Storing straps

I had an argument with a millwright at a power plant once. He was trying to help me with my straps and I had to stop him from just pinching the end and stuffing it in one side of the winch. He told me that I shouldn't be running them all the way through because when you tighten the winch it will crush the barrel. I just kind of stared at him for a bit and told him that I appreciated his help but I'll take care of the straps.

 

I used to leave them on the winch and throw the hook. Then i started hauling quarry stone and the destructive nature of that beast meant a lot of trailers with mangled rub rail that wouldnt pass a strap hook, so you had to feed the tail through anyway. I just started rolling them all and found on flattish stuff that i could hook the rail, climb the ladder, bowl the strap roll over the top nice and flat and have it drop where it needed to be. So no more fussing around getting the folds out or flapping tails to get it jostled over. Saves some aggravation.

 

I have a side box on my truck that i store all my stuff in, so i roll up my straps and keep them nice and neat in a milk crate so they dont unravel when ur not using them and end up with a rats nest of straps not even jesus could untangle, u could buy a milk crate for 3 dollars or steal one from a shipper/reciever like i did, happy flatbeddin welcome to the best division of truckin

 

Rolled up with metal hook last. you can use an inner tube cut into sections. to create rubber bands to hold your rolled straps. Buy a few new ones when they are cheap $10. Or less. Don't buy from truckstops or other rip off places.

Do not buy a rachet style winch bar. Find a solid style. With squar box on end.

Keep your equipment clean as much as you can. Inspect your straps as well. Don't use straps that show the red thread, it shows if your strap is damaged internally. Move your winches back and forth to clear the track of debris.

You can never have to many straps.

 

Personally, I wouldn't leave a winch or or strap in sight if I wasn't using them, always stored them out of the elements and out of sight, straps rolled up with the hook end out so I could hold the hook and toss the strap like a roll of toilet paper over any load.
I suppose if you're doing local work, loading and unloading the same product several times a day, it might save you a bit work to leave them on the winches and on the trailer, but OTR it's just good sense to store them, less dirt, less exposure to the elements, less chance of being stolen.
OTR decking where you never know what your next load might be, it's just smarter to stow everything every time you unload because you might wind up with a load that is chain only and the straps and winches might get in the way.

(old guy starts rambling about back in the day)
Having said that, back in 1978 I was a steel hauler pulling A trains and Super B's, 1500 miles east, 800 miles west and all points in between, and I left my tarps and chains on the decks all the time, but I was going hard at it, barely had time to stop for a wiz, swish swish, drive there and unload, pick up a return load somewhere, and drive like my butt was on fire to get home for my next load.
Was in my home town between 2 and 5 times a week, slept in my own bed once or twice a month when we were busy, which was all the time.
Yes, by 1980 I had to take a few months off because my kidneys were messed up, then my back went, 3 ruptured discs, a lesson was learned.
"Set your own pace and screw everyone else."

 

Ohhhh .Almost forgot.

DO NOT JUMP OFF DECK TO GROUND!!!?

You will pay dearly later in life , .Not to mention you could twist an ankle or break something.

 

Those ratchet winch bars come in handy on a step deck

 

Just not in the hands of a swift driver.

 

Stepdeck with a 14' wide crate is near impossible with a standard bar. The ratchet bar has the same number of teeth as a winch so you can move it one click at a time and get the straps tight.

 

Roll mine up hook out, and stack them in my enclosed headache rack. If they’re frozen like they have been the last few months I’ll put them on the floor of the cab.