Revolutionizing Ratchet Straps - An Easy Hack you Wish you Knew Sooner

[@allenking8427]

Best technique! I retired from the Army where I served as a Blackhawk mechanic and crew chief. We always use ratchet straps to secure loads to the cabin floor. I was shown this wrap maybe 15 years ago and I have taught everyone willing to learn how to maintain and store their straps so they'll be ready to use and remain in serviceable condition. Great demonstration and explanation! Thanks for sharing!

[@1s.s.hotrodvair]

Thirty plus years of using ratchet straps stored in bags, boxes and always a big ol'jumbled up mess, Especially if there are multiple straps! Looks professional, clean and neat. Save me a mess of time. I owe you one! Thanks again!

[@tbillington]

This is the only video where I've gone straight out into the shed and tried what has been shown. Works brilliant, excellent idea.

[@Arariel3]

agreed! same

[@dwightdawson3578]

The few minutes spent watching this will be repaid ten times over in time saved using and stowing straps. Excellent video! Thanks for sharing!

[@rayward9265]

I just went down to the basement to try it out. It took close to 10 minutes to untangle and separate one large ratchet strap. Another 10 minutes to step through your video and do the first one. Works great! Have to adjust a little for different strap lengths, but this is now a new standard procedure for me! Thanks!

[@Deb2sing]

Thanks for helping me get rid of the clutter in my shed. Your English is excellent. From a third-generation Swede!

[@pammurphy8843]

I can't get over how much clearer and colorful your new equipment makes your films! It even makes you look thinner, too!

[@Largexxl-zn4lx]

Pam Murphy haha ;) but good point!

[@markgriz]

So his camera subtracts 10 pounds?

[@desolate282]

Pam Murphy, Fat shaming, not cool bro.

[@EnGammalAmazon]

Simeon, here is another tip for people using ratchet straps. In Sweden, most of the freight trucks are enclosed with sides that slide back accordion style so you don't see how they strap down their loads. In the US we use a lot of open, flatbed trailers. When throwing your straps over your load, it is always a good idea to put a half or full twist in the strap before you hook it to the frame. If you leave them flat, the air rushing over the straps causes them to vibrate at a high frequency and if the strap is going over a sharp edge, the vibration can actually cut through or at least damage the strap. Putting the twist in it breaks up the airflow and the strap doesn't 'sing.' You do this on both sides of your load.

[@thebigmacd]

This is also why some smoke stacks and towers have helical strakes attached: they shed vortexes without resonating.

[@whatfreedom7]

Mark Fritch does it pass inspection that way?

[@gordbaker896]

put a twist in the strap that holds the Awning on a trailer. Stops the vibration.

[@TruckerD86]

whatfreedom7 it passes inspection in the u.s. with the half or full twist. Makes straps last a lot longer also

[@mebcool]

This is actually very great advice. I pulled flats and step-decks for many many years. An old time taught me this little trick and it made all the difference in the world. No more flapping straps and no more torn straps.

[@jtjones73]

That is pure genius! Thank you. I have rolled, wrapped, tied, and bound my straps every way possible... until now.

[@peterhume3474]

Fantastic. Even your last comment about throwing it over a loaded trailer isn't any problem to me. I'd just open it, set it ready, and chuck it over. I'm going downstairs to go do it before i forget. Great stuff !

[@BrianStocking]

Great idea. I've been rolling my smaller straps up and putting them in individual zip lock bags and that has work out well.

[@j.r.zavala]

I just picked up some HD tie-down straps, yesterday. The day after use, they're like spaghetti, in a box. Thanks to this brilliant video presentation, I will apply this method of storage to my new tie-down straps. Thank you from Littleton, Colorado, U.S.A. UPDATE 7/4/19: This tie-down storage method works as instructed. A few tugs here and there to get it nice and taught. The end result? I have taken control of all my straps. I highly recommend taking the time as it is of great benefit to get your strap-on. ☺ Cheers!

