Straps & Bungee Cords

Tie-down straps consist of fabric-elastic and rubber bungee cords and mesh-web lashing essential for securing loads, products, and covers for a range of needs, including shipping, moving, storage, and transportation. The tie-downs come in several lengths and load strengths for material handling needs, from fastening tarps to covering cordwood to securing loads in pickup beds. Staples offers the entire range of security and moving straps for all industrial, commercial, or domestic needs.

Heavy-duty tie-down straps have ratchet mechanisms
The strongest lashing straps comprise meshed webbing of polyester threads interwoven in a cross-hatch pattern with double- or triple-reinforced nylon stitching at the hook ends. Most webbing is abrasion- and mildew-resistant. It's lightweight in 2-inch widths, with lengths varying from 14 feet to 27 feet, providing plenty of webbing for securing loads on pallets or cargo trucks.

Ratchet tie-down straps are the most secure way to lash loads down. The webbing passes into a buckle containing a ratcheting mechanism that tightens the strap progressively as you pump the buckle-ratchet handle. A spring-loaded release mechanism keeps the strap locked into place during transport or storage, and lets you safely release tension without stripping or kickback.

Straps use different styles of hooks
Ratchet moving straps have one of three types of hooks to secure the lashing to different types of surfaces. Flat hooks, consisting of a folded rectangular plate, offer a wide grip on slatted pallets or other cargo holds with overhanging lips. Single and double-reinforced J-hooks have curved tapering catches that grab the opposing corners or side notches of load platforms. S-hooks have curved end tips that insert into preexisting slots, such as on pickup flatbeds, to tie loads down.

What are the weight ratings of the tie-down straps?
All ratcheting straps have two ratings to handle the weight of specific loads. The working load limit (WLL) is the maximum weight that straps can manage safely. The other rating is the break strength, which is the maximum load at which the straps will snap. The break strength is usually three times the load limit, so always make sure to check these ratings against your cargo load weight and use enough straps to cover the weight. Tie-down moving straps have ratings of between 500 and 3,333 pounds, depending on length, yielding break strengths of between 1,500 and 10,000 pounds.

How do bungee cords differ from straps?
Rubber and fabric-elastic bungee cords are much shorter than tie-down straps and have much lower load limits and breaking points. You use them primarily for tying down protective covers, securing extra bags and luggage together on portable carriers, or keeping loose cargo from flying out of pickup beds.

Popular bungees are elastic cords wrapped in flexible fabric, including 18-, 24-, and 36-inch lengths that can stretch much longer to provide extra tension. Rubber bungee cords, in lengths from 14 to 24 inches, offer higher, tauter tensile stretch. Some of the rubber bungees consist of a synthetic ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) compound that provides ultraviolet ray resistance and ongoing rebound integrity. EPDM bungees maintain their material consistency down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Both types of bungee moving straps have integrated S-hooks, normally zinc-plated for corrosion resistance, to hook into grommets or to clasp to each other for longer lashing. However, some rubber bungees have single-bar J-hooks with a lock-down clasp for even greater lashing security.

Is other strapping available?
Winching strap is available for pulling loads from stationary or vehicle winches. The webbed strapping is normally 4 inches wide, providing high WLL and breaking points. Up to 5,000 WLL straps are available, with 15,000 pounds of snap strength.