How to Use Ratchet Straps to Secure Your Cargo

When it comes to conveniently securing cargo, nothing beats a ratchet strap. Due to their ratcheting mechanism, these straps are easier to tighten than cam buckle straps, and they provide a tighter, stronger hold. The possibilities of what you can tie down with ratchet straps are endless.

However, if you've never used a ratchet strap before, your brain is probably full of questions. How do you thread it? How do you loosen it? How many do you need? This quick read will explain and show you how to use ratchet straps to secure your cargo.

Note: Unfortunately, not all loads are meant for ratchet straps. Cargo such as kayaks and canoes should be secured with cam straps because they’re harder to overtighten, which will limit the wear and tear on your investment.

Jump ahead to the step of your choice:

Thread the Ratchet Strap
Secure End of Strap to Trailer
Secure Strap over Your Load
Pull Through Slack and Ratchet Strap Down
Bundle Up Excess Strap
Loosen and Release Ratchet Strap

Step 1: Thread the Ratchet Strap

Most ratchet straps are sold pre-threaded, but if yours is not, this will be the first step. To begin, press the release lever or button (whatever your particular strap has), and open the ratchet so that the metal part lies flat.

Next, thread the loose end of the strap beneath the round spool on the ratchet. Then, bring the strap back over the spool and feed it through (the strap will be "doubled up").

Before you thread the ratchet strap, the strap will be separate from the ratcheting mechanism

Feed the strap beneath the spool, then double it back over itself and slide it through the center slot

Once you feed it through, pull the strap to remove slack

Step 2: Secure End of Strap to Trailer

Hook one side of your ratchet strap to your tie-down anchor. The anchor point may be a D-ring, E-Track, or another type of tie-down anchor.

Ratchet straps will have many different hook styles to choose from. Your strap may have S-Hooks, Double-J Hooks, E-Track Ends (which hook to E-Tracks), or another hook type. S-hooks are ideal for everyday use like trips to the hardware store or helping a family member move. While on the other hand, E-track ends are used more in enclosed or open utility trailers.

S-Hook

Double-J Hook

E-Track End

Step 3: Secure Strap over Your Load

Next, run the strap over your load to hold it in place. Attach one hook to an anchor point or to your load, and attach the other hook to an anchor point on the opposite side.

Ideally, you'll want to choose a spot where the strap won't be able to move around while you drive and won't scratch your cargo. You can also use protector sleeves to place around the strap to ensure you don't scuff your more sensitive cargo items like a motorcycle or ATV.

Additional Securing Tips

Use multiple ratchet straps when needed to secure a load. We recommend always using straps in pairs.
Don't overtighten—you should be able to fit a finger beneath the strap.
Always adhere to the safe working load limit (WLL) of a given strap. The weight of your secured cargo must NOT exceed the combined WLL of the straps being used. Ex: If your cargo is 1,000 lbs, you'll need two straps with a WLL of 500 lbs each to safely secure your load.

Step 4: Pull Through Slack and Ratchet Strap Down

It's a good idea to pull the slack through before you crank the ratchet down. This will speed up the job and help prevent the strap from getting twisted or tangled around the spool.

Once you've pulled the slack through, ratchet down the strap to secure your load. Move the ratchet handle up and down to tighten down the strap. Your strap should be tight enough to secure your cargo but not so tight that it damages your gear.

Step 5: Bundle Up Excess Strap

With any type of tie-down strap, whether cam buckle or ratchet strap, you'll want to bundle any excess strap. If you fail to contain excess slack, it can become caught in tires, fly in the wind, or even increase your chance of having an accident. An excess strap holder or cinch strap will work best for this. You could also use the end of the strap to bundle the rest of it, if you have enough excess left over. Retractable ratchet straps are another option. These straps automatically wind into built-in housings, so you don't have to worry about excess strap coming loose.

Step 6: Loosen and Release Ratchet Strap

To loosen or release your ratchet strap, locate the release mechanism on the strap handle (this is usually a button or a lever). This releases the tension and allows you to remove the ratchet strap from whatever you've hooked it onto.

To completely remove the strap from the ratchet, open the ratchet completely and pull on the loose end (not the part actually attached to the ratchet) until it comes free. The strap may be wedged in there tightly, so you might have to pull pretty hard to work it free.

Still have questions?

Give our experts a call at 800-298-8924, or contact us online. We're happy to assist any way we can!

About the Author

As a content writer for etrailer, I might spend my morning loading and unloading a bike on five different bike racks to figure out which is easiest to use. I might be in the parking lot, taking pictures of an impressive RV battery setup our techs came across in the shop and discussing the benefits of the setup with the owner. I might spend an afternoon in a manufacturer training classes for some hands-on experience with new products, and then sit down to assemble all this information into a coherent article.

At etrailer, one of our core values is that we are always learning, and I learn something new every day. I start each morning with the goal in mind of taking all of this information and figuring out the best way to answer the questions people ask us (and the ones they don’t know to ask yet), and helping people get the solutions they need to make their lives easier, safer, and more fun. I’m a DIYer at heart, so it brings me great joy to help a fellow DIYer find what they’re looking for, whether that’s a product, an answer, or a community.

Related Products

Shop Retractable Ratchet Straps

Shop E-Track

Shop D-Rings

What to Look For When Buying Ratchet Straps

How to Tie Down a Motorcycle

The Differences Between Cam Buckles and Ratchet Straps (And Who Would Win In a Fight)

Written by: Amber S.

Updated by: Rachel S.

Updated on: 3/2/2023

Scott

4/12/2023

Thanks for share useful information, Do you own manufacture it OR doing white labelling?

Mike L.

4/12/2023

@Scott We don't manufacture ratchet straps at this time. We have the etrailer brand straps manufactured for us.

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