Tie Down Storage

[c10bonanza]

How does everyone store their ratcheting tie-downs? Currently I have mine folded and sitting on a shelf in the shop, but there has to be a better way.

 

[Grumpy365]

Rolled up in an ammo can

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I have Pit Pal tie-down hangers in the front and back of my enclosed trailer. Keeps them off the floor, clean, dry, and easy to find. If I could just get everyone who says "let me help you get loaded up so you can get on the road" to use them!

http://www.pitpal.com/catalog/Tie_Down_Hangers-25-1.html

 

[Steevo]

I have a zip duffel bag full of ratcheting and standard tie-downs, lifting slings, strap loops, ropes and a few misc. chain clevis' and such.
I keep it in my truck.

 

[c10bonanza]

I have Pit Pal tie-down hangers in the front and back of my enclosed trailer. Keeps them off the floor, clean, dry, and easy to find. If I could just get everyone who says "let me help you get loaded up so you can get on the road" to use them!

http://www.pitpal.com/catalog/Tie_Down_Hangers-25-1.html

Those look handy, but they are proud of them!

 

[c10bonanza]

I have a zip duffel bag full of ratcheting and standard tie-downs, lifting slings, strap loops, ropes and a few misc. chain clevis' and such.
I keep it in my truck.

How do you keep them from getting tangled together?

 

[aar0s]

we keep the ones at work rolled up in the box under the bed of the truck.

 

[Outlander]

In the tool box on my trailer tongue - all bundled up so I have to fight them every time I need them

 

[battlegraduate09]

behind my seat ? didnt know people "stored" them. i have found to keep 4 in each truck, never know when youll need them.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

In the tool box on my trailer tongue - all bundled up so I have to fight them every time I need them

That was my situation until I got the Pit Pal stuff. I do miss fighting with them.

 

[Sureshot]

I pull the strap all the way in so the hook is tight to the ratchet then wrap the tail around to keep the hook against the ratchet. Depending on the size I sometimes give it a wrap with electrical tape to hold in place. Having only one hook exposed cuts down alot on the tangle and gives you something to hang it by if you have a spot.

 

[lowendrider]

I've got mine hanging in the shop on peg board with long hooks. In fact, I've got three hooks..one for ratchet straps, one for bungees and one for misc tie down stuff. Can't use cheap hooks though, they have to be heavy duty, lots of them get heavy.

 

[jdl25]

Put each one in a zip lock bag. Put the collection wherever you want.

 

[bert.]

mine get rolled up and then i cut a slice off a motorbike tube bout 20mm wide and put around them like a big elastic band. infact all my 4x4 recovery straps are kept like that also keeps them neat and tidy and stops them getting tangled

 

[JimVonBaden]

mine get rolled up and then i cut a slice off a motorbike tube bout 20mm wide and put around them like a big elastic band. infact all my 4x4 recovery straps are kept like that also keeps them neat and tidy and stops them getting tangled

Basically what I do. I cary them in an old tool bag handy when I use the trailer. I also have some hanging next to my motorcycle lift, but they are much shorter and motorcycle tie down specific.

Jim

 

[fiveohpatrol]

In my enclosed, I have the same thing as the pit-pal stuff that a friend fab'd for me. It's the easiest way I know to keep them out of the way, never tangled up, and you always know exactly where they are.

It's also nice to keep the front and rear ones separated so you don't have to adjust the length every time (if you're strapping down the same car each time).

 

[dirttracker18]

I've got mine hanging in the shop on peg board with long hooks. In fact, I've got three hooks..one for ratchet straps, one for bungees and one for misc tie down stuff. Can't use cheap hooks though, they have to be heavy duty, lots of them get heavy.

^^^^^^ This

But I have one more hook, a big one, for my heavy straps. I have an assortment of 3 inch ratchets and straps from racing including wheels hoops, those are on yet another hook tucked into the corner.

On another note but related, what do you use to clean/lube your ratchets that is relatively clean?

 

[Steevo]

How do you keep them from getting tangled together?

The longer ratchet straps get rolled up and a velcro strap wrapped around them to keep them that way. The shorter stuff gets tangled up a little. It is a trade off. I like them all in one bag, so I can toss it in the truck or the trailer, and in order to be portable and compact (1'x1'x2.5') I deal with a bit of tangling.

