Outdoor sporting gear and equipment is often collectively referred to as toys. Some toys are bigger than others, requiring they be transported very carefully. Think dirt bikes, ATVs, kayaks, bicycles, and the like. You need tie-downs to do it safely. But do you need heavy-duty ratchet straps? Will cam straps work just as well?
I have done a lot of research on tie-down straps only to discover that a fair number of outdoor sports enthusiasts prefer cam straps. But I have also run across people who say ratchet straps are a better choice for some types of toys. In the end, it really boils down to what you are hauling and how you are hauling it.
It’s All About the Buckle
The biggest difference between a cam and ratchet strap is the buckle each one offers. A cam buckle looks a lot like a traditional belt buckle except that the strap is held in place by a spring-loaded plate instead of an eye-and-hook mechanism. You just slip the strap through the buckle and gently pull it as tightly as you need it.
A ratchet strap is secured by a ratchet, just as its name implies. You slip the strap through the ratchet, engage, and then crank on the ratchet until the strap is as tight as you want it. Ratchet straps are considered more secure because of the ratchet mechanism. However, that mechanism is less forgiving than a cam buckle.
Cam Straps for Lighter Loads
Generally speaking, cam straps are intended for lighter loads. You might use a couple of Rollercam straps to secure your bicycles on a frame mounted to the back of your car. Cam straps work well enough to secure kayaks on a trailer, camping gear to the roof of an SUV, or even a dirt bike inside the bed of a pickup truck.
Cam straps are generally not recommended for extremely heavy loads, especially on trailers and in uncovered pickup trucks. The combination of heavy load and high wind at road speeds could be too much for a cam buckle to hold against.
Ratchet Straps Are for Heavier Loads
If you are working a heavy load, like hauling a boat or ATV, you’re better off with ratchet straps. Ratchets are certainly less forgiving than cam buckles. But they are designed to be that way. The way a ratchet locks in place makes catastrophic failure nearly impossible as long as both ratchet and strap are in good working condition.
As a side note, there is a reason commercial truck drivers choose ratchet straps over cam straps. Commercial loads are extremely heavy. Some are even too heavy for ratchet straps – they require chains. But for most commercial loads, cam straps do the trick.
Better Than Rope and Bungee Cords
When it comes to hauling toys, it has been my experience that both cam and ratchet straps are superior to rope and bungee cords. I would never use bungee cords to secure my toys. Ever. Bungee cords just are not strong enough. As for ropes, they can be made doable if you know how to use them.
The thing about rope is that it is quite inconvenient compared to the cam strap. In the same time it takes me to tie-down a load with rope, I could have secured it with cam straps and already been on the road for at least a few minutes.
Cam and rats and straps are both good choices for securing your toys. But if you have heavier toys, you are better off trusting them to ratchet straps.