10-05-2020, 10:43 PM
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#16
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Join Date: Jun 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfessorP
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Thanks for the link! I am going to find something comparable to try out. I like having options. Appreciate it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by maca1
Sorry for the thread drift
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Thanks for making this thread about you. May your rack rub! lol jk. Good luck with it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jp.vegas
Yes exactly those. They loop around the bar, you hook the end of the ratchet strap into one and then do the same thing on the other side. Takes the guesswork out of using the pro rack and is the proper way to tie the strap to a round member that the hook won't fit on.
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Thanks for confirming! This seems like what will work best for me. What straps do you use, if I may ask?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetboy
As a general rule - I almost always use typical 2" heavy duty ratchet straps. Most 1" width straps are garbage. I'm sure there are some good ones, but most are crap. The ratchet mechanisms are usually just not very good and dont' last a long time.
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Incredibly helpful post! Thanks for that. I admit, I was going to do the no-no and wrap around the object prior to around the rack. Thanks again for all the tips. 2" it is, with the proper ends. Awesome. Thank you!
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10-06-2020, 01:28 AM
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#17
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: N California (really, 4 hours N of SF)
Posts: 333
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetboy
As a general rule - I almost always use typical 2" heavy duty ratchet straps. Most 1" width straps are garbage. I'm sure there are some good ones, but most are crap. The ratchet mechanisms are usually just not very good and dont' last a long time.
However - the standard hook end on a common 2" ratchet strap like this is too large to physically fit under the OEM cross bar.
So you need to find straps with ends that look like this if you want them to be easy to use on the OEM rack.
The biggest mistake people frequently make tying down stuff is to wrap the strap around the object in a loop. Don't do that. You go over the top and use the strap to hold the object down against the rack and friction between the object and the rack is what keeps it in place.
NO:
Yes:
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Pretty safe bet that your "no-no" example is actually the best way to attach a bunch of bamboo sticks to a roof rack.
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10-06-2020, 12:09 PM
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#18
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Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Las Vegas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pointman
Thanks for confirming! This seems like what will work best for me. What straps do you use, if I may ask?
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I've got a variety of 1" straps, and yes they work just fine, the ratchets hold up after many trips in the desert on multiple rigs etc.
No specific brand although they definitely vary in quality and there are some that I only use inside the vehicle to tie down pelican cases with camping gear and there are some that I use outside to tie down firewood, jerry cans, toolboxes etc. The outside use ones definitely have a higher quality fabric for the straps, it's thicker, nicer weave, higher working load rating. I believe I bought those at a local hardware store vs hazard freight.
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10-06-2020, 12:58 PM
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#19
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Elite Member
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Utah
Posts: 5,020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CavPro
Pretty safe bet that your "no-no" example is actually the best way to attach a bunch of bamboo sticks to a roof rack.
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It's wrong for a variety of reasons. Wrapping the strap around the bundle will result in any movement of the bundle leading to a lower strap tension and the potential for the sticks to fall out. It's also not centered - so as the roll moves to the middle of the rack - it will get looser. The safe way to tie something like that down would be to bundle the sticks with one set of straps and then attach the secured bundle to the roof rack correctly.
The other alternative would be something like this that would naturally compress the bundle in away that both secures it properly to the roof rack and compresses the bundle to its self so that individual sticks won't come out (not my drawing, but the strap routing shows how it should be done):
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10-06-2020, 01:14 PM
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#20
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Elite Member
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Utah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jp.vegas
I've got a variety of 1" straps, and yes they work just fine, the ratchets hold up after many trips in the desert on multiple rigs etc.
No specific brand although they definitely vary in quality and there are some that I only use inside the vehicle to tie down pelican cases with camping gear and there are some that I use outside to tie down firewood, jerry cans, toolboxes etc. The outside use ones definitely have a higher quality fabric for the straps, it's thicker, nicer weave, higher working load rating. I believe I bought those at a local hardware store vs hazard freight.
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I'm sure there are some really good quality 1" straps. I've just never found them at a reasonable price. A typical all metal ratchet with a 30' 2" strap is around $15 and lasts for - basically forever. I've yet to find a decent 1" strap with a high quality ratchet mechanism that's similar in cost.
There's nothing you could ever haul on the roof given the 200lb weight limit that would justify a 2" strap for strength. It's mostly just the availability of quality ratchet mechanisms and strap materials on 1" size that is the deal breaker. I have half a dozen 1" ratchet straps around. They all end up not working very well after a few years.
