and legally. heavy duty Ratchet straps are widely used and a rather versatile option for restraining loads and certainly are the cheaper option and can last a long time provided they are well looked after and maintained in simple ways. Sometimes they can become frayed if not used in the correct manner or if thrown over the top of sharper items which can be nullified by using an old piece of carpet or a plastic angle to keep the freight or cargo safe and protect the strap as well.

As the ratchet binders can get grime and dirt in them and become hard to use or even hard to get the strap to slide through evenly before tying down it is important to maintain these in a way that will prolong their life and make your life easier whenever you decide to use your ratchet tiedowns system. A simple way to keep these ratchets working Is to simply spray with some lubrication all the good old WD-40 each time you think of it to keep them freely moving and free of dust and dirt no matter where you are dragging them, it also pays to clean the straps once in a while as they can build up mud and dirt and sometimes grease which can hinder the ratchets and make it harder to tie things down and near on impossible to pull the strap through the binder in the first place which can leave you in a bit of a pickle. Ratchet straps can be used for simple small tasks such as holding something upright while you are moving or tying down a small vehicle like a motorbike or ATV to the back of your vehicle and keeping it safe and reducing movement as you travel. Smaller load straps can also be used for long-term storage holding things together such as swags or sleeping bags that may not have their own bags or tightening straps and can unravel and cause pain by making you spend extra time cleaning up and packing up every time you go camping.

Overall, these cargo straps are easy to roll up and individually do not weigh a large amount, meaning they are easy to store or carry for when you need them. Ultimate versatility at a small price, and thus totally worth it!