Straps on the ratchets or in the sidebox?

When your trailer is not loaded, do y'all store your straps rolled up on the mounted ratchets on your trailer? Or in your sidebox (or equivalent), rolled up?

I've seen empty flatbeds running down the road with a strap rolled up on each ratchet, and I'm just wondering what the benefits and/or downsides are of doing it this way.

Thanks!

Leadfoot

For example:

 

speeds up the time it takes to secure load but they can get stolen that way and frozen up if it rains and freezes on them

 

I keep mine in the side box under the bunk of my semi, they dry out and are easier to work with when its cold or wet.

 

i personally roll mine up and put them in the side box after every load and only take out what is needed for a load just to keep the road grime and sun off them so they might last a little longer and to keep them looking new as to not attract attention by dot plus to me it gives the trailer a cleaner look

 

Rolled up in the headache rack because we swap trailers so much.

 

I keep mine rolled up and in the step box, I don't personally care for straps or anything else left on a trailer, looks sloppy to me. But I also understand that some companies with drop trailers want straps left on the winches.

 

I keep mine rolled up in my headache rack. Keeping them on the trailer has never made since to me, why expose them to the elements to wear out quicker? Not to mention if you keep them on the trailer its more dangerous when your throwing straps because your throwing the heavy metal hook. I also don't like tightening my straps when there all wound up on the winch, it seems like you've got to tighten them forever till they get tight. I feed mine thru the winch and roll up the excess and put it behind the strap as it goes around the edge of the trailer. Doing it like that also protects your straps from getting pulled over gouges in the edge of the trailer that can snag and rip your straps.

 

I always kept them in the side box , leaving them on the winch is the fastest way to lose a good strap that I know of. Tweakers and thieves love to find those on a winch. Nice quick snatch , acting like they belong there and then they have some quick cash for their drugs....

 

Same thing pulling the strap off, you have to drag that hook over the load. When it snags and you shake it loose and pull, it targets your forehead like a guided missile. When you consider how thin the skin is on your head, it's amazing how much blood can pour out, and it just won't stop!

 

Ha. I got thumped by one that fell only about two feet the other day. No bleeding, but quite a lump!