[@TractorsNStuff]

So many people use ratchet straps incorrectly. Good to see someone using their brain. Great video!

[@windspoint]

Never mind the negative comments. I think it a great idea as I use straps like these on my trailer regularly and they are usually tangled. Keep up the good work!!

[@TheMILVET]

Nice. Remember it takes 2.5 wraps around the spool for proper grip. The ratchet strap tightens by griping the strap against itself. If you get 1 or even a 1/2 wrap, it can slip.

[@chastblind7606]

Thanks for the info

[@snakerstran9101]

Yep. Too often people tug the strap tight and then do a ratchet or two. Pull the strap tight and then pull back out about a foot of strap, then ratchet.

[@sonarjockey4985]

Thank you. I've tried many ways of storing my straps neatly, the best way used a lot of cut to length Velcro. But this beats it hands down. Nothing extra to lose or keep track of, totally self binding. PERFECT! And kudos to the video that did it in the original German.

[@thomasfarkas5458]

What can I say!! Pure genius!! Thank you for sharing this with us. I will never toss another strap in the drawer without storing this way again. Beautiful picture quality. Thanks again Simeon.

[@jamespt2005]

I love it. No more tangles, hooks getting caught. The best part is compact. Thank you from louisville KY

[@craigschofield64]

Awesome Vid!!!! Thank you for making this video I have struggled for years on how to keep my ratchet straps stored in a neat and usable way. I am disabled and have a hard time with my hands and I struggle to get up off the floor because of my legs and back problems and it never fails that when I need to use a strap I end up sitting on the ground trying to untangle my straps and getting knots out of the strap before I can use it. I have tried making racks that I can hang them from which works well but it takes up precious wall space in my garage, plus that is useless when I am not home and digging for a strap out of the tool bin in my pickup truck. As soon as I get done typing here I am headed out to my garage and I am going to apply your method of strap storage to every ratchet strap I own and I am going to rip that rack off the garage wall and reclaim 6 foot of wall space that is badly needed for storage of other things. Please if you have any other tricks and tips for storing tools and other household items usually stored in a garage or shed please make a video sharing them with us. This video is the most useful tip you have shared to date for me, I use ratchet straps all the time I have hated them from the beginning but they are something I have to have and use almost daily and you just solved my reason for hating them! THANK YOU!

[@disabilityPickett]

They are hiding it and freezing it and shit

[@lostinmyspace4910]

can't you just store this crap on a stupid ass nail and not make a big deal about how to store it? Why throw this crap on the floor ( oh wait, unless it's just like dog shit), yeah the floor is where it belongs.

[@Moraren]

Har många många gånger svurit över ihoptrasslade remmar och funderat hur man enklast skulle förvara dem. Det här kommer ändra allt! Tusen tack!

[@cheyennesouza7960]

One tip to make this method even better, mark the strap where you need it to stop when putting it through the ratchet and mark which side has the hook so that you do not need to run the strap through your hand to make sure you have it the correct way. Thanks for the video.

[@cheyennesouza7960]

CLureCo The only thing is do not buy ones with black straps. Its difficult to find a white sharpie.

[@VillsvinJeger]

Cheyenne Souza That's what white paint markers are for.

[@timfischer]

Silver sharpies are common, I have them around for marking on dark thing such as this

[@FitzhenryCM]

alwcurlz z

[@AztecWarrior69_69]

@@cheyennesouza7960 just cut a little notch one the one side. LOL

[@cullendrea]

I wish I had seen this years ago. I've wasted at least 10 hours of my life untangling and sorting and unwinding ratchet straps. Great video and thank you for the tutorial.

[@rlgoers]

Awesome! Thank you. Finally, a video where I actually learned something useful.

[@WireWeHere]

I double the strap before coiling to speed things up and a small reference mark showing length to leave out for final wrap. Easier for my sons. Sure beats a 5 gallon bucket of confusion. Thanks for sharing.

