can anyone tell me if i can use 2 ratchets on one strap
ie use what is left over from the first ratchet 
Yes. Its a common practice when your load is awkward.
but is it within the dvsa criteria
As long as the load is safe and secure, within the limits of the securing equipment.
It’s something ive not done in yrs ,if the first part frays through you lost both ,only time I do it now is over very tall narrow load 1 strap with a ratchet on each end keeps both sides tight .
Sounds right Dan. I was using the same method on roof trusses a few weeks ago.
The warehouse staff fell about laughing when I brought back ten reels of paper from across the dock and I had strapped every single one of them. I’d rather do that than have to explain to my boss and TM why one of the reels made a break for it! Whether its 1 mile or a 100 miles, paper always gets strapped!
Radar19:
The warehouse staff fell about laughing when I brought back ten reels of paper from across the dock and I had strapped every single one of them. I’d rather do that than have to explain to my boss and TM why one of the reels made a break for it! Whether its 1 mile or a 100 miles, paper always gets strapped!
Just make sure you use corner protectors mate if you strapping them down to the bed. We carry reels and our regular place we service will have a fit if you rock up with straps across the reels with no protectors, the straps crease the paper at the edges. Not many gaffers will be impressed with a claim for a rejected paper reel damaged in transit, they are expensive.
rob22888:
Radar19:
The warehouse staff fell about laughing when I brought back ten reels of paper from across the dock and I had strapped every single one of them. I’d rather do that than have to explain to my boss and TM why one of the reels made a break for it! Whether its 1 mile or a 100 miles, paper always gets strapped!Just make sure you use corner protectors mate if you strapping them down to the bed. We carry reels and our regular place we service will have a fit if you rock up with straps across the reels with no protectors, the straps crease the paper at the edges. Not many gaffers will be impressed with a claim for a rejected paper reel damaged in transit, they are expensive.
We are big into paper at our place, we have 4-6 warehouses full of either pallets or reels. I’ve got an entire box of corner protectors. Should come in useful, 12 reels for Wakefield tomorrow!
Been to Coca Cola at Wakefield today Radar. Could have took them for you while I was there lol.
viper100:
can anyone tell me if i can use 2 ratchets on one strap
ie use what is left over from the first ratchet
The main problem with this is that a lot use a ‘rope hook’ to wrap the strap round to be able to re-use the tail end. Problem with that is the potential lack of strength of the ‘rope hook’.
I always advocate that a strap should be a one use bit of kit and avoid re-using the tail end. There’s more potential problems doing it than there are to use another strap
Rope hooks vary a lot ,wrapping a strap tail round a hook is nothing ,its the strain on the end that a ratchet hook puts on them that breaks them.
Dan Punchard:
Rope hooks vary a lot ,wrapping a strap tail round a hook is nothing ,its the strain on the end that a ratchet hook puts on them that breaks them.
You are quite right that a strap wrapped around at the ‘root’ of the hook puts less strain on it than the hook of a ratchet would - but in most cases the rope hook is just maleable steel welded on. It isn’t hardened or heat treated in anyway and ultimately not as strong as most would think.
The other issue of course is that by ‘wrapping’ a strap around a hook it weakens the strap. A webbing strap is designed to be used flat with no twists. Wrapping it around a hook or tying knots in it etc weakens it and it will potentially break sooner.
There are also issues with settling of the strap. As the load tries to move under breaking/cornering forces it stretches and pulls at the strap. This could cause the ‘winds’ around the rope hook to slip/slide and ultimately lengthen the strap and so allow the load to move further.
Of course you do see many instances where the driver hasn’t even ‘wound’ the strap around the hook and has simply passed it behind it meaning all the strain is then placed on the original first ratchet.
Thetaff2:
Load bearing curtains do exactly what it says on the tin I’m sure as [zb] stinks a 50 kg knackered fridge ain’t gonna come out of that trl and kill some children.
I’ve pulled trls with a tonne plus pallets on with those type of trls for a multi national company has had it good authority by the dvsa that they are fine so you are talking complete ■■■■■■■■!!HTH
Thats all well and good until one of those knackered fridges moves and cuts the curtain with damaged metal. Then the whole load restraining system is compromised. You don’t drive for the 9 times out of 10 it will be alright. You always drive with the thought in mind that this one could be run 10 in the cycle and things could go wrong.
As for how to restrain it, work while they are loading and lay the straps over the stacks of fridges before the paddle truck loaded them. It takes a little more effort than a driver like the OP appears to think is necessary, but it ensures load security.