How to Better Understand Working Load Limits
We have many customers who work in the shipping industry, some are long relations and some are back from our competitors. In such a competitive market, the price becomes the first priority, so some suppliers use cheap prices to attract customers, this makes our customers in a very bad situation. Our priority is always quality, that’s why we have lots of customers come back to us after they try some supplier’s low-quality ratchet straps.
Using high-quality ratchet straps is so important, this will reduce the probability of injuries, insurance claims, or the risk of other motorists getting hurt while going down the road. We have been asked so many times about what is the importance of buying reputable ratchet straps. A reputable tie-down strap must include a clear and visible working load limit and also can be marked as WLL. This number shows that this is the strength the straps can hold each piece.
The customer always cares how much weight our ratchet strap can hold. In fact, for any kind of tie-down straps, such as ratchet straps, cam buckle straps, E Track straps, and other straps, there will be a label to go with the strap together and mark clearly the working load limit of the strap. What is the working load limit? the working load limit means what is your strap rated for, under this number, the strap is safe to use.
1 inch Ratchet Straps
1 inch ratchet straps are rated for 500lbs to 1,100lbs working load limit and used for lightweight duty cargo securement. The most popular size of 1 inch ratchet straps are 12 feet and 16 feet, the strap can go with different hardware to fit your application.
2 inch Ratchet Straps
2 inch ratchet straps are used a lot by professional trucking fleets and they are rated for 915lbs to 3,335lbs working load limit. 2 inch ratchet straps can be cut into any of your desired lengths, but the most popular length in the market is still 12 feet and 16 feet. As you can see on the road, most of the tie-down straps that are used for securing the motorcycle, ATV, UTV, or vehicle are 2 inch ratchet straps.
3 inch Ratchet Straps
3 inch ratchet straps are made as the flatbed loading strap and rated for 5,000lbs to 5,670lbs. Our customer works in the flatbed trucking industry and needs the 3-inch heavy-duty ratchet straps. We also don’t recommend using the 3 inch ratchet straps to tie down the lightweight cargo at the back of the pickup truck or trailer or in the moving van.
4 inch Ratchet Straps
4 inch ratchet straps are the heaviest tie-down strap that is used to secure heavy-duty cargo in the flatbed trucking industry and they are rated for 5,400lbs to 5,670lbs working load limit. When you use the 4 inch ratchet straps, we suggest you use 4 straps at 4 different securement points at least. If your loads are heavier, you need to use more.
How to Test Working Load Limit?
The working load limit can be tested by our professional test equipment until the force is reached to break the strap, this is what we mean by breaking strength. Always, the breaking strength is 3 times of safe working load limit. For example, if the breaking strength is 11,000lbs, then the safe working load limit is 3,666lbs. You can find more DOT’s rules and regulations by the Department of Transportation.
Why the breaking strength is so much higher than the working load limit? In order to avoid the sudden and hard brakes on the road. For example, when you are driving on the road with heavy duty, you will never know what will happen next second, so 3 times of working load limit helps you to reduce the risk on the road.
If you are looking for the ratchet straps to work for your application, feel free to call us at (0086) 1505 1705 238 or send us an email at: info@webslingness.com, we provide only high quality tie down straps and Our expert will help you with any questions.
Where can I Find the Working Load Limit?
You can find what your tie down strap is rated for on the label that stitches on the strap, they should be clear, visible, and easy to read.