 

[c10bonanza]

behind my seat ? didnt know people "stored" them. i have found to keep 4 in each truck, never know when youll need them.

I keep 3 or 4 behind the seat too, but don't carry the other dozen or so with me all the time.

 

[c10bonanza]

I'm liking the idea of using tubing or velcro to keep the straps from unraveling. I hate it when the straps become a big tangled mess.

 

[58Yeoman]

I have a zip duffel bag full of ratcheting and standard tie-downs, lifting slings, strap loops, ropes and a few misc. chain clevis' and such.
I keep it in my truck.

^^^This^^^

 

[lonestarky]

I have a zippered tool bag (about the only bags heavy enough) that is a tangled mess regardless of how well I put them back. I try to buy similar or the same straps and store them separate (long end, and ratcheting end separate). I find that they're easier to take care of or wrap up that way.

I use rem oil on the ratcheting mechanisms (gun oil). Expensive, but clean and somewhat sling proof. Works good to lube door hinges, garage door springs, etc as well. better than WD 40 (which isn't actually a lube) by a long shot.

 

[bullfrog123]

In the shop I have a "towel bar" hanging from the wall. Along with some metal drawer pulls or door handles to hang the bungees from Having multiple hangers makes sorting and finding the right length tie down or bungee fast.

 

[-Brent-]

I keep mine in an 11" duffel in my truck's center console. The few extra I have are in a cardboard box on a shelf beneath my work bench.

 

[RTcat]

Similar to Dirk in Wi, go to the hardware store and get a bunch of little metal 'U' hooks. Put one up high (near the roof of your enclosed trailer, on your stud wall, etc.) and put the other about 3' below it. Simpley connect your tie strap to the hooks and tighten. Do this for each strap you need stored. Works great in an enclosed trailer set-up as your extra straps are tight and not swinging around.

 

[gewf631]

I bought a couple sets of when they were on sale at Menards

They're only 10 feet, but with 4 in the case, I haven't come across anything yet that I couldn't double or triple-up. Keep one kit in each vehicle.
http://www.smartstraps.com/products/tiedowns-quadwinder.aspx

For the odds and ends, I rubber-band and place them in a cheap toolbox.

 

[half_full]

I have some hanging in the shop on a wire fence. The fence was there for horse stalls.
For the truck, I usually carry a bunch. Never know when you will need what. I store the smaller tug straps under the rear seat in old socks. My GF doesn't seem to understand that I'd rather have discolored socks than bleached pretty white with no elastic... One in each sock. Don't need to roll them up and they don't get tangled. Bigger straps get rolled up.

 

[JakeKohl]

I put each strap in a zip-lock freezer bag and store them on a shelf or under the seat in my truck...no tangles. If I have the time, I roll it...but just stuffing it in the bag usually ends pretty well.

 

[ZRX61]

A tangled mess in a big ziplock bag behind the back seat of my truck.

 

[49tandc]

For the bigger tie down straps, I cut up a wheelbarrow inner-tube into 1" wide strips. When I roll up the tie down straps, I put one of these little inner tube "rubber bands" on to hold the tie down strap securely in place. They are very astrong and work well. One inner tube makes a bunch of the rubber band thingys.

49T&C

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

I keep mine in a canvas tool bag!!!

 

[bad_idea]

Rolled up under the passenger seat of the truck. Then again, I only have 4 for whatever I drag home in the pick up.

 

[santagary]

I've got mine hanging in the shop on peg board with long hooks. In fact, I've got three hooks..one for ratchet straps, one for bungees and one for misc tie down stuff. Can't use cheap hooks though, they have to be heavy duty, lots of them get heavy.

Ditto: a series of long hooks in pegboard in one of my leanto's, very handy...I also hang all the bungees there. Great way to dry them off after a wet load also, vs. putting them in a bag or a pile.

 

[Outlawmws]

Similar to bullfrogs method. I made my bar from 2 plastic street ell's I had laying around a length of 1/2" conduit, and some wall plates for 1/2" pipe thread. Cost was nothing as I had it all as leftover scrap.