How to strap a load by web winch?
Web winches are used to secure cargo or equipment to flatbed style trailers and delivery trucks. They essentially act as a mounted ratchet and typically utilize four inch webbing with various end fittings, although two and three inch winches are also available.
Basic Components of a Web Winch:
While the shape and size may vary between models, all winches have six basic components: the frame, the mandrel, the cap, the sprocket, the pawl and the pawl pin. The sprocket, the pawl and the pawl pin combine to make a one-way motion device that maintains tension in the mandrel.
The Type of Web Winches:
Depending on your trailer type or personal preference, there are several different type of mounting options for your winch. The most basic mounting style is weld on and as the name implies it's welded directly to the trailer frame.
Bolt-on winches offer the user a little more freedom in mounting locations, the bolt directly to the trailer frame and it can be moved or removed to suit each load.
Sliding winches offer the best of both worlds, they fit into a track that is pre-installed on a trailer and allow the winch to slide the length of the trailer for fast and flexible tie-down options. There are numerous track styles available, be sure to consult your trailer manufacturer for the type of track on your specific truck or trailer.
Frame Styles:
Winches also come in varying frame styles to meet any application.
The standard winch shown here in the middle, which is suitable for most standard tie down applications. The taller frame is known as a storable winch, this frame is designed to hold an entire standard length winch strap, which is 30 feet. This allows the driver to completely wind up the winch, and store the winch and the strap together.
The low profile winch is used when space around the desired tie-down point is limited by some component of either the truck or the trailer. Now that the winch is mounted and in the required position, it's time to feed the strap through and tighten it down. In nearly every winch strap application, the strap runs from one side of truck or trailer over the cargo to the other side where the winch is located.
Load Cargo:
We will fix the hardware end of the strap to the trailer and throw the strap over the load, assuring there are no persons or equipment on the other side that may get struck. Never throw the hardware end of the strap over the trailer. On the off chance that you have to throw the hardware end over the top of the cargo, be sure to use device, such as anchor cargo's toss and tie, to ensure the heavy hardware does not strike and injure someone or damage equipment after you have thrown it over top of the load. After rolling up and securing the excess web, feed a few inches of it through the winch mandrel, then manually take up the slack while maintaining some tension with your opposite hand. Once all the slack has been rolled up, use a winch bar to tighten the strap to the desired tension. Be sure the pawl is fully engaged and your winch bar is returned to storage before driving away.
Unloading Cargo:
When it is time to unload your cargo, use the winch bar to slightly tighten the strap, just enough to remove tension from the pawl, then drop the pawl out of the way, this will allow the mandrel of freewheel and you can unwind the rest of the web. Pull your strap over the load from the hook side, and then roll the strap up and put it in storage until it is needed for the next load.
As we can see, inserting and removing the winch bar can be a strenuous and time consuming proposition, especially when you factor in the driver could have 12 or more winches for a single load. Qingdao Zhongjia Cargo Control has various solutions to help alleviate this problem. The first is our winch bar. It allows the operator to rotate it and get the rotation out of the winch before needing to pull it out and replace it. Ultimately reducing the number of times that they have to make that movement. The second option is to make the winch of a ratcheting winch, this means the driver never has to remove the winch bar until the load is completely tightened down. And we offer the winches with the ratcheting mechanism pre-installed. If you would like some more information on these products or want to see them in action, go ahead and click here to go view the web on these products. And we always use proper PPE when using any tensioning device. In this case, I hand protections are recommended, that is it for this episode hopefully you have gained a little more insight about these super useful products being used by truckers across the globe. And if you are a professional driver, hopefully we have given you a little more knowledge about how to work safer and more efficiently in your every day tasks.
Post time: Jun-03-2023
