For Flatbed Hauling: Winch Straps and Winch Bars

To haul bulk loads like big logs you need flatbeds , grade 70 chains and chain binders are probably not necessary for these loads, you can use tie down straps with them but 2” sometimes won’t cut it then you need 4” straps, if you choose ratchet straps you will need big ratchet buckles, it’s a overhead and not necessary, fortunately flatbeds most likely come with truck winches installed, you only need to get winch straps and probably one winch bar for all your tie down needs, you may need some 4” or 12” plastic corner protectors to protect your newly acquired winch straps. There are 2”, 3” and 4” winch straps available, most seen truck winches are slide in winches and weld on winches.

The concept of truck winches with winch straps are pretty straight forward, the component of both truck winch and ratchet that the tie down straps are inserted into for tightening the whole web tie down straps called mandrel, the mechanism to tighten the straps on truck winch is different than the self contained ratchets, you will need the help of winch bars to tighten the winch straps. The winch structure is pretty simple, there is a barrel goes through the winch body, one side has a though hole and the other side has a gear with a brake, in between lies the mandrel, just put the straps into it, close the brake on the gear will allow you the tighten the straps over the load, since the gear is only allowed to go one direction, when you let the hook loose and open the brake, you can retract the winch straps by turning the winch the opposite direction, that should be pretty straight forward. To turn your winch barrel you will definitely need a winch bar, no one can do it with bare hands, besides, it’s required by law to use a winch bar with truck winches.

There usually are 2 kind of standard winch bars, chromated one and black one, and two different combination winch bars, chromated and painted half yellow, you can find them online or locally. To be honest, all these winch bars are serving the exact same purpose, and it’s all about personal preference and sometimes people choose combination winch bars for specific reasons, one of them being that you can use the combination winch bar with lever chain binders as well, thus the word “combination” in the name.