How in the world do you use a ratchet strap?

15 comments

1. The one time I’ve used one, I could tighten it but couldn’t figure out how to release it.

2. Youtube hommie

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZlkIOHOkNo

3. it’s a form of tightening a tie-down strap

   surely there are a gadzillion youtube vids demonstrating using one

4. Just like always YT is your friend. I just checked and there are hundreds of ratchet strap tutorials. Picture is worth a thousand words, movie is priceless.

5. Open it all the way up. Feed the strap through the hole then fold the strap around the round cylinder back on itself. Pull the slack all the way out. Pull the handle to release and fold back to ratcheting position and then ratchet.

6. Incorrectly twice, then correctly on the third try!

7. You rachet it to tighten it.

   You hold it open while pulling the tab to loosen it.

   It’s pretty simple.

8. Seven years in construction and never used a ratchet strap?

   You were a billing clerk?

9. This does a better job than I could explaining:

   https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Ratchet-Straps

10. Look up a guide on YouTube

11. The key is once it is fastened down with the ratchet strap, you must say “that baby ain’t goin’ anywhere”

12. The trick is to not try to wind the whole strap on the ratchet. That’s where people tend to go wrong. You pull it through the slot most of the way and the ratchet just needs to do about 2-3 turns,leaving the rest to dangle.

13. YouTube like everyone has said. The big thing is to cinch up as much slack as you can before ratcheting and remember that when releasing the strap there is no brake, anything that wants to move when the tension is off will move.

14. one of those things that’s better taught visually than verbally.

    go buy a $5 one at home depot and play with it for half an hour.

15. First you strap, then you ratchet!