Dvsa on ratchet strapping

tris · 21 November 2015 22:06

Was talking to a driver who got pulled over and he’d got it all ratcheted, but not to be defeated he was told to make sure in future the ratchets were positioned on the near side so that if they needed adjusting he wouldn’t be in the flow of traffic. Tbf it’s not something I’d thought about but it does make sense what he said.

damoq · 21 November 2015 22:14

This was something I learned from an old school driver a few years ago when he seen my load of steel pipes with the ratchets on the o/s. Like you, I never even thought of it till he pointed it out to me. I now always put the ratchets on the n/s now.

That was until I got a new trailer last week. It’s got those internal straps on a bungee system that needs a ratchet on both sides to secure them, so now I have no option to have ratchets on the o/s.[emoji35]

the_sarge · 21 November 2015 22:20

I’ve always aimed to get dollies, dogs and ratchets on the nearside. Just seemed to make sense to me…

punchy_dan · 21 November 2015 22:25

Tris:
Was talking to a driver who got pulled over and he’d got it all ratcheted, but not to be defeated he was told to make sure in future the ratchets were positioned on the near side so that if they needed adjusting he wouldn’t be in the flow of traffic. Tbf it’s not something I’d thought about but it does make sense what he said.

Sounds like rubbish to me ,didn’t you know they don’t need adjusting ,not even on fertiliser !!!

robroy · 21 November 2015 22:26

Tris:
Was talking to a driver who got pulled over and he’d got it all ratcheted, but not to be defeated he was told to make sure in future the ratchets were positioned on the near side so that if they needed adjusting he wouldn’t be in the flow of traffic. Tbf it’s not something I’d thought about but it does make sense what he said.

Advisory but not compulsory.
Just to be an arse (out of character I know ) I would have told them to ■■■■ off and mind their own business as I was loaded for Holland

blue_estate · 21 November 2015 22:33

Punchy Dan:

Tris:
Was talking to a driver who got pulled over and he’d got it all ratcheted, but not to be defeated he was told to make sure in future the ratchets were positioned on the near side so that if they needed adjusting he wouldn’t be in the flow of traffic. Tbf it’s not something I’d thought about but it does make sense what he said.

Sounds like rubbish to me ,didn’t you know they don’t need adjusting ,not even on fertiliser !!!

You’ve not hauled timber then ?

dcgpx · 21 November 2015 22:37

Can see the safety side of it with traffic etc but I’ve always put then O/S and can’t seem to get out of the habit.

Feels strange if I have to go to N/S to undo them.

blue_estate · 21 November 2015 22:39

I always strap to what the load layout dictates

the_sarge · 21 November 2015 22:50

blue estate:

Punchy Dan:

Tris:
Was talking to a driver who got pulled over and he’d got it all ratcheted, but not to be defeated he was told to make sure in future the ratchets were positioned on the near side so that if they needed adjusting he wouldn’t be in the flow of traffic. Tbf it’s not something I’d thought about but it does make sense what he said.

Sounds like rubbish to me ,didn’t you know they don’t need adjusting ,not even on fertiliser !!!

You’ve not hauled timber then ?

Or steel? Or big bags of aggregate? Or pallets of 25kg bags?

tris · 21 November 2015 22:54

dcgpx:
Can see the safety side of it with traffic etc but I’ve always put then O/S and can’t seem to get out of the habit.

Feels strange if I have to go to N/S to undo them.

Nothing to do with having to carry them further then.

chunk · 21 November 2015 22:55

I only haul steel and try to get all ratchets on the n/s but you have to strap the load so that it is secure. Also, any one who thinks that straps won’t need adjusting/tightening on route shouldn’t be using ratchet straps

blue_estate · 21 November 2015 22:57

The Sarge:

blue estate:

Punchy Dan:

Tris:
Was talking to a driver who got pulled over and he’d got it all ratcheted, but not to be defeated he was told to make sure in future the ratchets were positioned on the near side so that if they needed adjusting he wouldn’t be in the flow of traffic. Tbf it’s not something I’d thought about but it does make sense what he said.

Sounds like rubbish to me ,didn’t you know they don’t need adjusting ,not even on fertiliser !!!

You’ve not hauled timber then ?

Or steel? Or big bags of aggregate? Or pallets of 25kg bags?

Or cable drums etc etc etc

chunk · 21 November 2015 23:00

A couple of my loads!

tris · 21 November 2015 23:01

chunk:
I only haul steel and try to get all ratchets on the n/s but you have to strap the load so that it is secure. Also, any one who thinks that straps won’t need adjusting/tightening on route shouldn’t be using ratchet straps

Depends what you’re securing surely. If it’s seed it’ll need tightening before I get out the yard ( waste of time ratcheting tbh - internals are better but dvsa wouldn’t agree ), likewise timber shifts if it’s not packed tight and loaded tight, but certain things I know they won’t need adjusting.

tommyboy1289 · 21 November 2015 23:03

What do us car transporter lads do…only strap one half of a car down?

chunk · 21 November 2015 23:06

Tris:

chunk:
I only haul steel and try to get all ratchets on the n/s but you have to strap the load so that it is secure. Also, any one who thinks that straps won’t need adjusting/tightening on route shouldn’t be using ratchet straps

Depends what you’re securing surely. If it’s seed it’ll need tightening before I get out the yard, likewise timber shifts if it’s not packed tight and loaded tight, but certain things I know they won’t need adjusting.

I was told that as the trailer twists going round corners and over uneven ground so the load can move slightly and settle meaning that the tension on straps can be lost. I regularly check them and usually have a couple that have loosened!

dcgpx · 21 November 2015 23:32

chunk:
I only haul steel and try to get all ratchets on the n/s but you have to strap the load so that it is secure. Also, any one who thinks that straps won’t need adjusting/tightening on route shouldn’t be using ratchet straps

I was always told steel needed chains and not to use straps? Your pix only show you using straps? Or is it because you have the upright supports in?

Or was it a myth I was being told.

bluey_circles · 21 November 2015 23:42

blue estate:

The Sarge:

blue estate:

Tris:
Was talking to a driver who got pulled over and he’d got it all ratcheted, but not to be defeated he was told to make sure in future the ratchets were positioned on the near side so that if they needed adjusting he wouldn’t be in the flow of traffic. Tbf it’s not something I’d thought about but it does make sense what he said.

Sounds like rubbish to me ,didn’t you know they don’t need adjusting ,not even on fertiliser !!!

You’ve not hauled timber then ?

Or steel? Or big bags of aggregate? Or pallets of 25kg bags?

Or cable drums etc etc etc

or HAY, need to retighten that every 3 bends, 3 bumps or 3 miles, whichever occurs first - LOL

waynedl · 21 November 2015 23:42

blue estate:

The Sarge:

blue estate:

Punchy Dan:
Sounds like rubbish to me ,didn’t you know they don’t need adjusting ,not even on fertiliser !!!

You’ve not hauled timber then ?

Or steel? Or big bags of aggregate? Or pallets of 25kg bags?

Or cable drums etc etc etc

I think Dans comment just MAY have been tongue in cheek??

pierrot_14 · 21 November 2015 23:52

Tris:
Was talking to a driver who got pulled over and he’d got it all ratcheted, but not to be defeated he was told to make sure in future the ratchets were positioned on the near side so that if they needed adjusting he wouldn’t be in the flow of traffic. Tbf it’s not something I’d thought about but it does make sense what he said.

So if I load in Europe, what would you suggest be the best/safest side of the trailer that I should place the ratchets ?