Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

[SteveM]

What’s your preference and why?

[number9]

Cam buckle, because ratchets are cunts of things.

Will never buy ratcheting straps ever a-fucking-gain.

[klp]

KTM Soft Loop Buckle Tie Downs | ATV | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC

'Nuff said!

[lobsta3]

Ancra, good enough for NATO and U.S.

[OneCheekRider]

I switched to Pro Taper swivel cam buckle this year. They've been reliable, easy to use, securely attach to just about anything, and the excess folds up/velcros nicely so it doesn't flap in the wind. Swivel Carabiner Tie-Downs | Tie-Downs | Accessories | ProTaper.com

[stoinkythepig]

I have these on my boat trailer: Amazon.com: Reese Powersports 2060300 43" 2-Piece Retractable Transom Tie Down: Automotive They are awesome.

[e30addict]

Ratcheting. I don't trust cam buckles to hold when I need them most.

[Tekime]

Ratcheting -- cam buckles make me nervous.

I do have cam straps I use for lighter loads on my DR and MTB though.

[adouglas]

Both, for different purposes.

Front of bike sits in a Condor chock and uses ratchet straps run through the triple tree. I hate those flippin' open hooks that you usually find on the ends of straps, and when I saw these at Home Depot I grabbed 'em immediately. I like the clip hooks, and there's a D-ring sewn into the strap that makes soft loops unnecessary. The ratchet makes it easy to put some load on the suspension, which keeps everything taut.

The rear wheel is held down by a plain 1" cam strap run through a pair of D-rings embedded in the trailer deck and straddling the rear rim. It's not really needed but acts as a safety just in case. The same strap also holds down the back end of my ramp.

Other miscellaneous stuff (paddock stands, gas cans) gets held down with ordinary cam straps running to whatever point is handy.

I've been using cam straps for decades and never had any trouble with 'em. I prefer plain ones, no hooks or crap.

[Garandman]

We’ve evolved to these, ratchet straps with carabiner ends. We use cam buckles also.

11/2" x 61/2ft PowerTye Mfg Made in USA Yellow-Zinc Heavy-Duty Ratchet Tie-Downs with Carabiner Hooks, Black/Black (pair) - - Amazon.com

If you carry any line, a trucker’s hitch can be used to obtain a 3:1 purchase, extremely simple and tight enough for most purposes.

[number9]

I've only had a good quality set of cambuckles, and cheap sets of (Advance Auto Parts) ratcheting straps.

In fact I have a couple of sets of ratcheting straps if anyone wants 'em. Free.

[RandyO]

although I like turnbuckles as much as binders

[adouglas]

I love the trucker's hitch. Use it all the time, and a spool of paracord is always at hand. Amazingly useful.

[Stromper]

I use ratchet straps

Minimal maintenance a squirt of WD40 and they work fine

They age but they are cheap, used a big one as a winch for the pontoon trailer

[jhawley]

Im too much of a weak wristed nancy boy to rely on cam buckles for a bike. Ratchet straps ftw. but i use cam buckles like the above posted for securing the back of the bike

[LuvDog]

Ratchets. I always have multiple sets in my truck


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[TheIglu]

Erickson retractable ratchet straps. Cheap(ish), strong, and just so damn nice to work with. No loose ends flapping in the breeze.

[Point37]

cam straps...tighten and tie the excess above and below the cam and go

have some of this style which i like but can be a paint if you just want hooks instead of having to weave these through things and wrap them around...
Amazon.com: CARTMAN 1" x 12' Lashing Straps up to 600lbs, Blue Color, 6pk in Carry Bag: Automotive

plan on buying some of these...
Amazon.com: DC Cargo Mall 2 Motorcycle Kayak Tie-Down Cam Straps 1" x 6' Strong TieDown Straps with Durable Polyester and Vinyl-Coated S Hooks, Tie Down Cargo | For Pickup Bed, Moving Truck, Van, Trailer, by: Automotive

[Kurlon]

Pitbull TRS

[JettaJayGLS]

When I was using an open trailer, I used the cam straps. I could get great leverage to tie em down. I bought some nice ones at my local shop similar to the pro tapers but a different brand. Flawless.

Now that I'm using a hitch carrier, I thought I would switch it up to Canyon Dancers and ratchet tie downs. It became much harder to get leverage when squeezed in so tightly to my van. I went to Amazon and bought the top rated "Rhino Straps." They suck. Don't buy them. They are thin material with a finicky ratchet. The worst part is that the distance between the hooks and the the ratchet mechanism is so long, I can't actually make them work with the canyon dancers. The ratchet buckle is as long as the distance between the tie down point and the end of the canyon dancer.

That said, I'm in the market for a high quality ratchet strap with carabiner style ends, that will work in very short distances.

[Paul_E_D]

The length thing is why I still use cam buckle units with no fancy ends. Even the carabiners can make them too long for a canyon dancer setup.

[loudbeard]

That said, I'm in the market for a high quality ratchet strap with carabiner style ends, that will work in very short distances.

CargoBuckle Mini G3 Retractable Ratchet Straps w S-Hooks - 1" x 6' - 466 lbs - Qty 2 CargoBuckle Ratchet Straps IMF103745-86

[loudbeard]

The length thing is why I still use cam buckle units with no fancy ends. Even the carabiners can make them too long for a canyon dancer setup.

I can't actually make them work with the canyon dancers. The ratchet buckle is as long as the distance between the tie down point and the end of the canyon dancer.

You guys might not be using the correct sized canyon dancer. Measure your bar width and check their sizing chart:
Welcome to Canyon Dancer, Inc. - Home of the original Bar-Harness.

If your CD is a too large by a size or two, that can translate to 6-10 inches of extra webbing length.

[capitalcrew]

Ratchet straps. Whatever cheap ones I can get. They work great and have a ton of different uses.

[nhbubba]

Cam buckle, because ratchets are cunts of things.

Will never buy ratcheting straps ever a-fucking-gain.

I have some ratchets. Although I rarely use them around the bikes anymore.
I use a fork brace on the toys with more travel; dirt bikes, sumos, etc. Those let me cinch the straps right down to hold the bars. Each bike also gets 2 straps going backwards from a rearset, frame gusset, or similar on the rear of the bike. Bounce on the seat a few times while pulling the straps tight and you have a bike that isn't going anywhere. Straps never require an adapter pin, unlike TRS.

I've never, ever had a cam-buckle come undone on its own. Ever.

These are fantastic: Amazon.com: PowerTye 29623-S Blue/Black 1 1/2" X 6ft Cam Buckle Soft-Tye Secure Latch Tie-Downs with Integrated Soft Hooks: Automotive Secure hooks on both ends so they don't unhook by accident either. Love 'em.