[@theJustinRhodesShow]

I use these straps everyday to hold down netting in the Shaw for the Saul move. They always end up getting stored funny. Can’t wait to try this.

[@jms6184]

Learning something new everyday is one of my personal goals and thanks to you I got it done early!

[@joelglaser5657]

In all the years I've been using ratchet straps, it never occurred to me to wrap it this way. Thank you Simeon!!

[@robertjennings397]

i use a bungee cord strap it like that

[@tomgallagher4355]

Use duct tape

[@denisphoenix]

Great video. Good idea for the amateur. Not so for the professional. Ratchets and straps are kept separate with the strap rolled with the hook on the out side so it can be attached to the off side side rave/chassis member and thrown over the load to the near side. Ratchets on the near/kerb side.

[@colin8532]

Well, that's a lot better than the way I do it now....all balled up in one big knot! lol

[@corygoings5822]

You grab one you grab them all!

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

Cory Goings How many hooks can one strap have?!?

[@johnmaciejewski4]

Colin One big ball? I will have to try that. My method ends up in a big tangled mess!

[@abet2817]

lol one big knot made up of a whole buncha lil ones

[@SwankeyMonkey]

Like the Griswold Christmas Lights knot-ball.

[@matak99]

I was just thinking that my way of storing it is neater and less complicated, until you showed how quick & ready for use your style is. Converted!

[@nvlvdave]

Love this for the storage aspect, but 2 things I don't like about it: you have to put it in the ratchet backwards - loose end comes out on the bottom - this is a problem if you're strapping an item with a flat surface - loose end is trapped under the ratchet. The other thing is that it takes FOREVER to roll back up. If you have say 8 of the large straps like used on a semi, you are talking a good half hour to roll them back up. I just roll them up around my hand to my elbow, fold them in half and put a little bungie toggle strap on them - takes about 10 seconds.

[@jaspip1678]

Naw man you can do it the right way. I been doin it with the hooks on the right side for yrs. Just have to have a lil bit more slack to reach around is all

[@scottmarshall6766]

Thanks for another useful tip. I've learned a bunch from you and your brother. I'm safer and more professional with the chainsaws because of what I've learned from you. This is another great solution. I can finally clean up that mess in my truck. Looking forward to implementing this technique. Kudos to the original German utuber from whom you spotted this tip - the fact you gave credit where due makes me even more a "Swedish Homestead" fan.

[@hpthynne]

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to try this with my pile of ratchet straps. Greetings from Ireland!

[@hardrock1826]

We do something similar here. We wrap the strap around the closed ratchet, it doesn't take long to do. And we have on the market here these very large, thick, heavy elastic bands that will stretch over, holding the strap secure in place until required. Then most people store them in a 5 gallon plastic bucket. Which acts as a storage place for the elastics when the ratchets are in use. Also, to be able to distinguish hook down or up side, I take a thick black felt type marker and run a line down the length of the strap and continue that line over onto the short portion of the strap. When you look down you are looking at the line which puts your hook down and you just match it with the short side and you are confident that you have it right.

[@RvKsword]

Why didnt anyone tell me about this trick twenty years ago, this is the stuff they need to teach in schools

[@oznews1]

lol

[@ConcernedcitizenNa]

Jeison Blade Right.

[@routtookc8064]

I guarantee you, someone who didn't "go to school" figured this out.

[@Sivart4323]

Concernedcitizen11223 Na has like an angry man that you don’t have

[@Sivart4323]

Concernedcitizen11223 Na has to take some less lukoj

[@Area51Base]

I just bought some ratchet straps. That is a brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing

[@sweetlou2000]

Dont second guess yourself it's a brilliant way of storage and use no matter the circumstance. PARTY ON!

[@oscarsanchez6612]

I saw a guy who storages its ratchet strap into a sock, this is much better, Thank you!

