Tire straps

The only law is the requirement for 4 corner securement for vehicles over 10,000 lbs. Nothing in the laws specify chains or straps. So you would be legal to tie down a 10K+ vehicle with 4 wheel straps.

Another option would be to look at what towing guys use for securing vehicles. it might be worth the investment to pick up some large J hooks or cluster sets if vehicles are a common thing you haul.

A J hook like this with a few chain links on the end that you could hook a binder or grab hook on your chains to might give you more options.

 

The straps I am familiar with on a traditional carhauler are 3,335 WLL and have the Working Load Limit printed on them. Regardless of what you were hauling the WLL has to exceed one half the weight of the freight. The largest units I have experience with are 5500 cab and chassis and generally are in the 8,000 lbs range. With a bed of some type they would still be below the 26,680 lbs that 4 straps could legally secure. If you are hauling something crazy heavy chains would be a good idea anyway in my opinion.

 

You would be legal securing with 4 wheel straps on any ambulance I have seen mounted on a traditional truck chassis.

 

I use straps when I haul vehicles on our tiltdeck. I use regular 2" ratchet straps around each tire.

If I am moving larger vehicles such as 2 ton cube vans / busses / semis then I go to chains.

Most light duty vehicles are just too difficult to chain due to low clearance and hoses/wires run where you want to out the chains. Straps work fine, meet legal requirements and especially on things like ambulances are alot easier.

 

You could always make a tire lasso out of a 2in strap and ratchet. Makes it easier hauling cars on a deck

 

For what you’re trying to achieve they make a strap that joins your ratchet to make it a “tire strap”. They look like an infinity symbol with a long straight part in the middle. Pass ratchet through one eye and around the back of the tire, then through the other eye. If I was going back to tire straps I would spend the money on full basket straps.

If you really wanted to start a fight with a dot, rim sling. If one can pick up a whole unit it must be good enough to hold it down.

 

To me I guess it depends on the vehicle. I haul kei trucks sometimes (well recently very often) I don't recommend chains on those. I haven't heard about anything over 10,000 lbs chains or bust rule. And you do have the occasional driver who will strap down a dozer with ordinary straps. Don't recommend that either. As long as you have your load tied down in the right places and it looks good to the dot, they'll leave you alone.