I like thinking outside the box and I had a brain fart earlier today..Instead of using HappyJac turnbuckles or Fast Guns, why not use ratchet straps instead?Certainly easier to put on and off, ratchet straps (even the 1" wide ones) are rated for 2000 pounds and the HD ones are 4000 pounds.Easy to adjust the tension and easy to store but the big plus is price.You can buy 4 Heavy Duty 4000 pound rated ratchet tie downs for the price of one Fast Gun.I think I'm going to give them a shot this year...Opinions please. Am I crazy?

I used to do this with an 8' pop-up camper. It worked fine for the 4 years I did it. Now with the 11' hard side camper I use Happi-jack turnbuckles. I can see two potential problems with ratchet straps: they stretch, they could possibly snap if the camper ever shifted suddenly. While this is probably unlikely I like the security of metal over nylon.

But you can stop the flutter by putting a twist in them, and I mean completely stop the flutter. I know because I have a spare ratchet strapped to the roof of my jeep. It vibrated terrible at highway speeds. Googled and low and behold one twist on each corner and now it is silent.

Straps can stretch but aren't 'elastic', So I could more easily becoming unhooked?Mostly though not sure about the give in spring tension of a strap compared to a tiedown. Most all tiedowns/hardware are spring tensioned to allow some give. Strap 'could' quickly reach tear something out very quickly seems. Suppose weight and how much camper moves-truck flexes. Curious what you are currently using?

I think it comes down to two things: ratchet straps may not have the necessary elasticity to allow for the flexing of the camper and truck bed when going over uneven terrain, and ratchet straps just aren't as sophisticated in looks as turnbuckles. I've used ratchet straps with no problem when I had no other alternative and was on mostly smooth surfaces. They're definitely cheaper than turnbuckles and tie down hardware, but may cost more if a tie down eye pulls out of your camper and the camper departs the truck in a crosswind.

Tie down alternatives... | Good Sam Community

34 Replies

AnEv942
Nomad
Apr 02, 2017
Straps can stretch but aren't 'elastic', So I could more easily becoming unhooked?
Mostly though not sure about the give in spring tension of a strap compared to a tiedown. Most all tiedowns/hardware are spring tensioned to allow some give. Strap 'could' quickly reach tear something out very quickly seems. Suppose weight and how much camper moves-truck flexes.
Curious what you are currently using?
dave17352
Explorer II
Apr 02, 2017
But you can stop the flutter by putting a twist in them, and I mean completely stop the flutter. I know because I have a spare ratchet strapped to the roof of my jeep. It vibrated terrible at highway speeds. Googled and low and behold one twist on each corner and now it is silent.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Apr 02, 2017
They flutter and make noises.
KD4UPL
Explorer II
Apr 02, 2017
I used to do this with an 8' pop-up camper. It worked fine for the 4 years I did it. Now with the 11' hard side camper I use Happi-jack turnbuckles. I can see two potential problems with ratchet straps: they stretch, they could possibly snap if the camper ever shifted suddenly. While this is probably unlikely I like the security of metal over nylon.

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Tie down alternatives...

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