[@markmark5269]

Nah, I just throw them in a box when finished, and use this valuable time to have a beer while trolling on KZbin. My life is awesome!

[@jritchiejritchie2687]

Haha... brilliant. Guess my life is awesome too👊😎

[@ConcernedcitizenNa]

Mark Mark Savage

[@jamescarlin569]

Yea I do the ...ill fuck with it later method

[@shanefsr6609]

someone has been watching my "useful tips" vids

[@davidrobbinsjr.3848]

🤣

[@CncObsession]

I had to go get my straps and do this. What a great idea. Thanks For the short straps and bungee cords, I use a 36" piece of 6" diameter PVC pipe. Simply put a hook on each end and tighten. I can put 15-20 straps on there. Easy to get to and keep untangled.

[@Kevin_747]

Good tip. I use Harbor Freight ratchet straps. I throw them away after one use, not really but sometimes I want to.

[@deasttn]

Their free flashlights make decent paperweights

[@martinschulz9381]

Right on, good tip. I will say that a little white lithium grease every now and then will keep these working smoothly like brand new. Ratchet straps are often neglected.

[@fyanezc]

This is pretty cool, I'm going to try it!! Thanks for sharing

[@gudgengrebe]

Thank you for this very helpful and clearly explained video. I’m talking as someone who has very little mechanical ability and even less experience. I know that a lot of people find it hard to explain things, to a novice. You did this very well. I subscribed immediately after watching this video. I spent a long time learning how to use one of these yesterday, so I thought I would subscribe to learn from you. Greetings from Suffolk, UK. Good luck and thank you.

[@jbindallas1]

here is another way... I take a milk crate or a 5 gallon bucket, take the strap apart, put the ratchet end (short end) in the same position you just did and drop it in the crate and hang the hook on the side. put the other piece in the crate and hang the hook on the side. the long part never knots up or tangles with the other straps. I keep several straps in my crate and then put it in my tool box on the back of the truck.

[@DM-pr5zu]

Or, after untieing a load leave them on passenger side floor, wife finds them, rolls them up, puts a tie around it and off they go back into the back seat bin.

[@_Lightning_Dog_]

BOOM! My ratchet straps are now in order. Thanks so much!

[@GarryFullerSr]

I will be trying this tomorrow.

[@mammiemania893]

Thanks!!! We really needed this.... for at least, what? ... twenty years. Heh. You never know just what you'll learn watching your channel. Keep it up. We'll be there.

[@TIREMAN5]

i always just throw the straps in the back of the truck, one of my helpers with nothing to do one day took all of the straps and rolled them up nice and neat, some one stole them within the hour. So now I just throw them in the bed, to much trouble to steal them now.

[@saemushailstorm3135]

Hah - no good deed goes unpunished !

[@kellyriddle8789]

A foreman I had, had the same theory about rolling up electrical chords. He'd say if they wanna steal em they can roll em up so we just left them laying out on the job. Never lost one

[@towtruckaj]

I keep most of my straps in my truck cab in the door pockets, But I keep 2 of them in my bed hooked to the side mounts and tight, They can steal them if they want but they would have to undo them, Uncross them, And then take them, And hope to god I don't see them because that's a pretty petty thing to lose all your teeth over.

[@Ces999919822]

I do the same thing. Mine are laying in the bed of my truck with one of the trailer hitches sitting on top of them.

[@norbertbartosiak5147]

Stolen!? You must live in Albuquerque!

[@InTheFleshInc]

Thanks for posting this, I wouldn't have ever known even if I did find the German one because I don't speak it. Thumbs up

[@maehay4065]

I could use one of these! Thank you for the demonstration of Triple R Strap. Awesome to see you using it on your videos coming up 👍👏☝️🏡🇺🇸

[@chefblair63]

Why am I Not surprised a German person came up with this! Das Gut!

[@joenadeau4419]

Thats pretty cool, I have lots of those straps but mine are in a big pile on the floor in the barn.

