hooks up or down?

[dleroy43]

I learned (in Army railoading class) to attach ratchets "open end up". Reason being if it came unhooked, it would be slung to the floor not into the air.

When I rented a trailer not too long ago, the ratcheting arms would go into the trailer

How do you do it?

Thanks

 

[Avery4jc]

I've never thought about it but that makes sense if they're just open hooks...but don't most people use straps w/ the little spring loaded tounge thingy that closes it? I know I do and I've never had any problems...

I looked through my pics and aparently I do it both ways... some up some down...

 

[mxfireman]

Depends on what I am tying down. On the trailer I pull up with the hook and on the Blazer I pull down. If it is tied right it won't come undone.

 

[GM4wheeling]

i've never seen it really make a difference, but I've always hooked up with openings up... just so that, as you said, if the hook were to break it'd shoot the strap down.. maybe it's just something the army came up with eh???

 

[gmc4cw]

in my state its illegal to haul with open hooks. everybody does it though. I bet yours is the same way. all my straps have the extra spring loaded little tongue so I hook mine down.

we are also supposed to have 5 separate tie downs, but I only run 4.

 

[GM4wheeling]

just a comment..... just because a strap hook as the spring loaded door feature, doesn't mean that when the door closes on them that it actually latches onto the end of the hook. Most of these "doors" are just there so that you don't have to worry about them falling off whatever you're hooking to before you get the strap tightened down. I haven't see too many that actually latch the tip of the hook to the base of the hook... Just like the difference between a key ring C-clip and an actual climing C-clip.

 

[mstockton]

Hook safety latches are an OSHA recommended feature (could be required, but most chains in our shop don't have them) Although most tie down straps that have them are pretty thin and cheap. I wouldn't trust them for much.


-Martin

 

[throttleissues]

Mine have safety latches on the hooks, too. There seems to be some confusion about the purpose of these latches. They are to keep the hook from coming off the anchor point if the load shifts or bounces. When the strap or chain pulls tight again, it is still the main hook that takes this force. that means the strap can end up reliably holding the load on the trailer even if it was not fastened very well. However, without safety latches, a shifted load means the strap or chain will usually fall loose and be of no use in keeping the load on the trailer. I do run mine open side up so they don't dig into the trailer deck. I also find entertainment in the great lengths some people go throught to make sure their open hooks won't come loose: weird angles, LOTS of straps, bailing wire, zip ties, etc.