Straps on winches

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Dadetrucking305, Aug 15, 2021.

  1. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

    3,295
    16,738
    Jan 23, 2016
    Eastern Iowa
    0
    A couple things here...
    Not only does it put extra wear on the straps leaving them exposed to the elements, it just looks sloppy in my opinion. Plus, when you have a load on and you have all your excess strap spooled up into the winch, I think that also looks sloppy and makes it easy for the straps to loosen. I like to run the strap through the winch and fold the excess up underneath. Looks neater, stays tighter, and also provides some extra protection between the strap and the edge of the deck.

    Also, I have found that it is difficult to pull out the correct amount of strap, I would always pull out either way too much or not enough, so any time I would have saved was always spent winding it back up or walking back and forth to pull out more strap. I suppose the guys that do this all the time are probably much better at it.

    One last thing... you shouldn’t base what you do on speed. Just because the other guys are doing it faster doesn’t mean they are doing it right. I used to pick up rebar loads a lot with a previous company. I would often show up at the same time or even before other drivers from the same company, and it always took me twice as long to get out of there. But the other guys would just throw straps over everything and hammer down. I took the time to climb onto the trailer and weave straps through, build a nice bulkhead, etc. Then I’d end up passing the other guys anyway while they were all sitting in the rest area BS-ing.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. staceydude

    staceydude Road Train Member

    1,118
    4,876
    Apr 3, 2020
    0
    I see this a lot with company drivers and those not paying for their own stuff. Often their tarps look as rough as their straps.

    it definitely saves some time. I’m just not in enough hurry to leave my straps on the winches. I am sure some look at me rolling up straps the same as I might look at them rolling them on the winches. They think I’m nuts.
     
  4. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

    6,082
    17,653
    Dec 9, 2017
    0
    There's one real good reason to not do this, ever had that hook bounce off something and hit you in the face?
     
  5. Dadetrucking305

    Dadetrucking305 Heavy Load Member

    954
    2,558
    Sep 15, 2011
    Cibolo,Texas
    0
    I guess I’m going to work on figuring out a better technique or process where I’m more efficient so that I can get in and out quicker so that I don’t feel like I’m wasting time keeping them off the winches.
     
    Kyle G., cke and beastr123 Thank this.
  6. staceydude

    staceydude Road Train Member

    1,118
    4,876
    Apr 3, 2020
    0
    you also have to think what is best for you. With your step you have a bit less storage then maybe for now you leave them on winches and once you upgrade to more storage then you can start putting them up. I also realize that some of the company trailers have one toolbox and the company requires them to keep tarps in them and not on deck. You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes.
     
    Kyle G., Dadetrucking305 and cke Thank this.
  7. FLHT

    FLHT Heavy Load Member

    978
    1,455
    Aug 2, 2014
    0
    Used to wind them by hand until my wrists would not move after a few turns.
     
    Dadetrucking305 and Kyle G. Thank this.
  8. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

    19,660
    130,552
    Apr 26, 2013
    Gettin' down westbound
    0
    If you hit me in the head with ur frickin hook . i will hit u in the head with my winch bar... I have no patience for guys that throw hooks when theres another driver next to them trying to tie down. It can damage equipment as well. It takes less than 10 minutes to roll up 20 straps by hand.
     
    cke, Ruthless, baha and 4 others Thank this.
  9. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

    6,082
    17,653
    Dec 9, 2017
    0
    Unless you recently dislocated your elbow. Still no reason to be throwing hooks.
     
  10. kylefitzy

    kylefitzy Road Train Member

    3,963
    16,353
    Aug 12, 2007
    Kansas city,Mo
    0
    Did you dislocate your elbow throwing heavy hooks over the load? Haha.
     
    cke Thanks this.
  11. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

    6,082
    17,653
    Dec 9, 2017
    0
    Haha, no not quite. But it makes rolling up straps take a bit longer when it affects the nerves in your arm and hand for a few weeks. Also makes throwing straps a little difficult.
     
    cke and kylefitzy Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.