[@latouselatrec]

Joe Nadeau I know this doesn't work in all situations but in your case in a barn you could just hang them

[@MrTimstaaa]

Excellent video. I just went and pulled out the four straps I've got sitting in a box in my car all loose and fixed them up perfectly. 👍👍

[@GuyGood77]

You are the man!! Really helpful bud. Are those suspenders ratchet strap? JJ TY

[@steveisking1]

Good idea! Much better than the "roll them up in a ball" process that I use. Lol. Thanks for sharing.

[@dwkarl55]

1:36 "It is important that you go from the top" To me, you're threading the long strap backwards making it more difficult to use the strap

[@DiscoFang]

Thank you. Yep you are so right. Almost impossible to use this way for tying loads down.

[@oilhammer04]

Thank you for helping untangle the enigma of ratchet straps.

[@elgringoec]

Jajaja for sure!

[@Woodyjims-shack]

Nice one Simeon

[@JimFleming1953]

EXCELLENT storage tip, it's worth the extra hassle of unwinding if I need to throw the strap, just to be able to store the ratchets and straps so nicely! Thanks Swedish Homestead!

[@ForgingFreedomTV]

Excellent!! 👍❤️

[@artandrews5748]

Forging Freedom Podcast Channel j7u

[@jcb8014]

brilliant tip, i'v been using rachet straps for years, this is a neat way to store/use them

[@heavymetalrockman]

Only one issue I see with this method and that is the tail of your ratchet strap would be on the underside of your cinched load. I prefer to have the tail on the topside to pull tight then ratchet tightly so that the tail feeds square into the ratchet and not bind. Nice vid though..

[@MaxAC]

I was wondering if anyone else noticed that.

[@nogoa42]

Me to.

[@kurtisyacyshen7048]

Peter Currie thats why he said unless you have to throw over a load, because then it would be under, he explained that in the video lol

[@cliftonward6022]

I agree. I lose it on my guys when I grab a strap and the tail is underneath. I was breaking into a sweat watching the video

[@ollie1277]

I thought it was just me.

[@MarieLynnRichard]

Hubby is always bewildered that I sort and clean the tools. I mean c'mon, you can't call yourself a handyman if everything you own is in a pile of dirt slowly withering away. I mostly do it because I hate to dirty my hands and nails and I DIY way more than he does :) Great tip for the mass of ratchet straps that behave like a bundle of Christmas tree lights.

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

I'll keep using velcro straps to store them so I can wrap the excess strap when in use.

[@richardmourdock2719]

nicely done. Good tip. I do get tired of these things getting tangled in the back of my truck cab.

[@GoodDayFarm]

Great tip! Thanks!

[@christined.3728]

So glad I found this video! I usually have to detangle mine before using so this will definitely help. Thanks!

[@DaKayH]

I have to throw the hook over my load, most of the time. I don't want to damage the ratchet by throwing It over and hitting the truck side or the ground. I almost always take it apart and toss the hook over while holding the strap. As a truck driver for many years We kept the straps and ratchets separate. It's ok for small straps not the bigger ones.

[@c6q3a24]

So do I, but I'm still going to use this storage method. When you need to throw the strap over the load all you need to do is hook the ratchet to your tie down rail and pull out a few metres of strap so you can throw the loose end over.

[@dirkkelly9596]

Debra Hall is

[@peterhelliwell4702]

Never throw the buckle as it can do damage or hurt person on other side of truck. Hook buckle on then throw strap no damage and less chase of injuring person on opposite side of of load where you may not see a person. Still a cool way to store strap if not having to throw over a load.

[@TheIdiots499]

Learned that today and I was blown away man it is seriously the best way to do it and thank you for the storage part !

[@Flexaret]

That's a great tip Simeon, my ratchet straps are always tangled together in a stuff sack, not any more, well not once I sort them tomorrow :-) I'm curious about the other tips you have to share, should be good.

