Aaargh! What should I do with the ratchet strap tails?

[guy48065]

I'm tired of finding the long tail end of a ratchet strap has untied and is dragging on the highway. What's the best trick to secure the end?

 

[hemi rt]

Cut the excess off, keep just the amount you think you need, seal the end with a lighter or soldering iron. Sounds like you have way to much strap.

 

[mla2ofus]

Agree w/ hemi. If you don't plan to use them elsewhere, cut them about a foot longer than needed. I do the same and just tie a knot in the end. For my straps getting used for different tasks I loosely fold up the excess and place it under the loaded side of the strap and cinch it down on the folds.
Mike

 

[boatman37]

cut them and burn the ends

 

[robert graham]

cut them and burn the ends

Yep, how simple is that.....

 

[JASinIL2006]

If you don't want to cut and burn the straps, you can roll them up and use velcro straps to fasten down the loose ends. Works quite well.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

I daisy chain the excess end of the strap.

 

[gm280]

All good ideas already provided. But have you thought about buying short straps? They make them in various sizes and buy some as close to the length you need and keep the long ones for other tie down issues. JMHO

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Cut the excess off, keep just the amount you think you need, seal the end with a lighter or soldering iron. Sounds like you have way to much strap.

Just use the lighter, match, or torch....no need to wreck a good soldering tip......

 

[Scott Danforth]

Or use a proper over-center transom strap vs a ratchet strap

http://www.iboats.com/Attwood-Trans...84287977--session_id.439510344--view_id.47788

 

[thumpar]

I like Scott's idea. I see people tie down with ratchet straps that I wouldn't trust to hold down a tarp. A lot of them are thin and poor quality. The transom straps are much easier to use too. You just take up the excess with a pull and then flip the handle. Quick and easy.

 

[guy48065]

I use my straps for a variety of things and trailering my pontoon is the least frequent so I'm not going to cut them.

I'm happy the rest of you never have to deal with strap ends fluttering and untying themselves.
Maybe there's a trucker forum...

 

[boatman37]

I use mine for other things too but I took 2 of them and set those aside strictly for the boat. The front has a turnbuckle between the hook and trailer so don't need a strap up front. Not sure how a pontoon ties down though so maybe your application would be different.

 

[oldjeep]

I use my straps for a variety of things and trailering my pontoon is the least frequent so I'm not going to cut them.

I'm happy the rest of you never have to deal with strap ends fluttering and untying themselves.
Maybe there's a trucker forum...

You could roll them and zip tie through the middle of the roll, but for what a ratchet strap costs I'd get one specifically for the pontoon - or just get a proper boat tie down with a cam buckle.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I use my straps for a variety of things and trailering my pontoon is the least frequent so I'm not going to cut them.

I'm happy the rest of you never have to deal with strap ends fluttering and untying themselves.
Maybe there's a trucker forum...

You got some answers that don't require cutting the straps... have you tried velcro straps?

 

[guy48065]

No...I assumed that the forces that untie knots would open velcro.

I've noticed, casually, others wrap the long ends around the ratchet mechanism or zig-zag the excess and wrap the tail around that. I don't know how they secure it so it doesn't shake loose.

And this isn't limited to boating--it's the same when hauling lumber, atv, or a fridge on my utility trailer.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I've used velcro straps many times. They work quite well. Better than knots, in my experience.

 

[oldjeep]

I always just knot the 2" straps on my car trailer tie downs, haven't had them come loose yet.

 

[Silvertip]

Most tie-down straps for boats (at least that I've used and seen) have a velcro stap sewn into them so you simply fold the tag end of the strap and secure it under the velco. Otherwise is it no rocket science to cut the strap to the desired length and then seal the cut end.

 

[jkust]

Proper transom straps cost very little in the big picture. With the purpose built straps, trailing ends aren't an issue. Generally, I prefer to use the correct item versus improvising.