If someone were to mention tie-down straps, what would be the first thing that came to your mind? I am guessing most people would immediately think of commercial trucking. Truck drivers use all sorts of tie-down straps to secure cargo to flatbed trailers. We have all seen it. But it turns out that you don’t have to be a trucker to love a good tie-down strap.

Tie-down straps are essential tools of the trade in commercial trucking. But they have plenty of household uses too. Just about any job for which you would normally use rope or bungee cords can be handled by a good tie-down strap.

3 Options for Homeowners

Tie-down straps come in many forms. As I see it, there are three primary options for homeowners – excluding ropes and bungee cords:

• Cam Buckle Straps – Cam buckle straps feature a webbing strap with a plastic or metal cam buckle. You thread the strap through the buckle and over the cam. A spring-loaded plate digs into the webbing material to hold it secure.

• Lashing Straps – Lashing straps are like cam buckle straps but with one exception: their buckle mechanisms are much simpler. The mechanisms tend to lack a cam, and you manually lock them down rather than relying on a spring-loaded plate.

• Ratchet Straps – Ratchet straps also feature webbing strap material. They are kept secure by ratchets with built-in handles. You thread the strap through the ratchet and then continuously pull on the handle until the strap is as tight as you want it.

My personal preference is the cam buckle strap. I prefer Rollercam products because they are so easy to use. For me, ratchet straps seem like overkill. Lashing straps require slightly more work and I am lazy.

Plenty of Household Uses

By now you are probably wondering how people like me use Rollercam tie-down straps at home. A big one for me is securing tools and equipment. For example, I make good use of the exposed beams in my garage to hang tools and equipment. Tie-down straps make excellent hanging straps.

Some of my tools are too heavy to hang from the walls. So I stand them up against a side wall and then secure them with a single strap to keep them from falling over. I also use tie-down straps on my shelves to keep smaller objects from falling off.

Additional household uses include:

• Transporting household goods in trucks and trailers.
• Moving furniture or major appliances with a hand truck.
• Transporting ATVs, bicycles, and even a gas grill.
• Securing tarps in the yard or when traveling.

Just about any job for which I would otherwise use rope or a bungee cord is suitable for a tie-down strap. Cam buckle straps are a lot easier to use than rope. They are a lot stronger and more reliable than bungee cords. I have reached a point of life where I probably won’t ever go back to ropes and bungee cords.

Use Them Correctly

To anyone new to tie-down straps, I would offer this one bit of advice: be sure to use them correctly. Pay attention to working load limits, strap condition, anchor points, and anything else that could affect performance. Never take a tie-down strap and its ability to secure things in place for granted. Always remember that safety comes first.

Tie-downs are versatile tools with an unlimited number of uses. Best of all, you don’t have to be a professional truck driver to appreciate them. I love tie-down straps, and I haven’t driven a truck in decades.