Both ratchet straps as well as cam buckles are varieties of e track straps. Each one of these e track straps has a work load limit along with a rated capacity so that you, the consumer, can decide which one will work best for you particular situation.

The workload limit what an e track strap assembly can be subjected to, in regards to weight, on a daily basis. This is the maximum, and it should NEVER be tested by someone other than those in the proper places. If this maximum capacity is ignored disastrous things may happen, and I doubt you want that on your conscience.

The other safety limit, or rated capacity, is the maximum load that the e track assembly can withstand. This number is determined in a professional testing facility using a pull test. And again, this is the maximum capacity. NEVER go beyond what it says, even by a little. When tests are ignored and put to the side, horrible things happen. (Yes, I said that already in regards to the working load limit, but it can happen in either case and it’s worth repeating several times.)

Another point of safety when dealing with ratchet straps are the different kinds of end fittings and other hardware associated with tying down cargo. Again, and I cannot stress this enough, this is all about safety. Use the proper fitting for the assembly you have, don’t just make do and hold it together with a bit of string – use the right fittings.

Just remember, if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. So be sure you know your cargo well, understand what the capacity is for the ratchet straps you want to use and know what kind of assembly you have on your truck or trailer, and go from there. Once you know what you are dealing with, putting safety first will be easy.

When you live in the country, miles from a decent-sized town, there are a lot of tradeoffs.  Fresh air, open views, and relatively slower pace of live are all virtues; however they come with some sacrifices as well.  It can be difficult to complete some tasks if you haven’t thoroughly planned ahead and obtained supplies for the most simple projects.  And you think in terms of bundling trips to various stores and other errands all together to make the most of the travel time.

The bottom line is you have to be resourceful. My husband is a master at having multiple uses for almost every product, and his ratchet straps are no exception.

In the winter we use a couple of his longer ratchet straps to bundle portions of firewood. He’ll secure several half cords with them, then load them in the bucket of our tractor to haul them from the stack to the storage box on our patio.

Of course, straps are handy, too, when trailering our small lawn tractor to take to the repair shop or over to my aging father’s house to mow his lawn.

We also use ratchet straps to bundle bags of salt and sand together for easy storage.  After standing them upright, we use a strap to keep them in place.  They’re easier to pick up and less stressful on the lower back.

We fashioned a container of sorts out of scraps of chicken wire and a ratchet strap.  After lining the container with the large plastic bags issued by the bottle recycling center, we have a convenient place to toss spent pop bottles.  When it’s time to turn in the bag in exchange for a refund, we just loosen the ratchet strap and tie off the plastic bag.

What are your best tips for being resourceful?

Growing up, snow days from school were just about the best thing ever.  That is, until May came and we kids were itchy to get out of school for the summer but had two weeks’ worth of make-up days ahead of us.  Still, the occasional snow day can be a boon for a kid, and even a parent interested in recapturing his or her youth a little.

Of course, snow play involves being bundled up, and to the extreme if you live in Minnesota or Wisconsin or the wind is howling.  Somehow, kids manage to ignore the near-frostbite pain of the cold for the sheer joy of snowball fights, building snowmen, and sledding.

Sledding can be a solitary pursuit or it can be done among friends.  These days, special materials help kids go faster and farther than ever before.

If you’re going sledding, first take a look around your house or neighborhood (that way you’re closer to the hot chocolate!).  If there aren’t any good hills around, maybe it’s time for a drive to a community sledding hill.

Most of your gear – the tubes, the tandem sled, the wacky board, etc. won’t fit inside your vehicle, so you’ll need to put them on top.  Grab your straps and tie them down.  Place the straps about 12” apart to get good coverage.  When you start driving down the road, you want to make sure that the front doesn’t catch wind and pull everything out into the wind!

After you sled, the straps can make a good come-along if all of your gear has a handle.  Just slip the strap through the handles, cinch it tight, and drag your stuff back to the car.

Enclosed trailers can be a great method of delivering tools and equipment to job sites.  Some companies have an eye on efficiency and choose to outfit the trailers with proper shelving, hooks, and work surfaces.  Others may simply load up the trailer, requiring workers to sort through the contents at the job.  Properly outfitting the trailer does take some time and money, but in the long run it should result in a smoother-running operation, fewer safety hazards, and prolonged life of tools.

Straps, like the hook-and-loop variety which fit smoothly into airline track, can do a great job of keeping electrical cords and air hose into tight coils, ready to roll out.  Other straps, like rubber tarp straps with J-hooks, can be used in conjunction with a tarp to protect loads of delivered wood material like 2 x 4’s.  Cam straps can do a great job of cinching boxes of fasteners together, particularly if you like to keep a good supply of extras around the site.

How else might you use straps around a work site?