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Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

  1. #26
    Fast is contagious JettaJayGLS's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by loudbeard View Post
    You guys might not be using the correct sized canyon dancer. Measure your bar width and check their sizing chart:
    Welcome to Canyon Dancer, Inc. - Home of the original Bar-Harness.

    If your CD is a too large by a size or two, that can translate to 6-10 inches of extra webbing length.
    I think I got the smallest ones. I really just need to push my clip-ons out and drag elbow.

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  2. #27
    Backwoods lobster boy number9's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    I might think differently I had a heavy bike. But I've towed the CRF a million times, the KTM a million times, and the Ducati once. All with cam buckles and it's nice.

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  3. #28

    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Ratchet!

    Soft loop tie down, and straps are not so long (or too thick) that they bind up...lay them in advance, then cinch the smallest amount possible that they don’t go anywhere

    I just do the front but the YZ back bounces around...may get the peg system or pit bull...

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  4. #29
    Development Rider scottieducati's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by loudbeard View Post
    You guys might not be using the correct sized canyon dancer. Measure your bar width and check their sizing chart:
    Welcome to Canyon Dancer, Inc. - Home of the original Bar-Harness.

    If your CD is a too large by a size or two, that can translate to 6-10 inches of extra webbing length.
    Or get a Cycle Cinch and never bother with a CD again

    Cam straps, ratchet straps, does not matter. What matters is the quality of the fabric and stitching, and how you set things up. With cam buckles, *always* tie a knot just in-front of the cam, so any failure will jam itself and not come apart. I have a bag full of both varieties and use them for different applications, some shared applications. They key to safe trailer-ing with straps is preparation, how you "finish" the job (w/ loose ends and cam buckles), and redundancy (multiple straps).

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  5. #30
    Lifer
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by adouglas View Post
    I hate those flippin' open hooks that you usually find on the ends of straps, and when I saw these at Home Depot I grabbed 'em immediately. I like the clip hooks, and there's a D-ring sewn into the strap that makes soft loops unnecessary.

    Is there a reason why the clip style or carabiner are so hard to find? There's 1000 options for every shape and size of regular strap, but ones with closed-end hooks are pretty uncommon.

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  6. #31
    Lifer
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet


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  7. #32
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by scottieducati View Post
    With cam buckles, *always* tie a knot just in-front of the cam, so any failure will jam itself and not come apart.
    Now I'm interested. Anyone have a photo of how you do this? Just an overhand knot in the loose end?

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  8. #33
    TWINS! xrocket21's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Ratchets. Cams can loosen. Cams are SO much easier though, but I wouldn't trust anything super critical with them.

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  9. #34
    Lifer Falko's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    The issue I have with cam buckles is they are hard to get tight as you do not have much mechanical advantage with them. For a bike I've used them as you can compress the suspension and that will keep things snug. Other items, I like ratchet straps, especially if I can break shit.

    I also keep a set of these in the truck and they actually work quite well for lighter usage. And they are really convenient for adding a tie down point to an existing line.
    Nite Ize Figure 9 Carabiner Rope Tightener with 3.5mm Cord - Package of 2 | REI Co-op

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  10. #35
    Lifer
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Roll the bike into the wheel chock or whatever. Secure both straps to the handlebars/canyondancers/lower-triple/whatever lightly. Pull the motorcycle to one side, tighten strap. Repeat on other side. Repeat that over and over again until the bike is down fairly tight.

    2 straps on the back of the motorcycle going backwards. Orient straps such that you are able to pull up on the loose end to tighten, not down. Sit or lean over the bike putting your weight on the rear suspension as you pull up on the strap ends.

    Bike isn't going anywhere.

    At least that's my experience.

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  11. #36
    Development Rider scottieducati's Avatar
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    Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post
    Now I'm interested. Anyone have a photo of how you do this? Just an overhand knot in the loose end?
    No pic at the moment but I usually do a loop and pull the full slack through just past the cam buckle (it’s mouth end). You can test with a bike tied down and secured. Just press the cam to release it and watch what happens. I suppose you could try different knots even.


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  12. #37
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by TheIglu View Post
    Erickson retractable ratchet straps. Cheap(ish), strong, and just so damn nice to work with. No loose ends flapping in the breeze.
    Those are cool. Is 1" adequate or did you get 2"?

