4" strap / winch....excess strap

How can you have more strap than what will fit on the spool? I leave my 4" straps wound on the spool when not in use, and there is no problem with it fitting.

 

You are doing it the correct way. Less chance of slippage and no spongeness/compression like when you have a bunch of strap wrapped around the winch.

 

yep. maybe post pics for newbs to see what you are talking about.

i'm not flatbedding anymore.

 

We have the drivers take the straps completely off when unloading. Straps stay with the driver, not the trailer. When I throw straps, I run down behind the rub rail, completely through the winch, and fold the excess. You'll get faster at it with experience. Learning flatbedding takes time. It's a specialized skill.

 

Maybe the guys doing it faster than he is aren't running the entire strap through the winch, maybe they are folding the strap and just tucking it in one side of the winch?

 

I cheat with mine. I throw it over and attach the hook end. Then go over to the other side to the end of the strap. Make as many loops as necessary walking towards the trailer. Flip the loops under the strap, then you should have a single loop going down, feed that through the rub rail. Squish the end a bit and feed it through the winch. It depends on what style winch you have, I have 3 bar which are easy to feed through, and I make sure there's lots to grab. With the slotted kind you only need to feed it through one side. But make sure the strap has a full turn before tightening anything or it will jump out.

This method is less forgiving to straps that flap going down the highway but I've never had a problem. Some guys feed it through the winch then loop it.

 

I personally would never just run it through one Side of the winch. Not arguing with anyone, that's just me.
Just keep watching the guys that are making the loops and you will get the hang of it. Don't try for fast at first, get the technique and speed will come.

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.