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10-06-2020, 02:36 PM
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#21
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Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Las Vegas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetboy
I'm sure there are some really good quality 1" straps. I've just never found them at a reasonable price. A typical all metal ratchet with a 30' 2" strap is around $15 and lasts for - basically forever. I've yet to find a decent 1" strap with a high quality ratchet mechanism that's similar in cost.
There's nothing you could ever haul on the roof given the 200lb weight limit that would justify a 2" strap for strength. It's mostly just the availability of quality ratchet mechanisms and strap materials on 1" size that is the deal breaker. I have half a dozen 1" ratchet straps around. They all end up not working very well after a few years.
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The 30’ length is a little tough to work with on the roof too, let’s be honest.
I have my share of crappy 1” straps, they work inside just fine but yes, at some point if you use them a lot outdoors, they turn to shit. Not going to argue that point.
It’s just like other stuff though, I consider them consumables and I carry some spares if something breaks or someone else needs one temporarily. Like to strap up a lower control arm or what have you.
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10-06-2020, 04:58 PM
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#22
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Elite Member
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Utah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jp.vegas
The 30’ length is a little tough to work with on the roof too, let’s be honest.
I have my share of crappy 1” straps, they work inside just fine but yes, at some point if you use them a lot outdoors, they turn to shit. Not going to argue that point.
It’s just like other stuff though, I consider them consumables and I carry some spares if something breaks or someone else needs one temporarily. Like to strap up a lower control arm or what have you.
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The length is a pain - unless you are putting something REALLY big on the roof I guess? lol. It's kinda frustrating that someone doesn't just make a smaller version of a 2" ratchet mechanism. Same general build quality and material thicknesses, but just narrower. I'd buy them.
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10-07-2020, 01:47 PM
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#23
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Member
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 31
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Frontrunner Stratchits all day!
Get both sizes. Worth every penny. I don't personally think they are overpriced.
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10-07-2020, 03:23 PM
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#24
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: CDA
Posts: 140
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Why not cut the long straps down to the length you want and burn the ends? I’ve done that before and it works great.
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10-07-2020, 07:00 PM
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#25
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: California
Posts: 3
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Location: California
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I'd suggest Niteze CamJam Straps
When I got my gobi rack, my old ratchet strap hooks wouldn't fit the rails. After looking around I came across the Niteze CamJam straps and have totally fallen in love with them. They're quick to set up, hold seriously tight, and best of all have no chance of scratching the powder coat off the rack because the only thing touching the rack is the nylon strap. Plus, they also roll up into almost nothing for storage.
I ended up getting 4 of the 12' ones and have used them for strapping down lumber, camping gear, bikes etc. No issues ever.
The only down side is that it does take a moment to figure them out. So you'll want to watch a youtube video and play with them at least once before you actually need to use them.
CamJam Tie Down Strap
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10-08-2020, 12:01 AM
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#26
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Banned
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Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 450
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TrailScout
When I got my gobi rack, my old ratchet strap hooks wouldn't fit the rails. After looking around I came across the Niteze CamJam straps and have totally fallen in love with them. They're quick to set up, hold seriously tight, and best of all have no chance of scratching the powder coat off the rack because the only thing touching the rack is the nylon strap. Plus, they also roll up into almost nothing for storage.
I ended up getting 4 of the 12' ones and have used them for strapping down lumber, camping gear, bikes etc. No issues ever.
The only down side is that it does take a moment to figure them out. So you'll want to watch a youtube video and play with them at least once before you actually need to use them.
CamJam Tie Down Strap
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Thanks for the info! Those looks really good too! I think I will pick some of those up and see if they work for me. Thanks for the link.
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10-08-2020, 03:16 AM
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#27
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,836
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Location: Southern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pointman
Want to put stuff on roof. ...Ratchets a good idea?
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Depends on what you are tying down. Hard objects like spare tire or Jerry cans, ratchet is nice. However, it's hard to "feel" how tight the ratchet is and it could deform for soft objects like kayaks, especially when softened from heat.
For soft objects, I prefer non-ratcheting aka cam-lock straps like below. Personally I use 2 Beijing Freight straps (quality feels good) on my kayak, backed up with a third - a Thule one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfessorP
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11-10-2020, 05:30 PM
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#28
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Banned
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Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 450
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RAD4Runner
Depends on what you are tying down. Hard objects like spare tire or Jerry cans, ratchet is nice. However, it's hard to "feel" how tight the ratchet is and it could deform for soft objects like kayaks, especially when softened from heat.
For soft objects, I prefer non-ratcheting aka cam-lock straps like below. Personally I use 2 Beijing Freight straps (quality feels good) on my kayak, backed up with a third - a Thule one.
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Awesome info. Thank you! I'd be using for both soft and harder objects so good stuff for sure. Appreciate the help!
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