    The regular ones tend to get tangled up when stored.

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    Last edited by Garandman; 07-27-18 at 02:24 PM.

  13. #38
    Super Moderator TheIglu's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    I use the 1" for the rear of the bike and the 2" ones for the front, where the majority of the strength is required.

    I've been very happy with them. If they had locking hooks, they would be nearly perfect.

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  14. #39
    Lifer 01xj's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    I've always preferred ratchet straps. I know some people swear by cam straps because they take less time and are a little easier. I'd rather take an extra few minutes and put a ratchet strap on all 4 corners of the bike. Between being able to either tie a loop or use the s hooks I've never had much frustration with just regular old cheap ratchet straps. It's embarrassing but I've probably had the same set in the bed of my truck for 8 years. I've never had a bike tip over and hauled bikes and junk up and down the east coast. So for now I guess I'm just gonna keep doing what works for me.

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    Last edited by 01xj; 07-27-18 at 04:08 PM.

  15. #40
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    I'm going to chains just cause I'm sick of worn out nylon webbing

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  16. #41
    Lifer Garandman's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by TheIglu View Post
    I use the 1" for the rear of the bike and the 2" ones for the front, where the majority of the strength is required.

    I've been very happy with them. If they had locking hooks, they would be nearly perfect.
    It's pretty easy to bend the S hooks, remove them, and replace them with Carabiners. HD has them much cheaper than any marine store.

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  17. #42
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Cams always. Easier and fast, buy the expensive ones and they won't loosen.

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  18. #43
    Lifer typeone's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by maxim_X View Post
    Cams always. Easier and fast, buy the expensive ones and they won't loosen.
    dittos ... i have a whole mess of them but have been using the Cycras with soft hook on one end (around fork) and carabiner on the other for the past few years.

    EDIT: and yes, always tie them off under the cam for added security.

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    Last edited by typeone; 07-27-18 at 06:44 PM.
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  19. #44
    Angry Gumball RandyO's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by Garandman View Post
    It's pretty easy to bend the S hooks, remove them, and replace them with Carabiners. HD has them much cheaper than any marine store.
    not all carabiners are equal, I've seen some I wouldn't trust to hole a ring of keys to a belt loop, I'd go for a spring link first, and probably from Tractor Supply

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  20. #45
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Cam. I’m too stoopid to fix the ratchets when they come undone.

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  21. #46
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post

    These are fantastic: Amazon.com: PowerTye 29623-S Blue/Black 1 1/2" X 6ft Cam Buckle Soft-Tye Secure Latch Tie-Downs with Integrated Soft Hooks: Automotive Secure hooks on both ends so they don't unhook by accident either. Love 'em.
    Thanks for the link! Bought a pair and used them yesterday and they worked great! I take rt109/rt16 out to Thompson so there's a fair amount of bad pavement and they were solid.

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  22. #47
    Backwoods lobster boy number9's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Just discovered that one of my cam buckle tie-downs has basically torn in half

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  23. #48
    Lifer Garandman's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Have a thread about setting up the new trailer on Advrider. The owner of a Tiger 800 posted this picture. Rolled the bike on, set the ratchet straps in place, and did not notice one of the S hooks came off..... *

    I’m using straps with Carabiners. Even if they come with S hooks you can slip a spring hook in as required.



    * Being Advrider, his next action was not to pick up the bike, but take a picture....

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    Last edited by Garandman; 08-25-18 at 06:02 AM.

  24. #49
    Where is my fast? GixerJockey's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Cam buckle... because anyone that says otherwise is just plain wrong.

    (because they secure with friction, not a click and pawl tooth system that is prone to failure)

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  25. #50
    Lifer Garandman's Avatar
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    Re: Tie down battles: cam buckle vs. ratchet

    Quote Originally Posted by TheIglu View Post
    Erickson retractable ratchet straps. Cheap(ish), strong, and just so damn nice to work with. No loose ends flapping in the breeze.

    Bought these last season but didn’t use them until last week. They are AWESOME!

    Pull out the free end, attach, hit the button and it retracts, pulling out all the slack, couple pulls on the handle, done.

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