News

Home / News / How to maintain the condition of the ratchet belt

How to maintain the condition of the ratchet belt

Heavy duty ratchet straps are hardy and long-lasting but the life Ratchet Tie Down Buckles of your strap and handle is all dependent on how you take care of them. Straps that are incorrectly used, exposed to the elements and used against sharp or rough objects are not going to have the same life as straps that are used for lighter applications or not used very often. That being said, you can prolong the life of your straps. There are a few ways that you can make sure that your straps last longer and stay in peak working condition. Firstly, where you store your straps is vital.

 

The best place to keep them is a sealed/locked box or compartment that is also waterproof. Keeping your ratchet straps outside where they will succumb to weathering will heighten the chances of your ratchet straps becoming unusable. Keeping your straps wound up and tidy will also protect the webbing if your straps are kept in a box with other tools or in the back of a van etc. This also makes them more compact and easy to store with less likelihood of pulling out a tangled bundle before each use. Our easy winder is a great tool for keeping your straps neat and tidy.Another great way to maintain and make your ratchet straps last longer is to use wear sleeves.

 

These rubber sleeves protect your straps increasing the resistance to being cut by edges and making them more durable to general wear and tear. A wear sleeve should always be used when transporting machinery or any other goods with sharp edges. These edges can slice through webbing like a knife if there is constant rubbing during a journey making your load unsafe and also costing you a perfectly good webbing strap. You don’t have to replace a full ratchet set when your ratchet straps start to look a bit worn. On heavy duty straps you can usually buy handle only and webbing part only pieces separately.

 

Webbing straps are usually the first to go so you can keep spares of your regular straps handy for quick switching during busy periods to save having to order new straps. One of the biggest questions we are frequently asked about our ratchet straps is: “How often should I be checking my ratchet rtraps?”. This question is mainly asked due to customers being concerned with the tie down capability of a ratchet strap once they have been used. It is recommended that you visually inspect your straps every time before use.Key things to be looking out for are any tears, cuts, fraying, water and oil damage. Even the smallest of defects can dramatically reduce the capabilities of the strap this is why although tedious regularly checking your ratchet straps is incredibly important. If you have any suspicion that your ratchet strap isn't in a usable condition it is essential that you do not use this strap.