Lightweight Vs Heavy Duty Ratchet Strap - What Sets Them Apart?
Ratchet straps are used across multiple industries to transport goods safely. Everything from building supplies to washing machines and even vehicles can be secured using them, which makes them extremely versatile - but it also makes shopping for the right straps difficult if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
You might have heard straps being described as either lightweight or heavy duty, common industry terms that apply to a range of equipment. But what do these terms mean in the context of ratchet straps? What, exactly, sets a lightweight strap apart from a heavy duty one?
We’re going to delve deeper into that topic in this article, examining the differences in construction and materials used, as well as what each type can be used for. Let’s get started!
What each type is used for
As their name suggests, lightweight ratchet straps are suited to smaller, lighter items. Think electrical items, palettes, furniture, tools and equipment and boxed goods. Light duty ratchet straps are suitable for most transport jobs, designed to support as much as 3,000 kg safely without being damaged. Light duty ones can be 1 tonne. 2 tonne or 3 tonne.
For bigger jobs though, only a heavy duty ratchet strap will do. Designed to safely secure up to 10,000 kg without failing, heavy duty ratchet straps might look much like their regular counterparts, but they’re significantly more durable. They can be used to secure heavy loads like building materials and vehicles, making them the go-to choice for those who want to be able to tackle any job comfortably. Heavy duty ones are 5 tonne and 10 tonne that you will find in our store.
Because heavy duty straps have a higher lashing capacity (LC), they will stretch less under lighter loads than lightweight straps will. This makes them ideally suited for securing vulnerable or breakable loads too, as the straps are less likely to move around or work their way loose on the move.
The key differences
In terms of design and construction, there are a few notable differences between each type. First off, lightweight straps have narrower webbing than heavy duty ones; in some cases, the former will be just 25mm wide while the latter will use 75mm webbing, making it much tougher.
Most of the time, lightweight straps use polyester webbing, which is more than up to the task. Bigger jobs require tougher webbing however, which is why heavy duty straps usually use nylon or polyethylene exclusively.
The increased size and weight of heavy duty straps makes them a little more cumbersome and difficult to use (not to mention harder to store), which is why both are well worth having. Each type is available with a wide range of different hooks to suit your application so, if you have both light and heavy duty straps in your arsenal, you’ll be prepared for every eventuality!
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