Straps on winches

Yeah................DC flatbed loads are a blast!


JD

 

I run them on the winches. I can have the load strapped down on occasion before the forklift driver comes back with the next piece, same thing with unstrapping. Ive never had issues with lose straps. Straps aren't fun to work with on the winches in the winter with ice, but I don't have enough storage at the moment so I deal with it.

 

Back when I was working for my self full time I had to strap and unstrap 4-8 times a day so I never took them off. I only had a issue with loose staps once and that was because I bought a shorter one. If I have 30ft the hook will hit the bed and I can tension the role so the latch can not come loose. I it also faster to role up and get the right length I need.

As for winter I would spray and soak the strap in deicer to stop it from freaking. Still sucked if they got caked with snow and mud.

 

Those look like Menards DC out of Wisconsin kind of load. Did that once, never again. If I remember right, they took 8 hours to load me, when I was only there, according to dispatch, to pick up some beams for another DC, because "it's Menards policy to not let trucks leave without being fully loaded', or some such tomfoolery. My clock was running out quick and I suggested they either finish before my hours run out, or I'll be sleeping on property. They said I couldn't do that, so I asked them, where do they want me to dump the load at by undoing all the strapping and turning the trailer sharply. They got me out..but were perplexed at my attitude. I'll never haul out of Menards again. The final stop even agreed they were a bunch of numbskulls at that DC.

 

I don't leave my straps on the winches except for one situation. If I am going a short distance to load my next load and I know the exact dimensions like I have loaded it before. Other then that I roll my straps and put them in the box.

When I throw straps, I do just that, throw the strap, not the hook. Too many things can happen with a flying piece of metal. I hold the hook and toss the strap over. Everyone has their way of doing things. Find what works best for you and go with it. It took me a while to perfect my craft when rolling straps and the method I wanted to use. I have a cheap strap winder with a short piece of 5/16" rod welded where the handle used to be. This way I can attach my drill and roll my straps without wearing out my hands and standing in the heat/rain/snow, etc.