Cam straps are one of the best tiedown options for routine projects like moving furniture or securing a gas grill in the back of a pickup truck. Rope, bungee cords, and other tiedown options are available, but none are as easy to use as a cam strap. Still, you need to know what you are doing to use cam straps safely and effectively.
A cam strap is a tool. It is a tiedown designed to keep something securely in place. But like any other tool, it will not do the job it is intended to do if not used properly. A person would do well to learn the right way to use cam straps before doing so.
Rollercam is one of the best cam strap brands now on the market. Its patented cam buckle is tough, durable, and efficient. You should probably check Rollercam out. In the meantime, its designers recommend the following five things for using cam straps safely and effectively:
1. A Load Plan
First and foremost is a load plan. Regardless of what you need to tie down, plan how you are going to do it before you start. The more cargo you need to tie down, the more detailed your plan is going to be. Just don’t throw things in the back of your truck or on that utility trailer without thinking about it. Otherwise, even the best cam strap might not save you from disaster.
2. A Dose of Common Sense
Your load plan should be based on a combination of a basic knowledge of physics and a dose of common sense. Once again, just don’t load things willy-nilly. Think about what you’re doing and how it might impact the process.
Maybe you’re moving your entire house across town. Common sense dictates that you pack the heaviest items on the bottom of the load. It also dictates that you spread the weight evenly across the back of your truck or trailer. All the cam straps in the world aren’t going to help if you have an unbalanced load that could make driving the truck challenging.
3. A Bit of Patience
Common sense and a basic understanding of physics are both complemented by patience. Do not be in a rush to load your vehicle and get things tied down. Take your time. Pay attention to what you’re doing. Make the effort to ensure that you are tightening the cam straps properly.
4. Strong Anchor Points
A cam strap is only as effective as the anchor points it’s attached to. While you are planning the load, figure out what anchor points you’re going to use. Modern trailers and pickup trucks tend to have anchor points built into the body or frame. If yours does not, you will have to get creative. Whatever anchor points you choose needs to be strong enough to withstand the tension created by tightening the straps.
5. Edge Protectors and Blankets
As strong as cam straps are, they can be damaged by sharp edges. The Rollercam people recommend investing in some inexpensive plastic edge protectors. An edge protector placed between a sharp edge and a cam strap will prevent the strap from being cut. Likewise, you can protect sensitive cargo against strap abrasion by using moving blankets.
Cam straps are incredibly good tools for tying things down. Use them the right way and they will perform admirably. Use them haphazardly and without thinking about what you’re doing and you might easily discover that cargo can still be damaged. Safe and effective cargo securement is all about doing things the right way.
