Updated on 6/27/24
In the shipping industry using ratchet straps properly are crucial. Here are some tips on how to inspect your ratchet straps.
How to Inspect your Ratchet Straps for Any Potential Damage or Defects
When you are looking over your ratchet straps or tie downs you may it’s always important before you begin to use or store the straps for another time to check for safety.
In the transportation industry, it is estimated that over 12.4 billion tons of debris litter our highways every year in the United States alone from improper shipping techniques.
Today we will be showing you what to look for when the time comes to replace your ratchet straps and when to know it is time to replenish your tie-downs.
Not only can the debris on the road be bad for the environment, and motorists, and potentially even cause life-threatening injuries depending on the cargo that flies off but the penalties can be extreme, even if it was just an accident involving large fines and potential jail time.
List of Potential Ratchet Straps Defects
So let’s begin with what you should look for before using or storing your ratchet straps. If you have concerns that the strap you are about to use is unsafe, you should not use the ratchet strap due to the associated risks.
• Normal wear and tear – Tie-down straps can become damaged from normal wear and tear over some time. You should always perform a pre-trip inspection on your ratchet straps before and after using tie-down straps. For further information please refer to our Things to Avoid When Using Ratchet Straps.
• Missing or Damaged Working Load Limit Rating Tag – If the working load limit tag is entirely missing or damaged from tears or cuts the strap is not legally allowed to be on the road per the Department of Transportation (DOT) general guidelines on cargo control. This is due to the working load limit being used to provide safety recommendations of how many straps you need to stay safe. If the tag is not included or damaged it may not be possible to do so.
• Ultraviolet Light Damage – Ratchet Straps and Tie Down Straps can receive damage from being placed in direct sunlight for long periods. To prevent this you should store the straps between usage inside a cool, dark, and dry location away from sharp metal edges. This helps to avoid damage to the ratchet straps when not in use securing cargo. For a full guide check out our How to Store Ratchet Straps Properly.
• Damage from Mold and Mildew – If you see any signs of mold or mildew damage caused by excessive moisture the ratchet straps will need to be replaced as the mold can weaken the strength of the polyester tie-down webbing which can make it extremely unsafe. Weakening of polyester tie-down webbing can cause the webbing to not meet the breaking strength or working load limit ratings that the strap previously was safely rated for.
When to Replace Your Ratchet Straps
Any visible damage such as holes, weakened fabric such as fraying webbing strings, or any other material such as metal shavings or anything similar being stuck inside of the polyester webbing.
When you think it is time to replace your tie-downs it’s never a good idea to wait. Be safe. Replace. Some of the best ways to stay safe in the cargo control industry start by using good judgment. If you have any doubts about the strength or the safety of the tie down it is never a good idea to risk and find out later that you potentially were indeed unsafe and cause a potential accident.
Did you know the most common methods of ratchet straps and tie-downs needing to be replaced are caused by weather? Some of the forms of weather that cause damage to tie-down straps are direct Ultraviolet rays from the sun which causes damage to the webbing and weakening of the breaking strength.
How Often Should You Inspect Ratchet Straps and Tie Downs?
You should always thoroughly inspect your ratchet straps or tie-downs before using the ratchet straps each time and at the end of using the ratchet straps as well to inspect for any potential damage that has occurred. Another good tip to follow would be to inspect the straps every couple of weeks or months throughout the not-using-them period.
The basic rule of thumb should be that the more you inspect the straps the safer they will be short-term and long-term due to knowing the industrial strength of your tie-down straps. Make sure to inspect the ratchet, tie down webbing, and stitching, and check every strap for any visible defects. The most minor of details of defects can cause chaos for your cargo load at any given time.
How Long Do Ratchet Straps Normally Last?
Ratchet straps will typically last depending on the ratchet strap assembly choices anywhere from typically 2 years upwards to 4 years or more depending on the usage and how they have been protected from sunlight, wet weather, moisture, mold, mildew, and if the straps have Cordura sleeves protecting the webbing from friction.
The amount of time that a Ratchet Strap or Down Strap may last is ultimately dependent on how the straps are handled. If you use proper care with storing and while using the tie downs you have a much longer lifespan of the straps.
Typically you can expect any tie-down strap to last between 2-5 years on average depending on how heavily used they are and if they were cared for. The older the straps the more you should consider replacing them as they can weaken over time and could be dangerous using older ratchet straps.
How Do Ratchet Straps Become Damaged?
Some of the main ways in which Ratchet straps can become damaged is through the normal strains and stress on the polyester or nylon webbing depending on the type of tie-downs you are using for each application. A ratchet straps and tie-down job is securing and making sure something doesn’t come undone. Which… can be a strain due to the amount of weight it undergoes at times.
Ratchet Strap Damage Inspection Checklist
• Tie-down straps dragging down the road – often off of the side of utility trailers that left the ratchet straps inside of the trailer.
• Cut or worn-out stitching from repetitive usage.
• Missing Working Load Limit rating tag – it must be sewn onto the strap to follow the Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines for cargo control.
• Knots from improperly securing or storing ratchet straps.
• Friction burns on the webbing which are visible by a blackened burn mark. This can be caused by webbing rubbing against each other on a long trip from improper storage.
• Webbing damage from cuts, tears, snags, or general wear and tear on the ratchet strap.
• Mold and Mildew damage that can weaken the ratchet strap
• While extremely rare – hardware can also occasionally become damaged from being dropped or using cheater bars to tighten the ratchet hardware tighter than hand strength.