[@thejasonkellett]

Freakin' awesome! Ratchet straps are so awesome yet they are such a pain to dig out, untangle, and get straightened out. NOT ANYMORE! thank you, liked and subscribed!

[@hunterfontenot3118]

"How can you trust a man who wears a belt and suspenders? This man can't even trust his own pants."

[@garrywaller1466]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing! I've always struggled with trying to find the best way to store those straps.

[@1asdfasdfasdf]

So why is it called the triple R?

[@CreativoErratico]

asdfasdfasdf because it’s Really Really Rsimple

[@BilgePump]

Good word. I've used these straps forever. I'll try it.

[@mraliks1]

great trick! thanks for sharing!

[@danielschneider9312]

What a cool idea! I'm off to organise the rat's nest of ratchet straps in the shed. Thanks for sharing this!

[@jamiewestover6760]

Love it!

[@TheMrK3lly]

I had to modify my wraps since I have slightly different style but thank you as this will keep these nicely tucked away and ready for deployment

[@TractorWrangler01]

Half it twice before you roll it up.

[@shanefsr6609]

2 halfs,?! that's more fractions than I can begin to calculate, Aristotle

[@guidolyons4912]

Great tip. I've tried a few different methods and this one is the best.

[@czredhead8286]

Great video ! I'm going to do that. Thanks

[@dynomax666]

Bud, that is amazing. If I didnt just move and have stuff all over the place I would have done this to all my straps!

[@Xaviar002]

That's helpful thanks

[@johnbivins]

This is the most useful tip I've seen. I keep three in some sort of tangle in my truck and always have to untangle them....

[@CKelly-il9sj]

Very helpful. But, say: why do they call it "Triple R"?

[@garrisonaw]

C. Kelly My first thought would be Re-thread, Roll, and Ratchet. But since the video he saw it in was originally in German, who knows.

[@GraceTorqueGarage]

Its a nice way of storing them I might give it a shot at home but as a truck driver I prefer to have the roll separate to through over a load as its easier in a rolled format with a hole in the centre for your grip to flick over

[@harrisjuan1564]

Thanks Simeon. I’ve never seen anyone do that here and I’m going to do that to all the straps. Thank you.

[@josephpolityka8264]

Awesome lil trick imagine how many of us wished we knew this all these years thank you for the tip

[@northatlantic2723]

Why did it take this long before someone told me this! Tanks for this video, Simeon! This will be so handy!

[@MacXcode]

Thank You for this video! I've always have problems organizing these straps and I have lot of them, now I learned!

[@blueboy7777777777777]

I always wrapped it the other way with the hook end in, your way is much better, thanks!

[@JerryCalverley]

I love this technique! I battle with keeping mine rolled up and organized. Always looking for something to wrap it up. This is awesome! Thanks!

[@michaeldelaney376]

Wasnt sure at the beginning, thought this was just another waste of time video, but I have to say that was a brilliant well put together video and I will be using your idea from now on. Excellent demo and thank you for sharing this!]

[@welshharlequin7722]

I like videos under 10 minutes (so I can watch yours and Justin Rhodes, and Art and Bri, etc.) So this shorty is great to allow more time for the viewer! :) Thanks.

[@slothmarathonpromotions2470]

I love ratchet straps. They are great. When my kids get too obnoxious I just throw a few of those on them and they stay pretty still.

[@srhintz]

Nice. I had mine hanging on hooks neatly but to take them anywhere is a mess. I tucked the static hook down so it doesn't poke the strap. Makes a really tight roll, thanks.

[@highdownmartin]

Watched it a couple of times to get the orientation. Sorted. Great idea. Thank you

[@bigviper64]

Way Cool!..Thank You for this demonstration. I have thrown my old ratchet straps away because they were always in disarray and a pain to deal with. I have since relied on my trusty ropes and the use of the Truckee Hitch to secure my loads. I will share your video with my friends who do use these ratchets in the mean time.