half-strapping winches

This is a very in advisable practice...try it some time with wet straps/winches, then try tightening them down real good. If you do it right, you will get the winch to rotate inside the webbing and slip the fold out of the "slit" creating an unattached end of your strap...last time I checked, friction is NOT counted! Can you say "insecure load"?

When it comes to load security, there are only two ways to do it...the right way, and the shortcut that endangers somebody's family! That could be your family someday, how do you want it done? Like I said there is only one way to do it correctly...the right & proper way...everything else requires an excuse! If its my family, you had better not count on excuses, I hope you feel the same way!

 

Either way you do it the strap is what holds its self in the winch any. Weather you fold your extra and tuck it between the strap and trailer or wrap it all up in the winch. I feel that the less strap that is in the winch the tighter you can get it. There is more then one way to skin a cat.

 

Three or more wraps will keep the strap from slipping. I find that if I have too much strap rolled up on the winch, it will usually become loose and must be tightened several times along the way.

 

I guess I wasn't clear enough, I did not say to roll all of the excess around the winch, I agree that is not a good idea.

 

I did it that way for years. Never had one slip the winch. If you have enough extra rolled up against the winch it won't go anywhere. However, I would NOT recommend that you half strap nowadays with the way enforcement is. I heard somewhere that it was not acceptable with the new securement rules.

 

Yes, if the DOT are checking your load, this is what they will check. I'd recommend going thru the winch, then your choices are a plenty on what to do with the extra. I make fairly big loops and tuck it behind the strap. I also like to do the half twist which helps with the flapping of the straps. Now that is a whole other argument on here that is at times a heated debate.

 

I half strapped a lot when I had my flat, never had any problems, but it always got rolled 3-4 times. How is the DOT going to check for that anyway? If you give it 3 or 4 good wraps you can't tell by looking at it.

 

Easy, look through the barrel of the winch...if the strap does not fully pass through from one side to the other...do not pass go, pay your DOT tax!

I can still do it at will, just showed a guy parked next to me...but like I said, what do I know? I only play with chains now...