Can Ratchet Straps Be Used For Towing?

Can Ratchet Straps Be Used For Towing? Find Out Here…

Ratchet straps are incredibly versatile products. They can be used to secure all kinds of different loads, preventing them from moving in transit. They can even be used to tie cars down to trailers or transporters, allowing them to be moved safely without risk of further damage.

Easy to use, robust and affordable, the humble ratchet strap is one of those inventions that most of us take for granted. But although they’re very capable and versatile devices, they have their limitations. If your car is stranded and needs to be towed home, can you use a ratchet strap to get the job done? Read on to find out.

Can you tow a car with ratchet straps?

Although ratchet straps are perfect for securing cars to trailers and transporters, they cannot be used for pulling or lifting objects. So, if you were planning on towing a car with one - even for a short distance - think again.

Although many ratchet straps have incredibly high-strength webbing - some of which is rated for weights in excess of 10 tonnes - these weight figures only apply to static loads. In a towing scenario, a car can be suddenly jolted, exceeding the strap’s safe working load. Naturally, the consequences of this happening can be severe, both for the vehicles, their occupants and other road users. Towing with a ratchet strap simply isn’t worth the risk.

The same applies to lifting objects. Although the strap may seem strong enough, it’s simply not designed to be used for lifting or pulling objects. There are different safety standards for load restraint devices and lifting devices for a reason!

However, if you have a trailer or low loader and are looking for a dependable way of securing vehicles to it, ratchet straps are just what you need. We offer a wide range of them right here at Taut Strap, including specialised recovery straps.