How to Loosen a Ratchet Strap

How to Loosen a Ratchet Strap

Learn how to easily loosen and remove ratchet straps used for securing luggage to your vehicle with this step-by-step guide.

Ratchet straps are useful tools for securing luggage to the top of your car. A ratchet strap is particularly important when going on camping trips, as it allows you to pack all your bags—including your sleeping bag, tent, and other gear—on your vehicle's roof. With a ratchet strap in place, you can travel safely even on the roughest trails without your cargo spilling onto the road. Once a ratchet strap is tightened, however, it can be difficult to loosen. Here are some steps to help you:

• Pull. First, hold the center latch of the ratchet strap very firmly and pull it toward the body of the strap. On one end of the ratchet strap, you will find the crank handle. The crank handle is mobile, meaning its position can vary depending on how the luggage was secured. Your goal is to make sure the center latch is as close to the crank handle as possible. As you exert pressure on the center latch, you will be able to move the crank handle. Rotate this handle and wait for the ratchet strap to emit a faint click, indicating that the crank handle has locked into place.
• Release. After you pull the center latch, the internal mechanisms of the ratchet strap will prevent the belt from feeding back into the crank handle. This allows you to pull out the center latch and release it from its lock.
• Space. Once you have disengaged the center latch, you can pull the belt to create some slack between the ratchet strap and the secured luggage. With this slack, you will be able to slip the belt and buckle out of the ratchet strap.
• Remove. After fully removing the buckle from the strap, you can easily unload the luggage from the top of your car. Some people use more than one ratchet strap, especially when packing heavily for trips; simply repeat the procedure to loosen each additional strap. When unloading your luggage, make sure all parts of the straps are fully loosened so the cargo does not snag on any belts or hardware.
• Twists. When securing your gear with a ratchet strap, make sure to wrap the straps carefully around the luggage. Otherwise, the belt straps can rotate and become twisted. Not only will this weaken the straps, but it will also generate pressure that makes the ratchet strap much tighter and harder to loosen.

With these steps in mind, packing and unpacking your car using ratchet straps becomes a simple task. It may seem difficult at first, but with a little practice, you will be able to maneuver the ratchet strap with ease.