Read the tag before you trust the color
Ratchet straps are sold in bright colors that say nothing about strength. The tag should show a working load limit. If the tag is gone, the strap is already a guess, and a guess is a poor fit for concrete, a treadmill, or a log. Use a strap whose working load limit is meant for the piece you are holding, and use more than one. Two adequate straps beat one heroic strap you crank until the ratchet jams. Inspect the webbing. A cut, a knot, or a section melted by a muffler is a retired strap. Knots reduce the strength of webbing. Retire the strap instead of tying the damaged part out of the way. Hardware should match the anchor. A giant hook on a small eye bends the eye.
Bungees hold light covers, not mass
A bungee cord is a spring. It is useful for keeping a tarp from flapping over a load that is already strapped, and it is not useful for holding the load. Under a bounce, a bungee stretches and the cargo moves, then the bungee snatches it back. That snatch breaks plastic hooks and lets a chair or a bundle of siding step out of place. Rope can work when it is rated, tied correctly, and protected from edges, but a random clothesline on a sharp paver will chafe through. If you own ratchets, use them for the mass and use the bungee only for the flutter. Anchor to the metal loops or rails the truck maker provided for tie-downs. A plastic bed cap, a tail light, and a bumper valve stem are not anchors.
Protect the strap and leave a release you can reach
Sharp edges cut webbing. A corner pad, a rag, or the board you already put over a foam stack keeps the strap alive until the site. Route the strap so you can still open the tailgate and so the ratchet handle is not digging into a tire. After you tighten, check that the strap is not rubbing a hot exhaust. At the bay, release tension with your body clear of the load. A strap under tension will fly when the ratchet lets go, and the cargo may shift at the same moment. Recoil is normal. Standing in the path of the hook is not. Retire any strap that went fuzzy or cut on this trip before you use it on the next one.
Before you go
- Use ratchet straps with readable working-load tags, and retire cut or knotted webbing.
- Anchor only to the truck's tie-down points, not to trim or a tail light.
- Let bungees hold flutter, not the weight of the cargo.
- Pad sharp corners, and stand clear of the hook when you release tension.
Trusting a pair of bungee cords with plastic hooks to hold a load of logs.
Questions people ask
Are cam buckle straps acceptable?
A cam buckle with a real working-load tag can hold a lighter, bulky item. For dense debris, a ratchet you can actually tension is the better tool, still anchored correctly.
Can I join two short straps with a knot?
No. A knot in webbing is a weak point. Use a strap long enough for the load or a proper hardware connector rated for it.
Search Dumpmapper by ZIP code or city, then call the site before you load the truck. Hours and accepted materials change.