heavy ratchet straps vs chain binders question

escavader · Mar 20, 2005

I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT HEAVY DUTY 3300 LB ratchet straps[keeper brand] at a local hardware store paid 22dollars each[bought3] to hold BOTA down on my last trip.when i took them off the trailor this morning they were frayed so bad,and the stiches on the hook part were so bad ,they are trash.i took great pains not to have any sharp objects or corners.these straps are poor quality.hardware store manager says she cant take them back,because it had to be something i did.growl snarl asppp bark
i didnt buy chain binders because i didnt want to scratch my tractor with the chains.well im gonna now.fool me once shame on you,fool me twice shame on me.
any idea how to hook my bx-23 down without pinching a hose etc,?the dealer had a chain on the front so i know how to hook the fel down .how about the tractor?any type of covering i can put on the chains?
ESCAVADER

edney · Mar 20, 2005

I did the same thing with my bx2200, bought those heavy nylon rachets (think mine are 5000#, then partially frayed one on the first trip. I found something that helps. Sold by AW Direct, a company that supplies equipment to towing industry. They sell a nylon tube that slides over chains to prevent scratching or it can go over straps to prevent cuts and frays. Comes by the foot, yu cut or they will cut. It did help. A home version would be to stop by your local fire department and ask about scraps of fabric fire hose, some are even rubber lined and thread yur straps through a piece. These are incredibly tough.

Av8r3400 · Mar 20, 2005

Tubes are a material called codura. They can be used to cushion nylon straps, or as you mentioned to cushion from chains. It is a very abrasion resistant material. They can be had from any "rigger's supply" type place.

I prefer chains on my BX rather than the straps for the same reasons given already. I do have 2 pair of 1" 5,000lb ratchet straps made by Kinedyne. These are the best on the market, bar none. Very well made hardware. I had them made custom for my HD's by a local rigger's supply outfit.

notamustang · Mar 20, 2005

I use ratchet straps with no issues.( 4 @ 3300#) I use them for my tractor and jeeps. One of the steps I use is axle straps. I wrap the axle strap around tie off points and hook the straps to those. The biggest thing that I have learned is not to let the straps rub on anything. I know that you will not ever use a strap again, but they do work.
Steven

uhoh its NASCAR thirty, heck they even use straps /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Henro · Mar 20, 2005

Dargo just posted an experience worth reading and remembering:

Ratcheting tie downs BROKE in transit!

I doubt that if I trailer my tractors I will ever use anything but chains after reading Dargo's experience...

Scrounger · Mar 20, 2005

I went out to http://sline.com/products.asp and bought heavy rachet straps and axle straps. Four of the longer axles straps and four 10" ratchet straps and I love how they attach and dont mess up the tractor at all. S-Line is high end VERY HIGH QUALITY straps and worth every penny. I would buy the better ones and stay away from the cheaper stuff.

notamustang · Mar 20, 2005

( Dargo just posted an experience worth reading and remembering:

Ratcheting tie downs BROKE in transit!

I doubt that if I trailer my tractors I will ever use anything but chains after reading Dargo's experience... )

That was very well written indeed ! Still would not consider using chains but that is just personal preference /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Heck the yard I used to rent from would bring out sub cut tractors with only one chain on them driving a twisty hill climb. To me that was to much faith in the " chain". Just remember " BE SAFE"

Bob_Skurka · Mar 20, 2005

I've been using 4 10,000# straps (one on each corner) for the past year. Probably made 8 or 10 trips with those so far. After reading Dargo's thread I am switching to chain before the next haul. Straps are easy, but even on my 10,000# rated straps they show signs of wear and neither of my tractors are very large or very heavy.

MoBota · Mar 20, 2005

I'll throw in my cents cents for the fun of it...

I recently brought home my B7610 TLB on a rented trailer and wanted to use 2 sets of the 3" nylon web type straps mainly to avoid paint damage on a shiny new tractor. After some minor research I found the the webbing was rated to 3,000lbs but the ratchet assembly had a mere 1,000 lb rating. I recommend reading the fine print and/or ensure you are using a commercially rated product. My payload exceeded this 2K and I could of lost 'ol T.J. (tractor junoir) on the ride home.

I'm with Henro, I wouldn't consider anything but chains and binders. I used some very heavy pieces of scrap rubber we had around work to cushion the chains from the tractor, worked well with minimal scuffage.

BrettW · Mar 20, 2005

look for them at www.harborfreight.com
got my chains/binders there and they work well.
free shipping on orders over 50 bucks.
ps, chains don't fray

notamustang · Mar 20, 2005

( look for them at www.harborfreight.com
got my chains/binders there and they work well.
free shipping on orders over 50 bucks.
ps, chains don't fray )
Your a braver man than me /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Scrounger · Mar 21, 2005

Harbor Freight, can't remember buying anything from them that didn't fail well before its time. They are the China import kings of tools and just about everything under the sun.

Av8r3400 · Mar 21, 2005

Look up riggers or rigging supply in the yellow-pages. They will have a much better quality material than HF does. They can build to suit what you need - exactly, and much cheaper than you would think. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

kingoflawns · Mar 21, 2005

I use chains and binders all the way! I just don't trust straps. I hook into the frame mount holes fo the MMM as we don't use a MMM. i bind up front on the frame just behind the brush guard and sometimes over the rear attachment!

Dargo · Mar 21, 2005

( Harbor Freight, can't remember buying anything from them that didn't fail well before its time. They are the China import kings of tools and just about everything under the sun. )

Amen! Only by shear luck am I still alive after a set of their spring compressors broke with a coil spring compressed in my lap. I feel that they are only good to supply "disposable" tools for on the road tool kits.

rdln · Mar 21, 2005

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Island · Mar 21, 2005

For what it’s worth, the local dealer transports my BX23 on a flat bed truck. The bed extends and tilts, the driver moves the BX onto the truck bed, sets the parking brake leaving the BX at a very precarious angle! The brake always holds. He then places the truck bed into its original position, having accomplished this task he continues by placing a binding strap, material composition unknown approximately 3-4 inches wide across the center of the BX - or maybe I should say the floor board area. After a quick ratchet of the binding strap, off he goes with the BX.

I must add that this is no small dealer they have very large equipment in addition to the Kubota line. I would say that they are a major player in the central Western Ohio region.

BrettW · Mar 21, 2005

Confucius say,
"He who compress spring in lap may sing tenor in choir"

My Hoe · Mar 26, 2013

notamustang said:
( Dargo just posted an experience worth reading and remembering:

Ratcheting tie downs BROKE in transit!

I doubt that if I trailer my tractors I will ever use anything but chains after reading Dargo's experience... )

That was very well written indeed ! Still would not consider using chains but that is just personal preference /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Heck the yard I used to rent from would bring out sub cut tractors with only one chain on them driving a twisty hill climb. To me that was to much faith in the " chain". Just remember " BE SAFE"

The link to "Dargo's experience" didn't work for me. Any help much appreciated.

My Hoe

My Hoe · Mar 26, 2013

BrettW said:
look for them at www.harborfreight.com
got my chains/binders there and they work well.
free shipping on orders over 50 bucks.
ps, chains don't fray

No, but cheap and/or improperly heat-treated steel can have metallurgical failures. I hope not in your case, but for lifts/hoists/chains (or even straps) I don't feel guilty spending top dollar for name brands.

I guess we all have our own, individual demons--no offense intended, re: your choice.